Panathinaikos Football Club
Football in Greece, made it's appearance in about 1890 but there was no official championship since it was considered as a sport for the low class people. There were some people, though, who had predicted that this sport would eventually become the most popular sport in Greece. Yorgos Kalafatis, was the one who really believed in football and in December of 1908 at the age of 18, he founded the team of PANATHINAIKOS F.C. and the president of the team was Alexandros Kalafatis, Yorgos's brother. Before it takes the name P.A.O., in 1908 it was calld P.O.A. (Football Club of Athens-Podosferikos Omilos Athinon),in 1909 it changed to P.P.O. (Panhellenic Football Club-Panellinios Podosferikos Omilos), in 1918 to P.P.A.O. (Panhellenic Football and Athletic Club-Panellinios Podosferikos kai Agonistikos Omilos). In 1918 there were two more historical decisions taken. First of all, it was decided that the official colour of the team would be the green, as in most of the matches the players were not using the same outfit. The other decision was about the club's symbol. Panathinaikos until then didn't have any official symbol and it was decided that the "triffili" would be the one. The man who had the idea of that symbol was, Mihalis Papazoglou, a great athlete from Konstantinopole who played for the team of Chalkidona, which had the same symbol. This idea was accepted by the Panathinaikos's Council. and, finally, in 1924 to the well known name of P.A.O. (Panathenian Athletic Club-Panathinaikos Athlitikos Omilos). In 1979, the Panathinaikos Football Club became a body corporate under the presidence of George Vardinoyannis.1. It is the first football club that created other athletic departments.
2. It the first football club that constructed a privately owned football field, in 1921. The glorious and legendary field of Alexandras Avenue.
3. Panathinaikos had hired the first foreign coach, Mr. Forner, in Greece.
4. It was the first football club that constructed shuttle with seats.
5. It was the first team that played during the evening, in Alexandras Avenue.
6. It was the first club that established a fan club.
7. The first athletic club that constructed a roofed stadium.
8. Thanks to Panathinaikos, Voleyball and Basketball were introduced to the people of Greece.
9. It was the first football club that established an academy for young people.
10. The Alexandras Avenue football field was the first football field that was covered by grass.
11. Last but -not at all- least, Panathinaikos is the first and only one greek football club that has ever played in European Champioships' Cup Final, in 1971.
