In 1908, George Kalfatis, the track and field athlete of Panellinios GS took the initiative of establishing this football club. Kalafatis had been trying to establish a football division in Panellinios GS without much success for nearly two years. The management of the athletic club was under the impression that football was a game of the working class, unfit for aristocrats. Forty members of the athletic club, most of them from the aristocracy joined the newly formed football club. Initially, the club was named FOA, the Football Club of Athens.
The first official game was played on September 9, 1908. The club faced Peiraikos and defeated it at nine to zero. It also played against Ethnikos and won the match at a two to zero. In 1910, Kalafatis changed the name of the club to Panellinios Podosferikos Omilos (PPO). It also secured a new ground at Amerikis Square. In 1912, the club appointed the Oxford University athlete, John Cambell, as Coach. He introduced football skills and tactics with which the Greeks were unfamiliar. Under his training and guidance, the club became the leading football club in Greece.
In 1919, the player Michalis Papazoglou from Constantinople suggested that the club adopt green as the club color and a three-leaved clover as an emblem. His former club used a similar shamrock emblem. Currently, the jersey colors are green and white. Sometimes, the white is omitted or just used as a trim or as an alternative.
Due to the influence of Crown Prince Nicholas, the club obtained permission to build a football stadium, Leoforos Alexandras. Before moving to this new ground, the club changed its name for the last time in its history. It became Panathinaikos Athlitikos Omilos, which is the Pan-Athenian Athletic Club in English.
Apostolos Nikolaidis was one of the most important figures in the history of the club. He was a phenomenon in football, track and field, basketball, and volleyball. He participated in the Olympic games of Antwerp in 1920 as a football player and a track and field athlete. He served as a member of the board and as Chairman of the club. The club considers him to be a symbol, and for this reason, the football stadium of Panathinaikos in Alexandras Avenue was named after him.
The Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium was the club’s original home ground since the early 20s. It is located on Alexandras Avenue and is commonly referred to as “Leoforos”. It is of great historical significance because it was used by the Greek National Football team for many years. The club’s foremost rivals, AEK Athens and Olympiacos Piraeus also used it for some time.
In 1983, the club left its old home for a newly constructed Olympic Stadium. However, the club decided to reuse the old stadium for the 2007-08 Greek Super League season and for the UEFA Cup matches. The Stadium was abandonded for good in 2008. Currently Athens Olympic Stadium is used again for team's matches, while a brand new stadium is under construction (early stage) near Votanicos area in Athens.
Since 1979, the team has been owned by the Vardinogiannis family, known for their oil, media, and entertainment companies. Giannis Vardinogiannis is the most important member of the board.
Full name: PAE Panathinaikos Athlitikos Omilos, which means Pan-Athenian Athletic ClubNickname(s): Prasinoi (The Greens), Trifylli (Shamrock) Founded: February 3, 1908 Stadium: Apostolos Nikolaidis StadiumStadium Capacity: 16,620 Chairman: Nikos PaterasManager: Henk Ten CateLeague: Super League Greece
• Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium (capacity 25,000): 1923 - 1983, 2000 - 2005, and 2007-2008 • Athens Olympic Stadium (71,000): 1983 – 2000, 2005 - 2007, 2008-2010• Votanikos Arena (capacity of 50,000): Proposed to be ready by 2011
Greek Championships (19): 1930, 1949, 1953, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1977, 1984, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1995, 1996, and 2004 Panhellenic (SEGAS) Championship: 1911