THE HISTORY OF P.A.O.K.

P.A.O.K. (Panthessalonician Athletic Group of Constantinopolitans) was founded in April 1926 by distinguished greeks from Constantinopole (now Istanbul, Turkey) who came to Thessaloniki as refugees after the Treaty of Lausanne in 1924.

PAOK's first president was Christos Triantafyllou. As coat of arms of PAOK was chosen the double-headed eagle - symbol of glory and power for the Byzantine Empire.

Football was the first section founded. PAOK's football team took a part in the second division of the local championship and advanced to the first division that same year by beating Hercules by 1-0.

The first stadium was build in the area where the Aristoteleion University of Thessaloniki stands today. The stadium where the team play today was build in 1957 in the refugee neighbourhood of Toumba.

PAOK won the Thessaloniki championship by 7 times. (1932, 1939, 1948, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957).

Since 1959, when the national football championship was established, PAOK has always played in the First National division.

PAOK won the greek championship by 2 times - 1976 and 1985 - and the Greek Cup by 2 times - in 1972 by beating Panathinaikos by 2-1 and in 1974 by beating Olympiakos by 5-4 on penalties.