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A.E. Larissas
Athlitiki Enosi Larissa F.C. logo.svg
Full name
  • Αθλητική Ένωση Λάρισας
  • Athlitiki Enosi Larissas
  • (Athletic Union of Larissa)
Nickname(s) Βασίλισσα του Κάμπου
(Queen of the Plains)
Οι Βυσσινί
(The Crimsons)
Short name AEL
Founded 17 May 1964; 61 years ago (1964-05-17)
Ground AEL FC Arena
Ground Capacity 17,118
Owner Achilleas Ntavelis
President Achilleas Ntavelis
Head coach Giorgos Petrakis
League Super League Greece
2024–25 Super League Greece 2, 1st (promoted)

Athlitiki Enosi Larissa F.C. (often called AEL or Larissa) is a professional football club from Larissa, Greece. The club was founded in 1964. It is known for its crimson and white colors. Their emblem is a rising horse, which is also a symbol of the city of Larissa.

AEL is one of the most important Greek football teams. It is considered the biggest team outside of the major cities of Athens and Thessaloniki. AEL is the only team from outside these big cities to have won the Greek Championship. This happened in the 1987–88 season. The club has also won the Greek Cup twice, in 1984–85 and 2006–07. They were also runners-up in the Cup finals in 1982 and 1984. This makes AEL one of the top 5 teams in Greek football history. The team has many passionate fans. They have strong rivalries with other big Greek teams like PAOK and Olympiacos.

AEL has also played in European competitions. They reached the group stage of the UEFA Cup in 2007-2008. They also made it to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup Winner's Cup in the 1984-1985 season. AEL plays its home games at AEL FC Arena. This stadium has seats for 17,118 fans. The team is currently competing in the top Greek league, the Super League Greece. They were promoted after winning their group in Super League 2.

Club History

AEL, known as the "Queen of Thessaly", represents one of Greece's greatest football regions. The club has won one championship and two cups. They have also reached four cup finals and achieved important successes in European games.

How AEL Started (1964–1979)

Didrachme de Thessalie
The horse is the official symbol of the city of Larissa

AEL was created on May 17, 1964. Four important local football clubs decided to join together. These clubs were Iraklis Larissa, Aris, Toxotis, and Larissaikos. The goal was to form a strong team that could represent Larissa in the top football league. The team's colors were chosen as crimson and white.

AEL played its first friendly game on June 7, 1964. They played against Panionios at Alcazar Stadium, their first home ground. AEL won 2–1. The team hired its first foreign coach, Alexander Petrovic from Yugoslavia. Many talented players joined the team.

The team aimed to reach the top league quickly. They finished fifth in their first season (1964–65). The next year, they improved to third place. In 1969, their position dropped. However, changes in Greek football rules helped AEL stay in the Second Division.

In the 1970s, the Kantonias family took over the club's management. They brought in experienced players. This helped the team improve a lot.

On June 25, 1972, AEL played a crucial game against Panserraikos. AEL needed to win to get promoted to the First National league. The game ended in a 1–1 draw. This result caused protests from AEL fans. They felt the team was treated unfairly.

First Promotion to the Top League

A year later, in 1973, AEL finally achieved its goal. They won the Second Division championship. On June 23, 1973, AEL beat Kallithea 3–0. This win secured their promotion to the First National league. Players like Horacio Morales and Daniel Hill from Argentina joined the team.

ALKAZAR STADIUM
Alcazar Stadium, the club's initial homeground

AEL started the 1973–74 season in the First National league with excitement. They finished in a strong 9th place. However, the team faced financial problems. They were relegated back to the Second Division in 1975.

The club then focused on developing local players from the Larissa area. Young talents like Takis Parafestas, Giannis Valaoras, and Dimitris Koukoulitsios joined the team. On June 18, 1978, AEL won a big game against Macedonikos (4–1). This victory made them champions of the Northern Group of the Second Division. AEL returned to the top Greek football league. This time, the team had a strong foundation for long-term success.

The Golden Decade (1980s)

The 1980s were a very successful time for AEL. The club continued to bring in talented young players. Coaches like Milan Ribar and Antonis Georgiadis helped the team grow. In 1979, Greek football became professional. AEL became AEL FC.

Sad Loss of Young Players

On September 6, 1979, Dimitris Koukoulitsios and Dimitris Mousiaris died in a car crash. They were on their way to train with the Greek Under-21 National team. Giannis Valaoras, who survived the accident, became one of the team's greatest players in the 80s.

"Small Hamburg": Cup Finalists and League Runners-up

AEL started to become a very strong team. They reached the Greek Cup final in 1982 for the first time. They lost 1–0 to Panathinaikos. The next season (1982–83), AEL finished second in the league. They were very close to winning the championship. The team played modern, fast football. They were nicknamed "Small Hamburg" after a famous German team.

More Cup Finals and European Success

In 1984, AEL reached another Cup Final. They lost again to Panathinaikos 2–0. However, they earned a spot in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. In the 1984–85 season, AEL had an amazing run in the Cup Winners' Cup. They reached the quarter-finals. They were knocked out by Dynamo Moscow. This showed how strong AEL was in European football.

1985 Greek Cup Winners

2012-08 Woodstock 31
Andrzej Strejlau, head coach from 1984 to 1986

AEL was determined to win a title. On June 22, 1985, they played against PAOK in the Greek Cup final. AEL played incredibly well and won 4–1. This was the club's first major trophy! Key players like Michalis Ziogas, Kazimierz Kmiecik, and Giannis Valaoras scored goals. The team captain, Takis Parafestas, lifted the trophy.

The next year, AEL played against Sampdoria in Europe but lost. In October 1986, a sad event happened. A fan, Charalambos Blionas, died after being hit by a flare during a match. This was a very difficult time for Greek football.

The "Miracle of 1988": Greek Champions

Gmoch Jacek
Jacek Gmoch, head coach of the champion team of 1987–88

In the 1987–88 season, AEL achieved something incredible. They won the Greek Championship. This was a huge surprise because AEL was the first and only team from outside Athens or Thessaloniki to win the title.

During this season, AEL faced a challenge. They had 4 points removed because of a "doping case" involving a player. The city of Larissa protested strongly. Roads were blocked for five days. Eventually, the rules were changed, and AEL's points were restored. This event brought the team and its fans even closer. In the second-to-last game, Giorgos Mitsibonas scored a famous goal against Iraklis. This goal secured the championship for AEL.

Difficult Years (1996–2003)

After their championship win, AEL faced harder times. The team struggled to keep its best players. Management changed often without clear plans. In May 1996, AEL was relegated to the Second Division after 18 years in the top league.

A very sad event happened on September 13, 1997. Giorgos Mitsibonas, a legendary player for AEL, died in a car accident. He was only 35 years old. His death was a big loss for the club and the city.

The club continued to face problems, including growing debts. In 2001, AEL fell to the Third Division for the first time. They were even at risk of falling further.

Almost to the Fourth Division

In the summer of 2002, AEL was at its lowest point. They had almost no money or proper management. The team even trained in a public park. They risked being relegated to the Fourth Division.

A local businessman, Nikos Sotiroulis, stepped in to help. He bought the club in 2003. A year later, the club was renamed AEL 1964 FC. They celebrated their return to the Second Division. On May 30, 2004, AEL won 5–1 against Pontiakos Nea Santa. This win secured their promotion. The fans were very excited, chanting "We are coming back!"

New Era (2004–2013): Piladakis Years

Thomas Kyparissis
Thomas Kyparissis

In 2004, Kostas Piladakis became the new owner and chairman. He brought in a new coach, Giorgos Donis, and many new players. AEL quickly returned to the Super League in 2005 after nine years. They finished first in the Second Division. The fans celebrated for days.

Back in the Elite: Cup Winners and European Games

In 2005, AEL signed Nikos Dabizas, a champion from UEFA Euro 2004. This showed that AEL wanted to be a top team. The fans traveled all over Greece to support the team. AEL finished 8th in the league. They got a chance to play in the UEFA Intertoto Cup. They played against Kayserispor from Turkey but did not qualify for the UEFA Cup.

The 2006–07 season was very successful. AEL won the Greek Cup again! This was their second Greek Cup title. On May 5, 2007, AEL beat Panathinaikos 2–1 in the final. The game was played in Volos, close to Larissa. Jozef Kožlej and Henry Antchouet scored the goals for AEL. Nikos Dabizas and Zissis Ziagkas lifted the trophy. This win confirmed AEL's return to the top of Greek football.

European Dream
AZ Larisa UEFA Cup0708
2007–08 UEFA Cup match between AZ Alkmaar and AEL

Winning the Cup meant AEL would play in the UEFA Cup in 2007–08. In the first round, they faced Blackburn Rovers from England. AEL won 2–0 at home and lost 2–1 away, qualifying for the group stage! In the group stage, AEL played against strong teams like Everton, AZ Alkmaar, Nürnberg, and Zenit Saint Petersburg. AEL did not get any points in the group, but they earned respect from top European coaches.

In the 2008–09 season, AEL had another great year. They went 13 games without losing. They finished fifth in the Super League. This earned them a spot in the UEFA Europa League for the third time in four years. They also broke long-standing traditions by winning against Iraklis in Thessaloniki and Olympiacos in Athens.

A New Difficult Period

After these successful years, AEL started to decline again. Poor decisions and players leaving led to problems. In 2009, they were knocked out of the Europa League by a weaker team. On November 16, 2009, Mexican striker Antonio de Nigris sadly passed away.

In 2010, AEL moved from their historic Alcazar Stadium to the new AEL FC Arena. However, the team struggled. They faced unfair referee decisions. Despite having star players, AEL was relegated to the Second Division in 2011. A match-fixing scandal was revealed in 2011, which showed that AEL had been treated unfairly.

Recent History

After being relegated, Kostas Piladakis tried to rebuild the team. He hired coach Chris Coleman and brought in international players. However, financial problems returned. Many players and the coach left. Piladakis resigned in 2013. The club was left without management and money. They were deliberately relegated to the Third Division to clear old debts.

In 2013, Evangelos Plexidas took over. The team was promoted from the Third Division easily. They also won the Greek 3rd Category Cup and the Amateurs' Super Cup. However, fans were unhappy with his management. In 2015, Alexis Kougias, a lawyer and football administrator, bought most of the club's shares.

On May 15, 2016, AEL was promoted back to the Super League. However, there was not much excitement among fans. Kougias had conflicts with the fans and local community. The team struggled in the top league but managed to avoid relegation. Since then, AEL has changed coaches many times. They continue to fight to stay in the top league and achieve success.

In July 2023, Achilleas Ntavelis became the new owner. He announced that the team would play its home games at AEL FC Arena again. The team was promoted to the Super League Greece for the 2024-25 season.

Honours

AEL has won several important titles:

Domestic Competitions

  • Greek Championship
    • Winners (1): 1987–88
    • Runners-Up (1): 1982–83
  • Greek Cup
    • Winners (2): 1984–85, 2006–07
    • Runners-Up (2): 1981–82, 1983–84
  • Greek Super Cup
    • Runners-Up (2): 1988, 2007
  • Super League 2
    • Winners (5): 1972–73, 1977–78, 2004–05, 2015–16, 2024–25
  • Gamma Ethniki
    • Winners (1): 2013–14
  • Gamma Ethniki Cup
    • Winners (1): 2013–14
  • Amateurs' Super Cup
    • Winners (1): 2013–14

International Competitions

Crest and Colours

Crest Evolution

The club's emblem is a wild rising horse. This horse is believed to be an ancient Thessalian-breed horse. It is similar to Alexander the Great's horse, Bucephalus. The horse is also a symbol of the city of Larissa.

Colours and Kit Evolution

AEL's team colors have always been crimson and white. They have used these colors since the club was formed in 1964.

1964–65
1967–68
1987–88
1991–92
1995–96
2003–04
2008–09
2009–10
2010–11
2014–15
2018–19

Alternative Kits

1975–76
1978–79
1980–81
1994–95
1995–96
1996–97
2006–07
2009–10
2010–11
2016–17
2018–19

Facilities

Stadium

AELFCARENA
AEL FC Arena, Aerial view

AEL FC Arena is where AEL plays its home games. It is a modern stadium with 17,118 seats. All seats are covered. The stadium can expand to hold 33,000 people. This makes it the third largest stadium in Greece. Besides football, the Arena also hosts conferences and music events. It took 14 months to build, from September 2009 to November 2010.

From May 2013 to September 2015, the team played at the old Alcazar Stadium. This was due to disagreements about stadium rent. On July 22, 2015, the club's owner promised the team would return to the Arena. They did, and played there for five years. In July 2020, new financial issues arose. AEL left the Arena again and returned to the renovated Alkazar. However, on July 26, 2023, the new owner announced that AEL would play at AEL FC Arena permanently.

Training Facilities

AEL has its own training facilities in the village of Dendra. These facilities cover over 30,000 square meters. They are used for many sports by all the team's athletes. The facilities include:

  • Three football fields (one for the first team, one for the U21 team's official matches).
  • One football field with artificial turf.
  • Living areas for the first and reserve teams.
  • A gym.
  • Saunas.
  • Rooms for planning tactics.
  • A press room.
  • Changing rooms.
  • Offices.
  • Parking areas.

Supporters

Monsters is the biggest AEL FC supporters club. The first attempt to organize fans was on March 31, 1982. About 30 fans gathered at Gate D of the old Alcazar Stadium. This gate later became the famous Gate-1. The Monsters club was formed to provide strong and passionate support for the team.

AEL fans often use banners and flags with the club's name and symbols. They have followed the team everywhere in Greece and Europe since the beginning. The Monsters have a close relationship with the German team 1. FC Nürnberg's fan club, Ultras Nürnberg 1994. Fans from both clubs often show support for each other.

S.F. Alkazar is the second largest AEL supporters club.

Records

Here are some of AEL's club records:

  • Most Appearances: Greece Giannis Galitsios (399 games)
  • Most Goals: Greece Giannis Valaoras (73 goals)
  • Biggest Home Win: AEL 8–2 Kavala (1981–82)
  • Biggest Away Win: Veria 2–5 AEL (1987–88)
  • Most Wins in a Season: 18 (1982–83, 1987–88)
  • Most Points in a Season: 50 (2008–09)
  • Record Home Attendance: AEL 2–1 Panathinaikos (18,493 fans, Alcazar Stadium, December 27, 1987)

All records are for the Super League and former Alpha Ethniki championships.

Players

Historical Squads

Here are the lineups for AEL's most famous teams:

Current Squad

No. Position Player
1 Albania GK Kleton Perntreou
3 Greece DF Konstantinos Grozos
4 Greece DF Theocharis Iliadis
10 Argentina MF Luca Andrada
11 Greece MF Savvas Mourgos
12 Ivory Coast DF Ahmed-Lavrentis Kossonou
17 Greece MF Georgios Doumtsis
18 Greece MF Kyriakos Giaxis
19 Greece FW Giannis Pasas
20 Greece MF Panagiotis Panagiotidis
21 Greece GK Thodoris Venetikidis
25 Greece MF Antonis Trimmatis
30 Portugal MF Thierry Moutinho
40 Greece DF Petros Bagalianis
45 Greece FW Panagiotis Moraitis
No. Position Player
47 Greece FW Dimitrios Diminikos
77 Greece FW Tasos Kritikos
Greece GK Nikos Melissas
Ecuador DF Erick Ferigra
Morocco DF Sofian Chakla
Greece DF Epaminondas Pantelakis
Greece DF Kostas Apostolakis
Greece DF Panagiotis Deligiannidis
Serbia DF Bojan Kovačević
Greece MF Paschalis Staikos
Greece MF Zisis Chatzistravos
Argentina MF Facundo Pérez (on loan from Lanús)
Argentina FW Leandro Garate (on loan from Huracán)
Slovakia FW Ľubomír Tupta

Reserves Squad

  • (Players from the youth team who have professional contracts)
No. Position Player
3 Greece DF Kostas Gkrozos
44 Greece GK Michalis Pitsikos
47 Greece MF Dimitris Diminikos
99 Greece FW Vangelis Gravanis

Retired Numbers

  • 24 United States Kobe Bryant, Shooting guard (2020) – honored after his death
  • 29 Uruguay Mathías Acuña, Forward (2021-2022) – honored after his death

Youth Squad

No. Position Player
Greece GK Aristidis Papapoulias
Albania GK Erion Bekteshi
Greece DF Georgios Bouzoukis
Greece DF Konstantinos Telios
Albania DF Leandro Cacellari
Greece DF Kleanthis Kortsari
Greece DF Stelios Chatzis
Albania DF Ernesto Malushi
Greece DF Alexandros Terzis
Greece DF Nikos Lygouras
Greece DF Spyros Papakonstantinou
Greece MF Dimitris Soumpasi
Greece MF Dimitris Tamposis
No. Position Player
Greece MF Aristidis Elezi
Greece MF Theodoros-Rafail Drakos
Greece MF Stelios Siatras
Greece MF Giannis Meskouris
Greece MF Pavlos Plakias
Greece MF Efthymios Mylonas
Albania MF Bajram Qerimi
Greece MF Vissarion Drosos
Greece MF Stavros Pinakas
Greece FW Alexandros Stamatis
Greece FW Stavros Kyrizakis
Greece FW Christos Krikonis

Notable Former Players

European Competitions

AEL has played in several European football tournaments:

Season Competition Round Opponent Home Away Aggregate
1981–82 Balkans Cup 1st Round Albania 17 Nëntori Tirana 3–1 0–3 3–4
1983–84 UEFA Cup 1st Round Hungary Budapest Honvéd 2–0 0–3 (a.e.t.) 2–3
1984–85 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1st Round Hungary Siófok Bányász SK 2–0 1–1 3–1
2nd Round Switzerland Servette FC 2–1 1–0 3–1
Quarterfinal Soviet Union Dynamo Moscow 0–0 0–1 0–1
1985–86 1st Round Italy Sampdoria 1–1 0–1 1–2
1988–89 European Cup 1st Round Switzerland Neuchâtel Xamax 2–1 1–2 (0–3 p) 3–3
2006 UEFA Intertoto Cup 3rd Round Turkey Kayserispor 0–0 0–2 0–2
2007–08 UEFA Cup 1st Round England Blackburn Rovers 2–0 1–2 3–2
Group Stage
(Group A)
England Everton 1–3 5th
Russia Zenit St. Petersburg 2–3
Netherlands AZ Alkmaar 0–1
Germany 1. FC Nürnberg 1–3
2009–10 UEFA Europa League 2nd Qual. Round Iceland KR Reykjavík 1–1 0–2 1–3

See also

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