Ethnikos Piraeus

Ethnikos Piraeus
Full name Ethnikos Omilos Filathlon Pireos/Phalirou
Founded 1923
Colours           Blue, White
Titles 1 Greek Football Cup
38 Greek Water Polo Championships
12 Water Polo Championships
1 LEN Trophy (women)
3 Water Polo Championships (women)
3 Swimming Panhellenic Championships
2 Field Hockey Championships
Website Club home page
Departments of
Ethnikos Piraeus
Football Basketball Volleyball
Waterpolo Swimming Field Hockey
Canoeing Club

Ethnikos Piraeus (Greek: Εθνικός Πειραιώς) is a Greek multisport club based in Piraeus. It was founded in 1923. The full name of the club is Ethnikos Omilos Filathlon Pireos–Phalirou or Ethnikos OFPF (Greek: Εθνικός Όμιλος Φιλάθλων Πειραιώς-Φαλήρου/Εθνικός ΟΦΠΦ), which means National Club of Fans of Piraeus and Phalerum. Ethnikos has sections in football, basketball, volleyball, waterpolo, swimming and field hockey. In most of these sports, Ethnikos has won titles and honours. The most successful section is the water polo, which has won many titles in both men's (most Greek championships) and women's teams. Nevertheless, the most popular is the football team, which had a remarkable tradition in the first division in the past.

Departments

History

Early years

Ethnikos winner's cup team in 1933

Ethnikos was founded in 1923 under the name Keravnos.[4] One year later the club was renamed to Young Boys Titan. On 23 December 1924, Young Boys Titan merged with the club Peiraikos Podosfairikos Omilos and renamed to Ethnikos.[5] During the early years Ethnikos enjoyed successes by the teams of football, waterpolo and swimming. Ethnikos swimming team won two Panhellenic championships in 1926 and 1927. Ethnikos water polo team won the first championship organised by SEGAS in 1926 and another one in 1931. Ethnikos football team won the second football cup of the Greek football in 1933.[6] The football team also was the runner-up in the first Greek Panhellenic Championship, in 1928. Ethnikos claimed the championship two more times. The first time was in 1929, when it won the championship of Piraeus and qualified for the Panhellenic championship but this wasn’t held. The second time was in 1935, when Ethnikos was the winner of championship of South Greece and qualified for the final of Panhellenic Championship, but eventually the final wasn’t held.[6]

The first postwar years

After Second World War Ethnikos created a strong team both football and waterpolo. The football team was runner-up of 1955-56 Greek championship having finished one only point behind the head of the standings, Olympiacos. The next season Ethnikos was one of the favorite for the title but it was denied the title because of a strict punishment by EPO. The reason of punishment was the conduct of football games with the exiled football team of Hungary.[6] Ethnikos water polo team dominated entirely in Water Polo Championship, taking the majority of titles between 1950 and 1990. Ethnikos won 18 consecutive championships from 1953 to 1970 and 14 consecutive championships from 1972 to 1985.[7]

Last years

The fall of football team of Ethnikos started in the early of 1990's. In 1989-90 season Ethnikos was relegated to Beta Ethniki (second division) for first time, after 31 consecutive appearances A Ethniki (first division). The football team of Ethnikos owed a big part of success in the longtime President Dimitris Karellas.[8] After his death in 1993, the football team of Ethnikos didn't manage to return to successes. Water polo team continued to give successes to Ethnikos. Ethnikos Women's water polo team, winning the LEN trophy cup in 2010, won the first European cup of Ethnikos. In 2011 Ethnikos created a field hockey team. Ethnikos Piraes field hockey has won two championships so far in 2012 and 2014.

Sport facilities

Karaiskakis Stadium in 2004

The first years Ethnikos was playing in Neo Phaliron Velodrome. In the place of velodrome, the Karaiskakis Stadium was built in 1960 and became the new home of Ethnikos. Ethnikos had been playing in Karaiskaki until 2004, when the stadium renovated. The next years Ethnikos played in different stadiums. More often, it plays in Hellinikon Stadium.[9] The water polo team plays in national natatorium of Piraeus, known also as Petros Kapageroff formerly Papastrateio. The basketball and volleyball team play in Panagiotis Salpeas gymnasium in the centre of Piraeus.

Honours

Ethnikos Piraeus F.C.
Ethnikos Piraeus Water Polo Club
Ethnikos Piraeus Water Polo Club (women)
Ethnikos Field Hockey Club
Ethnikos Swimming team

References

  1. ↑ "Κύπελλο Πειραιά: Στον Εθνικό Π. η κούπα!". newsbomb.gr. 3 March 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  2. ↑ "Εθνικός: Ανέβηκε στην Α2". onsports.gr. 10 May 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  3. ↑ "Πρωταθλητής στο χόκεϋ". ethnikos.org. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  4. ↑ "Δελτίο τύπου". ethnikos.gr. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  5. ↑ "Εθνικός Πειραιώς, ιστορία". topiko24.gr. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "90 χρόνια Εθνικός!". gazzetta.gr. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  7. ↑ "Η "χρυσή βίβλος" του πρωταθλήματος πόλο". enet.gr. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  8. ↑ "Ο άνθρωπος που δεν άφησαν να κάνει Ρεάλ τον Εθνικό...". onsports.gr. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  9. ↑ "Στάδιο". ethnikos.gr. Retrieved 9 July 2014.

External links