G.S. Iraklis Thessaloniki
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| President | Ephraim Kyrizidis |
| Website | iraklis |
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Gymnastikos Syllogos Thessalonikis "Iraklis" (Greek: Γυμναστικός Σύλλογος Θεσσαλονίκης «Ηρακλής», lit. 'Thessaloniki Gymnastic Club "Heracles"'), commonly referred to as Iraklis Thessaloniki, is a multi–sporting club based in the city of Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece.
G.S. Iraklis Thessalonikis was founded on 29 November 1908 and is one of the oldest and most historic sporting clubs in Greece, hence the nickname "Gireos" (Greek: Γηραιός, lit. 'Elder'). In 1910, the name "Iraklís" (Greek: Ηρακλής, lit. 'Heracles', Greek pronunciation: [iɾa'klis]) was added to the club's name as an honour to the ancient Greek demigod Heracles (or Hercules as the Roman equivalent), hence the nickname "Imitheos" (Greek: Ημίθεος, lit. 'Demigod'). The club's colours are blue and white, inspired by the flag of Greece.[1]
History
[edit]G.S. Iraklis Thessalonikis traced its roots back on 1 July 1899 when Omilos Filomouson (Greek: Όμιλος Φιλομούσων, lit. 'Muses Friends Group') was established.[2][3] The club was established as a cultural union of the Greeks of Thessaloniki (then under Ottoman sovereignty), and it's sports department was founded in 1902. In 1903 the club joined forces with Olympia, another greek Gymnastic Club of Thessaloniki.[3] Football was a new sport at the time, but rapidly increasing in popularity and thus the board of directors decided to line up a football team. The first football match that was held on 23 April 1905 by the Omilos Filomouson football team which won by 3–0 against Union Sportive, team of the Western European diaspora of Thessaloniki.[4]
Later on, Omilos Filomouson faced financial problems.[5] As a result, members of Omilos Filomouson founded on 29 November 1908 a new sporting club, called Makedonikos Gymnastikos Syllogos (Greek: Μακεδονικός Γυμναστικός Σύλλογος, lit. 'Macedonian Gymnastic Club'), that gained a permission to operate by the Ottoman authorities.[3] The new club's first president was a Greek doctor, Alkiviadis Maltos.[3] The name of the club had a direct reference to the ethnic tensions that took place in the area at that time.[3]
Due to the Young Turks revolt of 1908 and their promises for ease of ethnic tensions in the area, the club was forced to change its name.[3] Thus a new name was decided in 1910 for the club, Othomanikos Ellinikos Gymnastikos Syllogos Thessalonikis "Iraklis" (Greek: Οθωμανικός Ελληνικός Γυμναστικός Σύλλογος Θεσσαλονίκης «Ηρακλής», lit. 'Thessaloniki Ottoman Greek Gymnastic Club "Heracles"').[6] Τhe name "Iraklís" (Greek: Ηρακλής, lit. 'Heracles') was added to the club's name as an honour to the ancient Greek demigod. The new name was approved, together with a new statute and a new board of directors, by a general assembly of the club on 13 April 1911.[3]
After the integration of Thessaloniki in the Kingdom of Greece on 26 October 1912, the operation of the club was accepted by the Greek courts in 1914 and became a fully registered sports club on 11 January 1915 as Gymnastikos Syllogos Thessalonikis "Iraklis" (Greek: Γυμναστικός Σύλλογος Θεσσαλονίκης «Ηρακλής», lit. 'Thessaloniki Gymnastic Club "Heracles"').[7][8]
Crest and colours
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The crest of G.S. Iraklis Thessalonikis depicts the demigod Heracles in a moment of rest leaning on his gnarled club, a scene inspired by the statue of Farnese Hercules, itself a copy of a statue crafted by Lysippos in the 4th century BC.[9] Throughout the entire club's history, its colours are blue or cyan and white to resemble the colours of the flag of Greece given the fact that G.S. Iraklis Thessalonikis was established while Thessaloniki was a part of the Ottoman Empire. The club is so known in Greece as "Kianolefkoi" (Greek: Κυανόλευκοι, lit. 'Cyan-Whites').
Sections
[edit]G.S. Iraklis Thessalonikis maintains sections in many sports including:[10]
- G.S. Iraklis Thessaloniki (men's association football) (founded in 1908) – Association football
- G.S. Iraklis Thessaloniki (men's basketball) (founded in 1921) – Basketball
- G.S. Iraklis Thessaloniki (women's basketball) (founded in 1926) – Basketball
- G.S. Iraklis Thessaloniki (men's volleyball) (founded in 1921) – Volleyball
- G.S. Iraklis Thessaloniki (women's volleyball) (founded in 1926) – Volleyball
- G.S. Iraklis Thessaloniki (men's water polo) (founded in 1924) – Water polo
- G.S. Iraklis Thessaloniki (women's water polo) (founded in 1989) – Water polo
- G.S. Iraklis Thessaloniki (men's rugby) (founded in 2004) – Rugby football
- G.S. Iraklis Thessaloniki (women's rugby) (founded in 2013) – Rugby football
- G.S. Iraklis Thessaloniki (men's handball) (founded in 1994) – Handball
- G.S. Iraklis Thessaloniki (athletics) (founded in 1908) – Athletics
- G.S. Iraklis Thessaloniki (cycling) (founded in 1931) – Cycling
- G.S. Iraklis Thessaloniki (men's table tennis) (founded in 2013) – Table tennis
- G.S. Iraklis Thessaloniki (swimming) (founded in 1912) – Swimming
- G.S. Iraklis Thessaloniki (synchronized swimming) (founded in 1995) – Synchronized swimming
- G.S. Iraklis Thessaloniki (diving) (founded in 2019) – Diving
- G.S. Iraklis Thessaloniki (open water swimming) – Open water swimming
- G.S. Iraklis Thessaloniki (fencing) (founded in 1972) – Fencing
- G.S. Iraklis Thessaloniki (judo) (founded in 1979) – Judo
- G.S. Iraklis Thessaloniki (ju jutsu) – Ju Jutsu
- G.S. Iraklis Thessaloniki (teqball) (founded in 2025) – Teqball
Former Sections
[edit]- G.S. Iraklis Thessaloniki (wrestling) (founded in 1924) – wrestling
- G.S. Iraklis Thessaloniki (boxing) (founded in 1965) – Boxing
- G.S. Iraklis Thessaloniki (weightlifting) (founded in 1920) – Weightlifting
- G.S. Iraklis Thessaloniki (inline hockey) (founded in 2008) – Inline hockey
- G.S. Iraklis Thessaloniki (ice hockey) (founded in 2008) – Ice hockey
- G.S. Iraklis Thessaloniki (men's cricket) (founded in 2015) – Cricket
Honours
[edit]Source:[11]
- Greek Cup: 1
- Balkans Cup: 1
Basketball
[edit]Source:[11]
- Greek Championships: 2
- 1928, 1935
- Greek Championships: 4
- 1967, 1968, 1971, 1972
Volleyball
[edit]Source:[11]
- Greek Championships: 5
- 2002, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2012
- Greek Cups: 6
- 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2012
- Greek Super Cups: 4
- 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008
- Greek Cup A1 Ethniki: 1
- 1999
Αthletics
[edit]Source:[11]
Men
[edit]- Greek Championships: 6
- 1975, 1976, 1979, 1984, 1985, 1986
- Greek Cups: 2
- 1979, 1990
Women
[edit]- Greek Championships: 1
- 1991
- Greek Cross Country Championships: 6
- 1967, 1981, 1990, 1991, 1992, 2009
- Greek Cups: 3
- 1989, 1990, 1991
Source:[11]
Men
[edit]- Greek Championship Rugby Union: 1
- 2013
- Greek Championship Rugby Sevens: 2
- 2013, 2014
Women
[edit]- Greek Championship Rugby Sevens: 2
- 2014, 2024
Fencing
[edit]Source:[11]
Men
[edit]- Greek Épée team championship: 1
- 1983
Women
[edit]- Greek Foil team championship: 1
- 1978
Freestyle wrestling
[edit]Source:[11]
Men
[edit]- Greek Championships: 11
- 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
European honours
[edit]| Season | Men's Association Football | Men's Basketball | Men's Volleyball |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984–85 | Balkans Cup Winner |
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| 1994–95 | FIBA European Cup Semi-finals |
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| 1996–97 | FIBA EuroCup Semi-finals |
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| 2001–02 | CEV Champions League 3rd place | ||
| 2003–04 | CEV Champions League 4th place | ||
| 2004–05 | CEV Champions League 2nd place | ||
| 2005–06 | CEV Champions League 2nd place | ||
| 2008–09 | CEV Champions League 2nd place |
Notable supporters
[edit]- Grigoris Arnaoutoglou, TV presenter
- Thodoris Atheridis, actor
- Nikos Chatzivrettas, basketball player, former Iraklis player[12]
- Athanasios Giannousis, former Mayor of Thessaloniki
- Konstantinos Karamanlis, former Prime Minister of Greece
- Georgios Lianis, former Minister of Sports, politician
- Georgios Katsanis, former Iraklis athlete, special forces in the 1974 Cyprus war
- Savvas Kofidis, football player and coach, former Iraklis captain
- Nikos Kouvelas, basketball player, former Iraklis player
- Sotiris Kouvelas, former Mayor of Thessaloniki, former MP
- Andrej Kravárik, Slovak volleyball player, Greek champion with Iraklis[13]
- Alekos Leonis, volleyball player and coach, Greek champion with Iraklis[14]
- Giannis Mangriotis, politician, former Minister of Macedonia-Thrace
- Theodoros Karaoglou, politician, former MP
- Lefteris Kakiousis, basketball player and coach, former Iraklis captain and coach
- Konstantinos Kosmopoulos, former Mayor of Thessaloniki
- Lazaros Kyrizoglou, former mayor of Ampelokipi, Thessaloniki
- Theocharis Manavis, former Mayor of Thessaloniki
- Jerzy Iwanow-Szajnowicz, former Iraklis athlete, saboteur during German Occupation (1941-44)
- Anastasios Katsabis, footballer, former Iraklis captain
- Ieroklis Michailidis, actor
- Giorgos Orfanos, former Minister of Sports, politician
- Lazaros Papadopoulos, basketball player, 2005 European champion, former Iraklis player[15]
- Michalis Papadopoulos, former Mayor of Thessaloniki
- Daniil Papadopoulos, football player and coach, former Iraklis captain
- Lakis Papaioannou, former football player
- Eleana Papaioannou, singer
- Antonis Remos, singer
- Dimitris Starovas, musician, actor
- Paschalis Terzis, singer
- Polina Trigonidou, model, journalist, volleyball player
- Fanis Toutziaris, footballer, former Iraklis player
- Dimitris Verginis, basketball player, former Iraklis player[16]
References
[edit]- ^ "Ιστορία - Γ.Σ. Ηρακλής". Γ.Σ. Ηρακλής - Επίσημο site του ερασιτέχνη Ηρακλή. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
- ^ Κωνσταντινίδη, Αρχείο. "Ο εν Θεσσαλονίκη Όμιλος Φιλομούσων (1899-1909)". Αρχειακά ανάλεκτα.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Η Γέννηση του Συλλόγου". web.archive.org. 9 May 2011. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
- ^ "Η ιστορία του τμήματος μέρος Α'". web.archive.org. 26 July 2011. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
- ^ "History". Iraklis FC Official site. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
- ^ "Ντοκουμέντο : Η επίσημη αναγνώριση του Ηρακλή". Iraklis1908.gr (in Greek). 16 April 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
- ^ "Η Γέννηση του Συλλόγου". web.archive.org. 9 May 2011. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
- ^ "Αιτήσεις 2020 | Ηλεκτρονικό Μητρώο Αθλητικών Σωματείων με Ειδική Αθλητική Αναγνώριση". somateia2023.gga.gov.gr. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
- ^ Bieber 1961; Robertson 1975.
- ^ "Τμήματα - Γ.Σ. Ηρακλής". Γ.Σ. Ηρακλής - Επίσημο site του ερασιτέχνη Ηρακλή. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Τίτλοι - Γ.Σ. Ηρακλής". Γ.Σ. Ηρακλής - Επίσημο site του ερασιτέχνη Ηρακλή. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
- ^ "Kαι ο Νίκος Χατζηβρέττας δίπλα στην ομάδα!". bluearena.gr.
- ^ "Κράβαρικ : Γριές είμαστε, εκεί θα πεθάνουμε !". iraklis1908.gr.
- ^ "O Αλέκος Λεώνης υπέγραψε διετές συμβόλαιο με τον Ηρακλή και επιστρέφει στην ομάδα της καρδιάς τou". contra.gr. 30 June 2010.
- ^ Papadopoulos: I am Iraklis supporter -makthes.gr
- ^ "Ηρακλειδέας ο Δημήτρης Βεργίνης, φανατική "κυανόλευκη" και η σύζυγός του, Ελεάννα Παπαϊωάννου". bluearena.gr.
See also
[edit]- Iraklis F.C. (Thessaloniki)
- G.S. Iraklis Thessaloniki (Men's Basketball)
- G.S. Iraklis Thessaloniki (Women's Basketball)
- G.S. Iraklis Thessaloniki (men's volleyball)
- G.S. Iraklis Thessaloniki (women's volleyball)
- G.S. Iraklis Thessaloniki (Water Polo)
- G.S. Iraklis Thessaloniki (Rugby)
- Ivanofeio Sports Arena
External links
[edit]- Official website
(in Greek) - IRA Store (in Greek)
- Iraklis Radio (in Greek)
- Iraklis TV (in Greek)
- G.S. Iraklis Thessalonikis (men's association football) (in Greek)
- G.S. Iraklis Thessalonikis (men's basketball) (in Greek)
- E–Shop of G.S. Iraklis Thessalonikis (men's basketball) (in Greek)
- Veteran Athletes of G.S. Iraklis Thessalonikis (athletics) (in Greek)
