Panetolikos F.C.

Panetolikos Football Club (Greek: ΠΑΕ Παναιτωλικός), or with its full name Panetolikós Yimnastikós Filekpedeftikós Síllogos (Greek: Παναιτωλικός Γυμναστικός Φιλεκπαιδευτικός Σύλλογος; Pan-Aetolian Gymnastic and Educational Club), is a Greek professional football club. It was based in Agrinio, Greece. Panetolikos was founded in 1926 and is considered one of the historical clubs in Greece, currently participating in the Greek First Division. Some of the most well known players that started their career in the club are Stratos Apostolakis, former Greek recordman in international caps (96), and Petros Michos.

Panetolikos

Full name

Pan-Aetolian Gymnastic and Educational Club

Nickname(s)

Καναρίνια (Canaries)
Τίτορμος (Titormus)

Founded

9 March 1926; 98 years ago

Ground

Panetolikos Stadium

Capacity

7,321

Owner

Fotis Kostoulas

President

Gerasimos Belevonis

Head coach

Giannis Petrakis

League

Super League Greece

2023–24

Super League Greece, 9th of 14

Website

Club website

Home colours

Away colours

Third colours

Current season

Team colors are yellow and blue. The club's symbol is Titormus, the ancient Aetolian hero and their motto is "Τίτορμος Αιτωλός Ούτος Άλλος Ηρακλής" (Títormos Etolós Oútos Állos Iraklís), translated as Titormus the Aetolian is another Heracles.^[1]

History edit

Formation and early years edit

Panetolikos was founded on Tuesday March 9, 1926 with the purpose, as stated in its statutes: "The development and intensification of Gymnastic and Racing, The -ETHIC- supervision and the possible after-school education of minors, through childhood and EASTERN or Sunday schools". People had the idea of creating the club they did the act: "Healthy mind in a healthy body". The unprecedented thought and goal of the founders, to provide education to the needy children through its Night Schools, added in its title the word "Educational Educator" and became an example to imitate all the Associations in Greece. Beyond sports, his social offer was enormous in very difficult times. Hundreds of poor children learned letters at Night Schools that worked and cared for themselves in society. This athletico-social organization has written glory pages for Agrinio. Sections of classic sports, volleyball, basketball, shooting, etc. were created although its football team was the one loved by Aetolians and Akarnans.

In the season 1954–55, Panetolikos participated for the first time in his history at the Pan-Hellenic Championship, as the club finished in the first position of the southern group of the regional championship as one of the six teams that took part in his final stage. In the 1960s, Panetolikos played in the Second National Championship and after relegation to the local (1972), he returned dynamically.^[2]^[3] In the spring of 1975 celebrates the rise to Alpha Ethniki.^[4] Panetolikos fought two seasons (1975–1977) and followed an unsuccessful return attempt. It followed for about twenty years where it was in the smallest category to return to the period 1975–76. In the first class, Panetolikos remained in the following year (1976–77), but then returned to the lower classes where the club remained for more than 30 years. Seven years later, Panetolikos was relegated from the 2nd and in the period 1984–85, Panetolikos conquered the championship of Gamma Ethniki.

Panetolikos winning Delta Ethniki's championship in 1989, Gamma Ethniki's championship in 1992 and 1996, and one year after Panetolikos touches the dream of returning to Alpha Ethniki, which the powerful of the season deprives him. The new millennium finds him on a downward course and is relegated to Delta Ethniki.^[5]

Kostoulas era edit

In the summer of 2005, the new Greek owner Fotis Kostoulas,^[6] coming from Sweden and wanting to take the reins of the city team from which he came, presented his plans for the future of the club and followed a radical refurbishment of the stadium. More specifically, the following projects were completed by the end of 2006: new turf, construction of a shelter above the western pit, renovation of the interior (changing rooms, cafe-bar, clubs, boutique shops), construction of new newspapers and suites, On the two platforms, regeneration of the surrounding area. In addition, in 2009, a new roofed frieze was built with a capacity of about 120 distinct seats above the small east stand.^[7]

2008–09 Season: Promotion to Second Division edit

Panetolikos won an epic play-offs tie against fellow third-tier side Rodos to win promotion to the Beta Ethniki for the 2009–10 season.^[8] The tie was played in Athens at the Nea Smyrni Stadium, in front of full house, with 8,000 loyal fans traveling from Agrinio to support the team.^[9] After going down 1–0 early, the team staged an impressive fight back to win the game 2–1 with two goals in the last 5 minutes. Scenes of joy followed as one of the better-supported teams in rural Greece won promotion. Now in the Football League, Panetolikos continue to get terrific support, both home and away.

2010–11 Season: Promotion to the Super League edit

After terrific performances inside and outside Agrinio, Panetolikos won the last three critical matches (Ethnikos-Panetolikos 0–1, Panetolikos-Diagoras Rodou 3–0 and Ilioupoli-Panetolikos 2–3) and promoted to Super League.^[10] The team's 2010 performances have set new records for the Football League championship: point record (75 gathered after 34 games), away wins record (10 wins out of 23 total).^[11] Panetolikos had celebrated their promotion at home with a Friendly match against Panionios, a Super League team, on 20 May 2011.^[12]^[13]

2011–12 Season: Demotion to the Football League edit

After a very bad second round of results at the Super League, Panetolikos demoted to the Football League. The chairman of the club, Mr. Kostoulas after seven years, resigned from his position. After this, the whole board resigned. Most of the players left the club, said that they wanted to return to their countries, or they want to play for other teams with better contracts.

2012–13 Season: Promotion to the Super League edit

With Mr. Kostoulas again as a president, Panetolikos got promoted to the Super League via play-offs after six difficult games, especially the last one with Olympiacos Volos, which Panetolikos won 1–2.^[14] After the end of the game, the city of Agrinio celebrated the promotion until dawn.^[15]

2013–14 & 2014–15 Seasons edit

The team had its most successful year so far in the First Division, finishing in the 8th place.^[16] In 2014–15 season, form of the team improved and finished First Division as 7th.^[17]

ACF Fiorentina - Panetolikos FC in a preseason game in Moena, Italy (summer 2016)

2015–16 & 2016–17 Seasons edit

Panetolikos finished in the 11th place in 2016^[18] as well as in 2017.^[19]

2017–18 Season edit

The team finished at 8th place with good performances.^[20]

Stadium edit

Panetolikos Stadium, inside view in 2006

Panetolikos Stadium (Greek: Γήπεδο Παναιτωλικού -Gipedo Panetolikou) is a football stadium in Agrinio, Greece.^[21] It is currently used for football matches, mainly as the home stadium of Panetolikos. It is located at Prousiotissis Street and it holds 7,500 people. Its highest attendance was 11,012 people during a match against Olympiacos in 1977. There are plans to increase the seating capacity of the stadium to 8,800 spectators. Nowadays the average attendance is 6,000.

Panetolikos Stadium has three stands. It has been used as a football ground since 1930, however, the first stand (the small one) was not constructed until the mid-1950s. The main west stand was built in the 1970s. Unfortunately, in the years that followed little else happened to the stadium, which gradually fell into disrepair. This was the situation until 2005, when the new owner of the club, Fotis Kostoulas, revealed his plans for the complete reconstruction of the stadium.

Stadium Situation: 2006–2011^[22]

The stadium features plastic seats, the club's offices, Panetolikos' boutique and coffee shops.

2006: The big stand was completely renovated, a brand new stand with a modern roof.

2010: The small stand was renovated, in the center a second level of seats with a roof was added.

2011: Works have begun after the promotion of the team to Super League in order to increase the capacity of the stadium by 1,400 seats approximately. Plus, additional lighting was added. Recently the lighting has finished, with the power of each light at 1,600 lux, which more than satisfies the Greek Super League and UEFA's 4 stars (where a team can play UEFA Champions League games) requirements.^[23]

2017: Scoreboard is added, completing the current renovation plans.^[24]

2019: Recently the Region of Western Greece has approved plans of further upgrade of the stadium, with the adding of exhibition centers, new seating stands and many other features.

Facilities edit

Panetolikos' training center, named "Emileon", in Municipal Apartment of Dokimi, Agrinio.^[25]^[26]^[27] Emileon, the training center that escapes from Greek standards and is approaching the European. Α real jewel, not only for the "canaries", but also for Greek sports as a whole. A jewel made by the president of Panetolikos, Fotis Kostoulas. Soccer fields, swimming pools, courts, tennis, basketball and beach volleyball create a unique place. A place that is enjoyed not only by the football players, but also by the citizens of Agrinio.

Supporters edit

Even though Agrinio is a small city, Panetolikos supporters known as "The Warriors"^[28] & "Guerreros"^[29] are known for their loyalty to their team. Supporters can roughly be categorized to Gate 6 which represents the most radical and young part of the team's fanbase and other fan unions which attract less radical and older Panetolikos fans. First division promotion has set in motion more Panetolikos fan clubs in Aetoloakarnania and northern Greece (Thessaloniki). Up until now, the prestigious fan clubs of the team are:

Gate 6

1. Warriors (Fan club in Agrinio, since 1981)
2. Guerreros (Fan club in Athens)
3. Brooklyn (Fan club in Agrinio, area of St. Demetrius)

Other fan clubs

4. LE.FI.PA. (Club of Panetolikos Fans in Agrinio)
5. S.F.P (Club of Panetolikos Supporters in Agrinio)

Nicknames edit

Panetolikos was given the nickname The Canaries (Greek: Τα καναρίνια) in the 1960s, due to the team's colour. Panetolikos is very proud of its nickname, thus its mascot is a canary with the name PANETOS.^[30]

Panetolikos was also given the nickname Titormus, from the ancient hero.

21st century league performances edit

Season	Division	Position
2010–11	Beta Ethniki	1st
2011–12	Super League	15th
2012–13	Beta Ethniki	4th
2013–14	Super League	8th
2014–15	Super League	7th
2015-16	Super League	11th
2016–17	Super League	11th
2017–18	Super League	8th
2018–19	Super League	9th
2019–20	Super League	13th
2020–21	Super League	12th
2021–22	Super League	11th
2022–23	Super League	11th
2023–24	Super League	9th

Honours edit

National (7)

Football League (Second Division)
- Championships (2): 1974–75, 2010–11
Gamma Ethniki (Third Division)
- Championships (3): 1984–85, 1991–92, 1995–96
Delta Ethniki (Fourth Division)
- Championships (2): 1988–89, 2003―04

Regional (2)

Mainland Greece Championship
- Championship (1): 1955
Youth Team, South Greece championship, 2nd and 3rd National Division
- Championship (1): 2007

Crest and colours edit

Panetolikos crest depicts Titormus, the ancient hero of Aetolia. The club's motto (also depicted on the crest) is Τίτορμος Αιτωλός Ούτος Άλλος Ηρακλής, translated as Titormus the Aetolian is another Heracles.^[31] The colours of the team are yellow and blue or cyan.

Crest evolution edit

Older
Current

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors edit

Period	Kit Manufacturer	Shirt Sponsor
1982–83	Diadora	OPAP
1983–86	New Balance	New Balance
1989–91	Asics	OPAP
1991–92	Asics	Katsikis Keramopiia
1992–93	Lotto	National Insurance Company
1993–94	Puma	National Insurance Company
1994–95	Adidas	—
1995–96	Pony
1996–98	Umbro
1998–00	Adidas
2000–01	Diadora	Interamerican
2001–03	Puma	OPAP
2003–04	Nike	—
2004–05	Puma	Politeia Newspaper
2005–07	Puma	NEBB
2007–08	Lotto	NBGI Private Equity
2008–11	Lotto	OPAP
2011–13	Hummel	Go Lucky
2013–14	Umbro	—
2014–15	Tempo	Joker
2015–16	Joma	Pame Stoixima
2016–18	LEGEA	Pame Stoixima
2018–19	Zeus	Emileon
2019–	Givova	Emileon

Current sponsorships:

Great Shirt Sponsor: Shopflix
Official Sport Clothing Manufacturer: Givova
Golden Sponsor: Interwetten

Players edit

Current squad edit

As of 26 January 2024^[32]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
1	GK	GRE	Stefanos Kapino
2	DF	GRE	Michalis Bakakis
4	DF	GEO	Jemal Tabidze
5	DF	ROU	Sebastian Mladen
6	DF	GRE	Marios Oikonomou
7	FW	GRE	Nikos Karelis (captain)
8	MF	GRE	Christos Belevonis
10	MF	VEN	Juanpi
12	DF	GRE	Ilias Chatzitheodoridis
13	GK	ARG	Lucas Chaves (on loan from Argentinos Juniors)
14	MF	POR	Frederico Duarte
15	FW	ARG	Sebastián Lomonaco (on loan from Godoy Cruz)
18	MF	GRE	Giannis Bouzoukis
19	FW	GRE	Alexandros Voilis
22	MF	PAR	Sergio Díaz
23	MF	GRE	Georgios Xenitidis


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
24	DF	ARG	Pedro Silva Torrejón
26	DF	ARG	Bruno Duarte (on loan from Deportivo Cuenca)
27	MF	GEO	Levan Shengelia
32	GK	GRE	Antonis Stergiakis
33	MF	FRA	Franck Bambock (on loan from Fehérvár)
34	MF	ARG	Facundo Pérez (on loan from Lanús)
35	DF	GRE	Charalampos Mavrias
37	MF	GRE	Angelos Tsingaras
45	FW	GNB	João Pedro
47	DF	GRE	Alexandros Malis (vice-captain)
49	DF	SRB	Nikola Stajić
54	DF	GRE	Georgios Liavas (third-captain)
55	DF	GRE	Panagiotis Anastasopoulos
65	MF	GRE	Sotiris Kontouris
77	MF	GRE	Vangelis Nikolaou
80	MF	ARG	Franco Baldassarra (on loan from Platense)

Out on loan edit

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	GK	GRE	Sotiris Ragias (at Zakynthos until 30 June 2024)
—	DF	GRE	Ilias Lazaridis (at Tilikratis until 30 June 2024)

Retired numbers edit

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
11	MF	URU	Jorge Díaz (2017–2023)

Club staff edit

Executive
Majority owner	Fotis Kostoulas
Chairman	Gerasimos Belevonis
Vice-President	Thomas Spyrou
Board Member	Kostas Takos
Board Member	Georgios Sotiropoulos
First team staff
Sport director	Makis Belevonis
Team manager	Marko Markovski
Head coach	Giannis Petrakis
Assistant head coach	Giannis Katsoulis
Assistant head coach	Michalis Epitropakis
Fitness coach	Nikos Lekatsas
Goalkeeper coach	Luigi Cennamo
Analyst	Alekos Psylias
Physiotherapist	Apostolos Vetsas
Physiotherapist	Alexandros Korovesis
Physiotherapist	Alexandros El Bana
Under-20s & academy coaching staff
Academy manager	Luciano
Under 19s head coach	Georgios Tarasis
Under 17s head coach	Dimitris Theodosiou
Under 15s head coach	Panagiotis Benekos

League performances edit

Season	Categ. & Pos.	W–D–L	Goals	Points	Season	Categ. & Pos.	W–D–L	Goals	Points	Season	Categ. & Pos.	W–D–L	Goals	Points	Season	Categ. & Pos.	W–D–L	Goals	Points
1962–63	Beta Ethniki 3rd	15–8–5	40–16	71	1979–80	Beta Ethniki 5th	17–5–16	56–36	39	1996–97	Beta Ethniki 4th	17–11–6	53–30	62	2013–14	Super League 8th	11–9–14	32–33	42
1963–64	Beta Ethniki 6th	15–4–9	47–30	62	1980–81	Beta Ethniki 7th	14–10–14	36–34	38	1997–98	Beta Ethniki 6th	14–11–9	55–42	53	2014–15	Super League 7th	14–10–10	41–28	52
1964–65	Beta Ethniki 2nd	18–6–9	49–23	75	1981–82	Beta Ethniki 9th	15–11–12	44–36	41	1998–99	Beta Ethniki 13th	11–8–15	43–57	41	2015–16	Super League 11th	9–8–13	30–46	35
1965–66	Beta Ethniki 3rd	14–9–7	42–25	67	1982–83	Beta Ethniki 3rd	21–6–11	53–33	48	1999–00	Beta Ethniki 8th	14–8–12	43–34	50	2016–17	Super League 11th	8–7–15	29–40	31
1966–67	Beta Ethniki 7th	15–9–10	45–32	73	1983–84	Beta Ethniki 17th	13–9–16	39–40	35	2000–01	Beta Ethniki 11th	12–6–12	39–45	42	2017–18	Super League 8th	9–8–13	31–40	35
1967–68	Beta Ethniki 5th	12–8–10	39–30	62	1984–85	Gamma Ethniki 1st	21–14–5	64–28	56	2001–02	Gamma Ethniki 15th	6–7–17	24–46	25	2018–19	Super League 9th	10–6–14	34–48	36
1968–69	Beta Ethniki 7th	14–7–13	45–40	69	1985–86	Beta Ethniki 10th	14–9–15	49–53	37	2002–03	Delta Ethniki 2nd	23–6–1	68–8	76	2019–20	Super League 12th	6–11–16	30–48	29
1969–70	Beta Ethniki 6th	15–7–12	47–33	71	1986–87	Beta Ethniki 16th	13–10–15	39–56	36	2003–04	Delta Ethniki 1st	27–2–1	81–8	83	2020–21	Super League 13th	6–10–17	20–44	28
1970–71	Beta Ethniki 3rd	17–7–10	46–30	75	1987–88	Gamma Ethniki 9th	15–9–10	46–32	37	2004–05	Gamma Ethniki 9th	14–3–15	38–32	45	2021–22	Super League 11th	10–7–16	32–48	37
1971–72	Beta Ethniki 18th	11–11–16	28–40	71	1988–89	Delta Ethniki 1st	22–4–8	72–27	48	2005–06	Gamma Ethniki 7th	12–9–11	33–27	45	2022–23	Super League 11th	7–9–17	32–53	30
1972–73	Regional 1st				1989–90	Gamma Ethniki 8th	14–10–14	45–40	38	2006–07	Gamma Ethniki 4th	15–13–6	56–33	58	2023–24	Super League 9th	9–9–15	36–49	36
1973–74	Beta Ethniki 8th	17–8–13	47–31	42	1990–91	Gamma Ethniki 5th	13–11–10	32–28	37	2007–08	Gamma Ethniki 3rd	18–8–8	58–28	62
1974–75	Beta Ethniki 1st	22–10–6	75–27	54	1991–92	Gamma Ethniki 1st	19–8–7	50–27	46	2008–09	Gamma Ethniki 2nd	21–7–6	56–14	70
1975–76	Alpha Ethniki 15th	3–13–14	17–41	19	1992–93	Beta Ethniki 17th	10–8–16	31–46	38	2009–10	Beta Ethniki 7th	13–11–10	43–36	50
1976–77	Alpha Ethniki 17th	9–8–17	25–51	26	1993–94	Gamma Ethniki 8th	10–16–8	45–35	46	2010–11	Football League 1st	23–6–5	47–19	75
1977–78	Beta Ethniki 15th	13–10–15	65–49	36	1994–95	Gamma Ethniki 8th	10–16–8	45–35	46	2011–12	Super League 15th	7–7–16	23–37	28
1978–79	Beta Ethniki 5th	17–7–14	48–46	41	1995–96	Gamma Ethniki 1st	20–7–7	61–33	67	2012–13	Football League 4th	20–13–7	55–23	73

Point system: 1959–60 to 1972–73: 3–2–1. 1973–74 to 1991–92: 2–1–0. 1992–93 onwards: 3–1–0.

League Participation edit

Super League Greece (13): 1975–1977, 2011–2012, 2013–present
Football League (30): 1962–1972, 1973–1975, 1977–1984, 1985–1987, 1992–1993, 1996–2001, 2009–2011, 2012–2013
Gamma Ethniki (15): 1972–1973, 1984–1985, 1987–1988, 1989–1992, 1993–1996, 2001–2002, 2004–2009
Delta Ethniki (3): 1988–1989, 2002–2004