Kerkyra F.C.

Football club infobox
clubname = AO Kerkyra
nickname = "Faiakes" (Phaiakes) |

fullname = "PAE A.O. Kerkyra"
(Athletic Club Kerkyra FC)
founded = 1969
ground = Kérkyras Stadium ,
Kerkyra
capacity = 2,685
chairman = Spyros Kalogiannis
manager = Alexandros Alexandris
league = B Ethniki
season = 2007-08
position = Beta Ethniki, 7th
pattern_la1=_blue_panel|pattern_b1=_bluestripes2|pattern_ra1=_blue_panel
leftarm1=aa0235|body1=aa0235|rightarm1=aa0235|shorts1=aa0235|socks1=000088
pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=_2redbluemiddlestripes|pattern_ra2=
leftarm2=000088|body2=FFFFFF|rightarm2=880000|shorts2=FFFFF|socks2=ffffff

Kerkyra FC, also known as AO Kerkyra (Greek: Αθλητικός Όμιλος Κέρκυρα - Athlitikos Omilos Kerkyra), the "Athletic Club Kerkyra", is a Greek association football club based on the island of Kerkyra (Corfu), Greece.

History

It was formed in 1967 as "Kerkyraikos F.C." following a merge of three Corfu clubs ("Aris Kerkyras" est 1924, "Helespontos" est 1923 and "Asteras Kerkyras" est 1926). These three teams alongside "Olympos Garitsas" where dominating Corfu Local Championship before the creation of Greek National Leagues in 1967. In order to represent Corfu in the National B' Class League the three teams decided to merge in 1967. Due to some players' dispute with "Olympos Garitsas" in 1969 the team had to change its name to "A.O. Kerkyra".

Colors, emblem and ground

The club's colors are Maroon and Blue, depicting the colors of the island and it's emblem is the ancient Corfiot's ("Faiakes") trireme, which is the island's emblem. The National stadium of the town of Corfu, "E.A.K.K.", (built in 1955) hosts A.O. Kerkyra since it's foundation. The ground is situated alongside the airport which is ideal for passing tourists and visitors and is easy to find. The ground has had some work undertake over the summer which now means the ground has even more seats.

Current status

After 36 years in lower divisions A.O. Kerkyra managed to reach top-level "Alpha Ethniki" in 2004. The long effort to success was inspired by chairman Spyros Kalogiannis who took control in 1999 and managed to climb three divisions in 4 years. Though the long awaited "Alpha Ethniki" didn't end up as expected as the club was relegated, taking the last place in the final table.After a successful year in B' Ethniki, 2005-2006 season ended with Kerkyra celebrating another chance in Alpha Ethniki.2006-2007 was another failure in Alpha Ethniki or Super League Greece, with Kerkyra fighting bravely against relegation, but ending up relegated after a 2-2 tie on the last match against Panathinaikos F.C..

Fans

Fans of A.O. Kerkyra are always a loyal crowd. Their nickname is "Vourligans", a portmanteau of Vourlismenos (crazy in corfiot dialect) and Hooligans.

Club Rivalries

A.O. Kerkyra's longest rivalry is with local club Olympos Garitsas, though due to A.O. Kerkyra's high division presence, the two teams don't play often against each other. Kerkyra also have long rivalries with nearby Epirus clubs as PAS Giannina, Anagennisi Artas, Panetolikos and Tilikratis of Lefkada. The reason for the rivalry is that historically these clubs competed against each other in order to advance to higher leagues. PAS Giannina and Anagennisi Artas, especially, are from nearby Epirus and there is a historical and cultural, (usually friendly), rivalry between the islanders and their mainland neighbours that also extends to their respective football clubs and fans. Lefkada is part of the Ionian islands and being a smaller island than Corfu, any success against Kerkyra creates understandable anxiety among the fans of the Corfu team. Panetolikos is another mainland team from nearby Aetolia-Acarnania and the same rivalry logic applies as with the Epirus teams.

AO Kerkyra National Stadium

*Built in 1961
*Capacity of 2,685 (all seated)
*Biggest Attendance 5,000 (AO Kerkyra v PAS Giannina 1974)
The stadium has two stands, the main one has a roof and is where the players and officials emerge from. The second stand is situated directly opposite and is a famous and very hostile terrace during big games. This is also where a lot of the Vourligans will watch from. This stand was constructed in 1973.

quad 08/09

Goalkeepers

*01. flagicon|Greece Loukas Apostolidis
*75. flagicon|Greece Giannis Simeonidis
*88. flagicon|Greece Ilias Vouras

Defenders

*03. flagicon|Greece Nikos Boutzikos
*06. flagicon|Greece Dimitris Gikas
*08. flagicon|France Fabrice Reuperne
*14. flagicon|Greece Giannis Kolotouros
*19. flagicon|Greece Thanasis Sentementes
*21. flagicon|Cyprus Giorgos Pelagias
*22. flagicon|Greece Alexandros Vitouladitis
*32. flagicon|Greece Dionysis Makridimitris

Midfielders

*05. flagicon|Greece Kostas Mamalos
*07. flagicon|Greece Christos Moustogiannis
*10. flagicon|Brazil Flavio Silveiro De Carvalho (Flavinho)
*13. flagicon|Greece Giannis Retsas
*16. flagicon|South Africa Bally Smart
*17. flagicon|Greece Alexandros Myrillas
*20. flagicon|Greece Alexis Tsemperidis
*30. flagicon|Greece Periklis Bousinakis
*48. flagicon|Brazil Gustavo Nacarato Veronesi

Attackers

*09. flagicon|Greece Christos Athanasiadis
*12. flagicon|Argentina Hernan Ezequiel Boderone Frontera
*23. flagicon|Greece Michalis Melissis (on loan to Korinthos FC)
*31. flagicon|Greece Michalis Giannitsanakis
*99. flagicon|Brazil Israel Silva Matos de Souza

Manager

* . flagicon|Greece Alexandros Alexandris

Technical Team

*. flagicon|GreeceOverall leader: Panayiotis Korompokis
*. flagicon|GreeceAssistant coach: Makis Terzopoulos

Historic presidents

*Dimitris Tsagkaratou, 1970

Historic players

*flagicon|Greece Brendanos, late 60s-1970s, great centre forward. Distinguished himself in many matches against PAS Giannina and Anagennisi Artas.
*flagicon|Greece Vikentios Parginos, 70s
*flagicon|Greece Zarifis, 70s
*flagicon|Greece Μarkou Michalis,1971-1977
*flagicon|Greece Michalis Klokidis, 2001-2003
*flagicon|Brazil Fofonka Ederson, 2005-2006
*flagicon|Greece Vaggelis Koutsoures, 2005-2006
*flagicon|Greece Andreas Niniadis, 2004-2005
*flagicon|Brazil Fillip Rodriguez da Silva, 2004-2007

AO Kerkyra season performances 1969 – Present

1969-1970: B' National A Group (11th)
1970-1971: B' National A Group (17th)
1971-1972: B' National A Group (14th)
1972-1973: B' National A Group (16th)
1973-1974: B' National A Group (14th)
1974-1975: B' National A Group (20th Relegation)
1975-1976: After the fall of the Second national, AOK is in the First Division of the Football Association of Corfu
1976-1977: A' Division of F.A. Corfu
1977-1984: A' Division of F.A. Corfu
1984-1985: C' National South Group(14th)
1985-1986: C' National South Group(11th)
1986-1987: C' National South Group(12th)
1987-1988: C' National South Group(12th Relegation)
1988-1989: D' National (Promotion)
1989-1990: C' National South Group (16th Relegation)
1990-1991: D' National
1991-1992: D' National (1st Promotion) - Finalist in Greek Amateur Cup
1992-1993: C' National South Group (14th Relegation)
1993-1994: D' National
1994-1995: D' National
1995-1996: D' National (1st Promotion)
1996-1997: C' National South Group (9th)
1997-1998: C' National South Group(12th Relegation)
1998-2000: D' National
2000-2001: D' National (1st Promotion)
2001-2002: C' National (1st Promotion)
2002-2003: B' National (5th)
2003-2004: B' National (1st Historical Promotion to A' National)
2004-2005: A' National (16th Relegation)
2005-2006: B' National (2nd Promotion)
2006-2007: A' National (14th Relegation)
2007-2008: B' National:(7th)

"Note: A'National = Super League, Second National = B Ethniki, Third National = C Ethniki"

External links

*el icon [http://www.aokerkyra.com Official Website]
*el icon [http://www.vourligans.gr Fans' website]