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Proodeftiki F.C.
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Proodeftiki Football Club,[1] also known as Proodeftiki Piraeus,[2] simply as Proodeftiki, or with its full name as A.O. Proodeftiki Neolea (Greek: Αθλητικός Όμιλος Προοδευτική Νεολαία, transliterated "Athlitikós Όmilos Proodeftiki Neolea", Athletic Club Progressive Youth), is a Greek football club, part of the major multi-sport club A.O. Proodeftiki Neolea, based in Korydallos, Piraeus – Attica.
Key Information
The club has a longstanding presence in Super League, having participated so far 15 times.
History
[edit]Formation and early years
[edit]The club exists since 1925.[3] The official year of its foundation is 1927.[4] Founded in Kokkinia, a suburb of Piraeus, which is the older name of Nikaia, a few years later by the "Asia Minor Catastrophe". Kokkinia, the older name of Nikaia, inhabited mainly by Greeks and Armenians refugees who inhabited the coast of Asia Minor. Hellenic Football Federation was founded on 1926. Proodeftiki, one of the older members of Hellenic Football Federation, became its member with Registration Number 31.[5]
The founders of Proodeftiki, Korais, Verzopoulos and Metaxas, laid the foundations for an association that is almost approaching a century of invaluable social and sporting action and offer. It is characteristic that the idea of setting up a sports club was associated with the effort to reconstruct and regenerate the place after the Asia Minor catastrophe. The founders established as the motto of the club's emblem is the mythical long-lived bird, the Phoenix, which is reborn from its ashes in crimson and white, and as the football headquarters was chosen the then Grass Municipal Gym of Nikaia, the historical seat of the association.
Pre-war period and first steps
[edit]"Proodeftiki Youth", also referred to as "Proodeftiki", officially participated in the competitions of the National Technical University of Athens. Piraeus from the period 1928-29, whenever it belongs to Gamma Ethniki. Since October 1926, and even before it was active in official competitions, she was initially joined by the Piraeus Association of Football Associations, also giving friendly matches. In November 1926 the Piraeus Association of Football Associations joins with the Piraeus Football Association, where the team is finally included. Also, in November 1926, the Hellenic Football Federation is founded, where Progressive is registered, being the first of its football clubs, under the Hellenic Football Federation Registration Number 31. In February 1927, with the start of the 1926-27 Championship of the National Technical University of Athens, Piraeus, seems to be included in the official events, but without ending it, and even up to the official championships, and more specifically in the 3rd Division between 1928–29, he continued to give friendly matches as an independent team. In the 3rd category of the National Technical University of Athens Piraeus continued to struggle until the period 1933-34, as the next one seems to have not been established, and then continued into the second category. Thus, from the period 1934-35, in the mid-1930s, he took part in the second category, which was the last hierarchical class for that period. In the period 1935-36 he finished in 1st position of the second category, equalizing with Aris Piraeus (Kokkinias), but in a match between them, to secure the position and at the same time to climb, he was defeated by 1-0 and remained in the second half, category. Over the next two seasons (1936–37 and 1937–38) he continued to claim the rise to the top class of the FCA Piraeus, finishing in 3rd and 2nd place respectively. Eventually, the next one, 1938–39, became the champion and was promoted to the first class of the Piraeus championship for the first time. In her last match for the championship, and while mathematics had already been declared champion, 3-0 won the defense of Red Kokkinia (after Nikaias SA) in a match that took place at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium. The home games, both official and non-official, took place in the former Cycling Stadium (afterwards the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium) in Neo Faliro, which the team used until the 1970s. In 1939, at the border with the Korydallos area, New Kokkinia (since 1940 Nice) was built at the current Nice Municipal Stadium, which has since started to use it from time to time and since the mid-1970s it has become the permanent seat of.
First important pre-war distinctions
[edit]In the 1939-40 season, with the coach of the veteran international player Filippos Kourantis, Proodeftiki finished 3rd in the A' Category, behind Ethnikos Piraeus and Olympiacos, which gave him the right, as a third player Piraeus, to qualify for Panhellenic championship for the first time in its history. Notable were her wins in the Piraeus Championship on Piraeus Thesis with 4-1 and on Argonaut Piraeus 7-2. In the 1939-40 Greek Championship, he finished last in the 8th place of the South Group, behind Athens Stars, while his only victory was the 2-1 win over the Athenian. At the same time, Proodeftiki managed to overtake the qualifying phase of the Piraeus Cup region of Greece for the first time in its history, dominating the Keramikos Kaminis (champion B) with 4-1 in a repetitive match (the first match ended 0-0) at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium with over 2000 spectators. Proodeftiki was then eliminated from AEK (Athens champion and subsequent champion of Greece) with 5-1 at Nikos Goumas Stadium. In the first years of World War II and with the outbreak of the Greek-Italian war, the 1940-41 league was interrupted only in its third game, whereas Proodeftiki was in 2nd place after the 2-2 with Ethnikos Piraeus, winning 6-2 on Argonauts and defeating 1-0 from Keramikos Kaminis respectively. It was followed by the Occupation period, throughout which the official championships were not held, but he took part in the unofficial Athens-Piraeus Championship that was held in 1943-1944, during the difficult years of the occupied war, from the forces of the axis, Greece.
1945-1959: Postwar period, major distinctions and successes
[edit]1945-1955: First post-war years and downward course
[edit]After the reunification of the official championships, he continued for 8 consecutive years in the top Piraeus championship category (from 1945-46 to 1952-53), but did not manage to qualify for the Pan-Hellenic Championship, finishing not more than the 3rd position occupied in the periods 1945-46 and 1947-48. In the period 1952-53 he finished last in the 6th place of the 1st Division of the EPI Piraeus Championship, which led her to claim her stay, through a barrage fight with the champion of the A2 'class and coopitos, Aris Piraeus. In the first match, they scored 1-1 in the Nikea Stadium, before some 5,000 spectators and in the second and repetitive games they were re-scored, but no goals were scored this time (0-0). Thus, in the third game, Proodeftiki was defeated by 2-1 [24] and temporarily deferred to the A2 'category. In the A2 'category he played temporarily for two seasons (1953–54 and 1954–55) when the latter finished at the top, in front of the Piraeus Glory and won the championship. So, as a champion, she had to claim her return to the first class, through a grading match, with the latter, Panelefsiniakos. In the first match, it won 5-3 away in Elefsina and in the second one they scored with 1-1 home in the Nikaia Stadium and secured her return to the top of the Piraeus championship.
1955-1959: Great course and distinction and rise in the newly established Alpha Ethniki
[edit]Then, in the second half of the 1950s, the club began its most important career and was established as the third force of Piraeus. Initially, between 1955-56 he finished third, behind Ethnikos Piraeus and Olympiacos and in front of Atromitos Piraeus. In the following two seasons, 1956–57 and 1957–58, he finished second and highest ever in the Piraeus Championship, behind Olympiacos and in front of the National League, winning as a secondary her participation in the respective championships (1956–57 and 1957–58) of the Panhellenic Championship. In the 1956-57 Greek Championship, Proodeftiki finished in the 9th and penultimate positions, ahead of the Panagiersakos beat and behind Panionios and remarkable victories was the prevailing on Panargiakos with 5-1 in and 0-4 away, while Petros Christofides, one of the team's top players, scored 15 goals and was the top scorer of the championship. In the 1957-58 Greek Championship, it made its best, finishing in 6th place in a total of 12 teams, while the victories over Panathinaikos (1-2 with 1-0 in home) and home wins against PAOK (3-1) and OFI (4-0) respectively, and also the away wins against Panionios and Apollon Kalamarias with 1-2 respectively. In the period 1958-59 however, Proodeftiki finished in 4th place in the Piraeus Championship, behind SA. Nice and ahead of the Panelefsiniakos, Piraeus, Atromitos and Argonauts, thus losing to one place the qualification for the barrage participation in the Pan-Hellenic Championship 1958-59. In the following period, 1959–60, Proodeftiki continued its racing obligations in the Piraeus Championship and in the first 5 games, Aris Piraeus prevailed 4-0, 1-1 with Atromitos Piraeus, 1-0 from Panelefsiniakos, he scored 0-0 with the National and finally he was also equalized, this time 1-1 with Argonaut. However, in October 1959, Proodeftiki was decided to establish the permanent 1st National Division to replace the Pan-Hellenic Championship and, as a Piraeus quadrant of the previous period (1958–59), was entitled to participate. Proodeftiki participation in the newly-established championship of the permanent Alpha Ethniki, Proodeftiki had to claim through a barrage struggle, where Proodeftiki faced Olympiacos Chalkis, who had in the meantime imposed and displaced OFI. In the first match between them in Chalkida, they scored 2-2, while a draw (0-0) was the result in the repeat at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium. In the third most, after two consecutive draws, played in Nea Philadelphia's neutral stadium, Proodeftiki prevailed 3-0, with two goals scored by Peter Christofides (9', 11') and one by Nikos Mitosis (58') and has secured, before 10,000 spectators, its historical prestige in the first league of the First National Championship.
1959-1971: In Alpha Ethniki, distinctions and relegations in Beta Ethniki
[edit]Proodeftiki fought in 10 of the first 12 championships of the newly established Alpha Ethniki and more specifically from 1959-60 until 1970-71, with the exception of the 1963–64 and 1968-69 years that he played in Beta Ethniki. In the period 1959-60 he was one of the four piratical teams that formed the 16th overall, the first championship of the First National. At the premiere of the Championship and at the same time in the first game of its history in Alpha Ethniki Championship, Apollon Kalamarias prevailed 1-0 at the G. Karaiskakis Stadium, with the only goal of Nikos Mitosis (67'), which was the first and the first goal chronologically, which occurred in the history of Alpha Ethniki. At the end of the championship he found Progressive in 9th place, ranking with Iraklis of Thessaloniki, leading to a classification match, to formally secure the score, defeating 2-0 and eventually taking the 10th place, leaving behind them Apollon Kalamaria, National, Panayalioio, Pankorinthos, Megas Alexandros Katerinis and AE Nikaias. The home team suffered a total of just 2 defeats, from Olympiacos (1-2) and Doxa Dramas (0-1) respectively, among other things notable were the home win against Panagiiletos (2-0), Pankorinthos (3-1), Aris Thessaloniki and Panionios with 2-1 respectively and the away games against Doxa Dramas (2-4) and AE Nikaias with 0-4. At the same time, excluding Panaginthiakos (2-2 and 5-0) in the quarter-finals, he qualified for the semifinals of the Greek Cup for the first time in his history, where he met Panathinaikos and after two draws (1-1 and 3-3 respectively) was excluded from the currency twist. In the following period, 1960–61, after a tie, again with a team from Thessaloniki, participated for the second consecutive time in a classification match to secure a ranking position in Alpha Ethniki. This time with Mars, with which he ranked in 11th place and in the classification match between them, Proodeftiki 2-0 prevailed, formally securing 11th place, behind PAOK and ahead in turn from the 12th, Mars and the Apollon Kalamarias, Panegialios, Thermaikos and Atromitos Piraeus. Among other things, remarkable was the home win against AEK (4-2) and homeless victories on National (0-3) and PAOK (1-3) respectively. In the 1961-62 season he finished in 10th place on the scoreboard, behind Fostas and ahead in a row by Niki Volos, Apollon Kalamarias, Aris Thessaloniki, Egaleo, Panelefsiniakos and Doxa Dramas, while the home win was remarkable Niki Volos (4-2) and the victory over Egaleo (1-4) away. In the following period, 1962–63, he finished two places down on the scoreboard, in 12th place, where he equalized with Aris Thessalonikis, Apollon Kalamarias and Panayalioio, led to ranking games to secure the privileged positions of the stay. In the first match, 3-1 was defeated by Aris Thessaloniki, the second one was scored 1-1 with Apollon and the third was defeated 1-0 by Panayalio and eventually ranked 15th and deferred to Beta Ethniki for the first time.
Then, for the first time in 1963-64, he was second in Beta Ethniki, where he was a champion in the second group with 22 wins, 9 draws and only 1 defeat, while at the same time he succeeded 82 goals and it was only 20. Its only defeat, throughout the championship, was the away defeat in Crete with 3-1 from Herodotus, while on the contrary it crushed almost all other opponents, distinguishing among others the home wins on Atromitos Piraeus (5-1) and Aiada Salamina (5-0) instead respectively, on OFI (4-2), RFO (4-0) and Irodotos (3-0) respectively, and on the Olympiacos Loutraki 7-0. The leading person was Giannis Frantzis, who scored 40 of the 82 teams in total and was the top scorer of all four (4) teams. At the same time, she proved her potential in the Greek Cup, where she eliminated in the 16th stage Panionios away from home in Nea Smyrni with 1-2 and qualified in the quarter-finals, from which he was hardly blocked by AEK (0-1) at Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium. She had to win through a special championship, among the champions of the other three clubs (Panachaiki, Philippi of Kavala and Trikala, respectively), from which the first two were promoted to the 1st National. Initially, he was home to AOT, where he scored 1-1 in the Nikaia Stadium before 6,000 spectators and then defeated Philippos Kavalas, AOT and Panachaiki, with 2-4 at home in Kavala, defeated 2-1 in Trikala and was 1-1 in a draw in Patras. He then faced Filipe Kavalas at home in stage G. Karaiskakis, where he was 2-1 in the last and most crucial match, while Proposedetika was in the second privileged position with 11 points, at home in Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium in Panachaiki, who was in 3rd place, with a difference of one point and with 3-0, with two goals from Frantzis (34', 48' pence) and one from Panagiotis Skoufou (66'), secured 2nd place and its return in Alpha Ethniki, before 22,000 spectators who had attended to par monitoring the decisive match. In the 1964-65 season, having just returned to Alpha Ethniki, he made his most successful presence so far with a total of 11 wins, 12 draws and 7 defeats in the 4th place, behind Olympiacos, AEK and Panathinaikos (teams of the so-called POK), which is the highest position to date in the championship. It remained unbeaten by the PAOK teams of Thessaloniki (whose home away from Toumba was home to 1-0) and Mars (with 1-1 away from home and away) and Olympiacos 0-3 and 1-1 draws), while in the league, only 2 times, AEK and Panionios were defeated by 0-2, respectively. Meanwhile, during the same period, excluding Panagialeio (3-0) and the quarter-finals of Egaleo (3-2) respectively, he reached the semi-final stage of the Greek Cup for the second time in his history, new from Panathinaikos with difficulty, after defeating 0-1 in stage Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium. In the following three years, he played a race course without any stability. Initially, in the 1965-66 period, he finished in 13th place, tied with Panserraikos and Panayalioyos, with whom he was led to ranking matches for the stay. In the first match he was defeated by 0-1 from Panayalio in New Philadelphia and in the second match was imposed with 2-1 of Panserraikos in the Trikala Stadium with the goals of Panagiotis Skoufos and Giorgos Grypaiou. However, after equalizing and in the league matches, the goal scorer of the regular season of the championship, where Progressive had a great lead, having achieved a total of 42 goals, while Panserraikos and Panayihelos from 29 and 27 respectively secured the stay in Alpha Ethniki. At the same time, excluding Atromitos Piraeus (2-4) from the 16th round, he reached the quarter-finals of the Greek Cup where he was eliminated from Kavala away from home. In the following period, 1966–67, he finished in 8th place in the scoreboard, in front of Hercules and behind the National Piraeus, being the second highest ranked (after 4th place) in the first league, 1967–68, finished in 16th place in a total of 18 teams and departed in Second National for a second time in its history, after 4 consecutive years and 8 in total, in the top class. In the meantime, with the advent of the 1967 dictatorship in the country's political leadership and throughout its seven-year period until 1974, Proodeftiki, because it was composed of human progressive beliefs, something that was not liked by members of the dictatorial regime, it became a target and there was a great deal of controversy between them and specific players and managers of Proodeftiki. More specifically, members of the regime "forced" in 1967 to leave one of the most important football players of the group, Charalampos Vergidis. Also, upon request of the regime, the Federation of Supporters closed. Defeated in the 2nd National for the second time in its history, 1968-69 finished in the second privileged position of the South Group, 54 behind Panachai and in front of Fosta, with 19 wins, 9 draws and 6 defeats . Inside it suffered just 1 defeat from Ethnikos Asteras 0-2, while on the contrary it remained unbeaten by the champion Panachaiki, with which they managed to score 1-1 home and home away from Proodeftiki with 1-2. As a secondary student, she claimed her return to the top category, through a special match with the 14th grade of the 1st National Championship, Apollo Athinon. In the first decisive match at the G. Karaiskakis stadium, it prevailed with 1-0, with the same result defeated in the second match at the Georgios Kamaras Stadium and the teams then the tie between them, with a result of 1-1, were led in third match to the neutral the stadium of Avenue , where again 1-1 draws. Finally, then the tie between them, with a total score of 2-2, was the solution given in the paradoxical way of turning the coin, which used to be in those years, finding Proodeftiki lucky, where Proodeftiki won her return to the top class. In the period 1969-70, the Portuguese coach Severiano Correia took over the club, under the guidance of which the team performed relatively well. With 9 wins, 13 draws and 12 defeats, Proodeftiki finished 12th in front of OFI. Of the total of 12 defeats, home defeated only 2 times, AEK and Panathinaikos with 0-2, respectively. Characteristic of the season was mainly the home win against Cyprus champion of the previous year, Olympiakos Nicosia with 9-0, as it was the biggest victory in the history of the National League at that time and at the same time the biggest home Proodeftiki victory in the top class to date. In the following period, 1970–71, Proodeftiki did not appear to be competitive at all, with just 5 wins, 14 draws and 15 defeats in 16th place in a total of 18 teams, ahead of OFI and EPA Larnaca and redeployed to B National. Inside it suffered 5 defeats, while from 5 of its total victories in the league, the 3 were home, where Aris Thessaloniki (2-1), Pierikos (1-0) and EPA Larnaca (2-0) respectively prevailed, while outside home of Olympiacos and Fostiras with 1-2 respectively.
1971-1997: Between Beta and Gamma Ethniki and a return to Alpha Ethniki, after 26 years
[edit]1971-1987: 15 consecutive years in Beta Ethniki and first relegation in Gamma Ethniki
[edit]After relegation from the big category, which already had 10 total stakes, Proodeftiki continued 15 consecutive races (from 1971-72 to 1986-87) in Beta Ethniki. During their first years at Beta Ethniki in the early 1970s, she had very good presences, approaching the return to Alpha Ethniki. More specifically, in 1971-72, Proodeftiki finished in 2nd place, with only 1 degree difference from the Atromitos champion in Athens, in 1973-74 in the 3rd place behind the champion Atromitos of Athens and the second place Kalamata, next 1974-75, 2nd place behind the champion Apollon Athens, a position which after reorganization of the class no longer allowed her to go as a secondary school student, while in the period 1976-77 he claimed again the return, which was finally wrongly denied, due to a 4-point deduction, accused of freezing expectation in A.P.S. Patras. He continued in Beta Ethniki and although most of the time it consisted of very good players, he failed to win the rally, ending not more than the 4th place, which he occupied in the 1978–79 and 1980-81 seasons, while the 1986–87, after removing the 1st Grade, which essentially deprived her stay, finished in 15th place (first place in the relegation zone) and was demoted to the 3rd National for the first time in the club's history. At the same time, its best course in the Greek Cup during its 15-year presence in the 2nd National Division was during the period 1982-83, when Athens, Rodos and Doxas Dramas (National Team A group) until the quarter-finals, and was blocked from Rodos (Group A National).
1987-1992: First years in Gamma Ethniki
[edit]In Gamma Ethniki, originally played three consecutive periods (1987-1988, 1988-1989 and 1989-1990), when the last won the championship and promoted to Beta Ethniki, but on which the next, 1990-91 demoted cm new in Gamma Ethniki. 1991-92, under the technical leadership of John Kyrasta finished in 2nd place in the standings of the South Group, tying with Ilisiakos, which consequently led to a classification match to ensure the second privileged position giving the right to rise. In this race, held at the neutral Olympic Stadium, emerged tied 0-0 in regular time and extra time and led to a penalty shootout, where main protagonist of Giannis Papamichail goalkeeper who parried two penalties and targeted killings of Thanasis Sfetsas, Simou Karagiannidis, Ball and Taki Mandrafli prevailed 4-2 and secured the second privileged location and coveted return the Second National as defterathlitria before about 6,000 fans of which followed in this critical match.
1992-1997: In Beta Ethniki, the creation of professional club and the return to Alpha Ethniki, after 26 whole years
[edit]With Proodeftiki's return to Beta Ethniki and while Greek football had been introduced to professionalism since 1979, Proodeftiki acquired a professional form and was later transformed into a Soccer Societe Anonyme, under the name "PAE Proodeftiki". In Beta Ethniki, Proodeftiki competed for the next 5 consecutive years (from 1992-93 to 1996-97), when the latter finished in second place and secured her return to the top class. In the last game, 0-2 away with goals scored by Isaak Almanidis (3rd pen.) and Nikos Fouskas (73') of the indifferent Grass Dragos of Drama and mathematically secured the second privileged position claimed by Panetolikos, which led to Alpha Ethniki, after 26 years of absence, before her 1,000 fans who traveled to Drama to watch the decisive race for the much-awaited rally.
1997-2004: Between Alpha and Beta Ethniki
[edit]1997-2000: In Alpha Ethniki
[edit]In Alpha Ethniki, after 26 consecutive years of absence, and for the first time the professionalization of the category in 1979, Proodeftiki played for three consecutive years. Initially, in the 1997-98 season, the first year of the club in the 1st National as a professional, finished in 14th place, ahead of Ethnikos Piraeus and just two points, over the relegation zone. At the championship premiere, 3-0 was home to Athenian, which was also the first "professional" victory of the club as the FCA in Alpha Ethniki, followed by other remarkable victories, with a more distinctive, home winning at the then strong AEK with 3-2 and also home winning 1-0 at the derby with Ionic in the first showdown of the two clubs in the top division. In the following season, 1998–99, he finished two places on top of 12, and again he had great victories like PAOK and Aris Thessaloniki with 2-1 respectively and the away games against both National and Hercules with 0-2 and 0-1. In the 1999-00 season, with just 7 wins and draws and 20 defeats, finished in 16th place and temporarily deferred, after three consecutive years in the top division, but from just 7 wins, they stood 1-0 Panathinaikos and PAOK at home respectively.
2000-2004: Between Alpha and Beta Ethniki and relegation
[edit]In Beta Ethniki, Proodeftiki fought for two years (2000–01 and 2001–02), when she finished in the 3rd privileged position and as a third player returned immediately after 2 years of absence to A Ethniki, where she also fought for two years. Initially, in the 2002-03 season he finished in 11th place, making a remarkable presence and achieving great victories, such as away from Panathinaikos and Ionikos with 0-1 respectively, and home games against Akratitos, Aris and Iraklis with 5-1, 3-1 and 1-0 respectively. In the 2003-04 season, with only 4 wins (all home), 8 draws and 18 defeats, he finished in the 16th and final position, behind Panileoakos and Akratitos, thus knowing the relegation to the second class. More special, out of 4 in total, was the win for the 3rd game, Olympiakos with 1-0 and the other 3, Panelioukos and OFI prevailed with 2-0 respectively and Iraklis with 3-2. On the contrary, despite the team's poor performance in the championship, the Greek Cup of the same period (2003–04) made a decent course, in which Kassandra and Akratite reached out to the quarter-finals, with difficulty (4-3 in the penalty shootout) from Kastoria.
2004-present: Economic problems and low categories
[edit]This section needs to be updated. (September 2020) |
2004-2007: Beta Ethniki, debts of the club, economic impasse and first demotion in Delta Ethniki
[edit]Then downgrading to the 2nd National and the financial problems he was facing began a downward period for the history of Progressive. In the Second National, he played three consecutive bouts (2004–05, 2005–06 and 2006–07) when he finished in 16th place and deferred. The financial problems and debts of the FCE, which had in the meantime arisen, led initially to Yannis Karras's chairman in thoughts about a merger with Hermes Korydallos, something that never happened after the strong reaction and denial of the veteran footballers and fans of the club. Finally, he decided not to take part in the Third National Championship, since he was unable, but to be downgraded directly to the lowest and first amateur category, Delta Ethniki, for the first time in the club's history, to bankrupt as a club and consequently to get rid of its debts [73], as provided by the Sporting Law, resulting in intense controversy, with many protests and complaints from the side of organized supporters to the President of the Club and for 21 consecutive years financier of Progressive, Yannis Karras [76], who became responsible for this team's progress, and eventually resigned, in the middle of summer 2007. With the demotion to D Ethniki and the dissolution of the FC, he turned into an amateur form, as "Α.Ο. Proodeftiki Youth ", relying on the amateur club.
2007-2011: Delta Ethniki
[edit]In the 4th National, an unprecedented category for Proodeftiki, where they were first found due to financial problems, he played four consecutive bouts. In the first three periods and first in history in Delta Ethniki (2007–08, 2008–09 and 2009–10), it failed to conquer the rise in professional categories. At the same time, the failure for a win during this three-year period was accompanied by the amateur competition of the Piraeus Cup, where it also participated for the first time, as its best course in the tournament was until the semi-final phase of 2009-10, where it was difficulty in the penalty shootout - from the adjacent APO Keratsini (also the 4th National Team). On the contrary, during the 2010-11 season its racing course was quite successful, as with enough ease and just 6 games before the end of the championship it became a mathematical champion in the 9th group of the 4th National Championship, whenever it prevailed with 2-0 in the home of Triglia Rafina and also won the Piraeus Cup for the first time in its history, ensuring as a Damblouhos amateur the return to the professional categories and more specifically in the 3rd National.
2011-2014: Gamma Ethniki, economic problems and downgrading
[edit]With its rise to Gamma Ethniki and the financial problems, however, continue to oscillate the club, it gained a semi-professional form after being unable to turn into a professional (PAE) and subsequently turned into a Paying Players' Division (T.P.), under the name "TAP". Α.Ο. Proodeftiki Youth". In the 2011-12 season, Proodeftiki finished 9th in the first group, which forced her to take part in a barrage struggle that took place in the neutral stadium of Trikala and prevailed 1-0 of Alexandros Hercules Grand, ensuring her stay. At the same time, in the Greek Cup, they retired the Renaissance Giannitson (2nd National Team) in the 2nd round and then was eliminated by the upper Asteras Tripolis (Super League team). In the 2012-13 season he was in seventh position in the first group with 36 points, a position that gave him the right to be promoted to Football League. However, due to the punishment imposed on her, she was stripped of 2 points, leading her to tie in seventh place with Paniliakos and A.O. Glyfada, who excelled and eventually Proodeftiki was ranked 9th, failing to promote. At the same time, in the Greek Cup, he excluded Heracles of Thessaloniki (Group B Ethnikis) in the first round and then in the 32 phase he was eliminated with 2 defeats (4-0 and 1-2) from Panathinaikos.
Downgrading to FCA Piraeus
[edit]In the next period 2013-14 after a restructuring of Greek football, Gamma Ethniki merges with the 4th National and acquires an amateur form, while the second one ceases to exist. Subsequently, the group continues as an amateur, under the name "A.O. Proodeftiki Youth". However, with economic weaknesses remaining and rising, hurting the club and thus the football division, the team, unlike the previous year, is not at all competitive, with a total of 15 teams finishing in the 12th place of the 5th and deferred. But as Delta Ethniki no longer exists, it was deferred directly to the local Piraeus league for the first time in the history of the group, then the introduction of the national categories where it participated. At the same time, during the same period he participated in the first time of the Gamma Ethniki Cup, where he was eliminated away from Panelefsiniakos (3-2), just in the first match of the 5th group.
2014-2016: In FCA Piraeus Championship and return to the National Divisions
[edit]Following the demotion from Gamma Division, the team fought for the next two years in the championship of the 1st FCA of Piraeus. In July 2014, after the vote, the football club's president was taken over by the veteran footballer Dimitris Hortsas and in November of the same year, the businessman Vassilis Katsaros took over his chair with his close associate and also the main financier Nikos Leisure, aiming at immediate return. However, in the period 2014-15 he finished 2nd in the 1st group of the 1st FCAPiraeus, behind the APO Keratsini, eventually failing to conquer their return to Gamma Ethniki. At the same time, they won the Piraeus Cup, for the second time in its history, winning 0-2 of SA Moschato in the final cup of Piraeus, at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium. On the contrary, during the period 2015-16, Katsaros presidency, she was the champion of the 2 nd group of Piraeus Football Clubs Association, winning the unbeaten championship for the first time in its history with a total of 27 wins and 3 draws and 118 goals in favor and 6 against, securing mathematics to win the championship since the last game, which was won by the club's off-home team. Nice with 0-10. As a champion of the second group of 1st FCA of Piraeus, she won her participation in the Championship Championship, where she participated in the 9th group together with the same champion of AIPP Piraeus (1st group) Aetos Korydallos, from which she was excluded in the quarter-finals stage of the Piraeus Cup and the respective champions of Athens, Egaleo and Agios Ierotheos. They continued to be unbeaten in this challenge, where she won her third place in the Third National Division, finishing in the 9th place with 4 victories and 2 draws, with a special victory, winning 4-1 at Egaleo, headquarters, at the premiere of the event.
Crest and colours
[edit]Crest
[edit]The emblem of the football club of Proodeftiki is the "Phoenix". It has similarities to that of the founding association, and over the years it has been printed in many variations.
Colours
[edit]The colours of the football club are the same as the founding association, the crimson and the white. However, they have been used, mainly in away kits and other colours such as gray and black.
Stadium
[edit]Proodeftiki plays its home matches at Nikaia Municipal Gymnasium, located in Nikaia, a suburb of Piraeus. The stadium was complete in 1937 and its latest refresh done in 2000. It currently has a seating capacity of 5,500.
Honours
[edit]Titles
[edit]National
[edit]- Champions of Second division (2nd Group) 1963 – 1964
- Champions of Third Division (6th Group) 2021 – 2022
- Champions of Greek Fourth Division (9th Group) 2010 – 2011
Regional
[edit]- Champion of First Division of Piraeus Football Clubs Association (2nd Group) 2015 – 2016
- Piraeus Cup 2010 – 2011, 2014 – 2015
- Champion of Second Division of Piraeus Football Clubs Association 1938 – 1939
Achievements
[edit]- Best club's position: 4th in Super League 1964 – 1965
- Greek Cup Semi-finals: 2 - 1959 – 1960, 1964–1965
- Greek Cup Quarter-finals: 3 - 1963 – 1964, 1982–1983, 2003–2004
- Super League appearances: 15 - 1959–1960, 1960–1961, 1961–1962, 1962–1963, 1964–1965, 1965–1966, 1966–1967, 1967–1968, 1969–1970, 1970–1971, 1997–1998, 1998–1999, 1999–2000, 2002–2003, 2003–2004.
The Derby of Kokkinia
[edit]The football matches between Proodeftiki F.C. and Ionikos F.C. are called "The Derby of Kokkinia" or "The Derby of Nikaia".
Notable players
[edit]The following Proodeftiki players have been capped at senior international level, with their respective countries. Years in brackets indicate their spells at the club.
Greece
[edit]Albania
[edit]Syria
[edit]Other countries
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ uefa.com Proodeftiki FC
- ^ "brandsoftheworld.com". Archived from the original on 21 April 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- ^ Η Ιστορια του Συλλογου (The club's history) Archived 20 April 2018 at the Wayback Machine, proodeytiki-neolaia.blogspot.gr
- ^ ""90 Χρόνια Ζωής της Προοδευτικής" ("90 Years of Proodeftiki"), sports.ert.gr". Archived from the original on 21 April 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- ^ "Proodeftiki's Information on Piraeus Football Clubs Association site". Archived from the original on 21 April 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
External links
[edit]Proodeftiki F.C.
View on GrokipediaHistory
Formation and early years
Athlitikos Omilos Proodeftiki Neola, commonly known as Proodeftiki F.C., was founded on 11 January 1927 in Nikaia, a suburb of Piraeus, Greece.[1] The club's establishment followed the Greco-Turkish War's Asia Minor Catastrophe in 1922, which displaced populations and spurred community organizations in Piraeus; key founders including G. Korais, A. Vertzopoulos, and D. Metaxas aimed to promote athletic development and progressive values among local youth in the industrial area.[3] Initial football activities predated formal registration, with the club participating informally as early as 1925 before official incorporation.[3] Proodeftiki affiliated with the newly formed Hellenic Football Federation in 1927, shortly after the federation's inception in 1926, enabling entry into organized competitions.[1] During its formative period through the late 1920s and 1930s, the club contested championships under the Piraeus Football Clubs Association, competing against regional powers such as Olympiacos and Ethnikos Piraeus in a league dominated by those teams' repeated titles from 1925 onward.[4] Proodeftiki focused on building grassroots participation, reflecting its youth-oriented mission amid Greece's developing national football structure, though it did not yet challenge for major honors.[3]Pre-war period
Proodeftiki F.C. participated in the regional leagues of the Piraeus Football Clubs Association during the interwar years, competing alongside established local teams such as Olympiacos and Ethnikos Piraeus.[5] The club, having joined the Hellenic Football Federation as its 31st member shortly after its establishment, focused on building a competitive squad and fostering community support in the working-class districts of Nikaia and Korydallos.[6] Without securing major titles in this era, Proodeftiki nonetheless maintained consistent involvement in Piraeus championships, reflecting the fragmented structure of Greek football prior to national unification efforts. The onset of the Greco-Italian War in October 1940 disrupted organized play, with the 1940–41 Piraeus championship abandoned after just three matchdays. This marked the end of competitive activities for the club until the post-war resumption, as military mobilization and occupation halted all regional fixtures across Greece.[7] During this period, Proodeftiki's infrastructure and player base suffered from the broader economic and social strains of the interwar economy and impending conflict, yet the club's foundational role in local athletics persisted through informal youth development.Post-war revival and national prominence (1945-1959)
Following the end of World War II, Proodeftiki resumed competition in the Piraeus Football Clubs Association (EPSP) championship, achieving mid-table finishes such as 4th place in 1945–46 (31 points from 14 matches, 38 goals for and 18 against) and 1946–47 (28 points from 14 matches, 23–14), alongside a strong 3rd place in 1947–48 (31 points from 14 matches, 36–39).[8] A slight decline followed in 1948–49 with 6th place (22 points from 14 matches, 24–24).[8] The club underwent a revival in the mid-1950s within the EPSP, securing runner-up positions in 1955–56 (37 points from 16 matches, 26–16) and 1957–58 (35 points from 14 matches, 34–13), demonstrating improved consistency and competitiveness against regional rivals like Olympiacos and Ethnikos Piraeus.[8] Despite a 6th-place finish in 1956–57 (35 points from 14 matches, 34–13), this period marked a shift from post-war stagnation to stronger contention for qualification to national-level play.[8] In 1958–59, Proodeftiki placed 4th in the EPSP (28 points from 14 matches, 14–15), earning qualification to the Panhellenic Championship final round as one of the top Piraeus teams.[8] There, they competed among 16 clubs, finishing 9th with 31 points from 18 matches and a goal tally of 26 for and 36 against, reflecting respectable national exposure amid dominant performances by teams like Olympiacos and AEK Athens.[8] This sustained regional success and Panhellenic participation elevated Proodeftiki's profile, securing their spot in the inaugural Alpha Ethniki season of 1959–60 alongside established powers, thus achieving national prominence for the first time since the pre-war era.[8] The transition to the unified national league, established by the Hellenic Football Federation in 1959, capitalized on their recent upward trajectory.Participation in Alpha Ethniki and fluctuations (1959-1971)
Proodeftiki entered the newly established Alpha Ethniki for its inaugural 1959–60 season as one of 16 participating teams, having qualified through a fourth-place finish in the preceding Piraeus regional championship.[9] The club concluded the campaign in ninth position, achieving 10 victories, 8 draws, and 12 defeats across 30 matches, while scoring 34 goals and conceding 36.[10][11] The team secured consistent top-flight status over the subsequent seasons, competing through the mid-1960s without immediate threat of demotion. However, following the 1967–68 Alpha Ethniki campaign, Proodeftiki suffered relegation to Beta Ethniki, marking the onset of fluctuations in its divisional standing. In the 1968–69 Beta Ethniki season, Proodeftiki vied for promotion through playoffs, defeating Apollon Smyrnis 1–0 in the first leg and drawing level in subsequent encounters, ultimately advancing via decisive matches including a penalty shootout or tiebreaker.[12] This success, confirmed by a 0–0 draw against Apollonas Athens decided on a coin toss, returned the club to Alpha Ethniki for the 1969–70 season alongside promoted sides Kavala and Olympiacos Volos.[13] Reinstated in the top division, Proodeftiki participated in the 1969–70 and 1970–71 campaigns but faced renewed struggles, culminating in relegation at the conclusion of the 1971–72 season alongside OFI Crete and Panserraikos.[14] This period encapsulated the club's intermittent presence in Alpha Ethniki, with two spells in the elite tier interrupted by a brief second-division stint, reflecting competitive instability amid Greece's evolving national league structure.Extended stay in lower divisions (1971-1997)
Following relegation from Alpha Ethniki at the conclusion of the 1970–71 season, Proodeftiki entered Beta Ethniki and maintained presence there for 15 consecutive seasons through 1986–87, marking a prolonged phase of competitive stability without achieving promotion despite several near-misses.[15] In their debut 1971–72 campaign in Group B, the club secured second place with 95 points from 38 matches (23 wins, 11 draws, 4 losses, 68 goals for, 25 against), trailing only the eventual promoters.[15] Subsequent seasons yielded finishes of fifth (1972–73, with an 82 points total marred by a six-point deduction), third (1973–74), and second again (1974–75), alongside consistent mid-table results in the unified or southern groupings thereafter, such as third in 1975–76 and fourth in 1976–77 and 1978–79.[15] The streak ended with a 15th-place finish in 1986–87 (36 points from 38 matches: 14 wins, 9 draws, 15 losses, even goal difference of 48–48), resulting in demotion to Gamma Ethniki.[15] Proodeftiki swiftly returned to Beta Ethniki for 1989–90 via promotion from the third tier, posting a 10th-place result (44 points from 34 matches), but another bottom-half struggle led to 16th place and relegation in 1990–91 (30 points: 10 wins, 10 draws, 14 losses).[15] Re-promotion followed for 1992–93, where they placed 14th upon return, setting the stage for gradual improvement amid further fluctuations between divisions: 10th in 1993–94, seventh in 1994–95, fourth in 1995–96 (54 points: 15 wins, 9 draws, 10 losses, +16 goal difference), and finally second in 1996–97 (65 points: 20 wins, 5 draws, 9 losses, 56–33 goals), earning ascent to Alpha Ethniki after 26 years absent from the top flight.[15]| Season | League Position | Points | Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals (F–A) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971–72 | 2nd (Group B) | 95 | 38 | 23 | 11 | 4 | 68–25 |
| 1972–73 | 5th (Group B) | 82 | 38 | 15 | 14 | 9 | 40–26 |
| 1973–74 | 3rd (Group B) | 53 | 38 | 20 | 13 | 5 | 48–23 |
| 1974–75 | 2nd (Group B) | 46 | 38 | 19 | 8 | 11 | 66–41 |
| 1975–76 | 3rd | 42 | 38 | 15 | 12 | 11 | 42–37 |
| 1986–87 | 15th (Relegated) | 36 | 38 | 14 | 9 | 15 | 48–48 |
| 1989–90 | 10th | 44 | 34 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 41–52 |
| 1990–91 | 16th (Relegated) | 30 | 34 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 28–47 |
| 1996–97 | 2nd (Promoted) | 65 | 34 | 20 | 5 | 9 | 56–33 |
Temporary resurgence (1997-2004)
Proodeftiki secured promotion to the Alpha Ethniki for the 1997–98 season, marking their return to Greece's top flight after a 26-year absence since 1971.[16] This achievement followed a successful campaign in the Beta Ethniki during 1996–97, where the club earned one of the promotion spots alongside Panionios and Ethnikos Piraeus. In their initial top-division stint, Proodeftiki competed professionally for the first time, participating consecutively from 1997–98 to 1999–2000 while avoiding relegation through mid-table finishes, including a 14th-place result in 1997–98 with 9 wins, 7 draws, and 18 losses across 34 matches (35 goals scored, 57 conceded).[16] Relegated after the 1999–2000 season, the club spent two seasons in the Beta Ethniki (2000–01 and 2001–02), finishing third in both and securing promotion back to the Alpha Ethniki via playoffs for the 2002–03 campaign. Under manager Soulis Papadopoulos, who oversaw parts of this period including the 2000–01 squad, Proodeftiki stabilized in 2002–03 by ending 11th with 7 wins, 9 draws, and 14 losses (25 goals scored, 38 conceded over 30 matches).[17][18] However, defensive vulnerabilities persisted, contributing to a sharp decline in 2003–04, where they recorded only 4 wins, 8 draws, and 18 losses (20 points from 30 matches), finishing 16th and facing relegation. This seven-year span represented a brief revival amid financial constraints and inconsistent squad depth, with the club relying on domestic talent and limited foreign reinforcements like Mohammad Khaled Al-Jahiri, who featured from 1998 to 2003.[19] Despite competitive showings against established sides—such as home victories over major clubs in 1997–98—the inability to sustain infrastructure investments led to the end of top-flight presence by 2004, transitioning the club back to lower divisions.Financial decline and regional competition (2004-present)
Following relegation from the Alpha Ethniki in 2004, Proodeftiki competed in the Beta Ethniki for three seasons, but mounting debts and administrative challenges hindered competitiveness. The 2006–07 campaign marked a low point, with the club finishing 16th and last in the 18-team division, securing only 25 points from 34 matches and suffering direct relegation to the Gamma Ethniki.[20] Persistent financial strains, including unpaid obligations to players and creditors, compounded on-field struggles, as reported in contemporary accounts of Greek football's broader fiscal woes affecting mid-tier clubs.[21] Subsequent years saw accelerated decline, with economic impasse leading to administrative penalties and further demotions beyond sporting merit. By the late 2000s, Proodeftiki had descended to the Delta Ethniki (fourth tier), where limited resources restricted squad quality and infrastructure investments. Ongoing fiscal distress—described as "choking" the club and eroding fan support through repeated poor performances—pushed it into regional leagues, severing ties to national competition for extended periods.[22] In recent seasons, Proodeftiki has operated in the Attica regional divisions, primarily the A' Ep locali Piraeus league as of 2024, facing local rivals in a fragmented structure emblematic of Piraeus-area football's contraction. Efforts to rebuild have yielded sporadic promotions within regional tiers, but chronic underfunding persists, limiting ambitions for national return amid Greece's post-2008 economic legacy impacting smaller clubs.[23] The club's trajectory reflects systemic challenges in Greek lower-division football, where financial insolvency often triggers cascading relegations without robust regulatory safeguards.Club identity
Crest and symbolism
The crest of Proodeftiki F.C. depicts the phoenix, a mythical bird renowned for regenerating from its own ashes, embodying themes of renewal, endurance, and cyclical immortality in ancient Greek and broader mythological traditions. This symbol aligns with the club's identity as "Proodeftiki," denoting progress and forward momentum, and mirrors the team's historical pattern of revival following competitive downturns. The emblem, inherited from the parent multi-sport association A.O. Proodeftiki Neolaia founded in 1928, integrates the club's primary colors of maroon (βυσσινί) and white, with the phoenix often portrayed in a stylized form rising triumphantly. Variations in the design have occurred over time, primarily in artistic rendering, but the core phoenix motif has persisted as a constant representation of the club's aspirational ethos.Colours and kit evolution
Proodeftiki F.C.'s official colours are maroon (βυσσινί) and white, inherited from its founding athletic association, Proodeftiki Neolaia, established in 1927.[25] These colours symbolize the club's origins in the working-class district of Kokkinia (now Nikaia), with maroon representing resilience and white denoting purity, though no formal symbolism is documented in primary sources.[25] The traditional home kit features a shirt with vertical maroon and white stripes, paired with maroon shorts and white socks, a design consistent since at least the mid-20th century.[26] This striped pattern has remained the core element across eras, with minor variations in stripe width and collar styles reflecting manufacturer changes, such as those from generic suppliers in the 1990s to branded kits in the early 2000s during the club's brief top-flight resurgence.[27] Away kits have historically incorporated blue accents or full blue-and-white schemes to evoke Greek national colours, used primarily to avoid clashes, though documentation of specific seasonal adoptions is sparse outside kit collector archives.[26] No significant redesigns or colour shifts have occurred, preserving the kit's simplicity amid the club's regional league status post-2004; recent kits (post-2010) maintain the vertical stripes with added sponsor logos but adhere to the foundational palette.[27] This continuity contrasts with more prominent Greek clubs' frequent commercial evolutions, underscoring Proodeftiki's emphasis on tradition over marketing-driven changes.[28]Facilities
Stadium and training grounds
Proodeftiki F.C. conducts its home matches at Dimotiko Gipedo Nikeas, also known as Nikaia Municipal Stadium, located in Nikaia, a suburb of Piraeus. Built in 1937, the facility features a natural grass pitch measuring 98 meters by 48 meters and lacks undersoil heating or a running track.[29] The stadium accommodates up to 4,361 spectators.[29][2] As a municipal venue under the administration of the Nikaia-Agios Ioannis Rentis municipality, it primarily supports local football activities, with Proodeftiki F.C. as its main tenant club. Training sessions for the senior and youth teams typically occur at the stadium grounds, reflecting the club's reliance on this shared public infrastructure amid its participation in regional leagues.[1] No separate, club-owned training facilities are reported in official club or municipal records.Achievements and records
National honours
Proodeftiki F.C. has not won the Greek championship (Alpha Ethniki or Super League Greece) or the Greek Football Cup in its history. The club's most significant national-level accomplishment was reaching the semi-finals of the Greek Cup in two seasons: 1959–60 and 1964–65. It also progressed to the quarter-finals of the competition four times, in 1963–64, 1965–66, 1982–83, and 2003–04. These performances represent the extent of its competitive success in national knockout play, amid 15 total seasons spent in the top flight from 1959 to 2004 without securing a league title or runner-up finish.[1]Regional titles
Proodeftiki F.C. has engaged in regional football through the Piraeus Football Clubs Association (EPS Piraeus), primarily in the top A' Category during recent seasons following relegation from national divisions. The club has been registered and active in EPS Piraeus competitions, with participation confirmed in the A' Category 2nd Group for the 2024–25 season.[30] Recent fixtures include matches against local teams such as AE Nikaia (0–0 draw on January 18, 2025) and Thiella Moschatou, reflecting ongoing competition in the league structure.[31] [32] While the club has secured promotions from lower EPS Piraeus categories to facilitate returns to national leagues like the Delta Ethniki, no verified wins of the premier A' Category championship are documented in accessible records. This aligns with Proodeftiki's historical pattern of stronger performances in national lower tiers rather than dominating local regional play, where stability and advancement have been key goals amid financial constraints.[33]Statistical highlights and records
Proodeftiki's largest victory was a 9–0 win against Olympiakos Nicosia in a Super League match on 14 March 1970.[34] The club has also recorded other significant home wins, such as against AO Egaleo on 9 December 1967 in the Super League.[35] The highest recorded attendance at a Proodeftiki home match was 16,336, during a Super League fixture against Olympiakos Piraeus on 4 October 1998.[35] In contrast, the lowest attendance was 221 spectators for a Super League game versus AO Chalkidona on 11 January 2004.[35]| Record Type | Details |
|---|---|
| Biggest win | 9–0 vs. Olympiakos Nicosia, 14 March 1970, Super League[34] |
| Highest attendance | 16,336 vs. Olympiakos Piraeus, 4 October 1998, Super League[35] |
| Lowest attendance | 221 vs. AO Chalkidona, 11 January 2004, Super League[35] |
Rivalries and derbies
The Derby of Kokkinia
The Derby of Kokkinia is the local football rivalry between Proodeftiki F.C. and Ionikos F.C., both originating from the Nikaia neighborhood in Piraeus, formerly known as Kokkinia during the early 20th century due to its red-soil landscape and refugee settlements following the 1922 Greco-Turkish population exchange.[36] This derby embodies grassroots passion in a working-class area, with matches drawing fervent crowds that reflect the clubs' deep community roots, often exceeding 2,000 attendees despite lower-division status.[37] Encounters have historically been tight and low-scoring, with an average of 1.33 goals per game across 12 documented official meetings, underscoring defensive intensity over flair.[38] Proodeftiki holds a slight edge with three victories to Ionikos's three, alongside six draws, highlighting balanced competition without dominance by either side.[38] The fixture's rarity—fewer than a dozen clashes in over five decades—amplifies its status as a "derby from the old days," evoking nostalgia for unpolished, neighborhood rivalries amid Greece's professionalized football landscape.[36] Notable matches include Proodeftiki's 2-1 comeback win on March 12, 2017, in Gamma Ethniki, where trailing 0-1 at halftime, they overturned Ionikos via second-half goals before 2,000 fans, signaling renewed vigor in the rivalry.[37] Ionikos secured a 1-0 victory on November 18, 2018, at Neapoli stadium, dominating possession and scoring through Kouroukidis in the 22nd minute, a rare decisive moment in otherwise stalemated affairs.[39] Several games, such as the 0-0 draws on January 13, 2018, and others, featured disruptions like fan clashes, flare usage, and even livestock intrusions delaying kickoffs, underscoring the raw, occasionally volatile atmosphere.[40][41] The derby's cultural weight persists beyond results, fostering local identity in Nikaia, where both clubs vie for supremacy in a district producing talents amid economic challenges, though recent divisions have limited meetings to lower tiers like Gamma Ethniki.[42] Incidents, including a 20-minute halt and hospitalization from irritants in one clash, highlight tensions but also unwavering supporter loyalty, distinguishing it from larger Greek derbies.[42]Personnel
Notable players
Proodeftiki F.C. has nurtured players who transitioned to international or professional stages, though as a regional club primarily competing in lower divisions, its alumni are often recognized for early career contributions or local impact rather than sustained elite-level success. Ulysses Kokkinos (1941–2015) started his professional career at Proodeftiki in the early 1960s, signing his debut contract with the second-division champions and honing skills as a winger before emigrating to Australia.[43] There, he played for clubs like Yarraville Glory, earning acclaim for technical ability amid a colorful personal life that included media attention for off-field exploits.[43] Georgios "Giourkas" Seitaridis, a mid-20th-century stalwart, featured prominently as a player for Proodeftiki before becoming a coach, notably masterminding key early organizational efforts for the club around the 1920s–1930s era.[44] His legacy endures through family ties, as grandfather to Giorgos Seitaridis, who earned 72 caps for Greece including at UEFA Euro 2004.[44] Mohamad Al Afash (b. 1971), a Syrian midfielder with 37 senior international appearances from 1997 to 2007, included Proodeftiki in his Greek club career during the 1990s, contributing in midfield roles across multiple lower-tier seasons.[45]Management history
The head coaches of Proodeftiki F.C., documented primarily during the club's participations in national leagues, reflect a mix of Greek tacticians and occasional foreign appointments, with frequent changes amid competitive pressures and relegations. Records indicate short tenures for many, often spanning single seasons or fractions thereof, consistent with the club's status as a mid-tier Greek side prone to managerial turnover.[46] Key figures include Nikos Karoulias, who held multiple interim and full stints in the late 1990s and early 2000s, overseeing transitions in the Alpha Ethniki (now Super League). Soulis Papadopoulos provided longer stability from March 2000 to June 2004, during a period of relative competitiveness before further declines. Earlier, in 1969-1970, Portuguese coach Severiano Correia managed the team, marking one of the club's rare foreign hires in its post-war era. More recent appointments, such as Nikos Kotsovos in 2017 and Giannis Mangos from 2022 to 2023, aligned with efforts to stabilize lower-division campaigns.[46]| Tenure | Coach | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 1969 – Jun 1970 | Severiano Correia | Portuguese |
| Jul 1994 – Jun 1995 | Martti Kuusela | Finnish |
| Oct 1996 – Oct 1996 | Nikos Karoulias | Greek |
| Sep 1997 – Sep 1997 | Makis Katsavakis | Greek |
| Dec 1997 – Jun 1998 | Nikos Karoulias | Greek |
| Oct 1998 – Oct 1998 | Mario Banic | Greek |
| Nov 1998 – Sep 1999 | Nikos Alefantos | Greek |
| Sep 1999 – Mar 2000 | Nikos Karoulias | Greek |
| Mar 2000 – Jun 2004 | Soulis Papadopoulos | Greek |
| Apr 2017 – Jun 2017 | Nikos Kotsovos | Greek |
| May 2022 – Jun 2023 | Giannis Mangos | Greek |
Supporters and culture
Fan base and traditions
The supporters of Proodeftiki F.C. primarily hail from the working-class areas of Nikaia, Korydallos, and surrounding Piraeus suburbs, fostering a tight-knit, community-oriented fan base that emphasizes local pride and historical loyalty to the club. The core organized group, No Gate 1977, coordinates matchday activities including chants, tifos, and away travel ("on tour" supporters), reflecting traditions rooted in the club's amateur and progressive ethos.[47] This group takes its name from the longstanding practice of fans circumventing ticket gates to access grounds and voice support, a custom symbolizing unyielding dedication amid limited resources in lower-tier Greek football.[48] Matchday traditions center on high-energy displays, particularly in the Derby of Kokkinia against crosstown rivals Ionikos F.C., where supporters generate intense atmospheres through coordinated cheering and pyrotechnics at Klovi Stadium. Crowds for key games can exceed 2,000, as recorded during a 4–1 victory over Aigaleo on an unspecified date in the early 2020s, underscoring the potential for substantial turnout despite the club's regional status.[49] The passion of No Gate and affiliated fans, however, frequently spills into hooliganism, with documented clashes against opposing ultras groups marring traditions. On March 19, 2023, street battles with Aigaleo supporters involved stones, bats, and flares along Grigoriou Lampraki street, prompting police deployment of tear gas to restore order.[50] Similar confrontations with Ionikos' Rangers Gate 3 occurred on January 30, 2022, injuring 3–4 individuals via thrown objects including rocks, and on May 12, 2018, escalating to hand-to-hand combat dispersed by authorities.[51][52] These episodes highlight a pattern of pre- and post-match violence typical of ultras culture in Greek lower divisions, often linked to territorial rivalries in Nikaia.Community impact and challenges
Proodeftiki F.C. has served as a cornerstone of social cohesion in Nikaia, a suburb historically settled by refugees following the 1922 Asia Minor Catastrophe, where the club was established in 1927 by founders Korais, Vertzopoulos, and Metaxas to facilitate community regeneration and integration.[53] The club's activities, including youth academies and local events, have fostered a sense of family and local identity in Nikaia and neighboring Korydallos, with its home ground at Nikaia Municipal Gymnasium—known as "the Cage"—symbolizing enduring community ties.[53] In 2017, marking its 90th anniversary, Proodeftiki organized exhibitions, discussions, and matches in collaboration with local authorities and supporters, emphasizing solidarity and historical reflection amid the area's working-class demographic.[53] These initiatives underscore the club's role beyond athletics, contributing to cultural preservation and youth engagement in a region originally developed to house over 45,000 refugee families by the mid-20th century.[54] Financial constraints have posed persistent challenges, compelling Proodeftiki to compete in lower-tier divisions such as the 4th National category for multiple seasons, an unprecedented drop attributed directly to economic hardships. These issues mirror broader crises in Greek football, where clubs often grapple with debt and mismanagement, limiting infrastructure upgrades and competitive sustainability despite strong grassroots support.[55] The club's operations in a refugee-founded, economically strained locale have compounded these pressures, requiring reliance on community-driven efforts for survival.[53]References
- https://www.reddit.com/r/[vexillology](/page/Vexillology)/comments/z5h2wg/can_you_tell_me_what_the_date_and_the_symbol/
