Full name | PAE A.O. Kerkyra (Athletic Club Kerkyra FC) |
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Nickname(s) | Φαίακες (Phaiakes) | |||
Founded | 1968 | |||
Ground | Kerkyra Stadium, Kerkyra (Capacity: 2,685) |
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Chairman | Giorgos Limpantzis | |||
Manager | Javi Gracia | |||
League | Super League Greece | |||
2010–11 | Super League Greece, 12th | |||
Website | Club home page | |||
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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.
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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 Kerkiras" 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 Kerkiras" in 1968 the team had to change its name to "A.O. Kerkyra".
The club's colors are Maroon and Blue, depicting the colors of the island and its 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 its foundation.
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 FC. In the 2009-2010 season in Beta Ethniki they secured promotion to the super league on 2 May 2010 with a 0-0 draw against Panetolikos.
Their nickname is Vourligans, a portmanteau of Vourlismenos (crazy in corfiot dialect) and Hooligans.
A.O. Kerkyra's longest rivalry is with local club Olympos Kerkiras, 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. Panetolikos is another mainland team from nearby Aetolia-Acarnania and the same rivalry logic applies as with the Epirus teams.
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.
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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1969-70: B' National A Group (11th)
1970-71: B' National A Group (17th)
1971-72: B' National A Group (14th)
1972-73: B' National A Group (16th)
1973-74: B' National A Group (14th)
1974-75: B' National A Group (20th Relegation)
1975-76: After the fall of the Second national, AOK is in the First Division of the Football Association of Corfu
1976-77: A' Division of F.A. Corfu
1977-84: A' Division of F.A. Corfu
1984-85: C' National South Group (14th)
1985-86: C' National South Group (11th)
1986-87: C' National South Group (12th)
1987-88: C' National South Group (12th Relegation)
1988-89: D' National (Promotion)
1989-90: C' National South Group (16th Relegation)
1990-91: D' National
1991-92: D' National (1st Promotion) - Finalist in Greek Amateur Cup
1992-93: C' National South Group (14th Relegation)
1993-94: D' National
1994-95: D' National
1995-96: D' National (1st Promotion)
1996-97: C' National South Group (9th)
1997-98: C' National South Group (12th Relegation)
1998-00: D' National
2000-01: D' National (1st Promotion)
2001-02: C' National (1st Promotion)
2002-03: B' National (5th)
2003-04: B' National (1st Historical Promotion to A' National)
2004-05: A' National (16th Relegation)
2005-06: B' National (2nd Promotion)
2006-07: Superleague Greece (14th Relegation)
2007-08: B' National (7th)
2008-09: B' National (5th)
2009-10: B' National (2nd Promotion)
2010-11: Superleague Greece (12th)
2011-12: Superleague Greece (14th at the moment)
Note: A' National = Superleague, B' National = Football League, C' National = Football League 2
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