Panionios G.S.S. (

Greek Greek may refer to: 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 of all kno ...

: Πανιώνιος Γυμναστικός Σύλλογος Σμύρνης, ''Panionios Gymnastikos Syllogos Smyrnis''), the ''Pan-

Ionia Ionia ( ) was an ancient region encompassing the central part of the western coast of Anatolia. It consisted of the northernmost territories of the Ionian League of Greek settlements. Never a unified state, it was named after the Ionians who ...

n Gymnastics Club of

Smyrna Smyrna ( ; , or ) was an Ancient Greece, Ancient Greek city located at a strategic point on the Aegean Sea, Aegean coast of Anatolia, Turkey. Due to its advantageous port conditions, its ease of defence, and its good inland connections, Smyrna ...

'', is a

multi-sport club founded in 1890. Originally based in Smyrna/Izmir, the club was uprooted in the population exchange between Greece and Turkey following the

Asia Minor Catastrophe Asia ( , ) is the largest continent in the world by both land area and population. It covers an area of more than 44 million square kilometres, about 30% of Earth's total land area and 8% of Earth's total surface area. The continent, which ...

in 1922. It is now based in the suburban town of

Nea Smyrni Nea Smyrni (, ''Néa Smýrni'', "New Smyrna") is a municipality and a town in South Athens, Greece. At the 2021 Greek census, 2021 census, it had 72,853 inhabitants. It was named after the former Greek city Smyrna (today's İzmir in Turkey), whe ...

, located in the

Attica Attica (, ''Attikḗ'' (Ancient Greek) or , or ), or the Attic Peninsula, is a historical region that encompasses the entire Athens metropolitan area, which consists of the city of Athens, the capital city, capital of Greece and the core cit ...

, and where many of the refugees from Smyrna settled. The Panionios football team has won the Greek Cup twice (

1979 Events January * January 1 ** United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim heralds the start of the ''International Year of the Child''. Many musicians donate to the ''Music for UNICEF Concert'' fund, among them ABBA, who write the song ...

1998 1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''. Events January * January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for Lunar water, frozen water, in soil i ...

) while the Panionios basketball team won the Greek Cup in 1991. Panionios has a long tradition of raising talented athletes in many sports (e.g. Fanis Christodoulou,

Thomas Mavros Thomas Mavros (, born 31 May 1954) is a Greek former professional footballer who played as a striker. Initially, a legend for Panionios, he was a relevation of the Greek championship at the age of 16. He became one of the leaders of AEK Ath ...

Nikos Anastopoulos Nikos Anastopoulos (; born 22 January 1958) is a Greek former footballer and manager. He was one the most prolific strikers in the Greek league during the 1980s and is widely regarded as one of the best players in the history of Greek footb ...

Dimitris Saravakos Dimitris Saravakos (; born 26 July 1961), nicknamed "the Kid" (), is a Greek former professional footballer who played as a forward. Saravakos is widely considered to be one of the greatest Greek footballers of all time and a Panathinaikos l ...

, etc.)

History

Smyrna era (1890–1922)

Panionios was founded in 1890 under the name

Orpheus In Greek mythology, Orpheus (; , classical pronunciation: ) was a Thracians, Thracian bard, legendary musician and prophet. He was also a renowned Ancient Greek poetry, poet and, according to legend, travelled with Jason and the Argonauts in se ...

, by Greeks of

in the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire (), also called the Turkish Empire, was an empire, imperial realm that controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th to early 20th centuries; it also controlled parts of southeastern Centr ...

. The name related with the legendary musician of ancient Greece, because the main activity of the club was the music. Three years later, in 1893, members of Orpheus who wished the activities of Orpheus to be focused on sport withdrew from the club and founded a new club. That was named Gymnasium and it was the first exclusively Greek sport club in Smyrna. In 1896, Gymnasium organized the first Panionian Games and in 1897 participated in the foundation of SEGAS along with 25 clubs from Greece and two from Cyprus. In October 1898, Orpheus and Gymnasion merged again to form Panionios GSS. The next years Panionios took part in all

Panhellenic Games Panhellenic Games is the collective term for four separate religious festivals held in ancient Greece that became especially well known for the athletic competitions they included. The four festivals were: the Ancient Olympic Games, Olympic Games, ...

. It also took over the organisation of Panionian Games. Between 1898 and 1922, the games were held 19 times. These games together Panhellenic Games were the most important Greek athletic events. In 1900, Panionios organised the first poetry competition. The winner was Stelios Sperantzas with the poem anthem of Panionios. The first years, Panionios hadn't got its own gymnasium. The club rented out a court near the wharf, from the French company of Smyrna. In 1910 the French company sold the area and Panionios stayed homeless. Thanks to Chrysostomos of Smyrna, Panionios was allotted a big area for its gymnasium near the Greek cemetery. The inauguration of new stadium was held in 1911 during 14th Panionian Games.

Athens era (1922–1938)

The presence of Panionios in

finished with the

. After the Asia Minor Catastrophe and the expulsion of Greek of Asia Minor, Panionios threatened to be dissolved. The club rescued thanks to its president, Dimitrios Dallas. He tracked down the survivors athletes of Panionios and regrouped the club. The first years Panionios hadn't got own sport facilities. The offices of the club were temporarily accommodated in a small room in

Panathenaic Stadium The Panathenaic Stadium (, ) or ''Kallimarmaro'' ( , ) is a multi-purpose stadium in Athens, Greece. One of the main historic attractions of Athens, it is the only stadium in the world built entirely of marble. A stadium was built on the site o ...

Athens Athens ( ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Greece, largest city of Greece. A significant coastal urban area in the Mediterranean, Athens is also the capital of the Attica (region), Attica region and is the southe ...

. In 1923 Panionios reestablished the Panionian Games in Athens with the participation 10 athletic clubs. Panionian games were repeated in 1925, during 35th anniversary of Panionios. In November 1937, Panionios Board of Directors led by President D. Karabatis and the Municipality of

agreed to relocate the club in Nea Smyrni, the Athens suburb that was mainly inhabited by Greek Asia Minor refugees coming from Smyrna, the club's historical home. Construction works started in 1938, and were completed one year later, 1939.

New Smyrna (Nea Smyrni) era (1938–today)

After the construction of stadium, Panionios regrouped the football team. Panionios football team won the championship of EPS Athens in 1951 and it was the runner-up of Panhellenic championship the same year. The next year it was the runner up of the Football Cup where defeated by Olympiacos in the replay game (the first match had finished 2-2). Panionios football team evolved to one of the protagonists of Greek championship with steady presence in first division. It was runner-up of the championship one more time, in 1971 and also it has won two football cups in 1979 and 1998. Furthermore, Panionios has important presence in basketball and the last years in water polo. Panionios Basketball team has won a

Greek cup The Greek Football Cup (), commonly known as the Greek Cup or Betsson Greek Cup for sponsorship reasons is a Greek football competition, run by the Hellenic Football Federation. The Greek Cup is the second-most important domestic men's footba ...

in 1989 and one time was a runner-up of the

championship In sport, a championship is a competition in which the aim is to decide which individual or team is the champion. Championship systems Various forms of competition can be referred to by the term championship. Title match system In this sys ...

(1987). The team has a steady presence in the first division finishing many times in the top four of the championship. The Panionios basketball women team has won a

in 2007. The last years, Panionios has a successful team in water polo. So far, it has played two times in the final of LEN Trophy and five times in the final of Greek cup. The most successful department of Panionios is the Track and Field team. The women Track and Field team has won 21 Panhellenic championships so far.

Departments

;Current *

Panionios F.C. Panionios G.S.S. Football Club (Greek: ΠΑΕ Πανιώνιος Γ.Σ.Σ.), the ''Pan-Ionian Gymnastics Club of Smyrna'' (Πανιώνιος Γυμναστικός Σύλλογος Σμύρνης, ''Panionios Gymnastikos Syllogos Smyrnis''), ...

: The football team competes in the

Gamma Ethniki The Gamma Ethniki (, C National Division) is the Greek football league system, third highest football league in Greece. History The Gamma Ethniki began in 1965 as an amateur championship, while in 1983 it was changed to professional. Although no ...

since the 2020-21 season. *

Panionios B.C. Panionios B.C. (Greek (language), Greek: Πανιώνιος KAE), known in European competitions as Panionios Athens is the Greece, Greek professional basketball club that is based in Nea Smyrni, and that plays its home games in Glyfada, Greece ...

: The men's basketball team competes in the

Greek A2 Basketball League The Greek A2 Basket League (), is a professional basketball league in Greece. It is the 2nd-tier level of pro competition, among clubs in the country. It is organized by the Hellenic Basketball Federation (E.O.K.). The league is also known as th ...

, following the first ever relegation from the

Greek Basket League The Greek Basketball League (GBL), and also known as the Stoiximan Greek Basketball League (GBL) for sponsorship reasons, is the Greek basketball league system, first tier level professional basketball league in Greece. It is run by the ...

in the 2014-15 season. The women's basketball team competes in the

Greek Women's Basketball League The Greek women's Basketball League, also known as A1 Ethniki (A1 National) Women's Basketball is the most important competition of Greek women's professional basketball. It is organised by the EOK (Hellenic Basketball Federation). It began with t ...

. It also the club's only section to finish 1st in its respective championship, becoming Greek champions in 2006-07. * Panionios W.P.C.: The men's water polo team competes in the A1 Ethniki division since 2002-03, following promotion from the Beta Ethniki and then immediately from A2 Ethniki. The women's team competes in the Beta Ethniki. * Panionios V.C., The men's volleyball team shall compete in the

A2 Ethniki Volleyball A2 Ethniki Volleyball or Greek A2 Volleyball League is the third-tier of the Greek volleyball championship system in Greece. It used to be the second-tier until the founding of the Pre-league tier replacing A2 as the second tier making A2 the third ...

for the first time in 2015-16, following promotion from ESPEDA's first division in 2014-15. It is the oldest volleyball club in Greece. The women's team also competes in the A2 Ethniki, also being the first of its kind in Greece. * Panionios H.C.: The handball team failed to compete in the 2014-15 Beta Ethniki, due to lack of a home ground. *Panionios Gymnastics *Panionios Swimming *Panionios Chess *Panionios Track and field *Panionios Judo ;Older Departments not currently operating * Cycling * Rowing * Weightlifting

Titles and honours

;

Greek Cup The Greek Football Cup (), commonly known as the Greek Cup or Betsson Greek Cup for sponsorship reasons is a Greek football competition, run by the Hellenic Football Federation. The Greek Cup is the second-most important domestic men's footba ...

**Winners (2): 1979, 1998 *

Balkans Cup The Balkans Cup was an international football competition for clubs from Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, Turkey, and Yugoslavia. It was introduced in 1961 and was very popular in the 1960s (the 1967 final attracted 42,000 spectators), being ...

**Winners (1): 1971 ;

: **Winners (1): 1991 * Greek basketball women's Championship **Winners (1): 2007 ; Panionios Water Polo * European LEN Trophy ** ''finalist: (2) 2009, 2011'' ;Panionios Athletics *21 Greek women's track and field championships: 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 *1 Greek indoor championships, Men: 1987 *2 Greek indoor championships, Women: 1995, 1996 *1 Cross Country Championship, Men: 1923 *2 Cross Country Championship, Women: 1966, 1997 ;Panionios Cycling *1 Greek Championship, Overall Standings: 1949 *1 Greek Road Championship, Men: 1951 *1 Greek Track Championship, Men: 1947

Notable supporters

* Steve Aston, Greek-Canadian MP *

Dora Bakoyannis Theodora "Dora" Bakoyanni (, ; née Mitsotaki, ; born May 6, 1954) is a Greek politician. From 2006 to 2009 she was Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece, the highest position ever to have been held by a woman in the Cabinet of Greece at the ti ...

, Member of the Hellenic Parliament *Tina Birbili, politician with PASOK * Fanis Christodoulou, basketball player, Panionios team manager *Liza Doukakarou, journalist * Giorgos Dedes, footballer, former Panionios player *Giorgos Gerolymatos, singer * Joyce Eveidi, actress * Demetrios S.Giannaros, Greek-American, vice-president of

Connecticut Connecticut ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York (state), New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. ...

parliament *

Alexi Giannoulias Alexander Giannoulias ( ; born March 16, 1976) is an American financier and politician who is the Secretary of State of Illinois. He previously served as the 72nd Illinois Treasurer from 2007 to 2011. A Democrat, Giannoulias defeated Republica ...

, Greek-American,

Treasurer of Illinois The Treasurer of Illinois is a constitutional officer in the executive branch of Government of Illinois, government of the U.S. state of Illinois. Seventy-four individuals have occupied the office of Treasurer since statehood. The incumbent is Mi ...

*Louka Katseli, politician * Isidoros Kouvelos, Greek businessman, Minister, Dora Bakoyanni's husband *Leonidas Koutsopoulos, celebrity, Panionios former youth footballer * Giorgos Kaminis, fmr. Mayor of Athens *Petros Linardos, journalist *Giorgos Kalofolias, director, actor *

Alexander Onassis Alexander Socrates Onassis (; April 30, 1948January 23, 1973) was an American-born Greek businessman. He was the son of the Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis and his first wife Tina Livanos. He and his sister Christina Onassis were upset ...

, Greek businessman *

Lefteris Pantazis Lefteris Pantazis () who is often called by the nickname ''LePa'' by the media and his fans, is a Greek singer. He was born Eleftherios Pagkozidis (Ελευθέριος Παγκοζίδης) on 27 March 1955 to Pontic Greek parents in Tashkent, ...

, singer, former Panionios FC owner * Giannis Pantazopoulos, Greek-Australian MP * Leonidas Raptakis, Greek-American politician, US Congress *Panos Samaras, sports journalist * Thanasis Saravakos, footballer, former Panionios player

References

External links

* {{Panionios G.S.S. Multi-sport clubs in Attica Athletics clubs in Greece Sports clubs and teams in İzmir Nea Smyrni 1890 establishments in the Ottoman Empire Sports clubs and teams established in 1890 Sports team and club relocations Population exchange between Greece and Turkey