Athinaikos, officially known as Athinaikos AS FC (Greek: Αθηναϊκός Αθλητικός Σύλλογος - Athinaikos Athlitikos Syllogos), the Athenaic Athletic Association, is a Greek association football club based in the suburban town of Vyronas, located in the Athens agglomeration. The club is also referred to, unofficially, as Athinaikos Vyronas.
Full name | Athinaikos Athlitikos Syllogos (Athenaic Athletic Association FC) | ||
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Nickname(s) | Lordi tou Vyrona (Lords of Byron) Athne (Athinaikos Neas Elvetias) | ||
Founded | 1917 | ||
Ground | Vyronas National Stadium | ||
Capacity | 4,500 | ||
Chairman | Georgios Flambouris | ||
Manager | Lakis Smyrnis | ||
League | Athens FCA First Division (2nd group) | ||
2023–24 | Athens FCA First Division (2nd group), 11th | ||
Website | http://athinaikosfc.gr/ | ||
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History
editThe club was formed in 1917 and was a foundation member of the Hellenic Football Federation.
At the start of the 1950s, the team was relocated to the suburbs of Vyronas and merged with Nea Elvetia (Greek: Αθλητική Ένωση Νέας Ελβετίας), the local club, which was formed in 1935. The club was named Athinaikos Neas Elvetias AS (Greek: Αθηναϊκός Νέας Ελβετίας Αθλητικός Σύλλογος), but it was commonly referred to as Athinaikos or AthNE (Greek: ΑΘ.Ν.Ε.).
The team plays in the municipal stadium of Vyrona, which has a capacity of 4,340.[1] The team's nickname is Lords of Byron, a reference to George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron, commonly known as Lord Byron, who fought and died for Greek independence. The area of Vyronas was named after him as a tribute.
Athinaikos established two more departments of Handball and Basketball.
The most historical moment of the club was in season 1991-92 when they played against Manchester United in the first round of the Cup Winners' Cup. They drew the first leg 0-0 at home and took the English giants into extra-time at Old Trafford before losing 2-0.
European matches
editSeason | Competition | Round | Club | Home | Away |
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1991–92 | Cup Winners' Cup | 1st Round | Manchester United | 0–0 | 0–2 (aet) |