Ionikos F.C.

Ionikos was established in 1965, from a merger of local clubs Nikaia Sports Union and Aris Piraeus, with Alex Meraklidis as new club's first president.[6] The club's early years were not easy, but, with the support of its fans, Ionikos slowly improved through the 1970s and 1980s and eventually reached the top division in 1989.[6]

The club's first promotion to the top flight was accompanied by unexpected problems—Dimitris Melissanidis withdrew as chairman, and the club needed 50 million drachmas to participate in the championship.[6] Businessman Nikolaos Kanellakis stepped forward to provide the needed sum and become the club's new chairman.[6]

Kanellakis' arrival would be the beginning of the club's greatest era—from the 1989 promotion, Ionikos would spend 16 of the next 18 seasons in the Greek top flight, up until 2007, and during that time the team would finish as high as 5th-place in the league (on two occasions), reach a Greek Cup Final, and compete in the UEFA Cup.[6]

Ionikos' UEFA Cup appearance came in the 1999–00 season—the opposition was French side Nantes, and Ionikos lost both home and away matches, 1–3 and 0–1, respectively.[6] Ionikos reached the Greek Cup Final later that same season, where they came up against traditional power AEK, and, despite a valiant Ionikos effort, AEK won the match, 3–0.[6]

On 21 April 2004 Ionikos experienced the most tragic moment of his history, when Nikolaos Kanellakis, the club's chairman for 14 years, died.[6] Hundreds of Ionikos supporters—as well as other sports fans—attended Kanellakis' funeral, where the flag of Ionikos covered the coffin of the late chairman. Nikolaos' son Christos took his father's place as chairman.

Ionikos' long run in the top flight ended in the 2006–07 season, when the team finished in 16th-place in the Super League and was relegated back to Beta Ethniki. Ionikos has spent the last two seasons in Beta Ethniki, finishing 5th and 4th place, respectively, as the club tries to rejoin the top flight.

The football matches between Ionikos and Proodeftiki are called «The Derby of Kokkinia» or «The Derby of Nikaia».

As of 21 September 2020

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  GRE Alexandros Anagnostopoulos 2 DF  GRE Panagiotis Vlachos 3 DF  IND Gurjinder Singh 4 DF  GRE Konstantinos Tsirigotis 6 MF  GRE Giannis Gotsoulias (captain) 7 MF  GRE Panagiotis Korbos 8 MF  SEN Ibrahima Niasse 9 FW  GRE Georgios Manalis 10 MF  ARG Martín Rolle 11 FW  GRE Michalis Kouiroukidis 14 DF  GRE Michalis Kyrgias 18 FW  ARG Matías Gastón Castro 19 GK  ALB Kristian Rroku

No. Pos. Nation Player 20 FW  GRE Lefteris Matsoukas 22 FW  GRE Andreas Vlachomitros 23 FW  GRE Vangelis Platellas 24 MF  GRE Thanasis Papageorgiou 25 MF  BRA Luiz Bonetti 28 MF  GRE Spyros Fourlanos 33 DF  GRE Nikolaos Moustakis 44 DF  GRE Manolis Fazos 66 DF  KEN Aboud Omar 77 FW  CPV Brito 96 MF  CMR Franck Eric Tientcheu 99 GK  GRE Panagiotis Ginis (on loan from AEK Athens)

• Beta Ethniki (Second Division)

Winners (1): 1993–94

• Gamma Ethniki (Third Division)

Winners (2): 1976–77, 1981–82 (Group 1)

• Delta Ethniki (Fourth Division)

Winners (1): 2012–13 (Group 9)

• Piraeus FCA Championship (Local Championship)

Winners (1): 1976–77

• Greek Cup
  • Runners-up (1): 1999–00
• Piraeus FCA Cup (Local Cup)

Winners (1): 1981–82

Last Update 19 Μay 2009

• First participation: 1989–90
• Total participations: 16
• Wins: 151
• Draws: 139
• Losses: 212
• Goals Scored: 552
• Goals Conceded: 727
• Record Win: Ionikos 5–0 OFI Crete in 1997–98
• Record Loss: AEK Athens 6–0 Ionikos in 1995–96, Olympiacos 6–0 Ionikos in 2002–03

• First participation: 1965–66
• Total participations: 23
• Wins: 299
• Draws: 224
• Losses: 259
• Goals Scored: 925
• Goals Conceded: 849
• Record Win: Ionikos 8–0 Bizani in 1966–67, Ionikos 8–0 Anagennisi Artas in 1974–75
• Record Loss: Vyzas 7–0 Ionikos in 1971–72