Aris Thessaloniki F.C.

Aris Thessaloniki FC

Full name	Aris Thessaloniki FC
Nickname(s)	Θεός του πολέμου (God of war)
Founded	March 25, 1914
Ground	Kleanthis Vikelidis Stadium, Papanastasiou, Thessaloniki (Capacity: 22,800 [1])
Owner	Aris Friends' Club
Chairman	Thanasis Athanasiadis
Manager	Héctor Cúper
League	Super League Greece
2009-10	Super League Greece, 4th (5th in regular season)[2][3][4]
Home colours Away colours Third colours
Current season

Aris Thessaloniki Football Club (Greek: Π.Α.Ε. Άρης) is a popular club in Superleague Greece, the top tier of the nation's professional football system. Aris premiered on the 25th of March 1914 in the Macedonian city of Thessaloniki. The colors of the team are yellow and black, reminiscent of Byzantium. During its long history, Aris has earned 3 domestic league titles and 1 cup, while many important managers and footballers both Greek and foreign have played with the team. The club is named after Ares, the god of war, whose image is portrayed on the club logo (as depicted in the Ludovisi Ares). Aris is one of the five greatest and most supported clubs in Greece^[5].

History

A golden era 1920–1950

Kleanthis Vikelides

The club was established by a group of 12 young friends in a coffee bar in Votsi area on 25 March 1914 and given the name Aris from the god of war. Its nickname was inspired by the two Balkan Wars of 1912-1913, when Greece fought against the Ottoman Empire before engaging in a war Bulgaria. In Greek mythology, Aris was a deity who was in conflict with Hercules, the mythological character after which Aris's rival football team, Iraklis, was named. In the beginning the club was based on a ground near the Arch and Tomb of Galerius but after the accession of two minor football clubs in 1919 and 1921 the club's base was moved near to Flemming Street. The first stadium was built on the site where Mars Field Park currently lies on Stratou Avenue. Quickly the club became very popular and soon new teams apart from football were established.

During this early stage of football in Greece no professional league was established. Instead, three minor leagues (in Macedonia (E.P.S.M.), Athens (E.P.S.A.) and Piraeus (E.P.S.P.)) were created, with the champions of each league competing in a postseason mini tournament to claim the title of the national champion. The first official game was held in 1923 againtst an other Thessalonikian Club, Megas Alexandros. That year marked the first title, when Aris was named regional champion of Macedonia, something that was repeated next year. Up to 1959, when the united First Division was created, Aris managed to finish first 14 times in the Macedonian division.

Its first national title came in 1928 when Aris beat twice the Athens' league champion, Atromitos, and the Piraeus chapmpion, Ethnikos. On May 24, 1928 Aris beated Atromitos 3-1 in Athens, losing 2-3 to Ethnikos three days later, in June the second leg was held in Thessaloniki, were Aris won both his opponents by 3-1. This championship also marked the first appearance of the club's most important player, Kleanthis Vikelides, while manager during that first national success was the Austrian Kessler.

The second championship came four years later in 1932, only this time his opponents were Olympiakos, Panathinaikos, AEK, Ethnikos, PAOK and Iraklis. Aris managed to collect 22 points in this mini tournament, four more that the second, Panathinaikos, scoring large wins like 7-0 against Panathinaikos, 7-3 against Iraklis and 3-0 versus AEK and Olympiakos in Athens, also new star players emerged, Kitsios, Aggelakis, Mpogdanos, Gigopoulos, while Belgian manager De Valer guided effectively the club.^[6]

Aris won their third title in 1946, the only national championship during the Greek Civil War, playing against two teams, AEK from Athens and Olympiakos from Pireus, champions of the other two minor domestic leagues. Aris beat Olympiakos twice, scoring two goals and conceding none; came to a draw with AEK in Athens and defeated them in PAOK’s stadium in Thessaloniki (score 4–1). Aris has not won a championship since the establishment of the First Division (1959).

Modern Times 1950-1980

Kleanthis Vikelides Stadium during an UEFA match

Aris' status remained high during this period, which was marked by the construction of the club's modern home, the Kleanthis Vikelides Stadium, named after the legentary homonymous player. Before World War II, Aris' homeground was located in the center of the city, near the modern Thessaloniki Expo Center, but was abalienated by the state in 1936 in order for a park, the Pedion tou Areos (Mars Field) to be built. The club was never compensated, but its officials managed to buy some land during 1951 in a modern suburb of the city named Harilaou, where the new Stadium was slowly built. Also in 1959, the tripartite minor league system was abandoned and a new, unified Championship was created.

The club's accomplishments during these years were significant. It was one of the first teams in Greece to qualify for European tournaments. Under the leadership of Alexandros Alexiades, Giorgos Pantziaras and Takis Loukanidis, Aris earned high placings in the League during the '60 and '70, with apex the 1970 Hellenic Cup Title against the club's fierce rival, PAOK, in Kaftatzoglio Stadium.

In the 1970's, Aris was reorganized and a vast number of young players from Thessaloniki, including Kouis, Foiros, Drambis, Zindros and Stelios Papafloratos led the club. Its most important achievements during that period included a successful 1980 UEFA campaign when Aris eliminated Benfica and Perugia. Aris was also the first Greek club to score a victory in Italy. At home, the team shared first place with Olympiakos at the end of the 1980 campaign, though it lost the title 2-0 in a tie-breaker against the Piraeus club in Volos National Stadium.

Recent Years 1980-

Aris FC fans during the 2010 Greek Cup Final

After the mid '80 and the retirement of the club's honored old guard, Aris entered in a slow decline, rarely reaching European league qualification or notable Greek League position, which -- in combination with appreciable financial troubles that left the club near bankruptcy -- led to the club's relegation to the Second Division in 1997 and 2005. Both times though Aris easily managed to resume its place in the first division. In recent years, specially after the creation of a Friends Club that controls the club's fortunes, Aris has qualified several times for the UEFA Cup , finished fourth in the Superleague three times, and has reached in the Greek Cup Final four times, losing in 2003, 2005, 2008 and 2010. In 2008 and 2010 Aris made it through to the UEFA Europa League group stage after eliminating Real Zaragoza and Austria Wien respectively during the Cup's play-off rounds. Recent developments include the interest from the club's board to construct a new, modern stadium in eastern Thessaloniki Metropolitan Area to replace the obsolete Kleanthis Vikelides Stadium and the modernization and expantion of the club's training facilities in Neo Rysio, Thessaloniki. Also, in a unique move for Greek standards, the board in cooperation with local businessmen decided in December 2009 to establish a radio station, Aris FM 92.8 ^[7] in order to promote the communication between Aris fans around the country and the coverage of the clubs activities.

Aris Friends' Club

In December 2006, the club's board decided to create an organisation called Aris Friends' Club to give supporters the opportunity to participate in the club's management by buying no par value shares. According to the plan, each member will have the right to vote in the board elections for president as well as to run as a candidate. In order to be involved in the elections, fans must also financially support the club.

The system was fully activated in May 2009, when the current president Thanassis Athanassiades, was elected after prevailing against his opponent gaining the 75.5% of the votes,^[8] while it has gained large support from the club's supporters counting over 6.000 members in 2010. ^[9]

Crest and Colours

Aris F.C. crest

The emblem of the team is a resting Ares (Greek: Άρης - Aris), the Olympian god of war, as depicted in the Ludovisi Ares. It was chosen in the late '70 to replace the older and simpler logo which was used since 1914. The colors of the team are yellow and black, chosen to remind the connection with the Byzantine heritage of Thessaloniki.

History of the kit

1921

1925

1931

1940

1954

1970

1978

1986

1994

1997

1999

2001

2007

2008

Supporters

Aris has a huge and very loyal fanbase and it is the fourth most supported club in Greece. The fanbase is spread across all the economic classes in the city and the greater region of Greece. Their rivalry is against clubs such as arch-rival PAOK and also other traditional rivalries which include the Athenian clubs Olympiacos Piraeus, Panathinaikos and AEK Athens.

Feeder clubs

• Aris Petroupolis
• Aris Kozanis

Current squad

For recent transfers, see Aris Thessaloniki transfers in season 2010-11.

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

No. Position Player 1 GK Markos Vellidis 2 DF Darcy Dolce Neto 3 DF Oriol 4 DF Efthimios Kouloucheris 5 DF Ronaldo Guiaro 6 MF Mehdi Nafti 7 MF Toni Calvo 8 MF Juan Toja 9 FW Danijel Cesarec 10 FW Koke (captain) 11 FW Carlos Ruiz 12 MF Giorgos Katidis 13 GK Michalis Sifakis 14 MF Ricardo Faty 15 MF Álvaro Portilla 16 DF Michel

No. Position Player 17 MF Konstantinos Kasnaferis 19 MF Konstantinos Mendrinos 20 MF Javito 21 DF Grigoris Papazaharias 23 FW Christos Aravidis 24 DF Nikolaos Lazaridis 25 GK Juanma 27 MF Charalambos Economopoulos 28 GK Michal Peškovič 29 DF Giannis Agtzidis 32 DF Kristi Vangjeli 33 MF Deividas Česnauskis 47 DF Mavroudis Bougaidis 55 MF Athanassios Prittas -- MF Freddy Adu

^{[10] [11]}

'For recent transfers, see List of Greece football transfers summer 2010'

Out on loan

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

No. Position Player 8 MF Nacho García (to Anorthosis) 22 DF Thomas Graikos (to Makedonikos)

Foreign players

International players

Honours & Achievements

Honours

Aris Thessaloniki's honours and achievements include the following:^{[12][13][14][15][16]}

Greek Football League

• Panhellenic Championship / Alpha Ethniki / Super League Greece (level 1)
  • Champions (3): 1927-28, 1931-32, 1945-46
  • Runners up (3): 1929-30, 1932-33, 1979-80

• Beta Ethniki (level 2)
  • Champions (1): 1997-98
  • Promotion (2): 1997-98 ^[H], 2005-06 ^[J]

Domestic cup competition

• Greek Cup:
  • Winners (1): 1969-70
  • Finalists (8): 1931-32, 1932-33, 1939-40, 1949-50, 2002-03, 2004-05, 2007-08, 2009-10

Regional Honours

• Macedonian Football Clubs Association Championship (level 1 until 1959) ^[M]
  • Winners (14): 1922-23, 1923-24, 1925-26, 1927-28, 1928-29, 1929-30, 1930-31, 1932-33, 1933-34, 1937-38, 1945-46, 1948-49, 1952-53, 1958-59
  • Runners up (5): 1938-39, 1947-48, 1951-52, 1955-56, 1956-57

M. ^ Macedonian Football Clubs Association Championship, which was formally organized in 1924, was the top tier competition for soccer teams in the region of Macedonia until 1959 with its winners (and sometimes lower placed teams) participating in the Panhellenic Championship, which was held from 1927-28 till 1958-59. However, in 1928-29, 1934-35, 1940-41 to 1944-45, 1949-50 and 1951-52 the Panhellenic Championship was not held, and in 1959-60 it was replaced with Alpha Ethniki. In 1924-25 the Macedonian Football Clubs Association Championship was not held, in 1931-32 the regional championship had 2nd level status and Aris participated in the combined regions' national championship, in 1932-33 the Northern Greece Championship was held instead of the Macedonian Football Clubs Association Championship, whereas in 1933-34 both championships were held and the Northern Greece Championship's winner (Iraklis) participated in the Panhellenic Championship play-off against the Southern Greece Championship's winner. In 1934-35 only the Northern Greece Championship was held instead of the Macedonian Football Clubs Association Championship, while in 1935-36 only a combined regions national championship was held. During 1940-45 the regional championship, along with the national one, was not held.

Aris Thessaloniki F.C. in Europe

Aris FC have played in the UEFA Cup and the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup on many occasions. The furthest the club has progressed is to the Third Round of the 1979–80 UEFA Cup where Aris beat the Portuguese side Benfica 4-3 on aggregate in the 1st Round, and Italian club Perugia 4-1 on aggregate in the 2nd Round, before being eliminated 4-7 on aggregate by French club Saint Etienne. Aris's most recent participation in Europe is in the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League. The club's biggest win in a European competition was 6-0 to Hibernians, while the heaviest defeat was 1-9 to Újpest, both in 1968-69.

Performance

Superleague Greece

Before 1959^[17]

Regional Champion of Macedonian Football Clubs Association in 1923, 1924, 1926, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1933, 1934, 1938, 1946, 1949, 1953, 1959. ^[M]

Panhellenic Champion in 1928, 1932 and 1946.

Since 1959 ^[18]

Notes:

A. ^ In 1959–60: 8th after play-off match with PAOK F.C. for places 7-8

B. ^ In 1960–61: 12th after play-off match with Proodeftiki F.C. for places 11-12

C. ^ In 1961–62: 13th after play-off matches with Niki Volos F.C. and Apollon Kalamarias F.C. for places 11-13

D. ^ In 1962–63: 14th after play-off matches with Apollon Kalamarias F.C., Proodeftiki F.C. and Panegialios F.C. for places 12-15

E. ^ In 1979–80: 2nd after play-off match with Olympiacos F.C. for the championship

F. ^ In 1986-87: Most of the teams went the last three match days on strike. Only Olympiacos, Panathinaikos, OFI and Panionios did not. All other teams had -9 points, because they did not show-up.

G. ^ In 1996-97: Athinaikos-Aris awarded 2-0, because Aris could not present the registration ID's and health certificates of the players to the referee. Moreover, Aris had 3 points deducted, finished 16th and was relegated to Beta Ethniki

H. ^ In 1997-98: Aris participated in Beta Ethniki, finishing 1st and being promoted to top-tier Alpha Ethniki

I. ^ In 2004-05: Aris-Iraklis awarded 0-2; abandoned at 1-2 in 43', because Aris fans entered the pitch and attacked some of the players of Iraklis. Moreover, Aris had 3 points deducted, finished 14th and was relegated to Beta Ethniki

J. ^ In 2005-06: Aris participated in Beta Ethniki, finishing 3rd and being promoted to top-tier Super League Greece

K. ^ In 2007–08: finished in 4th place in the regular season, qualifying for the play-offs, and, finishing overall in 4th place after the league play–offs (clubs placed 2nd to 5th)

L. ^ In 2009-10: finished in 5th place in the regular season, qualifying for the play-offs, and, finishing overall in 4th place after the league play–offs (clubs placed 2nd to 5th)

• Point system: 1959–60 to 1972–73: 3–2–1. 1973–74 to 1991–92: 2–1–0. 1992–93 onwards: 3–1–0.

• Teams competing in the championship: 1959-60 to 1966-67: 16. 1967-68 to 1974-75: 18. 1975-76: 16. 1976-77 to 1982-83: 18. 1983-84 to 1988-89: 16. 1989-90 to 1999-00: 18. 2000-01: 16. 2001-02: 14. 2002-03 onwards: 16.

League top scorers

Player	Goals
Dinos Kouis	141
Alexandros Alexiades	127
Kostas Papaioannou	65
Kostas Drampis	48
Giorgos Zindros	46

Most league appearances

Player	Matches
Dinos Kouis	473
Theodoros Pallas	368
Giannis Nalbantis	303
Giorgos Foiros	303
Giannis Venos	303

European matches panorama

Aris Thessaloniki F.C. scores are given first in all scorelines.

Season	Competition	Round	Opponent		Home leg	Away leg	Aggregate	Notes
			Country	Club
1964–65	Inter-Cities Fairs Cup	1st Round	Italy	A.S. Roma	0-0	0–3	0-3
1965–66	Inter-Cities Fairs Cup	2nd Round	West Germany	FC Köln	2-1	0–2	2-3
1966–67	Inter-Cities Fairs Cup	1st Round	Italy	Juventus	0-2	0–5	0-7
1968–69	Inter-Cities Fairs Cup	1st Round	Malta	Hibernians	1-0	6–0	7-0
		2nd Round	Hungary	Újpest	1-2	1-9	2-11
1969–70	Inter-Cities Fairs Cup	1st Round	Italy	Cagliari	1-1	0-3	1-4
1970–71	Cup Winners' Cup	1st Round	England	Chelsea	1-1	1-5	2-6
1974–75	UEFA Cup	1st Round	Austria	Rapid Wien	1-0	1-3	2-3
1979–80	UEFA Cup	1st Round	Portugal	Benfica	3-1	1-2	4-3
		2nd Round	Italy	Perugia	1-1	3-0	4-1
		3rd Round	France	Saint-Étienne	3-3	1-4	4-7
1980–81	UEFA Cup	1st Round	England	Ipswich Town	3-1	1-5	4-6
1981–82	UEFA Cup	1st Round	Malta	Sliema Wanderers	4-0	4-2	8-2
		2nd Round	Belgium	Lokeren	1-1	0-4	1-5
1994–95	UEFA Cup	Qualifying Round	Israel	Hapoel Be'er Sheva	3-1	2-1	5-2
		1st Round	Poland	Katowice	1-0	0-1	1-1	3–4 on penalties
1999–00	UEFA Cup	1st Round	Switzerland	Servette	1-1	2-1(a.e.t)	3-2(a.e.t)	extra time win
		2nd Round	Spain	Celta de Vigo	2-2	0-2	2-4
2003–04	UEFA Cup	1st Round	Moldova	Zimbru Chişinău	2-1	1-1	3-2
		2nd Round	Italy	Perugia	1-1	0-2	1-3
2005–06	UEFA Cup	1st Round	Italy	A.S. Roma	0-0	1-5	1-5
2007–08	UEFA Cup	1st Round	Spain	Real Zaragoza	1-0	1-2	2-2(a)	Aris advanced to the next round on away goals
		Group Stage (Group F)	Serbia	Red Star Belgrade	3-0		3-0	group phase was played in a single round-robin format
			England	Bolton Wanderers		1-1	1-1
			Portugal	Braga	1-1		1-1
			Germany	Bayern Munich		0-6	0-6
2008–09	UEFA Cup	2nd Qualifying Round	Croatia	Slaven Belupo	1-0	0-2	1-2
2010–11	UEFA Europa League	3rd Qualifying Round	Poland	Jagiellonia Białystok	2-2	2-1	4-3
		Play-off Round	Austria	Austria Wien	1-0	1-1	2-1
		Group Stage (Group B)	Spain	Atlético Madrid
			Germany	Bayer Leverkusen
			Norway	Rosenborg

UEFA Team Ranking

Rank	Country	Team	Points
111		Anorthosis	14.624
112		MŠK Žilina	14.399
113		S.S.C. Napoli	14.367
114		Aris	13.873
115		NEC Nijmegen	13.425
116		FC Slovan Liberec	13.270
117		Lech_Poznań	13.183

As of 28 August 2010.^[19][20]

UEFA club competition record

As of 28 August 2010, including qualifying matches.

Club officials

Board of Directors

Chairman	Thanasis Athanasiadis
Director of football	Antonio Calzado
Executive Director	Giannis Kontis
Managing Director	Antonios Zabetas
Director of football	Antonio Calzado
Commercial Director	Georgios Eleftheroudes
Press Officer	Chryssanthos Tsaltides
General Manager	Georgios Koltsidas

Source: [1]

Coaching Staff

Position	Staff
Manager	Héctor Cúper
Assistant manager	Hose Carlos Fandagushi
Fitness Coach	Anjel Puebla Garcia
Coach	Pedro Abraham Capella
Physio	Konstantinos Syggounas
Goalkeeping Coach	Ribeiro Diaz Wellerson
Chief Scout	Giannis Michalitsios
Scout	Leonidas Visdou

Last updated: 30 August 2010
Source: arisfc.gr

Kit

Supplier: Under Armour
Sponsor: OPAP

Home Colours

Away Colours

Third Colours

Goalkeeper's Home Colours

Goalkeeper's Away Colours

Source: arisfc.gr

Other information

Source: [2]

Managerial history

Name Nat. Years Héctor Cúper 2009– Mazinho 2008–2009 Enrique Hernández 2008 Dušan Bajević 2007-2008 Juan Oliva 2007 Enrique Hernández 2006-2007 Nikos Passialis 2006 Guillermo Ángel Hoyos 2006 Nikos Anastopoulos 2005-2006 Martti Kuusela 2005 Giorgos Chatzaras 2004-2005 Ole Scoboe 2003-2004 Giorgos Pantziaras 2003 Giannis Michalitsios 2003 Giorgos Foiros 2002-2003 Richard Tardy and Christophe Galtier 2001-2002 Giannis Tzifopoulos 2001 Henri Michel 2001 Babis Tennes 2000-2001 Ilija Petković 1999-2000

Name Nat. Years Alketas Panagoulias 1998-1999 Georgios Paraschos 1998 Giorgos Foiros 1997-1998 Juan Ramón Rocha 1997 Giorgos Semetzidis 1997 Giannis Diamantopoulos 1996-1997 Giorgos Foiros 1992-1996 Ivan Vutsov 1991-1992 Jacek Gmoch 1990-1991 Kostas Tsilios 1990 Alketas Panagoulias 1988-1990 Gert Prokop 1987-1988 Kostas Gounaris 1987 Gojko Zec 1986-1987 Thijs Libregts 1984-1986 Kostas Chatzikostas 1984 Antonis Georgiades 1982-1984 Dettmar Cramer 1981-1982 Giannis Nalbantis 1981 Michal Vican 1980-81

Name Nat. Years Frank Blunstone 1980 Jose Pepe Sasia 1979-1980 Apostol Cacevski 1978-1979 Branko Stanković 1974 Wilf McGuinness 1971-1974 Milovan Ćirić 1970-1971 Kleanthis Vikelidis 1958-1959 Kleanthis Vikelidis 1954-1955 De Valer 1931-1932 Tomas Kessler 1927-1928 Giannis Vlachopoulos 1914-1918

Notable former players

See also

• Aris Thessaloniki
• Aris BC
• Aris VC

External links

• Official football website (in Greek and English)
• Club-owned Radio Station
• Aris Members Club website

References