Atromitos F.C.

Atromitos Athens

Full name	Π.Α.Ε. Α.Π.Σ. Ατρόμητος Αθηνών (APS Atromitos Athens Football Club)
Nickname(s)	Atromitos (Fearless)
Founded	1923 (1923)
Ground	Peristeri Stadium
Ground Capacity	10,005
Owner	Georgios Spanos
Chairman	Georgios Spanos
Manager	Damir Canadi
League	Superleague Greece
2016–17	Superleague Greece, 8th
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours Third colours

Atromitos Athens Football Club (Greek: Π.Α.Ε. Α.Π.Σ. Ατρόμητος Αθηνών, PAE APS Atromitos Athinon, literally meaning "Fearless") is an association football club based in Peristeri, Athens that plays in the Superleague Greece. It was founded in 1923 and its home ground is Peristeri Stadium.

In recent years, Atromitos has been established itself as one of the most competitive and strong clubs in Greece. They were runners-up of the Greek Cup in 2011 and 2012 and have had breakthrough runs in the league, finishing 4th in 2011–12, 3rd in 2012–13, 4th in 2013–14 and 4th as well in 2014–15 season. Their best performance in the league has been the third place, which they have achieved in the 1928 and 2013 seasons of the Greek Championship.

History

Early years

Atromitos FC was officially founded in May 1923 when Kalomvounis, Petos, Glykofridis, Stathopoulos, Synodinos, Rigopoulos, Stamatopoulos, and other students living in Victoria Square (which was then called Kyriakou Square) decided to form a football team.^[1] That same year, Vaggelis Stamatis, a mathematics teacher and member of the Panhellenic football league, joined Atromitos' administration board – because of his prominence in pre-war Greek football history, Stamatis' involvement increased the new team's stature in Athenian football.^[1]

First league steps

In 1924, Atromitos was accepted into the Greek football league.^[1] At the time, Atromitos played at Aris Park, which was the home ground of Panellinios and Panathinaikos.^[1] During their first season in the league's first division, they ended in third place behind Panathinaikos and AEK.^[1] In 1928, they defeated Goudi 4–3 in the final game at Rouf Stadium to become champions of Athens.^[1] That same year, they took part in the first Panhellenic Championship as Athens champions, which was organised by the HFF.^[2] On 24 May 1928, they were beaten 3–1 by Aris Thessaloniki (who later became champions) in an away game, and were defeated again on 3 June by Ethnikos Piraeus (5–0). On 10 June, they managed a draw at home against Ethnikos (1–1), before losing again to Aris 3–1 seven days later.^[1] Overall in the national championship, Atromitos finished third.^[2]

During the following two years, Atromitos stayed in the upper part of the first division of Athens, and in 1929, they finished third behind Panathinaikos and AEK.^[3] They repeated the feat in 1930^[4] but they were relegated from the first division of Athens in 1931, as they came last with only one point.^[5]

Move to Peristeri

In 1932, Ioseph Chourouktsoglou and Nikolaos Epioglou decided to move Atromitos to Peristeri. Earlier, it was located in the same area as Panathinaikos, and they had found it hard to establish a large fan base or develop a unique identity. There, they formed a merger with the local team of Astir Peristeriou (meaning "Star"), from which comes the crest of Atromitos, a blue star.

Before occupation of Greece, they played again in Panhellenic championship in the season of 1938–39.

Atromitos played in second division until May 1972 when, under the coaching of Savva Papazoulou, they were re-promoted to the first level. It proved a change too hard to handle, and they were demoted the following year. In 1975, a better-prepared Atromitos returned to the first division with a large fanbase, and ended the year in 13th place, securing their spot in the top flight. In 1976, they improved to end the season in 9th place, the best in the club's history. But, they relegated in 1977.

By 1981, Atromitos had succeeded in attracting renowned players such as Stylianopoulos, Álvarez, Toskas and Athanasopoulos. However, despite high expectations, the club played for the last time in the top flight, and once more returned to the lower divisions. After years of playing in the third division, Atromitos won promotion back to the second division in May 2002 by beating Levadiakos FC at Patra stadium. The team played again in the top flight between 2005–2008 by merging with Chalkidona and returned to the top flight after playing one season in the second division in 2008–2009.

In the 2010–2011 season Atromitos Fc made a historic run to the Greek Cup Final. However, they lost 3–0 to AEK.

2012–13 season

Atromitos finished the 1st half of the season in 4th place, together with Asteras Tripolis and 14 points from the top, but 4 points from 6th place, that doesn't redirect to the playoffs. On 6 January 2013, at the debut of Nikos Anastopoulos in the coaching position and the Portuguese footballer Fabio, Atromitos beat Kerkira 2–0, with two headers. From Sokratis Fytanidis at the 26th minute and from Stathis Tavlaridis at the 31st minute. In other words, the win was awarded to the team by the two centre backs. The team stayed in 4th with Asteras, but now 6 points from the 6th place. One matchday later, they managed to get the 0–0 from PAOK at Toumba, retaining the 6 points difference from PAS Giannina. On Matchday 18, they beat Platanias 1–0, getting to be only 3 points from 2nd place. The goal was scored by Eduardo Brito.

2013–14 season

The 2013–14 pre-season friendly against West Bromwich Albion was lost by 3–1.

2015–16 season

For the 2015–2016 season, Atromitos F.C has achieved an important qualification to the UEFA Europa League playoffs after recording two wins against Aik Solna, 3–1 in the first game in Sweden and 1–0 in the rematch at Peristeri Stadium. There they will face highly rated Fenerbahçe S.K. of Turkey.

Facilities

Stadium

The home ground of Atromitos was once well-maintained but has been recently neglected. In its early days, Peristeri had grown to become the fourth largest municipality in Greece. The first club home ground was the grounds of "Bravery", which was located beyond the last shanty town of Evangelistria.

In 1953, Atromitos moved to their present location, which contained only central stands for the spectators; the changing rooms consisted of a small room at the end of the stands. Much later, a larger stand was built with a capacity of 6,000 spectators. It was also used for non-football purposes, such as musical performances.

During the chairmanship of Victor Mitropoulos in EPAE, blue and white plastic seats were installed in the central stand. Before the Athens Olympics, Atromitos installed floodlights and renovated the running track so the ground could be used as a coaching facility during the Olympic Games. Under the football ground there are spaces and facilities for activities such as wrestling, chess and boxing.

Repairs to fragile parts of the stadium due to humidity and earthquake damage are expected to be carried out.

Training ground

Since summer of 2007, Atromitos FC possesses a modern Sports Complex, located in the center of Peristeri. During the summer of 2004, this same Sports Complex has been used as the Peristeri Olympic Boxing Hall and includes a 3.000 spectators main pitch, an auxiliary pitch as well as a 5-a-side pitch, such as the club's offices.

Plus, Atromitos FC possess installations situated on NATO Avenue, in the Aspropyrgos area. The Aspropyrgos training centre includes a football pitch, dressing rooms, a fully equipped gym and a massage area. The Aspropyrgos football pitch is also being used by the Atromitos U-21 and U-17 youth teams.^[6]

Supporters

Atromitos are based in western Athens and their main supporters club is called "Fentagin". Founded in 1980, they have a space underneath the stands. They are dedicated to support the local football team and to their Antifascist and Anti-racist ideas and actions. The younger element of the support are known as the "Little Atoms".

Players

Current squad

As of 21 May 2017^[7][8]

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

No. Position Player 1 GK Nikola Mirković 5 DF Dimitris Chatziisaias (on loan from PAOK) 6 DF Aristotelis Karasalidis 7 MF Emmanuel Mensah 8 MF Javier Umbides 9 FW Giorgos Manousos 11 FW Dimitris Tsatsopoulos 13 DF Giorgos Zisopoulos 14 FW Nicolas Diguiny 15 DF Madson 16 MF Theodoros Vasilakakis

No. Position Player 17 MF Vangelis Platellas 18 FW Miloš Stojčev 19 DF Kyriakos Kivrakidis 20 MF Thomas Vasiliou 21 MF Pavlos Kyriakidis 22 FW Michalis Bastakos 27 FW Abiola Dauda 28 MF Spyros Natsos 31 DF Dimitris Giannoulis (on loan from PAOK) 33 GK Christos Theodorakis 37 DF Antônio Polidoro Junior

Out on loan

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

No. Position Player

Honours

Superleague Greece

• Third place (2): 1927–28, 2012–13

Greek Football Cup

• Runners-up (2): 2010–11, 2011–12

Football League

• Champions (2): 1979–80,^[9] 2008–09^[10]

Crest and colours

Crest evolution

• 
  Until 2012
• 
  2012–current

Kit evolution

First

2006–07

2011–14

2015–16

Alternative

2006–07

2006–07

2015–16

2015–16

Personnel

Management

Ownership	Georgios Spanos
President & CEO	Georgios Spanos
Vice President	Evangelos Batagiannis
Vice CEO	Ekaterini Koxenoglou
General Director	Spyridon Sofianos
Technical Director	Ioannis Angelopoulos
Press Director	Pavlos Katonis
Marketing Director	Spyridon Boulousis
Security Director	Georgios Petrou
Computing Director	Roberto Panagos
Accountants Director	Vasilios Karakatsanis
Ground Manager	Panagiotis Michaletos
Tickets Director	Roberto Panagos
Legal Department	Argirios Livas

Technical staff

Position	Staff
Head coach	Damir Canadi
Assistant coach	Eric Orie
Goalkeeping coach	Slobodan Šujica
Fitness coach	Giannis Georgiadis
Medical Director	Nikolaos Piskopakis
Doctor	Petros Kapralos
Physiotherapist	Panagiotis Ambeliotis
Physiotherapist	Nikolaos Zafeiropoulos
Exercise Physio	Georgios Ziogas
Scout	Vasilis Kalogiannis
Caregiver	Nikolaos Katsikas

Former coaches

• Alekos Sofianidis (1999)
• Vladimir Petrović (1999–00)
• Georgios Paraschos (1 July 2002 – 9 Jan 2007)
• Dragan Kokotović (11 Jan 2007–07)
• Guillermo Angel Hoyos (10 July 2007 – 26 March 2008)
• Paulo Campos (28 March 2008)
• Dragan Kokotović (30 March 2008 – 25 April 2009)
• Vasilis Vouzas (2009)
• Giorgos Donis (1 July 2009 – 30 May 2012)
• Dušan Bajević (2 June 2012 – 23 Dec 2012)
• Nikos Anastopoulos (30 Dec 2012 – 7 April 2013)
• Georgios Paraschos (8 April 2013 – 22 Sep 2014)
• Ricardo Sá Pinto (23 Sep 2014 – 5 Feb 2015)
• Nikos Nioplias (6 Feb 2015 –12 June 2015)
• Michalis Grigoriou (14 June 2015–3 Nov 2015)
• Traianos Dellas (8 November 2015–19 Sept 2016)
• Georgios Korakakis (19 September 2015– 6 Feb 2016)
• Ricardo Sá Pinto (5 Feb 2017– 12 Jun 2017)
• Damir Canadi (21 June 2017– )

European competitions record

Last update: 5 August 2015

Season	Competition	Round	Club	Home	Away	Aggregate
2006–07	UEFA Cup	1R	Sevilla	1–2	0–4	1–6
2012–13	UEFA Europa League	PO	Newcastle United	1–1	0–1	1–2
2013–14	UEFA Europa League	PO	AZ	1–3	2–0	3–3
2014–15	UEFA Europa League	3Q	FK Sarajevo	1–3	2–1	3–4
2015–16	UEFA Europa League	3Q	AIK	1–0	3–1	4–1
		PO	Fenerbahçe	0–1	0–3	0–4

Notes

• 1R: First round
• 3Q: Third qualifying round
• PO: Play-off round

Sponsorships

• Great Shirt Sponsor: Joker
• Official Sport Clothing Manufacturer: Nike
• Gold Sponsor: ETEKA Oil
• Official Sponsor: Cosmote

References

External links

• Official website (in Greek)
• Club history at official site
• Club guide, at AlbionRoad.com