Super League Greece facts for kids
 |
|
| Organising body | Super League 1 Greece Limited Liability Partnership |
|---|---|
| Founded |
|
| Country |  Greece |
| Confederation | UEFA |
| Number of teams | 14 (since 2019–20) |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | Super League Greece 2 |
| Domestic cup(s) | Greek Cup Greek Super Cup |
| International cup(s) | UEFA Champions League UEFA Europa League UEFA Conference League |
| Current champions | Olympiacos (48th title) (2024–25) |
| Most championships | Olympiacos (48 titles) |
| Most appearances | Mimis Domazos (535) |
| Top goalscorer | Thomas Mavros (260 goals) |
| TV partners | Nova Sports, Cosmote Sport |
| Website | slgr.gr |
The Super League Greece 1 is the top professional association football league in Greece. It is also known as the Stoiximan Super League because of its sponsor. This league was created on July 16, 2006. It took the place of an older league called Alpha Ethniki. The league is run by the football clubs that play in it.
There are 14 teams in the Super League Greece 1. The season usually runs from August to May. Each team plays 26 games. After these games, the top teams play in a special "Championship play-off" to decide who wins the league.
The Super League Greece is ranked 12th in Europe by UEFA. This ranking is based on how well Greek teams have done in European competitions over the last five years.
Since the first official Greek championship started in 1927, only six clubs have won the title. Olympiacos has won the most titles, with 48 championships. Olympiacos is also the current champion.
Contents
History of Greek Football
How Football Started in Greece
Football first came to Greece in 1894. It became more popular after the 1896 Summer Olympics. Many sports clubs started their own football teams. The first clubs just for football were also created around this time.
In the early years, until 1912, a championship was organized by the Hellenic Association of Amateur Athletics (SEGAS). This was mostly a local tournament for teams from Athens and Piraeus.
After the Balkan Wars and World War I, two main football groups were formed. One organized games in Athens and Piraeus. The other did the same in Thessaloniki. In 1923, a "Panhellenic Champion" was decided. This was done by a play-off game between the champions from Athens-Piraeus and Thessaloniki. Peiraikos Syndesmos won against Aris.
The First National Championship (1927–1959)
The Hellenic Football Federation (HFF) was founded on November 14, 1926. It started the first official Panhellenic Championship in 1927–28. However, some big teams like Olympiacos, Panathinaikos, and AEK Athens did not join at first due to disagreements with the HFF.
In the beginning, only teams from Athens, Piraeus, and Thessaloniki played. Teams from other parts of Greece joined later. For example, in 1938-39, teams like Doxa Drama played for the first time. By 1953-54, more teams from all over Greece were part of the championship.
The National League (1959–1979)
In 1959, the Alpha Ethniki league was created. This was the first time Greece had a single national football league. It was a big change from the old system where local championships decided who played in the final.
The new league started on October 25, 1959, with 16 teams. This change was important for Greek football. It helped make the championship more organized and fair for all teams. Panathinaikos won the first Alpha Ethniki championship.
Professional Football Begins (1979–Today)
On January 19, 1979, a new law was passed. This law made football clubs into professional companies. This meant that rich business people could buy shares in the clubs. This change helped Greek football become a big business.
For one season, 2000–01, the league was called "Upper Category." This was an attempt to make Greek football leagues better. But this change did not last, and the old name came back the next season.
Super League (2006–2019)
On July 16, 2006, the "Super League" was founded. This new league was made up of the top professional football clubs. The Super League's main job is to organize the championship. From the 2007–08 season, special play-off games were added. These games helped decide which teams would play in European competitions.
Super League 1 (2019–Today)
In 2019, the league was renamed "Super League 1 Greece." New rules were also added. Play-offs were introduced to decide the champion among the top six teams. Also, the V.A.R. system was started. VAR helps referees make more accurate decisions during games.
How the Competition Works
Since the 2024–2025 season, 14 clubs play in the Super League. They play each other twice, once at home and once away. This makes a total of 26 games for each team.
After these regular season games, the top 4 clubs play in a 6-game championship round. This round decides the Super League champion. It also decides which teams will play in the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and UEFA Conference League.
Teams ranked 5th through 8th play in "Europe play-offs." These games decide the last spot for the next year's UEFA Conference League. This happens if the Greek Football Cup winner is already in the top 4.
The bottom 6 clubs play in "play-outs." These games decide which teams will be moved down to Super League 2. The top two teams from Super League 2 then get to join Super League 1.
Teams in European Competitions
For the 2025–26 season, the Super League has two spots in the UEFA Champions League. Olympiacos, as the reigning champion, qualified for the Champions League group stage. Panathinaikos, which finished second, entered the Champions League second qualifying round.
Since Olympiacos also won the Greek Cup, the spot for the 2025–26 UEFA Europa League went to PAOK, who finished third in the league.
AEK Athens and Aris, who finished 4th and 5th, qualified for the 2025–26 UEFA Conference League.
Clubs in the League
2025–26 Season Teams
The following 14 clubs are playing in the Super League for the 2025–26 season.
- Note: This table shows the teams for the 2025–26 season.
| Club | Position in 2024–25 |
First season in National League |
Seasons in National League |
Number of titles |
Last title |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AEK Athens | 4th | 1959–60 | 65 | 13 | 2022–23 |
| AE Kifisia | 1st in 2024–25 SL2 South Group | 2023–24 | 2 | 0 | — |
| AEL | 1st in 2024–25 SL2 North Group | 1973–74 | 32 | 1 | 1987–88 |
| Aris | 5th | 1959–60 | 61 | 3 | 1945–46 |
| Asteras Tripolis | 6th | 2007–08 | 19 | 0 | — |
| Atromitos | 7th | 1972–73 | 25 | 0 | — |
| Levadiakos | 9th | 1987–88 | 21 | 0 | — |
| OFI | 8th | 1968–69 | 49 | 0 | — |
| Olympiacos | 1st | 1959–60 | 67 | 48 | 2024–25 |
| Panathinaikos | 2nd | 1959–60 | 67 | 20 | 2009–10 |
| Panetolikos | 10th | 1975–76 | 16 | 0 | — |
| Panserraikos | 12th | 1965–66 | 27 | 0 | — |
| PAOK | 3rd | 1959–60 | 67 | 4 | 2023–24 |
| Volos | 11th | 2019–20 | 7 | 0 | — |
League Champions
Champions Through the Years
The Greek Championship has changed its name and format over the years:
- Panhellenic Championship (1927–28 to 1958–59): Teams played in regional leagues first, then the top teams played in a final round.
- National League (1959–60 to 1978–79): This was the first time all teams played in one national league. It was called Alpha Ethniki Katigoria.
- Professional League (1979–present): This is when football became fully professional.
- From 1979–80 to 2005–06, it was still called Alpha Ethniki Katigoria. For one season (2000–01), it was called Upper Category.
- From 2006–07 to 2018–19, it was known as Super League Greece.
- From 2019–20 to today, it is called Super League 1. This is when VAR (Video Assistant Referee) was introduced.
Who Won the Most Titles?
Here are the clubs that have won the Greek Championship since 1927:
| Club | Champions | Winning Years |
|---|---|---|
| Olympiacos | 48 | 1931, 1933, 1934, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1947, 1948, 1951, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1966, 1967, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2025 |
| Panathinaikos | 20 | 1930, 1949, 1953, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1977, 1984, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1995, 1996, 2004, 2010 |
| AEK Athens | 13 | 1939, 1940, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1978, 1979, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2018, 2023 |
| PAOK | 4 | 1976, 1985, 2019, 2024 |
| Aris | 3 | 1928, 1932, 1946 |
| AEL | 1 | 1988 |
Champions by City
The six clubs that have won the championship come from four different cities:
| City | Titles | Clubs |
|---|---|---|
| Piraeus | 48 | Olympiacos (48) |
| Athens | 33 | Panathinaikos (20), AEK Athens (13) |
| Thessaloniki | 7 | PAOK (4), Aris (3) |
| Larissa | 1 | AEL (1) |
Champions by Region
The winning clubs come from three main regions in Greece:
| Region | Titles | Clubs |
|---|---|---|
| Attica | 81 | Olympiacos (48), Panathinaikos (20), AEK Athens (13) |
| Central Macedonia | 7 | PAOK (4), Aris (3) |
| Thessaly | 1 | AEL (1) |
League Statistics
Top Three Teams (1959–Present)
This table shows how many times clubs have finished in the top three positions since 1959:
| Club | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympiacos | 33 | 15 | 11 | 59 |
| Panathinaikos | 17 | 21 | 14 | 52 |
| AEK Athens | 11 | 17 | 18 | 46 |
| PAOK | 4 | 9 | 10 | 23 |
| AEL | 1 | 1 | – | 2 |
| Aris | – | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| OFI | – | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Panionios | – | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Apollon Smyrnis | – | – | 1 | 1 |
| Asteras Tripolis | – | – | 1 | 1 |
| Atromitos | – | – | 1 | 1 |
| Iraklis | – | – | 1 | 1 |
Top Players
Most Games Played
These players have played the most games in the Greek top division:
| Rank | Name | Appearances | Teams |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mimis Domazos | 536 | Panathinaikos, AEK Athens |
| 2 | Nikos Nioplias | 509 | OFI, Panathinaikos, Chalkidona |
| 3 | Giorgos Koudas | 504 | PAOK |
| 4 | Thomas Mavros | 501 | Panionios, AEK Athens |
| 5 | Savvas Kofidis | 493 | Iraklis, Olympiacos, Aris |
Most Goals Scored
These players have scored the most goals in the Greek top division:
| Rank | Name | Goals | Teams |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thomas Mavros | 260 | AEK Athens, Panionios |
| 2 | Krzysztof Warzycha | 244 | Panathinaikos |
| 3 | Mimis Papaioannou | 234 | AEK Athens |
| 4 | Giorgos Sideris | 224 | Olympiacos |
| 5 | Antonis Antoniadis | 187 | Panathinaikos, Olympiacos |
Greek Clubs in European Competitions
Many Greek clubs have played in European football competitions. Olympiacos has played the most games and won the first European trophy for a Greek team. They won the UEFA Conference League in 2024. They also won the UEFA Youth League in the same year, which was a first for Europe!
Here's how Greek clubs contribute to UEFA's country ranking:
| Rank | Club | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | Olympiacos | 82.250 |
| 42 | Panathinaikos | 63.900 |
| 66 | PAOK | 45.583 |
| 70 | AEK Athens | 44.492 |
| 186 | Aris | 14.633 |
UEFA Rankings
Country Rankings
As of June 1, 2025, the Greek Super League is ranked 12th in Europe by UEFA. This ranking shows how well a country's clubs perform in European competitions.
| Rank | Competition | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Premier League |
115.196 |
| 2 |  Serie A |
97.231 |
| 3 |  La Liga |
94.453 |
| 4 |  Bundesliga |
86.331 |
| 5 |  Ligue 1 |
73.093 |
| 6 |  Eredivisie |
67.150 |
| 7 |  Primeira Liga |
62.266 |
| 8 |  Belgian First Division A |
56.850 |
| 9 |  Czech First League |
44.100 |
| 10 |  Süper Lig |
43.900 |
| 11 |  Eliteserien |
39.687 |
| 12 |  Super League Greece |
39.312 |
| 13 |  Austrian Bundesliga |
36.450 |
| 14 |  Scottish Premiership |
35.550 |
| 15 |  Ekstraklasa |
35.000 |
| 16 |  Danish Superliga |
33.981 |
Club Rankings
Here are the top Greek clubs in the UEFA club rankings:
| Rank | Club | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 37 | Olympiacos | 56.500 |
| 52 | PAOK | 42.250 |
| 111 | Panathinaikos | 16.000 |
| 159 | AEK Athens | 9.500 |
| 195 | Aris | 7.862 |
| 195 | OFI | 7.862 |
TV Rights and Sponsors
Watching the Games
In Greece, two main TV channels show the Super League games: Nova Sports and Cosmote Sport. Nova Sports shows the home games of six teams, including Aris and PAOK. Cosmote Sport shows the home games of eight teams, including AEK Athens, Olympiacos, and Panathinaikos.
Eurosport also has the rights to show Super League games across Europe, except in Greece and Portugal. In South Korea, Coupang Play shows Olympiacos' matches.
League Sponsors
The Super League has had different main sponsors over the years.
- From 2007 to 2017, OPAP was the main sponsor. The league was called Super League OPAP.
- From 2017 to 2019, Souroti was the sponsor.
- From 2019 to 2023, Interwetten was the sponsor.
- Since January 28, 2023, Stoiximan has been the official sponsor. That's why the league is now called Stoiximan Super League.
The league also has other partners. Puma provides the official footballs. Panini has been making collectible stickers and trading cards for the Super League since 2008.
See also
In Spanish: Superliga de Grecia para niños
- Greek football league system
- Greek football champions
- List of Greek football championship top scorers
External links
- Super League at Curlie
