PGS Kissamikos F.C. is a

Greek Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group. *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family. **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...

football club, based in

Kissamos Kissamos ( el, Κίσσαμος) is a town and a municipality in the west of the island of Crete, Greece. It is part of the Chania regional unit and of the former Kissamos Province which covers the northwest corner of the island. The town of Ki ...

Chania Chania ( el, Χανιά ; vec, La Canea), also spelled Hania, is a city in Greece and the capital of the Chania regional unit. It lies along the north west coast of the island Crete, about west of Rethymno and west of Heraklion. The mun ...

. The club colors are blue and white, while its crest featured a

dolphin A dolphin is an aquatic mammal within the infraorder Cetacea. Dolphin species belong to the families Delphinidae (the oceanic dolphins), Platanistidae (the Indian river dolphins), Iniidae (the New World river dolphins), Pontoporiidae (t ...

History

Kissamikos was founded in 1926, representing the town and municipality of

. In 1994, the club won its first

Chania Football Clubs Association Chania ( el, Χανιά ; vec, La Canea), also spelled Hania, is a city in Greece and the capital of the Chania regional unit. It lies along the north west coast of the island Crete, about west of Rethymno and west of Heraklion. The muni ...

First Division Championship, thus earning promotion to national competitions for the first time in its history. During the 1994–95

Delta Ethniki Delta commonly refers to: * Delta (letter) (Δ or δ), a letter of the Greek alphabet * River delta, at a river mouth * D (NATO phonetic alphabet: "Delta") * Delta Air Lines, US * Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19 Delta may also ...

season, Kissamikos finished in 13th place, thus returning to regional competitions once again. In 2012–13, Kissamikos achieved promotion to the

Gamma Ethniki The Gamma Ethniki ( el, Γ΄ Εθνική Ερασιτεχνική Κατηγορία, C National Amateur Division) is the third highest football league in Greece. History The Gamma Ethniki began in 1965 as an amateur championship, while in 198 ...

, the third tier of the

Greek football league system The Greek football league system includes four levels in which teams can possibly make it to the Super League 1, Greece's highest division of football. Cup eligibility Greek Football Professional Cup: Levels 1 to 2 Greek Football Amateur Cup: ...

, after finishing 6th in the

Group 10. The club's tenure in third division was rather remarkable, as its first season in the competition saw Kissamikos finish in 4th place playing in Group E, while 2014–15 saw them finishing as champions of Group 4, thus earning their first ever promotion to the

Football League The English Football League (EFL) is a league of professional football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888 as the Football League, the league is the oldest such competition in the world. It was the top-level football league in Engla ...

Merger

Kissamikos quickly established itself in the competition, managing to outgrow, and eventually outperform its more prestigious fellow local competitor

AO Chania AO Chania, short for ''Athlitikos Omilos Chania'' ( el, Aθλητικός Όμιλος Χανιά, translated ''Athletic Club of Chania''), was an association football club based in Chania on the island of Crete. It was officially founded in 1945, ...

. After the latter was forced to relegation to the

by the

Hellenic Football Federation The Hellenic Football Federation (HFF), also known as the Greek Football Federation ( el, Ελληνική Ποδοσφαιρική Ομοσπονδία; ΕΠΟ, translit=Ellinikí Podosferikí Omospondía; EPO) is the governing body of footbal ...

for failing to renew its league participation certificate, Kissamikos owner at the time Antonis Rokakis proposed a merger of the two clubs in an attempt to form a new, strong outfit to represent the region, and more specifically the city of

(as the region's competitor in the

Greek Superleague The Super League Greece 1 ( el, Ελληνική Σούπερ Λιγκ 1), or Super League 1, is the highest professional association football league in Greece. The league was formed on 16 July 2006 and replaced ''Alpha Ethniki'' at the top of ...

Platanias Platanias (Greek: Πλατανιάς) is a village and municipality on the Greek island of Crete. It is located about west from the city of Chania and east of Kissamos, on Chania Bay. The seat of the municipality is the village Gerani. Platani ...

is based in the neighboring town and municipality of

). The merger was eventually approved on 19 August 2017. The club was renamed to AO Chania − Kissamikos, and according to the Greek laws of football club mergers, would retain Kissamikos' original crest and colors.

Honors

Domestic Titles and honors

** Gamma Ethniki: (1) *** 2014–15 ** Chania Champions: (4) *** 1993–1994, 1996–1997, 2000–2001, 2011–2012 ** Chania Cup Winners: (1) *** 1998–1999 ** Chania Super Cup Winners: (1) **
2012

Notable former players

;Greece *

Filippos Darlas Filippos Darlas ( el, Φίλιππος Δάρλας; born 23 October 1983) is a Greek professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Apollon Dokimiou. Club career Superleague Greece Born in Kenourgio, Greece, Darlas began his profession ...

Michail Fragoulakis Michail Fragoulakis ( el, Μιχαήλ Φραγκουλάκης; born 15 July 1983) is a Greek professional footballer who plays for the Greek Gamma Ethniki club Giouchtas. Career Born in Heraklion, Fragoulakis began his football career wit ...

Giannis Taralidis Giannis Taralidis ( el, Γιάννης Ταραλίδης; born 17 May 1981) is a Greek former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Club career Taralidis started his career by APS Almopos Arideas. In 1999, at the age of 18 starte ...

;Argentina *

Franco Calero Franco Néstor Calero (born 9 March 1989) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward. Calero has played in five of FIFA's six confederations: AFC, CAF, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL and UEFA. Career Calero started with Newell's Old ...

Ricardo Verón Ricardo Matias Verón (born 22 January 1981 in Santa Fe) is an Argentine football midfielder. Career Verón started his professional career at San Lorenzo in the Primera Division Argentina in 1999. In 2001, he was sold to Reggina. He has spent ...

References

External links

Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kissamikos Association football clubs established in 1926 1926 establishments in Greece Chania (regional unit)