Ionikos F.C.

Football club infobox
clubname = Ionikos FC


fullname = "ΠΑΕ Ιωνικός Νίκαιας"
"PAE Ionikos Nikaias"
nickname = "Galanoleuki" (blue-whites)
founded = June 1965
ground = Neapolis Public Stadium
Nikea, Piraeus, Greece
capacity = 5,850
chairman = flagicon|Greece Christos Kanellakis
manager = flagicon|Greece Nikos Goulis
league = Beta Ethniki
"(Β' Εθνική)"
season = 2007-08
position = Beta Ethniki,
5th
website = http://www.ionikos-fc.gr Official site
pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=_bluebow|pattern_ra1=
leftarm1=000055|body1=000055|rightarm1=000055|shorts1=000055|socks1=000055
pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=
leftarm2=FFFFF|body2=FFFFFF|rightarm2=FFFFFF|shorts2=FFFFFF|socks2=FFFFFF

Ionikos FC, also known as Ionikos Nikaias (Greek: ΠΑΕ Ιωνικός Νικαίας - PAE Ionikos Nikaias), is a Greek association football club based in Nikaia, Piraeus that plays in the Second Division (Greece). It was founded in June 1965, when Former president Alex Meraklidis merged two regional football clubs: Athletic Union of Nikaia and Aris Nikaias. In 1989 Ionikos joined the ranks of Alpha Ethniki (now Super League Greece), and since then has participated in the UEFA Cup in the 1998-99 season, and made it to the Greek Cup final in the 1999-2000 season. The club's colours are blue and white.

History

Ionikos was established in 1965, following the merger of the two most popular teams of the region Nikaia Sports Union and Aris Piraeus. Hopes for a distinguished and successful team did not realise, not least because the neighbouring team of Olympiakos Piraeus was interested in limiting the possibilities of Ionikos promoting to the First Division. It was the era that football teams returns were solely from gate revenues, so Ionikos presence in the First Division would damage financially OlympiakosStill, the team was very close to promotion but did not manage to realise these prospects. On the contrary two times the team played in the Conference League, leaving a bitter taste to its supporters. Nonetheless, the loyal supporters never left their favourite team alone. Every Sunday, they were there and the stadium was bringing memories from hell. In 1975, in a match against Ioannina, 10.000 supporters packed a Stadium of 2.000 seats.

In 1982 Ionikos relegated from the Second Division to the Third Division. In season 1982-83, Ionikos leads the South Group of the Division. A few matches before the end of the season Ionikos entertains Athinaikos in a decisive derby regarding the team that would gain promotion. Despite the conditions of stormy rain 9.000 fans of Ionikos watch their beloved team to lose 0-1. The final match against Visas in Megara was the decisive one, the winner would gain promotion to the Second Division. The national motorway hosts a blue wave of 4.000 fans, who were ready to celebrate promotion. The first half is full of joy, as Ionikos is 2 goals ahead. However, in the second half Visas scores three silly goals and promotion turns to an unfulfilled dream. The players return to Nikaia, but they have to spend hours in the police station as 2000 thousand fans demand explanations outside.

The message is clear and the next season (1983-84) Ionikos marches towards promotion. The team plays great football, wins clearly the derby against Thriamvos who was chasing promotion 4-0 and gains promotion.Summer 1984 is marked by the major expansion of Neapoli Stadium. Gate 6 and Gates 3, 4 and 7 are built, increasing the capacity to 8.000 seats. The Stadium takes its current shape with Gate 3 turning the gate of the loyal and organised supporters.

The first four seasons in the Second Division are mediocre. Ionikos stand in the middle of the league table, easily escaping relegation from the early matches, without any second thoughts for ‘better’ achievements.Rather unexpectedly, season 1988-89 is the turning point. Ionikos surprises everybody and chases promotion. Once more, the last match of the season is at home against Athinaikos. Ionikos has to win the match to reach First Division for the first time in its history. And that’s what the team does. Great football, and a 3-1 win in front of the loyal supporters who have packed Neapoli Stadium. The fans celebrate in the Stadium and continue to do so all night long, from Amfiali to Memou Square.

The modern history...

Promotion was accompanied by unexpected problems. Dimitris Melissanidis, the then chairman of the Club who had led the team to the Greek Premiership withdraws, without providing any major justification for his decision. The team faces severe difficulties to find the sum that is required to participate in the championship.

Fortunately, Nikos Kanellakis moves forward. A businessman with substantial wealth, he decided to pay the financial burdens of the Club and became its new chairman. Ionikos participates to the Greek Premiership without any financial problems.

Due to the lack of experiences the first years of the Team in the first division were difficult. The renewal of the home ground contributes further to these difficulties. Although the first year relegation was avoided, the second year the team lost the First Division status. Relegation was the outcome of some strange results of the last day.

One year later (1991-92) the team returns to the First Division, only to be relegated the next season (1992-93). Once more the team fought for avoiding relegation until the last moment – when it lost an away match against OFH in Crete. That was to be the last relegation. Christo Bonef was the coach who lead the team to an immediate return to the Greek Premiership (1993-94), and a successful presence during the 1994-95 season.

The arrival of the Ukraine legend Oleg Blahin as a coach in 1995 marks the beginning of a new area. Ionikos turns to a team that is characterized by a winning spirit.Three years later (1998), N. Kannelakis invites a coach that had just been sacked by the national team of Paraguay, Sergio Markarian, to work in Greece. Having one of the three best attacks in the Greek Premiership, Ionikos plays an entertaining football, and joins the best Clubs of the country.

The reward was a ticket to Europe. In 1999 Ionikos participates in the UEFA CUP for the first time in his history. Ionikos faced French team Nantes, losing both home and away games, 1–3 and 0–1, respectively.

In 2000, Ionikos reaches the final of the Greek Cup, where he faced AEK. Over five thousands Ionikos’ fans spent the night singing and dominate the whole event. But the team lost 3-0, a score that was not representative of Ionikos performance.This Cup final participation marked the end of the golden era and the beginning of a relative decline. A lot of capable players left and and the team lost most of its power.

In 2003, following a dreadful season, the team finished in the 16th position of the Greek Premiership and had to play a play-out game in order to stay in the league. Ionikos fans had to travel and conquer the city of Volos, where the team managed to beat Apollon Kalamarias 2-1, althought it played the last 20 minutes with 10 men.

In 2004, following a mediocre season, Ionikos finished in the 10th position of the Greek PremiershipUnfortunately, on 21 April 2004 Ionikos lives the most tragic moment of his history. Nikos Kanellakis, the chairman of team for 14 years, died. Hundreds of Ionikos supporters, as well as other sports fans attend his funeral, where the flag of Ionikos covers the coffin of the late chairman..

Up until recently (end of 2007 season) they were playing in the Greek Super League Greece, however, having finished last, they will be playing the 2008 season in Beta Ethniki.

Honours

* 1999-00 season UEFA CUP Participant

* 1999-2000 GREEK CUP Finalist

* Beta Ethniki"1993-1994 Champion"

* Super League Greece"1997-1998 5th place"

"1998-1999 5th place"

* Piraeus Cup"1978 Winner Cup"

Crest and Colours

The emblem of the team is a resting star. The colours of the team are blue and white. The kit of the "Aris Nikaias" was blue and yellow and the kit of "AE Nikaias" wass white and black.

Kit Evulotion

tadium

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Since 1965-66:

* 16 seasons in Super League Greece

* 22 seasons in Beta Ethniki

* 2 seasons in Gamma Ethniki

* 4 seasons in A' Piraeus

Records

Club records

*Largest Win : Ionikos 8-0 Bizani ("1966-67") , Ionikos 8-0 Anagennisi Artas("1974-75")
*Largest Loss : Vyzas 7-0 Ionikos ("1971-72")

Individual records

Appearances

Basketball Team

* Ionikos Nikaias BC

External links

* [http://www.ionikos-fc.gr Official site]

References