Panathinaikos Athlitikos Omilos (Greek: Παναθηναϊκός Αθλητικός Όμιλος, "Panathenaic Athletic Club") is a major Greek multi-sport club based in the City of Athens. It has the trifolium (shamrock) as its official emblem, symbol of harmony, unity and good luck, and green and white as its colours (green for health and nature and white for virtue). Panathinaikos is one of the most successful multi-sport club and one of the oldest clubs in Greece. The name "Panathinaikos" (which can literally be translated as "Panathenaic", which means "of all Athens") was inspired by the ancient work of Isocrates Panathenaicus, where the orator praise the Athenians for their democratic education and their military superiority, which use it for benefit of all Greeks.[1]

It was founded by Giorgos Kalafatis in 1908 as a football club, when he and 40 other athletes decided to break away from Panellinios Gymnastikos Syllogos following the club's decision to discontinue its football team. It is amongst the most popular clubs in the country and one of the biggest worldwide, based on the number of its sports departments. It is the club that introduced in Greece a number of sports, as it was the first, or amongst the first teams, in football, basketball, volleyball, field hockey, table tennis and handball, while it was also pioneer in the creation of women's teams in basketball and football.

Panathinaikos' teams and individual athletes have won numerous titles and have made notable participations in domestic and international competitions. The football team of Panathinaikos is the only Greek team that has reached the UEFA Champions League final (in 1971) and also the semi-finals twice (in 1985 and 1996). It is also the only Greek football team that has played for the Intercontinental Cup. The basketball team of the club is the most successful in Greece and one of the most successful in Europe, with six European championships, one Intercontinental Cup and two Triple Crowns. The teams of Panathinaikos have played overall in 15 European and international finals (in football, basketball, men's volleyball and women's volleyball).

In the individual sports, Panathinaikos has a remarkable tradition in the athletics, cycling, shooting, fencing and boxing departments. It has produced numerous athletes; World champions and European champions, winners at the Olympic, Mediterranean and Balkan Games.

History
1908-1945
Football Club of Athens
Giorgos Kalafatis, founder of the Club

Football made its appearance in Greece at the end of the 19th century. In 1908, a young athlete of Panellinios, Giorgos Kalafatis, dismayed by his club's decision to discontinue its football team, left with 40 other athletes and founded "Podosferikos Omilos Athinon" (Football Club of Athens). Konstantinos Tsiklitiras, the great Greek athlete of the early 20th century, played as goalkeeper for the new team.
Panathenaic Athletic Club
Angelos Messaris, 1929

The team of Kalafatis was renamed to Panellinios Podosferikos Omilos (PPO) - i.e. "Panhellenic Football Club" - in 1911. In 1918, it was decided that the official emblem of the club would be the trifolium (shamrock), symbol of unity, harmony and good luck, an idea of player Michalis Papazoglou. He was possibly inspired by Billy Sherring, an Irish Canadian athlete who had won the Athens 1906 Olympic marathon wearing a white outfit with a big green shamrock on the chest.[2] In 1924 the club took its final and current name "Panathinaikos Athlitikos Omilos (PAO)" (Panathenaic Athletic Club), from now on a multi-sports club.
The champion football team of 1930
Basketball team of 1940

The athletics department was founded in 1919. In the same year, Panathinaikos was one of the first athletic clubs in Greece to form a volleyball team. The first dynamic presence of the team is dated back in the years 1927–1929 with many popular players of the time such as the historical member of the board Apostolos Nikolaidis as well as Aravositas, Goumas, Arg. Nikolaidis, Papageorgiou and Papastefanou.

In 1922, the basketball department was founded and it has since developed into the most successful basketball team in Greece and one of the most successful in Europe. They have won 34 Greek Championships, 15 Greek Cups, 6 European Championships and 1 Intercontinental Cup. In 1924, the table tennis department was founded, in 1926 the tennis department and in 1928 the cycling, shooting and field hockey departments. The swimming, the water polo and the handball departments were created in 1930.

In the 1928 Summer Olympics, for the first time, the parade of nations started with Greece. The athlete of Panathinaikos Antonis Kariofillis became the first Greek who started the parade.

Panathinaikos won the football championship in 1930 under the guidance of József Künsztler with Angelos Messaris as the team's star player. Other notable players of the era were Antonis Migiakis, Diomidis Symeonidis and Mimis Pierrakos. They beat rivals Olympiacos 8–2, a result that still remains the biggest win either team has achieved against its rival.

In 1937 the women's basketball team was created. During the WWII and the dark years of the Axis occupation of Greece, the athletes of Panathinaikos played a significant role. The football player Mimis Pierrakos was killed during the Greco-Italian war, while Michalis Papazoglou with Dimitris Giannatos (founding member of the basketball team) later participated in the resistance group of Jerzy Iwanow-Szajnowicz, an athlete of Polish origin of Iraklis Thessaloniki and secret agent of the British, and succeeded in destroying three German airplanes and sinking three small warships. They were arrested, tortured and finally Giannatos and Ivanof were executed.
1946-1990
Antonis Tritsis, athlete of the club
The football team in the 1971 European Cup Final.
Ferenc Puskás, manager of Panathinaikos (1970–1974)

The boxing department was founded in 1946, the diving department in 1947, the weightlifting department in 1959, the chess department in 1960, the fencing department in 1960, the gymnastics department in 1962, the waterskiing department in 1963 and the wrestling department in 1965. Panathinaikos' hardcore fans are called Gate 13 and are the oldest union of supporters in Greece. Gate 13 was founded in 1966. Furthermore, in the 1966 European Athletics Championships, the pole vaulter of the club and 13 times Greek champion, Christos Papanikolaou, wins the silver medal.

The volleyball club has demonstrated many titles and honours due to the fact that the team roster has always included some of the top volleyball players in Greece. The first generation was that of the '60s with Andreas and Nikos Bergeles as well as Iliopoulos, Leloudas, Chasapis, Emmanouil, Perros and Fotiou who opened the road for the next generations.

In 1970, Christos Papanikolaou jumped 5.49 metres to capture the world record. It was the first pole vault over 18 feet.

Panathinaikos soon dominated Greek football along with rivals Olympiacos and AEK and, although they are second in domestic titles, they have done better than any other Greek club in the European competitions. In 1971, Panathinaikos became the first and only Greek team - so far - to have reached the final of a European competition, when they faced Ajax in Wembley Stadium for the European Cup, losing 2-0. In the late '70s, when football became professional in Greece, the club's football department passed to the hands of the Vardinogiannis family. In the following 30 years the team won the Greek championship 7 times, while in Europe the team reached also the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League two more times, in 1985 and 1996.

In 1974, the table tennis team reached the semi-finals of the ETTU Cup. In 1978, the modern pentathlon department was founded and in 1980, the judo department. An important achievement for the volleyball team was the participation in the final of the CEV Cup Winners' Cup in 1980. During the following years, Panathinaikos continued to perform well in Greek volleyball with players such as Kazazis (the current head coach), Tentzeris, Gontikas (later president of Panathinaikos FC), Galakos, Dimitriadis and Margaronis.

The archery department was founded in 1981 and the futsal department in 1990.
1991-2000
Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium
Olympic Indoor Hall during a Panathinaikos B.C. game.

Another successful period for the volleyball team was the seasons 1994-95 and 1995-96 when Panathinaikos won two Greek Championships in a row with Stelios Prosalikas as head coach and Andreopoulos, Triantafyllidis, Filippov, Spanos, Chatziantoniou, Ouzounov, A. Kovatsev, P. Kovatsev, Karamaroudis and Tonev as players.

The men's basketball department is currently owned by two pharmaceutical magnates, the brothers Pavlos and Thanassis Giannakopoulos. In 1996 in Paris final-four (F4), Panathinaikos was the first Greek team to win the European Champions' Cup (now called Euroleague), beating Barcelona in a unique final, by 67-66. In September of the same year the team also won the Intercontinental Cup, prevailing by 2-1 wins over Olimpia of Argentina (83-89, 83-78, 101-76). In the same year, the football team reached the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.

In 2000, in the F4 of Thessaloniki, Panathinaikos were the Champions of Europe for the second time, beating Maccabi 73-67 in the final. In 2002 in Bologna, they conquered the most prestigious European trophy for the third time, beating hosts Kinder Bologna 89-83. Also, in 2000, the women's volleyball team reached the CEV Cup final.
2001-Present

In 2007 in Athens F4, Panathinaikos were crowned European Champions for the fourth time, beating CSKA Moscow 93-91. In 2009 in Berlin, the "greens" defeated again CSKA 73-71 to become the Champions of Europe for the fifth time. Their latest Euroleague triumph came in Barcelona in 2011, after defeating Maccabi 78-70 in the final. Panathinaikos won its sixth European Championship and became the second most successful club (behind Real Madrid) in the history of the competition.

In 2009, the men's volleyball team reached the CEV Cup final, while the women's volleyball team reached the Challenge Cup final.

In 2013, a new sports department was founded for the first time after many years. It is the rugby team, which was announced on the 7th of November 2013, while the re-foundation of the field hockey department and the creation also of a baseball team was announced in 2014.
Description and titles of the professional departments
Panathinaikos men's football
Mimis Domazos, the General

Football is the first and oldest department of the club. The football team of Panathinaikos is the only Greek that has reached the UEFA Champions League final (in 1971) and semi-finals (in 1985 and 1996), such as the Intercontinental Cup final.

Super League Greece: (20):[3][4][5][6] 1930, 1949, 1953, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1977, 1984, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1995, 1996, 2004, 2010

Greek Football Cup: (18):[5][6][7] 1940, 1948, 1955, 1967, 1969, 1977, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2004, 2010, 2014

Greek Super Cup: (5) (record): 1948, 1970, 1988, 1993, 1994

SEGAS and FCA Panhellenic Championship: (6): 1909, 1911, 1912, 1915, 1921, 1922 (as Podosferikos Omilos Athinon and Panellinios Podosferikos Omilos)

Greater Greece Cup: (1): 1970

Balkans Cup: (1): 1977

Panathinaikos men's basketball

Founded in 1922, the basketball team of the club is the most successful in Greece and one of the most successful in Europe, with six European championships and one Intercontinental Cup.
Nikos Galis
Dominique Wilkins

Greek Championship: (34) (record): 1946, 1947, 1950, 1951, 1954, 1961, 1962, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014

Greek Cup: (16) (record): 1979, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1993, 1996, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015

European Championship: (6): 1996, 2000, 2002, 2007, 2009, 2011

Intercontinental Cup: (1): 1996

Panathinaikos men's volleyball

The volleyball department was founded in 1919. it is one of the oldest and most successful volleyball teams in Greece.

Greek Championship: (18): 1963, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1995, 1996, 2004, 2006

Greek Cup: (6): 1982, 1984, 1985, 2007, 2008, 2010

Greek Super Cup: (1): 2006

Description and titles of the amateur departments
Panathinaikos women's basketball

The department was founded in 1937, one of the oldest in the country.

Greek Championship: (4): 1998, 2000, 2005, 2013

Greek Cup: (1): 2000

Panathinaikos women's volleyball

The department was founded in 1969 and is the women's volleyball team with more trophies in Greece.

Greek Championship: (24) (record): 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1998, 2000, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011

Greek Cup: (5) (record): 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010

Panathinaikos baseball

Greek Baseball League: (1): 2014

Individual Sports
Panathinaikos athletics

The athletics department was founded in 1919. The first athletes were the football players of the club.

Greek Championship, Men: (23): 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1989, 1990
Greek Indoor Championship, Men: (4): 1986, 1989, 1990, 1994
Greek Cross Country Championship, Men: (26) (record): 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1938, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2012
Pancypriot Championship, Men: (1): 1950
Greek Championship, Women: (3): 1946, 1947, 1949
Greek Cross Country Championship, Women: (6): 1949, 1950, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986

Panathinaikos cycling
Cycling team of 1928

Founded in 1928, it is one of the most successful departments of Panathinaikos.

Greek Championship, Overall Standings: (15) (record): 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1956, 1958, 1963, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1973, 1982, 1985, 1989, 1990
Greek Road Championship, Men: (22) (record): 1952, 1953, 1954, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1973, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1989, 1990, 1997
Greek Track Championship, Men: (11) (record): 1951, 1954, 1956, 1958, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1990

Panathinaikos table tennis
Nikos Mantzaroglou

The department was founded in 1924 by Nikos Mantzaroglou.

Greek Clubs' Championship, Men: (11): 1951, 1952, 1955, 1956,1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1966, 1968, 1975
Greek Clubs' Championship, Women: (3): 1972, 1973, 1974
Greek Cup, Men: (3): 1965,1966, 1969
Greek Cup, Women: (1): 1972

Panathinaikos boxing

It was founded in 1912 by John Cyril Campbell, the coach of the football team.

Greek Championship, Men: (30) (record): 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1982, 1986, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2011
Greek Cup, Men: (2): 1988, 1999

Panathinaikos fencing

Just like the boxing department, it was founded in 1912 by John Cyril Campbell, the coach of the football team.

Greek Championship, Overall Standings: (13): 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975
Greek Foil team championship: (11): 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1978
Greek Épée team championship: (12): 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1980

Greek Sabre team championship: (5): 1964, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974

Panathinaikos shooting
Athanasios Aravositas

It was founded in 1928 by Athanasios Aravositas and it is one of the most successful departments of the club.

Greek Championship, Overall Standings: (10) (record): 1958, 1960, 1964, 1965, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1989, 1990, 1991

Panathinaikos archery

Greek Championship, Men: (4): 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986

Greek Championship, Women: (3): 1984, 1985, 1986

Greek Championship, Olympic archery: (1): 1993

Panathinaikos diving

Greek Championship, Overall Standings: (4): 1969, 1972, 1975, 2015

Panathinaikos swimming

Greek Championship, Overall Standings: (12): 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968

Panathinaikos weightlifting

Greek Championship, Men: (6): 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969

Panathinaikos wrestling

Greek Championship, Men: (2): 2014, 2015

Panathinaikos modern pentathlon

Greek Championship, Men: (2): 1980, 1987

Titles of the inactive departments
Panathinaikos gymnastics

Greek Championship, Men: (1): 1972

Panathinaikos chess

Greek Championship: (2): 1970,1971

Supporters
Fans of Panathinaikos in the Olympic Stadium of Athens

According to the most recent polls, Panathinaikos is one of the most popular clubs in Greece, with nearly 30,2%[8] of the population supporting them, and the most popular in greater Athens and the region of Attica.[9] They have also a large fanbase in all Greek prefectures (central Greece, Peloponnese, Epirus, Thessaly, Aegean and Ioanian islands, Macedonia and Crete), in Cyprus and in the Greek diaspora.

The main organized supporters of Panathinaikos are known as Gate 13 (est. 1966), which consists of around 80 clubs alongside Greece and Cyprus.[10] Gate 13 style of supporting includes the use of green fireworks, large and small green flags, displaying of banners and especially the creation of colorful and large choreographies, noisy and constant cheering and other supporters stuff. Gate 13 has over the years become a part of the club by affecting club decisions and by following the club on all occasions. Panathinaikos F.C. is one of only two supporter-owned football clubs in Greece.

Panathinaikos supporters hold both records of the most season tickets sales (31.091 in 2010) and highest average attendance for a unique season (44.942 in 1985-86 season) in the history of Greek football.

Regarding the basketball, the fans of Panathinaikos, notable for their passionate support, also hold continuous attendance European records, such as the 20,000 fans against Benetton Treviso in 2006 and the 30,000 (over 25.000 officially) viewers against FC Barcelona Bàsquet in 2013.

The club is quite popular among artist cycles (actors, musicians, singers etc), such as some notable politicians.
Notable supporters

Sophia Aliberti, actress
Giannis Bostantzoglou, actor
Giannis Diakogiannis, sports journalist
Yiannis Charoulis, singer
Giannis Fertis, actor
Petros Filipidis, actor
Giorgos Fountas, actor
Katerina Gogou, actress and anarchist poet
Dimitris Horn, actor
Liana Kanelli, journalist and member of the Greek Parliament
Kostas Karamanlis, former Prime Minister of Greece
Nikos Karvelas, songwriter, producer and singer
Nikos Kourkoulos, actor
Stamatis Kokkotas, singer
Alexandros Lykourezos, lawyer
Lavrentis Machairitsas, rock musician

Zeta Makripoulia, model, actress and TV presenter
Spyridon Merkouris, Mayor of Athens
Stamatis Mercouris, politician and military officer
Melina Mercouri, actress
Andreas Mikroutsikos, songwriter, singer and TV presenter
Thanos Mikroutsikos, composer
Vicky Moscholiou, singer
Klelia Pantazi, rhythmic gymnast and Olympic medal winner
Aleka Papariga, former General Secretary of the Communist Party of Greece
Yiannis Parios, singer and songwriter
Georgios Rallis, former Prime Minister of Greece
Alexis Tsipras, leader of Coalition of the Radical Left and the current prime minister of Greece
Anna Vissi, singer
Aliki Vougiouklaki, actress
Giorgos Zambetas, musician