PAOK

PAOK was founded in Thessaloniki on 20 April 1926 by Greek refugees from Constantinople after the Greco-Turkish War of 1919-1922. In 1929 the members of AEK Thessaloniki joined PAOK, which then adopted a double-headed eagle with closed wings as its crest. The black and white colours stand for mourning for the lost homelands and hope. In 1959 the club moved from the Syntrivani ground to Toumba Stadium, officially PAOK Stadium. In March 2026 the club agreed to move temporarily to the Kaftanzoglio Stadium once work on a new stadium at Toumba begins.

PAOK have played every season of the national first division since its start in 1959-60. The first national trophies were Greek Cups in 1972 and 1974, then a first league title in 1976 under Gyula Lorant. A second came in 1985, and in 2018-19 PAOK won an unbeaten league and cup double. The fourth title was sealed with a 2-1 win at Aris in 2024. The latest of their eight Greek Cups came in 2021. In Europe they reached the Cup Winners' Cup quarter-finals in 1973-74 and the Conference League quarter-finals in 2021-22 and 2023-24.