Athlitiki Enosi Larissa F.C. facts for kids
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| Nickname(s) | Βασίλισσα του Κάμπου (Queen of the Plains) Οι Βυσσινί (The Crimsons) |
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| Short name | AEL | ||
| Founded | 17 May 1964 | ||
| Ground | AEL FC Arena | ||
| Capacity | 16,118 | ||
| Owner | Achilleas Ntavelis | ||
| President | Achilleas Ntavelis | ||
| Head coach | Alekos Vosniadis | ||
| League | Super League Greece 2 | ||
| 2023–24 | Super League Greece 2, 2nd | ||
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Athlitiki Enosi Larissa F.C. (which means "Athletic Union of Larissa"), often called Larissa or just AEL, is a professional football club from Larissa, a city in Greece.
AEL is one of Greece's biggest football teams. It's the largest team from outside the main cities of Athens and Thessaloniki. The club started in 1964 and is strongly linked to the city of Larissa. Their symbol is a rising horse, and their colors are crimson and white.
AEL is famous for being the only team outside Athens and Thessaloniki to win the Greek Championship. They achieved this amazing feat in the 1987–88 season! They've 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 them one of the top teams in Greek football history. AEL has many passionate fans and has big rivalries with other major Greek teams like PAOK and Olympiacos.
The team has also played in European competitions, such as the UEFA Cup in 2007. They play their home games at AEL FC Arena, a modern stadium with seats for 16,118 fans. AEL played in the top Greek league, the Greek Super League, until they moved down a division in May 2021.
Contents
- AEL's Football Journey: From Start to Glory
- Team Achievements
- Team Symbol and Colors
- Club Facilities
- Team Supporters
- Team Records
- Famous Former Players
- See Also
AEL's Football Journey: From Start to Glory
AEL, known as the "Queen of Thessaly" or "Queen of the Lowlands," represents one of Greece's most important football areas. With one championship title, two cups, four cup finals, and many European successes, AEL has a rich history.
How AEL Began (1964–1979)
AEL was formed with the dream of creating a strong team for Larissa. On May 17, 1964, several local clubs decided to merge. These clubs were Iraklis Larissa (founded 1930), "Aris" (1926), "Toxotis" (1943), and "Larissaikos" (1930). This merger officially created the Athletic Union of Larissa. The team's colors were chosen as crimson and white.
A few days later, on May 22, the club's rules were changed, and on June 8, AEL officially became a club. Their first friendly game was on June 7 at Alcazar Stadium, their first home ground. They played against Panionios, a strong team at the time, and won 2–1. Alexander Petrovic from Yugoslavia was their first foreign coach. Many talented players joined, making history for Thessalian football.
In their first season (1964–65), AEL finished fifth. The next year, they improved to third place. Promotion to the top league was almost achieved in 1966, but they lost a tough game. Over the next few years, the team faced challenges. However, due to some changes in Greek football rules, AEL avoided being moved down to a lower division.
In the 1970s, the Kantonias family took over the club's management. They brought in experienced players like Simantiris and Kyziroglou, who helped the team improve.
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, and AEL missed out on promotion. Fans in Larissa were very upset, and thousands gathered to protest.
First Promotion to the Top League
One year later, in 1973, AEL finally achieved their goal! With new players from Argentina like Horacio Morales and Daniel Hill, AEL became very strong. On June 23, 1973, AEL beat Kallithea 3–0, securing their promotion to the First National league. They finished first with 98 points.
In the 1973–74 season, AEL played in the top league with great enthusiasm. They finished 9th, which was a big success for a new team. However, without strong financial support, the team struggled and was moved back to the Second Division in 1975.
The club then focused on building a team with local players from the Larissa area. In 1977, President Elias Kelesidis brought many young talents from AEL's youth team into the main squad. These young players, including Takis Parafestas, Giannis Valaoras, and Dimitris Koukoulitsios, became the future of the team.
On June 18, 1978, AEL won a big game against Macedonikos (4–1) in Thessaloniki. This victory made them champions of the Northern Group of the Second Division, and they were promoted back to the top league! This time, AEL had a strong foundation of experienced and talented players, which helped them stay in the top league for 15 years.
The Golden Decade: The 1980s
The 1980s were AEL's most successful years. The club continued to find and develop talented young players. Coaches like Milan Ribar and Antonis Georgiadis helped the team grow. Even when some players left, new ones were ready to step up. This period was known as the "AEL FC" era, as Greek football became professional in 1979.
Sad Loss of Young Stars
On September 6, 1979, Dimitris Koukoulitsios and Dimitris Mousiaris, two promising young players, sadly died in a car accident. They were on their way to train with the national team. Giannis Valaoras survived the accident and went on to become one of AEL's greatest players in the 80s.
"Small Hamburg": Cup Finalists and League Runners-Up
With a stable management and new players like Maloumidis and Galitsios, AEL started to show its strength. They were the best regional team in the 1980–81 season.
In the summer of 1982, AEL reached the Greek Cup final for the first time. They lost 1–0 to Panathinaikos. The next season (1982–83), AEL almost won the league title, finishing second. This team played modern, fast football and was nicknamed "Small Hamburg," after a famous German team. AEL also played in Europe for the first time but lost to Honvéd from Hungary.
Another Greek Cup Final (1984)
In 1984, AEL reached another Cup Final, again facing Panathinaikos. They lost 2–0. However, because Panathinaikos also won the league, AEL earned a spot in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.
The 1984–85 season was impressive for AEL in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. They reached the quarter-finals, where they were knocked out by Dynamo Moscow from the Soviet Union. This showed how strong AEL was becoming in European football.
First Greek Cup Victory (1985)
AEL was determined to win a title. In the Greek Cup final of 1985, they played against PAOK. AEL played incredibly well, winning 4–1 to claim their first-ever major trophy! Key players like Ziogas and Valaoras scored. The team captain, Takis Parafestas, lifted the trophy. The city of Larissa celebrated this historic win with a huge parade.
After this success, AEL faced Sampdoria from Italy in Europe but couldn't advance. The team continued to develop young stars like Vassilis Karapialis, who would become known as "the magician."
A sad event occurred on October 26, 1986, when a fan was tragically killed during a match. This was a very difficult moment for Greek football.
The "Miracle of 1988": Greek Champions
In the 1987–88 season, AEL achieved its greatest triumph. Despite some key players leaving and a controversial decision to remove points from the team due to a player's flu medication (which was later reversed after strong protests from the fans), AEL pushed forward.
On March 16, 1988, a sports court took away 4 points from AEL because of a player, Georgi Tsingov, who had taken a substance for the flu. The city of Larissa was outraged. Fans created roadblocks and protested for five days until the decision was changed. This incredible support from the fans helped the team overcome the challenge.
In the second-to-last game of the season, Mitsibonas scored a crucial goal against Iraklis. This goal sealed the championship for AEL! They became the first and only team from outside Athens and Thessaloniki to win the Greek championship. It was a truly historic moment for the club and the city.
Tough Times and Comeback (1996–2003)
After their championship win, AEL's golden era slowly came to an end. They played in the Champions League but were knocked out in a penalty shootout. The team faced challenges with players leaving and changes in management. In May 1996, after 18 years, AEL was relegated back to the Second Division.
A very sad event happened on September 13, 1997, when Giorgos Mitsibonas, a beloved player and symbol of the team, died in a car accident. He was only 35. His death was a huge loss for the city and the club.
The club continued to struggle with financial problems and in 2001, for the first time, AEL fell to the Third Division. There was even a risk of the club completely falling apart.
Almost to the Fourth Division
In the summer of 2002, AEL reached its lowest point. They had almost no management or money. The team trained in a park, which was not suitable for professional football. They were even penalized points in the league.
However, a local businessman named Nikos Sotiroulis stepped in. He bought the team in March 2003, saving it from possibly going down to the Fourth Division. A year later, the club was renamed AEL 1964 FC and started its journey back up. On June 1, 2003, AEL won a crucial game against Niki Volos 1–0, avoiding relegation to the Fourth Division.
The team then focused on getting promoted. On May 30, 2004, AEL secured second place and a spot in the Second Division. The fans were thrilled, chanting "We are coming back!" Players like Kyparissis and Kehagias helped the team rise again. In June 2004, Nikos Sotiroulis handed over ownership to Kostas Piladakis, starting a new chapter for AEL.
A New Era (2004–2013): The Piladakis Years
Under new owner Kostas Piladakis and coach Giorgos Donis, AEL quickly returned to the Super League after nine years. They signed 19 new players in the summer of 2004, completely changing the team. AEL won first place in the Second Division with 58 points, and fans celebrated for days!
Back in the Elite: Cup Winners and European Football
In 2005, AEL signed Nikos Dabizas, a champion from UEFA Euro 2004 and former captain of the Greece national football team. This showed that AEL was back to compete at the top level. Their fans also showed incredible support, traveling all over Greece.
AEL finished 8th in the league and got a chance to play in the UEFA Intertoto Cup. They faced Kayserispor from Turkey but didn't qualify for the UEFA Cup. However, this was a sign of more European adventures to come.
The 2006–07 season was very successful. AEL won the Greek Cup again!
Greek Cup Winners (2007)
On May 5, 2007, AEL made history again. Coach Giorgos Donis and his players brought the Cup back to Larissa after 22 years. This confirmed AEL's return to the top of Greek football. They beat Panathinaikos 2–1 in the final, which was held in Volos, close to Larissa. Players like Jozef Kožlej and Henry Antchouet scored the winning goals. Over 10,000 AEL fans celebrated wildly!
European Dream Continues
The 2007–08 season started with great excitement. As Cup winners, AEL played in the UEFA Cup. In the first round, they faced English team Blackburn Rovers. AEL won 2–0 at home and, despite losing 2–1 away, they advanced to the group stage! This was a huge achievement.
In the group stage, AEL played against strong teams like Everton, AZ Alkmaar, Nürnberg, and Zenit Saint Petersburg. Although they didn't win any points in the group, AEL earned respect from top European coaches.
With new world-class players like Maciej Żurawski and Tümer Metin, AEL had a great league season in 2008–09. They finished fifth and qualified for the UEFA Europa League, marking their third European appearance in four years. This season, AEL also broke long-standing traditions by winning against Iraklis and Olympiacos in their home stadiums.
Challenges and Relegation
After these successful years, AEL faced new difficulties. Poor decisions about players and some unfair refereeing affected the team. In 2009, they were knocked out of the UEFA Europa League by a weaker Icelandic team, KR Reykjavík.
A sad event occurred on November 16, when Mexican striker Antonio de Nigris passed away. The team managed to stay in the top league that season.
In 2010–11, AEL moved from their historic Alcazar Stadium to the new AEL FC Arena. Despite big investments in new players, the team struggled. They faced many unfair decisions from referees and eventually moved down to the Second Division.
Recent Years: Ups and Downs
After being relegated, owner Piladakis tried to rebuild the team. He hired famous coach Chris Coleman and international players. However, financial problems forced many players and the coach to leave. Piladakis resigned, and the club faced severe money troubles, leading to another relegation to the Third Division. This move was often used by Greek teams to clear old debts.
In 2013, local businessman Evangelos Plexidas took over. The team easily got promoted from the Third Division and won two cups in that category. However, many fans were unhappy with his management. In 2015, Plexidas sold his shares to Alexis Kougias, a well-known Greek lawyer.
A year later, on May 15, 2016, AEL was promoted back to the Super League! However, there wasn't much excitement among fans because of ongoing disagreements with the new owner. The team struggled in the top league but managed to avoid relegation. Over the next few years, AEL changed coaches many times, which made it hard for the team to find stability.
In July 2020, new financial disagreements led AEL to leave AEL FC Arena and return to the renovated Alkazar. However, on July 26, 2023, the new owner, Achilleas Ntavelis, announced that AEL would return to AEL FC Arena for good.
Team Achievements
In Greece
- Top Greek League (formerly Alpha Ethniki)
- 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
- Second Division (formerly Beta Ethniki)
- Winners (4): 1972–73, 1977–78, 2004–05, 2015–16
- Runners-Up (2): 1971–72, 2014–15
- Third Division
- Winners (1): 2013–14
- Runners-Up (1): 2003–04
- Third Division Cup
- Winners (1): 2013–14
- Amateurs' Super Cup
- Winners (1): 2013–14
In Europe
- UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
- Quarter-finals (1): 1984–85
Team Symbol and Colors
Team Symbol
The club's symbol is a wild, rising horse. This horse is believed to be an ancient Thessalian-breed horse, similar to Alexander the Great's famous horse, Bucephalus. It's the same symbol used by the city of Larissa.
Team Colors and Kits
AEL's team colors have always been crimson and white since the club was formed in 1964.
         1964–65
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     1967–68
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    1987–88
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    1991–92
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     1995–96
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 2003–04
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    2008–09
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    2009–10
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   2010–11
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  2014–15
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   2018–19
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Alternative Kits
     1975–76
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   1978–79
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   1980–81
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 1994–95
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  1995–96
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  1996–97
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    2006–07
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     2009–10
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    2010–11
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  2016–17
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   2018–19
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Club Facilities
Home Stadium
AEL FC Arena is where AEL plays its home games. It's a modern stadium with 16,118 covered seats. Besides football, the Arena also hosts conferences and music events. The stadium was built in 14 months, from September 2009 to November 2010.
For a few years, from May 2013 to September 2015, the team played at the old Alcazar Stadium. This was because of disagreements over the stadium's rent. However, in August 2015, an agreement was reached, and the team returned to AEL FC Arena. They played there for five years until July 2020, when new financial issues caused them to leave again and return to the renovated Alkazar. But on July 26, 2023, the club's new owner, Achilleas Ntavelis, announced that AEL would play at AEL FC Arena permanently.
Training Grounds
AEL has its own training facilities in the village of Dendra, near Tyrnavos. These facilities cover over 30,000 square meters and are used for all the team's athletes. They 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 team strategies
- A press room
- Changing rooms
- Offices
- Parking areas
Team Supporters
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AEL fans in Kalamata during a game in February 2005
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AEL fans in Veria during a game in January 2008
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Monsters supporters Club in Alcazar Stadium
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AEL fans in AFAS Stadion in a European game against AZ Alkmaar
Monsters is the biggest fan club for AEL FC. The idea to organize supporters started on March 31, 1982. About 30 fans gathered at Gate D of the old Alcazar Stadium, which later became the famous Gate-1. The Monsters club was formed to provide strong and passionate support for the team without limits.
AEL fans often use large banners and flags with the club's name and symbols. They follow the team everywhere, both in Greece and in Europe.
The Monsters have a close relationship with the German team 1. FC Nürnberg's fan club, Ultras Nürnberg 1994 (UN-94). Fans from both clubs often show support for each other.
S.F. Alkazar (Greek: Σύνδεσμος Φιλάθλων Αλκαζάρ) is the second-largest AEL supporters club.
Team Records
- Most Games Played:
Giannis Galitsios (399) - Most Goals Scored: Giannis Valaoras (73)
- 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, Alcazar Stadium, 27 December 1987)
All records are for the Super League and former Alpha Ethniki championships.
Famous Former Players
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Giorgos Fotakis
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Dimitris Salpingidis
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Daniel Cousin
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Saša Ilić
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Aleksandar Radosavljević
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Mirnes Šišić
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Hélder
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Tim Sparv
See Also
In Spanish: Athlitiki Enosi Larissas para niños
