Ionikos F.C.
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| Full name | F.C. Ionikos Nikaia 1965 A.C. | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Cyan-Whites | ||
| Founded | 29 June 1965 | ||
| Ground | Neapolis Public Stadium | ||
| Capacity | 5,500 | ||
| Chairman | Vacant | ||
| Manager | Vacant | ||
| League | Piraeus FCA First Division | ||
| 2023–24 | Super League Greece 2, 3rd (relegated) | ||
| Website | Club website | ||
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| Departments of Ionikos Nikaias | ||||||
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Ionikos Football Club (Greek: Α.Ο. Ιωνικός Νικαίας) is a Greek football club based in Nikaia, Greece, currently competing in the Piraeus FCA Championship, an amateur category. It is part of the multi-sport club Ionikos Nikaias.
From 1989 to 2007 Ionikos spent 16 out of 18 seasons in the Super League.[1] During that span Ionikos finished as high as 5th-place in the league (on two occasions),[2][3] was a finalist in the Greek Cup,[4] and participated in the UEFA Europa League.[5]
The club's colours are blue and white.
History
[edit]Foundation
[edit]Ionikos was established in 1965, from a merger of local clubs Nikaia Sports Union and Aris Piraeus, with Alex Meraklidis as new club's first president.[6] The club's early years were not easy, but, with the support of its fans, Ionikos slowly improved through the 1970s and 1980s and eventually reached the top division in 1989.[6]
The club's first promotion to the top flight was accompanied by unexpected problems—Dimitris Melissanidis withdrew as chairman, and the club needed 50 million drachmas to participate in the championship.[6] Businessman Nikolaos Kanellakis stepped forward to provide the needed sum and become the club's new chairman.[6]
Nikos Kanellakis
[edit]Kanellakis' arrival would be the beginning of the club's greatest era—from the 1989 promotion, Ionikos would spend 16 of the next 18 seasons in the Greek top flight, up until 2007, and during that time the team would finish as high as 5th-place in the league (on two occasions), reach a Greek Cup Final, and compete in the UEFA Europa League.[6]
Greek Cup Final 2000
[edit]Ionikos' UEFA Cup appearance came in the 1999–00 season—the opposition was French side Nantes, and Ionikos lost both home and away matches, 1–3 and 0–1, respectively.[6] Ionikos reached the Greek Cup Final later that same season, where they came up against traditional power AEK, and, despite a valiant Ionikos effort, AEK won the match, 3–0.[6]
On 21 April 2004 Ionikos experienced the most tragic moment of his history, when Nikolaos Kanellakis, the club's chairman for 14 years, died.[6] Hundreds of Ionikos supporters—as well as other sports fans—attended Kanellakis' funeral, where the flag of Ionikos covered the coffin of the late chairman. Nikolaos' son Christos took his father's place as chairman.
Relegation to Second League
[edit]Ionikos' long run in the top flight ended in the 2006–07 season, when the team finished in 16th-place in the Super League and was relegated back to Beta Ethniki. Ionikos has spent the last two seasons in Beta Ethniki, finishing 5th and 4th place, respectively, as the club tries to rejoin the top flight.
Return to the Top League
[edit]For the season 2021–22, they were once again in the Greek top league, 2021–22 Super League Greece, having gained promotion, and after successfully getting licensed to compete in the top league's new season.[7]
Relegation 2023
[edit]After the amazing season in the top division 2021–22 finishing 1st in the Play-Outs and even undefeated, Ionikos the following year 2022–23 having negative results in all the season, finished in the regular season 12th with 18 points, one place and 1 point above the relegation that the two teams Lamia , and Levadeakos finished equal with 17 points and were in danger. In the Play-Outs it finished penultimate (13th) with 27 points, i.e. it was relegated together with the last Levadeiakos who had 26 points (14th), and Lamia finished with 29 points (12th) and remained in the top division, surpassing Ionian by 2 points. Before the last game Ionikos had 26 points, and Lamia who had 28 points, so Ionikos definitely wanted the last game win against Lamia to stay in the top division, and Lamia was going for two results, draw or win needed for on the eve. The home team Ionikos entered better by closing the first half with 2–0 (30'–37'). In the second half, Lamia with a better performance and will to stay, finding Ionikos in a bad situation, equalized 2-2 within 20 minutes (53'-73'). And finally it ended in a draw with a score of 2–2 and Ionikos was relegated for the 4th time in its history from Super League 1 to Super League 2 .
Drop in amateur categories
[edit]In the 2023-24 season , it finished in third place in the Southern Group of Super League 2. However, it was unable to participate n in the next season's championship due to economic issues. Thus, after fifty years of continuous presence in the national categories, it returns to the local league.[8]
Stadium
[edit]Ionikos plays its home matches at Neapolis Public Stadium (Greek: Γήπεδο Νεάπολης), located in Nikaia, a suburb of Piraeus. The stadium was completed in 1965, and had its latest redevelopment in 2000.[9] It currently has a seating capacity of 5,500, but record attendance is 6,565 for a match against Olympiacos in 1990.[9]
Ionikos' organized supporters gather in Gate 3 at Neapoli Stadium.
Supporters and rivals
[edit]While Ionikos was competing in the lower divisions there were two main supporters' groups—the Association of Ionikos Supporters and the Fan Club of Agios Georgios.[10]
On Ionikos's promotion to the top division the Association of Ionikos Supporters Rangers Club was formed—or Rangers Club, for short—with headquarters in Elefterias Square in Korydallos.[10] Before Ionikos's first match in the top flight the Rangers Club organised a parade of 2,000 supporters from outside Rangers' headquarters to Stavros Mavrothalassitis Stadium, where Ionikos played its first three home matches of the 1989–90 season.[10] Two years later the supporters' club offices moved to Neapolis, and then in 1996 to Nikaia, before returning to Neapolis in 1999.[10] A second branch was established in Nikaia in 2004.[10]
Ionikos fans have a rivalry with the fans of the other topic club of Nikaia, Proodeftiki.
Ionikos fans have rivalries too with other nearby clubs, Egaleo, and Atromitos.
The Derby of Kokkinia
[edit]The football matches between Ionikos and Proodeftiki are called «The Derby of Kokkinia»
Players
[edit]Current squad
[edit]- As of 3 February 2024[11]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Former players
[edit]
List of managers
[edit]_Oleh_Blochin1.jpg)
Ionikos managers from 1992 and henceforth.
Honours
[edit]Domestic
[edit]League titles
[edit]- Super League 2 (tier-II)
- Gamma Ethniki (tier-III)
- Winners (2): 1977–78 (Group 8), 1981–82 (Group 1)
- Delta Ethniki (tier-IV)
- Winners (1): 2012–13 (Group 9)
- Piraeus FCA Championship
- Winners (1): 1976–77 (Group 2)
Cups
[edit]- Greek Cup
- Runners-up (1): 1999–00
- Piraeus FCA Cup (Local Cup)
- Winners (1): 1981–82
International
[edit]- Participant in the first round of the UEFA Europa League: 1999-2000
Season-by-season
[edit]
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Since 1965–66:
- 18 seasons in Super League Greece 1|First Division
- 26 season in Second Division
- 12 seasons in Third Division
- 2 seasons in Fourth Division
- 2 seasons in Piraeus Football Clubs Association
Club records
[edit]Alpha Ethniki / Super League 1
[edit]Last Update 19 May 2023
- First participation: 1989–90
- Total participations: 18
- Wins: 169
- Draws: 157
- Losses: 242
- Goals Scored: 620
- Goals Conceded: 821
- Record Win: Ionikos 5–0 OFI Crete in 1997–98
- Record Loss: AEK Athens 6–0 Ionikos in 1995–96, Olympiacos 6–0 Ionikos in 2002–03, PAOK 6–0 Ionikos in 2022–23
Beta Ethniki / Super League 2
[edit]- First participation: 1965–66
- Total participations: 26
- Wins: 299
- Draws: 224
- Losses: 259
- Goals Scored: 925
- Goals Conceded: 849
- Record Win: Ionikos 8–0 Bizani in 1966–67, Ionikos 8–0 Anagennisi Artas in 1974–75
- Record Loss: Vyzas 7–0 Ionikos in 1971–72
Individual records
[edit]Appearances
[edit]| Player | Matches |
|---|---|
 Giannis Xanthopoulos |
318
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| Georgios Daraklitsas |
290
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| Nikolaos Frousos |
217
|
 Mohammad Afash |
196
|
 Oliver Makor |
164
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Goals
[edit]| Player | Goals |
|---|---|
| Kostas Kottakis |
top scorer
|
| Nikolaos Frousos |
64
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 Craig Brewster |
45
|
| Oliver Makor |
43
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| Giannis Xanthopoulos |
24
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Crest and colors
[edit]Crest evolution
[edit]-
1965–1995 -
1995–2019 -
2019–present
.svg)
Original kit
[edit]
        Ionikos's first home colours 1965 |
   Ionikos's first away colours 1965 |
Ionikos's first Goalkeeper kit 1965 |
Kit evolution
[edit]|
1965–66
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   1978–79
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1980–81
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   1989–90
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1991–92
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1999–00
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1993–94
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   1997–98
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2001–02 2002–03
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2005–06
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2007–08 2008–09
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European record
[edit]| Season | Competition | Round | Club | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999–00 | UEFA Cup | 1st Round |  Nantes
|
1–3 | 0–1 |
References
[edit]- ^ "Greece – Final Tables 1959–1999". RSSSF. 2003-08-03.
- ^ "Greece −1997/98". RSSSF.
- ^ "Greece 1998/99". RSSSF.
- ^ "Greek Cup Finals". Hellenic Football Federation. Archived from the original on 2008-10-03.
- ^ "UEFA Europa League Season 1999–2000 First Round". UEFA.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "History". Ionikos F.C. Archived from the original on 2009-04-21. Retrieved 2009-07-16.
- ^ ""Στη φυσική μας θέση": Η ευχαριστήρια απάντηση του Ιωνικού στο "καλώς ήρθες" της Super League" ["In our natural position": The thank-you response of Ionikos to Super League's "Welcome back"]. Sport-FM.gr (in Greek). 8 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
- ^ sportstonoto (2024-08-26). "Ερασιτέχνης Ιωνικός: Ετοιμαζόμαστε για το τοπικό του Πειραιά – Sportstonoto" (in Greek). Retrieved 2024-08-27.
- ^ a b "Neapoli Stadium". Stadia.gr.
- ^ a b c d e "Rangers History". Rangers Club. Archived from the original on 2008-01-09.
- ^ "Ρόστερ ΠΑΕ Ιωνικός". ionikosfc.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
- ^ "Στον Ιωνικό ως το 2024 ο Ντμίτρο Τσιγκρίνσκι". www.ionikosfc.gr. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
- ^ "Player summary – Club career: Gurjinder Singh". WorldFootball.net. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
External links
[edit]- Official website (in Greek)
- Rangers – Supporters' club site (in Greek) (archived 27 July 2009)
- Neapolis Public Stadium at stadia.gr (in Greek)
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*only in pre-HFF championships |
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| Miscellaneous | |