English Info

BRIEF OVERVIEW

Super League Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. Founded on July 16, 2006 Super League replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. Currently sixteen clubs compete in the Super League, playing each other home and away. At the end of the season, the bottom three clubs are relegated and substituted by the promoted top three clubs of the Football League. Super League is currently entitled to two entrants into the UEFA Champions League. According to the latest UEFA ranking, Super League Champions directly enter the Group Stage of the UEFA Champions League. The second through fifth place teams in the Super League enter a play-off for the second Greek entry. The play-off winner enters the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round, while the rest compete in Europa League.

Apart from the Professional League, Super League is also responsible for organising youth competitions. Youth Competitions are considered an integral part of the player development program of the clubs. During the past decade, the structure of these Competitions has been adapted in order to meet the requirements of modern football and the needs of clubs. Super League stages the competitions for the U20 and U17 League involving only clubs with professional teams in the Super League.

Super League has tried in every way to support the clubs with their ongoing academies programme. With regards academies, Super League believes that the investment on enhancing club academies, the improvement of the competitiveness level in the leagues and the creation of better conditions for young players both in sport and out-of-sport, are all matters of major interest.

BRIEF HISTORY

19/07/2006: The draw of the first SuperLeague Greece Championship is staged at The Athens Concert Hall and the logo of this new body is presented for the first time.

03/02/2010: Superleague and SKAI TV honour at The Athens Music Hall the top squads of the last 50 years, namely since the establishment of the A' National Division in season 1959/60. 5 squads, one per decade, were selected through an online voting, honouring players like Mimis Domazos as the player with most caps; Thomas Mavros as the player scoring most goals; Krzysztof "Kristof" Warzycha as the foreign player with most caps and most goals; and Dušan Bajević as the coach with most matches and wins.

PRESIDENTS

Period	President
2006-2007	Petros Kokkalis
2007-2008	Giannis Vardinogiannis
2008-2009	Konstantinos Piladakis
2009	Nikos Thanopoulos
2009-2010	Nikolas D. Pateras
2010-2011	Vangelis Marinakis
2011 -	Apostolos Papoutsakis

MANAGERS

Period	Manager
2006-2008 (September)	George Kyriakos (General Manager)
2006-2008 (September)	Patrick Comninos (Executive Director)
2008 (September) - 2011 (December)	Patrick Comninos (General Manager)
2012 (January) -	Michael Anagnostou (General Manager)

CLUBS THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE FIRST SUPER LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP (2006-2007)

AEK Athens FC

Egaleo FC

Apollon Kalamarias FC

Aris FC

Atromitos FC

Ergotelis FC

Iraklis FC

Ionikos FC

Kerkyra FC

Larissa FC

Olympiacos FC

Ofi FC

Panathinaikos FC

Panionios FC

Paok FC

Skoda Xanthi FC

CHAMPIONS

Season	Club	Points
2006-2007	Olympiacos FC	(71 points)
2007-2008	Olympiacos FC	(70 points)
2008-2009	Olympiacos FC	(71 points)
2009-2010	Panathinaikos FC	(70 points)
2010-2011	Olympiacos FC	(73 points)

TOP SCORERS

Season	Scorer (club)	Nr. of goals
2006-2007	Liberopoulos (AEK FC)	18
2007-2008	Blanco (AEK FC)	19
2008-2009	Blanco (AEK FC) & Galletti (Olympiakos FC)	14
2009-2010	Cissé (Panathinaikos FC)	23
2010-2011	Cissé (Panathinaikos FC)	20

The first Super League match

Olympiakos FC vs. Skoda Xanthi 2:1, Karaiskakis Stadium, Saturday 19/8/06 at 19.00

The first Super League goal

Giorgos Barkoglou (Xanthi), Olympiakos FC vs. Skoda Xanthi FC 2:1 (5’)

Tickets in total

Season	Matches	Tickets	Average
2006-2007	240	1,483,832	(6,183)
2007-2008	252	1,632,847	(6,480)
2008-2009	252	2,007,150	(7,965)
2009-2010	248	1,970,293	(7,945)
2010-2011	238	1,619,976	(6,807)

Most tickets sold for a match:

Panathinaikos vs. Olympiakos (21.03.10)-61,135

Most tickets sold for a matchday:

Season	Matchday	Tickets
2008-2009	27th	93,579

CHAMPIONSHIPS RECORDS!

2006-2007

MOST GOALS IN A MATCHDAY: 29
20th & 30th Matchday

MOST GOALS IN A MATCH: 8
30th Matchday: IONIKOS FC vs. OLYMPIAKOS FC (3:5)

2007-2008

MOST GOALS IN A MATCHDAY: 32
30th Matchday

MOST GOALS IN A MATCH: 8
2nd Matchday: OLYMPIAKOS FC vs. OFI FC (6:2)

2008-2009

MOST GOALS IN A MATCHDAY: 32
7th Matchday

MOST GOALS IN A MATCH: 7
5th Matchday: Larissa FC vs. OFI FC (4:3)

2009-2010

MOST GOALS IN A MATCHDAY: 26
21st & 30th Matchday

MOST GOALS IN A MATCH: 7
15th Matchday: SKODA XANTHI FC vs. IRAKLIS FC (4:3)

2010-2011

MOST GOALS IN A MATCHDAY: 30
18th Matchday

MOST GOALS IN A MATCH: 7
26th Matchday: KERKYRA FC vs. ARIS FC (3:4)

Central Management Agreements

Championship Sponsor: The Greek Organization of Football Prognostics (OPAP) S.A. (until 2011)

TV Rights: Central management of TV rights (NOVA/FORTHNET, until 2015)

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Super League, being an active member of the Greek society and with a large number of people watching the football activities, offers its platform in order to bring both awareness to social problems and relief to vulnerable groups through different actions. We all, regardless of our titles, position or capacity, must make Social Responsibility our common concern. In an ever evolving society, no one can stay indifferent towards providing equal opportunities and the encouragement and reward of initiatives in words and actions. Super League member clubs contribute in this important effort when, during the selected matchdays, all activities are fulfilled in the best possible way. Many institutions have turned to Super League in order to communicate their message through matches, as they are aware that Super League addresses a very broad audience. An indicative list of the actions realised during the 2009/10 season is the following:

2nd MATCHDAY WAS DEDICATED TO THE HELLENIC HOMELESS FOOTBALL TEAM (30/08/09).

In cooperation with GALERA magazine, one matchday was dedicated using the motto "Kick Off Poverty" to present the members of the Hellenic Homeless Football right before the kick off of the match between LARISSA FC and OLYMPIAKOS FC. The players comprising the Hellenic Homeless Football Team represented Greece in the 7th Homeless World Cup that took place shortly after that in Milan. The names of the players were announced during their line-up in the pitch, a banner containing a special message was raised and a relevant video was shown prior to the team's presentation.

7th MATCHDAY WAS DEDICATED TO THE FIGHT AGAINST RACISM AND VIOLENCE (17-18/10/09).

For the third consecutive year, Super League participated in the European campaign against racism and violence, in cooperation with UEFA and FARE (Football Against Racism in Europe). Towards informing the fans, during the 7th matchday of the OPAP championship, red cards were distributed to fans in all stadiums with the slogan "Show violence the red card! Show racism the red card!". At the same time, during the line-up all players and their player escorts were wearing colourful shirts with messages against discrimination, violence and racism.

20th MATCHDAY WAS DEDICATED TO ACTION AID AND 1GOAL, EDUCATION FOR ALL CAMPAIGN (30 – 31/01/10).

Super League, in the framework of the social responsibility activities together with ACTION AID, dedicated the 20th Matchday of the OPAP Championship, to "1GOAL: Education for all" campaign. This campaign aims at improving the lives of children living in developing countries of the world, aiding them towards their right to education. Super League's aim is to actively contribute in the awareness and motivation in order to secure international commitment of developed countries for primary education for all children by 2015. This campaign is realised in more than 200 countries and aims at collecting millions of signatures from all over the world to be delivered to the UN in September. On the occasion of the World Cup held in South Africa, FIFA supports the campaign internationally, whereas in Greece the Hellenic Football Federation and Super League support the campaign by motivating fans in stadia. The campaign in Greece is supervised by ActionAid Hellas, under the auspices of UNESCO. The clubs and the player escorts during the line-up, followed specific actions during the event. During the line-up a grand poster was raised while at the same time audio messages were broadcasted by the stadium speakers, and the official websites of clubs and the Super League showed also the relevant banners. A special reference was inserted in the match program, where possible. The advertising companies of the stadia boards also participated in this action, as they aired a special spot in the LED systems during the line-up of the teams. Apart from the actions staged during the 20th matchday, Super League also participated in a special press conference for ACTION AID. This whole effort culminated in the event held on June 3, 2010 in the Athens College Theatre, attended by representatives from the Greek government and also the athletic, artistic, academic and journalistic community, so that all would set their signatures and stand up for the children.

25th MATCHDAY WAS DEDICATED ΤΟ BLOOD DONATION AND ORGAN DONATION (6-7/03-10).

Super League and the Panhellenic Association of Blood Donors, Tissue, Organs and Biological Material Donors, dedicated the 25th Matchday of OPAP Championship to the campaign for Blood Donation. This action aimed at highlighting the importance of Blood Donation, an act of responsibility that concerns us all. Blood donation saves lives. Super League aims at contributing to fan awareness and motivation regarding the activities of Blood Donation. Two hours prior to the matches' kick off, mobile blood donation units could be found outside the stadia, where possible, so that fans could donate blood. Brochures aiming at supporting this action were handed out to fans.

Super League PARTICIPATES IN THE EUROPEAN CAMPAIGN "FOOTBALL AGAINST HUNGER" (12/05/ 10).

Super League participates in the raising of public awareness and support to the initiative to fight hunger, promoted by the European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL), together with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the UN. The website www.1billionhungry.org gives to all fans the chance to sign the resolution of the FAO, which highlights the fact that 1 billion of our fellow men all over the world face daily the nightmare of hunger. The Super League website had also the video with players supporting the message "The problem of hunger concerns us all".

Regarding the season 2010/11, the following actions have been implemented so far:

2nd Matchday ARIS FC – PANATHINAIKOS FC 11/9/10

"Kick Off Poverty": this is the main motto of the 8th Homeless World Cup that took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil boasting 64 countries from all over the world. This is a very important football – and mainly social – institution, that is supported by, among others, UEFA and its aim is to raise awareness against poverty and any form of social exclusion. Homeless people, refugees and people previously dependent on psychotropic substances: these are all human beings and our fellowmen who for some reason got astray, and will enter the stadia of the Brazilian metropolis with a double aim in mind: win the Homeless World Cup but, first and foremost, win their lives back! The Hellenic Team also played in Rio de Janeiro, which during its first participation in the Cup in 2007 in Copenhagen, was awarded the Fair Play Award! As in last season, this year too, Super League embraces the Homeless National Team. Besides, football is the ultimate star. A football free from any other purpose but one: to serve people and society.

6th MATCHDAY CAMPAIGN AGAINST RACISM (16-17/10/10).

Super League, in the framework of the European Week against Racism and together with FARE – Football Against Racism in Europe – which works with UEFA and the European Commission, dedicated the 6th SUPER LEAGUE - OPAP Matchday to the fight against Racism, as we will participate in this European campaign for the fourth consecutive year, celebrated with simultaneous events throughout all the Super League stadia.

7th MATCHDAY FOOTBALL AGAINST HUNGER 23-24/10/10 together with EPFL

13th MATCHDAY DEDICATED TO PEOPLE WITH TRANSPLANTS (4-5/12/10).

Super League supports the campaign to raise public awareness over an issue that concerns every citizen: Organ donation and transplants. The motto being "Thousands of Greek people live thanks to Transplants. Organ donation: Learn, Think, Decide", the organising authority of the OPAP Championship, together with the Heart/Lung Transplantation Association and Friends Synehizo, call the Greek society to embrace transplants and highlight the urgent need to take political decisions towards the increase of organ donation.

Super League OPAP supports the children with neoplastic diseases and their fight for life

The 23rd fixture of Super League OPAP is dedicated to the fight of children and their families against cancer, on the occasion of the International Children's Cancer Day. "LAMPSI" and "FLOGA", the parents' associations of children suffering from malignant diseases and neoplastic diseases, will showcase in all stadia their activities, in order to bring awareness to fans and supporters regarding their fight. Within the frame of the awareness campaign, Super League Executive Director Patrick Comninos stated: "The Super League initiative in collaboration with LAMPSI and FLOGA aims not only at informing, but also at raising awareness of supporters, regarding the children and their families that were so harshly struck by fate. Their everyday fight is a message of life and courage for all of us. We stand by the people that do their best in order to provide the best to these children."

7th MATCHDAY WAS DEDICATED TO THE FIGHT AGAINST RACISM (22-23/10/11)

For the fifth consecutive year, Super League participates in the European campaign against racism and violence, in cooperation with FARE (Football Against Racism in Europe) and under the auspices of UEFA and the European Union, dedicates Matchday nr. 7 of the Super League Championship, on October 22 & 23, 2011, to the awareness of fans on the issue of Racism. In the frame of the European campaign, players will "Show racism the red card", and at the same time children of various nationalities will escort the squads during the line-ups prior to match kick-offs. The president of Super League, Mr Apostolos Papoutsakis, said: "Football says no to racism and any type of discrimination. During these arduous times for our society, it is a positive step to promote initiatives aiming at reconciling and alleviating differences, by utilising the enormous appeal of football in our country. Super League supports the right to diversity for everyone and for another year supports FARE's awareness campaign, in collaboration with UEFA and the European Union." FARE's vice-president and president of the Black European Women's Council Hellas, Mrs Yvette Garvis, noted: "This initiative helps Greeks and immigrants accept diversity through the most popular sport, football, which interacts and sends positive messages to all ages and social layers. Our message is: Say no to racism of any type! Say yes to Sports!"

13th Matchday dedicated to the Organ Donation Volunteering cause

Super League, in cooperation with the Association of Heart Transplantation and Friends of Transplantations "I continue", dedicates the 13th Matchday of SUPER LEAGUE, to be held on December 10 & 11, 2011, to the cause of Organ Donor Volunteering. The notion of Organ Donation constitutes the highest form of volunteering and supporting to save patients, as it is the basic condition for the effecting of transplants. This campaign will add to the awareness of supporters regarding everyone's responsibility to understand the importance of Organ Donation. The main motto of this campaign is: "Thousands of Greek people live thanks to Transplants. Organ donation: Learn, Think, Decide". Super League Commercial Director, Mrs Ellie Melachrinidou, said: "By using football dynamics and the ability to inform regarding social issues affecting thousands of our fellow people, Super League supports for another year the fight given by thousands of people to live. We call all our supporters to embrace this effort and give their warmest applause to the people that are looking for solidarity and support in their struggle, during these hard times our country is going through."