Ionikos F.C.

Ionikos Football Club (Greek: ΠΑΕ Ιωνικός) is a Greek professional football club based in Nikaia, Piraeus, Greece, currently competing in the Super League Greece, the top-tier of the Greek football league system.

For the basketball club, see Ionikos Nikaias BC.
Ionikos
Full nameΑθλητικός Όμιλος Ιωνικός Νίκαιας
Nickname(s)Κυανόλευκοι (Cyan-Whites)
GroundNeapolis Public Stadium
Capacity6,000
OwnerGiannis Tsirigotis
ChairmanThodoris Tsirigotis
ManagerDimitrios Spanos
LeagueSuper League Greece
2020–21Super League Greece 2, 1st (promoted)
WebsiteClub website
Departments of Ionikos Nikaias
FootballBasketballWater Polo

From 1989 to 2007 Ionikos spent 16 out of 18 seasons in the Super League.[1] During that span Ionikos finished as high as 5th-place in the league (on two occasions),[2][3] was a finalist in the Greek Cup,[4] and participated in the UEFA Cup.[5]

The club's colours are blue and white.

History

Foundation

Ionikos was established in 1965, from a merger of local clubs Nikaia Sports Union and Aris Piraeus, with Alex Meraklidis as new club's first president.[6] The club's early years were not easy, but, with the support of its fans, Ionikos slowly improved through the 1970s and 1980s and eventually reached the top division in 1989.[6]

The club's first promotion to the top flight was accompanied by unexpected problems—Dimitris Melissanidis withdrew as chairman, and the club needed 50 million drachmas to participate in the championship.[6] Businessman Nikolaos Kanellakis stepped forward to provide the needed sum and become the club's new chairman.[6]

Nikos Kanellakis

Kanellakis' arrival would be the beginning of the club's greatest era—from the 1989 promotion, Ionikos would spend 16 of the next 18 seasons in the Greek top flight, up until 2007, and during that time the team would finish as high as 5th-place in the league (on two occasions), reach a Greek Cup Final, and compete in the UEFA Cup.[6]

Greek Cup Final 2000

Ionikos' UEFA Cup appearance came in the 1999–00 season—the opposition was French side Nantes, and Ionikos lost both home and away matches, 1–3 and 0–1, respectively.[6] Ionikos reached the Greek Cup Final later that same season, where they came up against traditional power AEK, and, despite a valiant Ionikos effort, AEK won the match, 3–0.[6]

On 21 April 2004 Ionikos experienced the most tragic moment of his history, when Nikolaos Kanellakis, the club's chairman for 14 years, died.[6] Hundreds of Ionikos supporters—as well as other sports fans—attended Kanellakis' funeral, where the flag of Ionikos covered the coffin of the late chairman. Nikolaos' son Christos took his father's place as chairman.

Relegation to Second League

Ionikos' long run in the top flight ended in the 2006–07 season, when the team finished in 16th-place in the Super League and was relegated back to Beta Ethniki. Ionikos has spent the last two seasons in Beta Ethniki, finishing 5th and 4th place, respectively, as the club tries to rejoin the top flight.

Return to the Top League

For the upcoming season, 2021–22, they will compete once again in the Greek top league, 2021–22 Super League Greece, having gained promotion, and after successfully getting licensed to compete in the top league's new season.[7]

Stadium
Main article: Neapolis Public Stadium

Ionikos plays its home matches at Neapolis Public Stadium (Greek: Γήπεδο Νεάπολης), located in Nikaia, a suburb of Piraeus. The stadium was completed in 1965, and had its latest redevelopment in 2000.[8] It currently has a seating capacity of 4,999, but record attendance is 6,565 for a match against Olympiacos in 1990.[8]

Ionikos' organized supporters gather in Gate 3 at Neapoli Stadium.

Supporters and rivals


While Ionikos was competing in the lower divisions there were two main supporters' groups—the Association of Ionikos Nikaias Supporters and the Fan Club of Agios Georgios.[9]

On Ionikos's promotion to the top division the Association of Ionikos Nikaias Supporters Rangers Club was formed—or Rangers Club, for short—with headquarters in Elefterias Square in Korydallos.[9] Before Ionikos's first match in the top flight the Rangers Club organised a parade of 2,000 supporters from outside Rangers' headquarters to Stavros Mavrothalassitis Stadium, where Ionikos played its first three home matches of the 1989–90 season.[9] Two years later the supporters' club offices moved to Neapolis, and then in 1996 to Nikaia, before returning to Neapolis in 1999.[9] A second branch was established in Nikaia in 2004.[9]

Ionikos fans have a rivalry with the fans of the other topic club of Nikaia, Proodeftiki.

Ionikos fans have rivalries too with other nearby clubs, Egaleo, Atromitos and Kallithea.

The Derby of Kokkinia

The football matches between Ionikos and Proodeftiki are called «The Derby of Kokkinia» or «The Derby of Nikaia».

Players

Current squad
As of 3 February 2022

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
4 DF  GRE Konstantinos Tsirigotis
5 DF  GRE Nikos Vafeas
6 MF  GRE Giannis Gotsoulias (third-captain)
7 MF  SYR Aias Aosman
10 MF  GNB Dálcio
11 FW  NED Jerson Cabral
15 DF  GRE Georgios Valerianos (vice-captain)
16 DF  UKR Dmytro Chyhrynskyi
17 FW  GRE Theodosis Macheras (on loan from AEK Athens)
19 GK  ALB Kristian Rroku
20 FW  GRE Lefteris Matsoukas
21 MF  GRE Vasilios Poghosyan
22 DF  GRE Georgios Mygas
No. Pos. Nation Player
23 DF  ARG Salvador Sánchez
24 MF  TOG Alaixys Romao (captain)
26 MF  ALB Vullnet Basha
30 GK  GRE Georgios Christodoulis
31 DF  GRE Giannis Kiakos
33 FW  GRE Vangelis Platellas
34 FW  BRA Thuram
41 GK  SVN Nejc Vidmar (on loan from Olimpija Ljubljana)
87 MF  ESP José Cañas
91 MF  POR Ricardo Valente
92 FW  COL Reinaldo Lenis
94 GK  GRE Lefteris Choutesiotis
99 FW  GRE Vasilios Mantzis

Former players

List of managers
Oleg Blokhin is one of the biggest managers in the Ionikos' history

Ionikos managers from 1992.

1992–93 Nikos Alefantos
Gerhard Prokop
Sokratis Gemelos
1993–94 Sokratis Gemelos
1994–95 Hristo Bonev
Oleg Blokhin
1995–96 Oleg Blokhin
1996–97 Oleg Blokhin
Sokratis Gemelos
Jacek Gmoch
1997–98 Jacek Gmoch
1998–99 Sergio Markarián
1999–00 Kostas Polychroniou
Sokratis Gemelos
Oleg Blokhin
2000–01 Oleg Blokhin
2001–02 Oleg Blokhin
Sokratis Gemelos
2002–03 Jean-Michel Cavalli
Jacek Gmoch
2003–04 Miloje Klajević
Vangelis Vlachos
2004–05 Vangelis Vlachos
2005–06 Sakis Tsiolis
2006–07 Sakis Tsiolis
Augusto Inácio
Giannis Chatzinikolaou
2007–08 Jorge Barrios
Giorgos Vazakas
Nikos Anastopoulos
2008–09 Nikos Goulis
2009–10 Stratos Voutsakelis
Vasilis Vouzas
2010–11 Giorgos Benos
Giannis Petrakis
Nikos Maronitis
2011–12 Nikos Maronitis
2012–13 Nikos Frousos

Honours

League titles
Winners (2): 1993–94, 2020–21
Winners (2): 1976–77, 1981–82 (Group 1)
Winners (1): 2012–13 (Group 9)
Winners (1): 1976–77

Cups
Winners (1): 1981–82

Season-by-season

Since 1965–66:

Club records

Alpha Ethniki / Super League

Last Update 2 May 2022

  • First participation: 1989–90
  • Total participations: 17
  • Wins: 161
  • Draws: 148
  • Losses: 224
  • Goals Scored: 592
  • Goals Conceded: 769
  • Record Win: Ionikos 5–0 OFI Crete in 1997–98
  • Record Loss: AEK Athens 6–0 Ionikos in 1995–96, Olympiacos 6–0 Ionikos in 2002–03

Beta Ethniki
  • First participation: 1965–66
  • Total participations: 23
  • Wins: 299
  • Draws: 224
  • Losses: 259
  • Goals Scored: 925
  • Goals Conceded: 849
  • Record Win: Ionikos 8–0 Bizani in 1966–67, Ionikos 8–0 Anagennisi Artas in 1974–75
  • Record Loss: Vyzas 7–0 Ionikos in 1971–72

Individual records

Appearances
Player Matches
Giannis Xanthopoulos
318
Georgios Daraklitsas
290
Nikolaos Frousos
217
Mohammad Afash
196
Oliver Makor
164

Goals
Player Goals
Kostas Kottakis
top scorer
Nikolaos Frousos
64
Craig Brewster
45
Oliver Makor
43
Giannis Xanthopoulos
24

Crest and colors

The emblem of the club is a resting star and its colors are blue and white.

Original & Alternative strips & colours

Original kit
Ionikos's first home colours 1965
Ionikos's first away colours 1965
Ionikos's first Goalkeeper kit 1965

Kit evolution
1965
1978
1980
1989
1991
1993
1997
1999
2001–03
2003 (2nd kit)
2004
2005
2007–09
2008 (2nd kit)

Kit manufacturers and sponsors
Period Kit Manufacturer Shirt Sponsor
1992–93 Lotto Energized
1993–96 None
1996–98 Telestand
1998–00 Casino Xanthi
2000–04 Puma Filmnet
2004–05 Mitre Sports International Nectar S.A.
2005–09 OPAP
2009–11 Puma
2011–12 A.Hilios Pydroblasting

European record
Season Competition Round Club Home Away
1999–00 UEFA Cup 1st Round Nantes 1–3 0–1

References
  1. "Greece – Final Tables 1959–1999". rsssf.com. 2003-08-03.
  2. "Greece −1997/98". rsssf.com.
  3. "Greece 1998/99". rsssf.com.
  4. "Greek Cup Finals". Hellenic Football Federation. Archived from the original on 2008-10-03.
  5. "UEFA Europa League Season 1999–2000 First Round". UEFA.com.
  6. "History". Ionikos F.C. Archived from the original on 2009-04-21. Retrieved 2009-07-16.
  7. "«Στη φυσική μας θέση»: Η ευχαριστήρια απάντηση του Ιωνικού στο «καλώς ήρθες» της Super League" ["In our natural position": The thank-you response of Ionikos to Super League's "Welcome back"]. Sport-FM.gr (in Greek). 8 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  8. "Neapoli Stadium". Stadia.gr.
  9. "Rangers History". Rangers Club. Archived from the original on 2008-01-09.
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