Apollon Kalamarias
Encyclopedia
Apollon Kalamarias is a Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....

 association football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...

 club based in the district of Kalamaria
Kalamaria
Kalamariá is a municipality of the Thessaloniki Urban Area, located about 7 km southeast of downtown Thessaloniki. It is the second largest municipality of the Thessaloniki Urban Area as well as one of the largest in Greece, with a population increase of 8% since the 1991...

, in southeast Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...

, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....

.

The club was suspended from playing in the Second Division for the 2009-10 season, due to unsettled debts. Thus, for the 2009-2010 season, Apollon was stripped of its professional club license, and competes in the 2nd group of the Regional Division.

History

When thousands of Pontic Greek
Pontic Greeks
The Pontians are an ethnic group traditionally living in the Pontus region, the shores of Turkey's Black Sea...

 refugees settled in and around Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...

 after the Greco-Turkish War
Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922)
The Greco–Turkish War of 1919–1922, known as the Western Front of the Turkish War of Independence in Turkey and the Asia Minor Campaign or the Asia Minor Catastrophe in Greece, was a series of military events occurring during the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire after World War I between May...

 and the subsequent population exchange
Population exchange between Greece and Turkey
The 1923 population exchange between Greece and Turkey was based upon religious identity, and involved the Greek Orthodox citizens of Turkey and the Muslim citizens of Greece...

, a group of them formed a musical club to continue their local traditions.The club's first emblem was the image of ancient Olympian god Apollo
Apollo
Apollo is one of the most important and complex of the Olympian deities in Greek and Roman mythology...

, Greek God of music and poetry.

Growing in popularity amongst the inhabitants of Kalamaria
Kalamaria
Kalamariá is a municipality of the Thessaloniki Urban Area, located about 7 km southeast of downtown Thessaloniki. It is the second largest municipality of the Thessaloniki Urban Area as well as one of the largest in Greece, with a population increase of 8% since the 1991...

, the club soon expanded with a theatrical department, and later, a sports department. It was around this time the club colours were chosen - red, and black. The football club was formed in January 1926.

The team had been in and out of Greek first division until international businessman and former owner of Kalamata F.C., Stavros Papadopoulos
Stavros Papadopoulos
Stavros Papadopoulos, is a Greek businessman and the former owner of Kalamata FC and Apollon Kalamarias. He bought both these teams when they were in the third division and second division, respectively, and invested substantial money into them and eventually took both those teams up to the first...

, bought the team in 2001. Papadopoulos invested money into the team and brought in many young players from Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

, and the team gained promotion to the Greek first division within two years. Papadopoulos has relinquished the running of the team since 2004.

The first Board of Directors of Apollon Kalamarias (January 1926)

President: Emmanuel Magiopoulos (oil painter), Vice - President: Konstantinos Theodoridis (Professor), General Secretary: Georgios Argyrakos (Civil servant), Cashier: Plouton Agathopoulos (Coffee housekeeper), Members of Administrative Council: Theodoros Manos: (Juridical), Charalampos Odontopoulos (Businessman), Konstantinos Savvaidis (Businessman).

In April 1926, with decision of Thessaloniki's Court of first instance, the Association of Apollon Kalamarias was recognized as Educative - Gymnastic and started to use its own seal. Its fame became bigger in 1927. The result of this was that all the persons wanted to play and to practise the football in Apollon Kalamarias. That year, the team participated, for the first time, in Thessaloniki's Championship.

The emblem of Apollon Kalamarias

"Musical - educative association Apollon Kalamarias" means, first of all, emigrants, violent expatriation and hope for the return at the Unforgettable countries. Also, means art, culture, mental and intellectual culture. So, the most suitable emblem for the association was the god Apollo and his polite and angelic look.

First match in the A National Division: On 25 October 1959 has realised the first match of Apollon Kalamarias in the A National Division. Our opponent was Proodeftiki and the game took place in Karaiskakis Stadium
Karaiskakis Stadium
Karaiskakis Stadium is in the Neo Faliro area of Piraeus, Greece. It is the home ground of Olympiacos F.C. and is named after Georgios Karaiskakis , hero of the Greek War of Independence, who was mortally wounded near the area....

. The result was 1-0.

First home match

On 1 November 1959 was happened the first inside match of Apollon Kalamarias in the First National Division (Harilaou Stadium). The opponent of our team was Ethnikos and the result was 2-2. Chrysanidis was the footballer of Apollon Kalamarias who scored on the 53. It was the first goal of our team in the First National Division.

The first day of May 1960 Kyprianidis scored three times for Apollon Kalamarias. It was the first time that a football player of our team scored three goals in one match. Our opponent was Megas Alexandros Katerinis (Toumba Stadium
Toumba Stadium
Toumba Stadium is a football stadium in Thessaloniki, Greece, owned by the multisports club A.S. PAOK. It was built in 6 September 1959 as the club's prime sporting venue and served the home ground for the club's football team, which was participating in the then national football league. The...

, the goals on 12', 44' and 51').

First victory away of Thessaloniki

On the 25th of June 1960 was happened the first except Thessaloniki victory of Apollon Kalamarias in the First National Category (2-0). Our opponent was Athletic Union of Nikea and the match took place in "Karaiskaki" Stadium. The scorers: Kyprianidis (13') and Avramidis (72').

The first penalty

On the 18th of September 1960 Apollon Kalamarias won the first penalty of its history in the First National Category. Mytariotis scored on 15. The result of the match against PAOK was 2-2.

The first 100 games in the A' National Division: On 2 December 1962, in Toumba Stadium, Apollon Kalamarias defeated Olympiakos
Olympiacos CFP
----Olympiacos Club of Fans of Piraeus, , , transliterated Olympiakos Sindesmos Filathlon Pireos, is the most popular multisport club and the most successful in Greece, based in Piraeus....

 1-0. Scorer was Kokkonidis on 2.

Record-man of participations at the first four years in A Division

On 8 December 1962, in the match against Proodeftiki ("Karaiskaki" Stadium, 1-0), Maliogloy became the first player in the history of the A `National Division who reached the 100 participations. In the end of the football season 1962-63, he was the record-man of participations in the first four-year period of the category with 118 matches (total 120).

One hundred goals in the First National Division

On 3 February 1963 took place the match against Pierikos
Pierikos F.C.
Pierikos or P.S.F.K. is a football club based in Katerini, Greece.- The foundation :The club was founded on the 11th of April, 1961 from the merger between Megas Alexandros Katerinis and Olympos Katerinis...

 in Toumba Stadium and the result was 2-1. In this game, Kyziroglou achieved on the 50' a goal and gave the victory to Apollon Kalamarias. This goal was our team's 100th in the A National Division.

National team: Panagiotis Kyprianidis was the first football player of Apollon Kalamarias who wore the Greek National team
Greece national football team
The Greece national football team represents Greece in association football and is controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation, the governing body for football in Greece. Greece's home ground is Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus and their head coach is Fernando Santos...

's shirt (22 May 1963). It was a friendly game with Poland
Poland national football team
The Poland national football team represents Poland in association football and is controlled by the Polish Football Association, the governing body for football in Poland...

 in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...

 (defeat with 4-0). The same footballer, in the summertime of that year, had moved in Olympiakos for one million of drachmas
Greek drachma
Drachma, pl. drachmas or drachmae was the currency used in Greece during several periods in its history:...

 (sum-record for the season), being the most expensive transfer for those days.

First scorer: 22 December 1963: Apollon Kalamarias - Olympiakos Chalkis 1-1, Toumba Stadium. Mytariotis scored by penalty on the 68th minute and reached the 30 goals with the jumper of Apollon Kalamarias in the First National Category. He is the unique football player who has reached this number of goals in the history of the team in the A' National Division. Until today, he remains the first scorer of Apollon Kalamarias in the 'big' Category with totally 39 goals.

First match in our ground: 23/9/1973. The return of Apollon Kalamarias in the A' National Division, after nine years, had separate importance for another reason. The match of our team against Fostiras
Fostiras F.C.
Fostiras is a football club based in Tavros, Athens, Greece. It was founded in 1926.- References :Official site fostiraFC...

 (1-1) was the first that was occurred in Apollon Kalamarias own Stadium in the First Category. For the history, the first goal of Apollon Kalamarias in the team's "house" was scored by Foulatsiklis and Kokkonidis was the first player who played as a change (on the 67� instead Papadopoulos).

Record of tickets in our ground: On the 7th of October 1973 at the match against Panathinaikos (0-2) was realised all seasons record of tickets in A� National Division for the ground of Apollon Kalamarias. The number of tickets was 8.375 and this record remains until today.

Record of tickets in an inside match: 4 September 1983. In the first "professional" match of Apollon Kalamarias in the First National Division against PAOK (defeat 2-3) in Harilaou Stadium were sold 15.616 tickets. This number remains until today.

Two hundred matches: Apollon Kalamarias reached on 17 February 1974 two hundred matches in the A' National Category (the match was against Panathinaikos in Leoforos Stadium
Apostolos Nikolaidis stadium
Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium is a football stadium in Athens, Greece. The stadium, has been the home of Panathinaikos FC and has played for most of the years of its existence, since its foundation back in 1908....

).

The first match as a F.C.: On 4 September 1983 took place the first match of Apollon Kalamarias in the First National Category as a Football Club (against PAOK in Harilaou Stadium). On the 60� Ilias Chatzieleftheriou scored the first "professional" goal. The Yugoslavian goalkeeper Dragan Simeounovic was the first foreign player, who wore the jumper of Apollon Kalamarias.

Two hundred goals: On 29 January 1984, draw 3-3 was the result of the match against Apollon Athinon in Harilaou Stadium. Alexis Alexiou on 19� scored the 200th goal of Apollon Kalamarias in the First National Division. The Yugoslavian football player Skocaic on the 69' scored the first foreigner footballer�s goal in our team�s history.

First 'professional» away victory in the A� National Division: On 5 March 1984 Apollon Kalamarias won OFI
OFI Crete
OFI , the Sportfriends Association Heraklion, is a Greek association football club based in Heraklion, on the island of Crete. Outside Greece, the club is generally known as OFI Crete F.C., however, the name Crete is not actually part of the club's official title.OFI is the club with most...

 0-1 in Heraklion
Heraklion
Heraklion, or Heraclion is the largest city and the administrative capital of the island of Crete, Greece. It is the 4th largest city in Greece....

. It was the first "professional" away victory in Apollon Kalamarias history (A' National Category). Kostas Koutas was the scorer of our team on 77�.

Three hundred matches: On 30 March 1986 Apollon Kalamarias completed 300 games in the A' National Division. His 300th game was against Aris
Aris Thessaloniki F.C.
Aris Football Club , also known as God of war and the Yellows, is a Greek football club based in the city of Thessaloniki, Macedonia. Formed in 1914, the club was a founding member of Macedonian Football Clubs Association as well as the Hellenic Football Federation, they currently compete in...

 in Harilaou Stadium and the result was draw 1-1.

Two hundred matches: On 4 March 1990 draw 1-1 was the result of the game against Iraklis in Kaftanzoglio Stadium
Kaftanzoglio Stadium
Kaftanzoglio stadium is a sports stadium in Thessaloniki, Greece. The stadium was built with money donated by the Kaftanzoglou Foundation, hence its name. At the time of its opening on 27 October 1960, the stadium was one of the highest quality stadiums in the Balkans...

 and Apollon Kalamarias reached 200 games in the Professional A� National Division.

One hundred winnings: On 4 April 1993 Apollon Kalamarias won Apollon Athinon 1-0 and reached one hundred victories in the team�s history in A� National Division.

First player as a change: On 23 September 1973, in the home match against Fostiras (1-1), Kokkonidis became the first player in the history of Apollon Kalamarias in the First National Division who played as a change (on 67� at the position of Papadopoulos).

Record man of participations: Dimitris (Takis) Toboulidis is the football player with the most participations in the history of Apollon Kalamarias in the A' National Division. He was born on 10 January 1960 in the village of Thermopigi of Serres
Serres Prefecture
Serres is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the Region of Central Macedonia. Its capital is the town of Serres. The total population reaches just over 200,000.-Geography:...

 and started playing in Apollon Kalamarias in 1976. He played in our team until the end of the nineties and his position was in the centre of defence. He is the unique footballer in the history of Apollon Kalamarias in the A� National Category, who participated in more than 200 matches and until today remains the record man of participations with totally 233. Also, he has scored five times.

One hundred games as a Football Club: On the 14th of December 1986 Apollon Kalamarias played against AEK. This game was our team�s hundredth in the Professional Championship.

First scorer in the second National Division: In the football period 1991-92 Dimitris Nolis of Apollon Kalamarias became the first scorer in the Second National Category with 21 goals.

Three hundred goals: On 17 April 1988 the football player Zisis Tsekos achieved the 300th goal of Apollon Kalamarias in the A� National Division. Opponent of our team was AEK and the result of the match was 2-2. Zisis Tsekos was the scorer on the 55'.

First "professional" winning: Apollon Kalamarias first winning at the professional First National Division took place in Thessaloniki on the 25th of September 1983. Our team played against AEK and the result was 1-0

Current squad

Notable former players

Nikos Karoulias Alexis Alexiou Giorgos Amanatidis Vasilis Borbokis Aristarhos Foudoukidis Stelios Iliadis
Stelios Iliadis
Stelios Iliadis is a Greek footballer who is currently playing for Iraklis Thessaloniki F.C. in Greek Super League.-Apollon Kalamarias:...

 Vasilis Ioannidis Panagiotis Kyprianidis Marinos Ouzounidis
Marinos Ouzounidis
Marinos Ouzounidis is a Greek football manager and former soccer player.-Playing career:Ouzounidis started his professional career playing for Greek club Skoda Xanthi as a defender from 1987 until 1992....

 Charilaos Pappas
Charilaos Pappas
Charilaos Pappas, is a Greek footballer currently playing for Panetolikos.-Club career:He began his career in Panserraikos, Greece. In January 2003, he moved to Thessaloniki signed for Apollon Kalamarias FC. In 2003/04, Pappas' ten goals were a major factor in Kalamaria's winning promotion to the...

Giorgos Semertzidis Takis Touboulidis Zisis Tsekos
Zisis Tsekos
Zisis Tsekos is a former Greek footballer.Tsekos joined Panserraikos F.C. in the Alpha Ethniki in July 1985, after four seasons with Panthrakikos F.C. in the lower divisions. He joined Apollon Kalamarias F.C. in July 1987, where he would play until moving to Paniliakos F.C. in July 1995.Tsekos...

 Alexandre Silva Cleyton
Alexandre Silva Cleyton
Alexandre Henri Marco Silva Cleyton is a Brazilian born Greek footballer who plays for Panathinaikos.Cleyton is one of few footballers in Greece to have a dual passport, one of Brazilian and one of Greek which he received on 13 November 2009, after spending 7 years in Greece which is what is...

 Neto Guerino
Neto Guerino
Guerino Neto is a Brazilian former football player.Guerino Neto played for Clube Atlético Mineiro and Nacional Futebol Clube in the Campeonato Brasileiro, before moving abroad to play in Greece....

 Pierre Ebede
Pierre Ebede
Pierre Romain Owono Ebéde is a Cameroonian goalkeeper currently under contract with the Romanian Liga I team, Astra Ploieşti.Edebe came in Greece from Cameroon during the 1998 summer transfer window for Apollon Kalamarias...

 Joseph Elanga
Joseph Elanga
Joseph Elanga Fils is a Cameroonian football defender. He is currently a Free agent-Club career:After leaving Cameroon in 1998 Elanga started his European career in Greece playing for PAOK and Apollon Kalamarias. After a year in each club Elanga left Greece in 2000 to transfer to Swedish club...

 Gilles Domoraud
Gilles Domoraud
Gilles Domoraud is a Côte d'Ivoire footballer. He is a defender who played for FC Stade Nyonnais.-Club career:...

 Ronald Dennie Frank Klopas
Frank Klopas
Fotios "Frank" Klopas is a retired Greek-American soccer forward and midfielder. Klopas is currently the Head Coach for the Chicago Fire...

 Amr El Halwani
Amr El Halwani
Amr El Halwani is an Egyptian footballer. He currently plays for Ionikos Nikea in Greece, as a left midfielder.-References:...

 Demba Troaré

Honours

Regional
  • EPSM Championship
    Union of Football Clubs of Macedonia (Thessaloniki)
    Union of Football Clubs of Macedonia is a football organization responsible for administering football in the Prefecture of Thessaloniki. It was formed in 1923 as Football Union of Macedonia and Thrace and it administrated football in the regions of West Macedonia, Central Macedonia and East...

Winners (1): 1957-58

External links

Official sites

Fans
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