Panathinaikos is the most successful Greek club in terms of achievements in European competitions. They have reached the European Cup (later changed to UEFA Champions League) final in 1971 and the semi-finals in 1985 and 1996.
According to the vast majority of researches and polls, it is the second most popular football team in Greece.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8]
Panathinaikos F.C. is the football department of Panathinaikos Athlitikos Omilos (PAO), a multi-sport club. In 1979, the department became professional and independent. They have played their home games in a number of grounds, most significantly the Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium – which is considered as their traditional home ground – and the Athens Olympic Stadium.
The club holds a long-term rivalry with Olympiacos and matches between the two teams are referred to as "Derby of the eternal enemies".[9]
Panathinaikos F.C. is one of only two supporter-owned football clubs in Greece, along with Aris Thessaloniki.[10]
According to the official history of the club, Panathinaikos was founded by Giorgos Kalafatis on 3 February 1908, when he and 40 other athletes decided to break away from Panellinios Gymnastikos Syllogos following the club's decision to discontinue its football team.[11] The first name of the new club was Podosferikos Omilos Athinon (POA), the colours of the team were red and white and its home ground was in Patission Street.[12] Oxford University athlete John Cyril Campbell was brought in as coach. It was the first time that a foreigner was appointed as the coach of a Greek team.[12]
Panellinios Podosferikos Omilos[edit]
In 1910, after a dispute among a number of board members, Kalafatis with most