Athinaikos F.C.

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Athinaikos AS FC
Full name	PAE Athinaikos Athlitikos Syllogos (Athenian Athletic Association FC)
Nickname(s)	Lordi tou Vyrona (Lords of Byron) Athne (Athinaikos Neas Elvetias)
Founded	1917
Ground	National Stadium of Vyrona, Vyronas, Athens (Capacity 4,340)
Chairman	-
Manager	-
2004-05	-
Home colours 　 Away colours

Athinaikos, officially known as Athinaikos AS FC (Greek: Αθηναϊκός Αθλητικός Σύλλογος - Athinaikos Athlitikos Syllogos), the Athenian Athletic Association, is a Greek association football club based in the city of Athens, Greece. The club is also referred to, unofficially, as Athinaikos Vyronas after the Athens suburb in which the team is based.

[edit] History

The club was formed in 1917 and was a foundation member of the Hellenic Football Federation.

At the start of 1950's, the team was relocated to the suburbs of Vyronas and merged with Nea Elvetia (Greek: Αθλητική Ένωση Νέας Ελβετίας), the local club, which was formed in 1935. The club was named Athinaikos Neas Elvetias AS (Greek: Αθηναϊκός Νέας Ελβετίας Αθλητικός Σύλλογος), but it was commonly referred to as Athinaikos or AthNE (Greek: AΘ.Ν.Ε.).

The team plays in the municipal stadium of Vyrona, which has a capacity of 4,340 [1]. The team's nickname is Lords of Byron, a reference to George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron, commonly known as Lord Byron, who fought and died for Greek independence. The area of Vyronas was named after him as a tribute.

Athinaikos established two more departments of Handball and Basketball.

The most historical moment of the club was in season 1991-92 where they played against Manchester United in the first round of the Cup Winners' Cup. They drew the first leg 0-0 at home and took the English giants into extra-time at Old Trafford before losing 2-0.