Veria F.C.

Veria FC
Full name Veria Football Club
Nickname(s) Vasilissa tou Vorra (Queen of the North)
Rossoblu (The Blue-Reds)
Founded 12 September 1960 (1960-09-12)
Ground Veria Stadium
Veria, Greece
Ground Capacity 7,000[1]
Owner Konstantinos Papadopoulos (93.53%)[2]
Chairman Konstantinos Papadopoulos
Manager Thomas Grafas
League Superleague Greece
2015–16 Superleague Greece, 14th
Website Club home page

Veria Football Club is a football club based in Veria, Imathia, Greece. Veria FC was founded in September 1960 when two local teams (Hermes and Vermion) merged. The club has competed in Superleague Greece since 2012. It has the nicknames "Queen of the North" and "Rossoblu".

Veria, PAOK and Iraklis are the only clubs left representing the region of Macedonia in the top-tier championship, a region with long tradition and contribution in the Greek football.

History

1960s

In 1960 two local teams of Imathia, Hermes and Vermion, merged when their founders decided that this was the way to create a more competitive club and unite the local fans. Veria's first appearance in professional football championships came in 1962–63, when it finished sixth in the fourth group of Beta Ethniki. Four years later, the club had a breakthrough, finishing first in the third group of Beta Ethniki and then second in the play-offs to gain its first promotion to Alpha Ethniki. Because of this accomplishment, Veria was nicknamed "Queen of the North".

In their first appearance in Alpha Ethniki (season 1967–68), Veria finished in joint tenth position with PAOK and Panionios and two points behind the privileged fifth position which would have made them eligible for an appearance in the Balkans Cup. The following season (1968–69) saw Veria underperform and be relegated after three play-off matches against Olympiakos Volou. Despite the relegation, Veria achieved promotion the next season, again finishing first in Group C of Beta Ethniki.

1970s and 1980s

Veria finished 13th in Alpha Ethniki in the 1970–71 season, during which they suffered a heavy 8–2 defeat by AEK Athens. The following season saw them finish 15th and be relegated again. Despite the relegation, Veria celebrated some notable wins such as against AEK Athens with a score 1–0, Olympiacos with a score 2–1 and against PAOK with another 1–0 score.

From 1972 until 1977, Veria competed in Beta Ethniki. They finished mid-table until 1975 but in 1976–77 tied with Kavala for first place, losing promotion due to inferior goal difference. The following season saw the club achieve promotion back to Alpha Ethniki after a seven-year absence: Veria finished joint first with Doxa Dramas, despite being penalised three points, but they won the promotion due to a superior goal difference.

Veria were relegated again in 1977–78, when they finished 16th. The relegation came after Veria attempted to bribe Christos Hatziskoulidis of Egaleo F.C. to underperform in a match. The team was suspended and deducted ten points.

For the next eight years Veria played in Beta Ethniki, finishing mid-table for seven of them. For five of those seasons Veria faced the other Imathia team, Naoussa, which led to a rivalry between the fans of the two cities. In 1982–83, Naoussa was relegated and the rivality was forgotten.

In 1985–86, Veria played again in Alpha Ethniki following promotion in the previous season. The campaign resulted in the club's best ever league position, finishing joint seventh with AEK and AE Larissa FC. That season, 12 out of 16 teams, including Veria, were docked six points due to a football players' strike.

Despite the great season in Alpha Ethniki, the following season saw Veria being relegated again, as they finished joint 14th out of 16 teams. They had a worse goal difference than Levadiakos and Diagoras.

1990s

After relegation from Alpha Ethniki, Veria remained in Beta Ethniki for three years before being relegated for the first time to Gamma Ethniki. 1991–92 saw them lose promotion back to Beta Ethniki in the last game of the season but they managed the feat in the following year and were able to stay in the division during 1993–94.

Between 1993–97 football in Imathia was at a peak as three of the region's teams played in the professional championships for the first time. In 1994–95, Veria, Naoussa and AE Pontion Verias were part of Beta Ethniki.

In 1995–96 Veria returned to Alpha Ethniki after finishing second in Beta Ethniki. The club finished in 10th position to retain their league status in the following season, when the most notable win was the 1–0 home result against Olympiacos, who won the championship that season. Veria & AEK were the only teams to beat Olympiacos that season. The 1997–98 season saw an improved squad, with players such as Oleg Protasov, Panagiotis Tsalouchidis, finish ninth in the league.

After Veria's win against Olympiacos in season 1997–98, the club was relegated to Beta Ethniki in the following season. This was followed by a further relegation to Gamma Ethniki in the 1999–00 season.

2000s

The club experienced management problems and was relegated again in 2000–01, playing in Delta Ethniki for the first time. The new management team, with Konstantinos Gaivazis as head, had to sign 20 players in order that the club could play in Delta Ethniki.

In 2001–02, Veria finished in the mid-table of Deltha Ethniki, ending the sequence of successive relegations. The following season 2002–03, they won every match and returned to Gamma Ethniki after a play-off game against Atsalenios. Another significant achievement for the club that season was the winning of the Amateurs' Cup as they defeated Preveza with score 2–1, in Sofades Stadium at Sofades, Karditsa.

In 2003–04, one of the most powerful businessmen of Imathia became the club's owner. Veria stayed for two seasons in Gamma Ethniki and in the 2004–05 season it returned to Beta Ethniki after finishing first in the North Group of Gamma Ethniki. In season 2005–06 they finished fifth in Beta Ethniki.

The following season did not start well for Veria but in the second half, with Dimitris Kalaitzidis returning as coach after being fired the previous season, they improved so much as to finish third and win promotion to Alpha Ethniki. It was at this time that Alpha Ethniki was renamed as Superleague.

Veria's return in Superleague was inauspicious. The club underperformed Kalaitzidis was fired three games into the season. There followed a succession of five coaches during the remainder of the campaign, which ended in relegation as they only won five games out of 30 and had also 8 draws. Further upheaval off the pitch followed as the club president, George Arvanitidis, announced his intention to leave.

The following season saw Veria relegated from Beta Ethniki to Gamma Ethniki again, after being docked by three points when Arvanitidis had a fight with the referee during a match against Ilisiakos,[3] accusing him for being suborn, something that it was never proved.[4] Arvanitidis again threatened to leave the club if people did not stop blaming him for the team's relegation. At the end of the season almost every player was released.[5]

The following season, 2009–10, Veria returned to Beta Ethniki. The promotion was secured in the last match of the season against Fokikos, a match in which Giorgos Kantimoiris saved almost every chance made by Veria. The next season, Kantimoiris joined Veria and became a vital part of the squad which celebrated the return in Superleague two years later.

2010s

Veria finished 9th in Beta Ethniki in 2010–11, the season in which that division was renamed as the Football League. The season was marred by the scandal of rigged games involving many teams from both the Football League and the Superleague. Veria was accused for fake translational awareness and they would be dismissed by the Football League. Something that never happened as Veria was proven to be innocent.

Despite the allegations, Veria played good attacking football, with Calvin Kadi scoring at will and Kalaitzidis having returned as coach since the end of the previous season when he saved them from relegation. The club began the season with three consecutive wins, which was the best start they had ever had in the division. Successes continued and the club returned to the Superleague after an absence of four years. Michael Olaitan, a vital part of the team was nominated as Talent of the Year, while Kadi was named Player of the Yea, having finished second-highest goalscorer in the Football League with 19 goals. Georgios Kantimiris was nominated for the Goalkeeper of the Year award.

The return to the Superleague in 2012–13 was different from previous occasions. Veria signed some notable players, such as Nikos Georgeas, Pantelis Kafes, and Carlo Costly. The team performed well and retained their league status by finishing 12th in the table. Notable home wins included the 3–0 victory against Panathinaikos and the 5–0 success against Platanias.

During the summer transfer window of 2013 Veria signed 12 players, including the Serbian striker Miljan Mrdaković and the Czech midfielder, Petr Trapp.[6] At the end of the 2013–14 season, Veria's El Fardou Ben Nabouhane became the first player from the team to finish second in the list of Superleague Top Goalscorers, just one goal behind Xanthi's Esteban Solari. The club avoided relegation by finishing in 15th position. Due to the poor performances, despite avoiding relegation, Arvanitidis decided to take radical actions in order to improve matters. He decided to adopt the Spanish style of football, dismissing almost every player in the squad, signing Spanish players and promoting youngsters from the U20 team. He also hired the Spanish coach Quique Hernández as Director of Football and Jose Carlos Granero as the team manager.

On 6 August 2014 the owner and president of the club, Arvanitidis, announced his retirement after selling the club to Theodoros Karipidis, a local businessman.[7] Karipidis failed in an attempt to sign the Argentinian attacking midfielder Ariel Ibagaza because of the player's family issues but did sign some significant players, such as Giorgos Georgiadis, Giorgos Katidis, Roberto Battión, Javier Cámpora, the very promising Italian-Swedish striker Nicolao Dumitru, the Spanish star and former Real Madrid player Raúl Bravo, and the Serbian offensive midfielder, Zvonimir Vukić. During the winter transfer window Veria also signed the experienced forward, Thomas Nazlidis on a free transfer. Two more significant transfers took place during that window were Spanish midfielder Carlos Caballero, on a six-month loan from Córdoba and Andreas Tatos on a free transfer. Stelios Marangos and Neto also joined the club.

In the first season under Karipidis, Veria finished 14th in the Superleague Greece. At the start of the next season, Giorgos Lanaris resigned as team manager after being accused of involvement in fixing a 2012–13 away match between Veria and Olympiacos. Quique Hernández had been fired a few months earlier, along with Granero, after several bad results. Hernández was replaced by Zisis Vryzas in May 2015. On 19 May 2015, the club was judged innocent by the disciplinary committee of the Hellenic Football Federation regarding the match-fixing allegations, despite the statements of Nikos Georgeas and Dimitris Kalaitzidis against the club.[8][9]

Karipidis also applied changes to the youth squads as he decided to replace Stefanos Gaitanos, who was the head of the youth department for the last three seasons, with Apostolis Terzis, who had previously worked as the head coach of Lefkadia. The club then announced a major expansion and upgrade of Tagarochori Training Center.[10] Karipidis and Vryzas agreed that Georgiadis should replace Granero, who left the club in March 2015.

During his second season as owner, with the help of Vryzas and the head coach, Georgiadis, Karipidis achieved some significant transfers such as the Georgian midfielder, Giorgi Merebashvili and the French defender William Edjenguélé. He also negotiated the return of the Spanish goalkeeper Jonathan López. He was at first unsuccessful in signing the Algerian midfielder, Djamel Abdoun, due to a failure to agree personal terms, but a week later, Veria made an improved offer, with an annual salary of €250,000 and a bonus if the team qualified for the UEFA Europa League through the Superleague play-offs. The player and the club made an oral agreement, then waited for Abdoun to be released on a free transfer by Nottingham Forest. Abdoun was announced as a Veria player on 5 August 2015.[11]

On 6 August 2015, Veria signed Vaggelis Nastos, former captain of Atromitos. A day later, there was one more significant transfer with the arrival of the Polish midfielder Radosław Majewski, who was released on a free transfer from Nottingham Forest along with Abdoun.[12] With PAE Kerkyra being relegated to Football League, Veria approached and managed to sign for €100,000 per year the Bosnian forward, Saša Kajkut on a free transfer.[13] On 22 August 2015, Vryzas made an oral agreement with the Norwegian international defensive midfielder, Abdisalam Ibrahim who last played for Greek giants Olympiacos and who had also spent seven years with Manchester City, another significant transfer was done for the club. After a bad injury to Balafas, the club signed a one-year deal with their former defensive midfielder Stefanos Siontis, who had been playing for PAE Kerkyra.

On 30 August 2015, Karipidis' confirmed that a group of Chinese businessmen were interested in buying into the club, either as a whole or in part.[14] Karipidis claimed that the group represented a multinational company that wanted to invest in Greek football and in local society.[15] Two days after meeting with the Chinese in September, he said that the deal would be completed in about two or three months as the transfer of shares and the paperwork was a lengthy process.[16]

On 9 September 2015, Karipidis was named the head of football department of amateur club Aris.[17] This automatically meant that once Aris won promotion to the Football League he would be forced to quit as owner of Veria. In further specification, the Chinese group which represent a solar power major multinational company based in Shanghai are willing to invest approximately €10 million in order to buy club's shares package, renovate or build a new training center over Tagarochori Training Center region as well as rebuild Veria Stadium. Also they opt to upgrade all local training facilities of the city of Veria.[18]

On 19 January 2016, Karipidis fired Georgiadis and his staff as the club didn't satisfy with its performance as were as several results were disappointing.[19] On 26 January 2016 the former goalkeeper Dimitrios Eleftheropoulos was appointed as Veria's new coach with assistant the former European champion Stylianos Venetidis.[20] With Eleftheropoulos on the bench Veria avoid the relegation four fixtures before the finale of the championship for the first time in her recent history. During a press conference, Eleftheropoulos announced the reduction of budget to 50% of its current amount and the resignation of many players. He also stated that Veria's new season squad will be based on young talented Greek players in combination with older experienced players.

On 8 May 2016, Karipidis said he was very close to sealing a deal with a Chinese company.[21] He quit as Veria chairman and CEO on 30 May.[22] On 1 June 2016 it was announced that Veria reclaimed the permission of participating in 2016–17 Superleague Greece and would be allowed to proceed in transfer without any limitation.[23]

On 23 June 2016, the transfer of shares by Karipidis was complete and he quit all involvement in the club.[24]

Strict budget policy (2016– )

After the sale of the club was completed, Veria announced a new kit sponsorship for season 2016–17 with the Italian company Givova.[25] After a poor season, both financially and on the pitch, despite remaining in the Superleague Greece, Vryzas and Eleftheropoulos decided to cut the club's budget by 5 per cent. As a result, players whose contracts posed a particular burden were released on free transfers and the plan was for the club to sign new talented players who had potential to be sold on in later years.

On 2 July 2016, Karipidis and Vryzas had a disagreement that led to Vryzas quitting his post. Vryzas's departure was followed by that of Eleftheropoulos, who left in sympathy. As a result, the club started to look for new manager.[26][27]

In 5 July 2016, the shares transfer was complete and the new major shareholder of the club and president, CEO was named Konstantinos Papadopoulos. A fruit and wood dealer who was Karipidis partner back in 2013 while he was also president of Olympiacos Galatades.[28]

Despite the strict budget policy that the new majorholder of the club decided to follow, he signed to the club twenty one players in his first spell as president of the club. Some of the signifcant deals that he managed to seal are the signing of the Argentinian forward Pablo Vitti, Greek striker Pantelis Kapetanos, Georgian international left back Giorgi Navalovski and the Spanish midfielder Sisinio. He also appointed to the club the Greek experienced coach Alekos Vosniadis, who replaced Eleftheropoulos.

On 8 September 2016, Committee of Professional Sports didn't allow the transfer of the club's shares from Theodoros Karipidis to Konstantinos Papadopoulos, cause the folder didn't meet the criteria. As a result Veria wasn't grant a permission of participation to the 2016–17 Superleague Greece championship and they are facing a relegation penalty to Football League or even a ban from all professional football championships.[29]

On 22 September 2016, Committee of Professional Sports granted to Veria, the permission of participating to 2016–17 Superleague Greece as well as they approved the transfer shares of 93,53% from Theodoros Karipidis to Konstantinos Papadopoulos. Veria was fined 15,000€ for their incomplete file on their first attempt. [30]

In September 23rd, 2016, club coach Alekos Vosniadis left the club after a disagreement between him and the club's board. Thomas Grafas was appointed as his successor a day later on 24 September 2016.[31]

Name, crest and colours

The name of the team as well as its colours of the new team that it would occur after the merge were two of the highly important subjects to be solved. As regards the name, there were several suggestions. But the solution was given by G.Lelekakis, who suggested that the team should be named "Veria" as the Italians did to their clubs too, his suggestion was immediately accepted and voted by everyone. Although, due to the rules of that era the name should include words related to the beaten path and reactions, Giannis Kourtis, who has died, suggested to add G.A.S. which meant (Gymanstikos Athlitikos Sillogos), Gymnastic Athletic Club of Veria. So the full club name would be G.A.S. Veria (Greek: Γ.Α.Σ. Βέροια).

As it comes to the choice of the colours, decisive role had the former player and coach of Vermio and former International player of Panionios, Kostas Sotiriadis (Kostaras) who suggested the colours of crimson and blue. That means the colours of Panionios where he did a great football career. Kostaras' suggestion was accepted by the members of the committee as they didn't want to choose colours that would be related to the old club of Vermio (yellow-black) nor of Hermes (green-white). They wanted something new that would be accepted by all Veria fans.

Kit evolution

1960–61
1965–66
2000–01
2007–08
2008–09
2009–10
2010–11
2011–12
2012–13
2013–14
2014–15
2015–16
2016–17
Period Kit Manufacturer Shirt Partner
1985–88 Diadora Macle Jeans
Pro-Po
1996–97 Lotto
1997–99 Umbro Ksisto
1999–00 Adidas Laiko Lacheio
2000–05 Umbro -
2005–11 Mitre Super-Markets Arvanitidis
2011–12 Nike
2012–13 Hummel Lotto
2013–14 Kappa
2014–15 Joker
2015–16 Nike Stoiximan.gr
2016– Givova Joker
Feta Voskopoula
(Backshirt)

Club anthem

Veria's first and original anthem was written back in 1960 by the Greek singer and composer Giorgos Kalogirou. In the lyrics there are references to the history of the club as well as to the clubs Ermis and Vermion who merged back in 1960 and created Veria.

Veria's club new anthem was written and composed by Nektarios Mpitros and sung by Charis Akritidis. The new club anthem was released on 23 August 2014 [32]

Supporters

Queen's Boyz & Kallithea Fans
Veria fans during the 80s

In 1966 the first fan-supporting club of Veria FC was founded and it was named Club of Veria's fans. Today, the club exists but is inactive as there are no official registered members. Few years ago there was a try of re-establishing the club by electing a new management board and by registering new members, but at the end the idea was abandoned. In early 1991 the most successful and powerful club of Veria's supporters, Club of Fans Veria «Gate 4», was founded. The club supported the team for almost a decade inside and outside of Veria as many trips were organised and supported by the club's members in order to support Veria away from her base. Five years later, some members of «Gate 4» who disagreed with the leaders' ideas of the club, left and found another club of supporters which was named Club Vissini (Club Crimson). Club Vissini was disbanded after three years of its foundation, but it was already a part of Veria's bright history as they supported the team for three years in a row.

In 2003 and since Veria was again promoted to Gamma Ethniki there was no club of supporters as Club of Veria's fans was remaining inactive and «Gate 4» club was also disbanded. To cover this absence, Rossoblu Club was found by old members of «Gate 4» and from a younger fan base. The club achieved to unite the citizens and fans of Veria in a tough time of Veria's history while she was trying to return to Beta Ethniki and later to Alpha Ethniki. Rossoblu club was responsible for the arrangement of some big trips such as in Kavala, Serres, Drama, Ioannina, Larisa and Thessaloniki while they followed the team in each away match.

While Club Rossoble was still active, a group of fans from Makrochori found another fan club, which was named Fan Club of Makrochori Veria's, a club which after a short period of time got its own base in the city centre of Veria. This fan club as it was organised in 2007 was the 'ancestor' of the powerful present fan club, Queen's Boyz. Since then Queen's Boyz support Veria in every home ground game while they organise big trips for Veria's away games.

During the summer of 2013, in Kallithea, a suburb of Veria, a new fan club named Veria Fans Kallithea was found and its base is located in St. Komninon 91.

The fans of Veria never gave up on team, although the last five years due to Veria's bad league performance (including a relegation to Gamma Ethniki in 2008–09) the fans got disappointed. As a result of this disappointment Veria lost a serious number of fans. Thankfully this wouldn't last for long, today Veria is back on the road of success, she is back to the Alpha Ethniki, which is renamed to Superleague. Veria slowly gains the trust of her fans again and the amount of supporters is getting bigger and bigger.

On 21 August 2015, Queen's Boyz announced their re-activation.[33]

In February 1957 and while playing for Vermion, the goalkeeper of the team, Kostas Pantelidis, died after hitting his head on a goalpost while trying to make a save. Few years later on 22 December 1968 a supporter of team, Lampros Michailidis during the match against Olympiacos died from a heart attack after seeing a close-range shot from Olympiacos' player Giorgos Sideris saved by Giorgos Masadis.

On 2 September 2015, a promising young goalkeeper, Asteris Merkousis, died from a heart attack during a training session.[34]

Most receipts

# Match Tickets Score Date
1
Veria vs Panathinaikos
10,309 0–0 20 September 1970
2
Veria vs Doxa Dramas
10,135 2–1 12 April 1970
3
Veria vs Doxa Dramas
9,500 0–0 23 January 1977
4
Veria vs PAOK
9,500 1–3 9 April 1978
5
Veria vs Olympiacos
9,028 2–1 30 January 1972
6
Veria vs PAOK
8,506 1–0 1 November 1970
7
Veria vs Olympiacos
8,234 0–0 22 December 1968
8
Veria vs Olympiacos
8,226 2–1 22 April 1968
9
Veria vs PAOK
8,149 2–1 30 April 1972
10
Veria vs Aris
8,145 2–1 26 January 1969

Affiliated Clubs

On 3 September 2013 Veria's directive board announced the beginning of the affiliation link with Sporting CP. Sporting CP will be able to send on loan players to Veria. Also, the deal included an exchange of expertise between the teams on football stuff. The first player sent on loan to Veria from Sporting CP was Zezinho who made 24 appearances with Veria during the 2013–14 season.[35] The affiliation link was terminated in 2014 after Karipidis bought the club.

On 25 August 2016 Veria & local amateur football club AS Nireas Veria agreed on an affiliation link between the clubs. The main part of the agreement states that Nireas will provide to Veria young and talented players instead of giving them out to other Greek teams or foreigners teams. With this deal, Veria can become the selling club once she was since she provived the big four of Greece (Olympiakos, Panathinaikos, AEK & PAOK) with many talented players who later went on doing great football careers.[36]

Rivalries

During the era of the 1990s, Imathia had a great development at her economy and this had a great impact at her football. This development had as a result the rise of Naoussa and Pontioi Verias. Naoussa achieved to win the promotion to Alpha Ethniki in season 1993–94 while Pontioi Verias reached Beta Ethniki in 1992 where they played for 3 constitutive seasons before they finish 17th in season 1994–95 and get relegated. Both Naoussa and Pontioi Verias where seriously damaged by the final crisis in Macedonia and they couldn't return to the greater categories. Though the participation of these two teams in the higher championships developed the rivalry between Veria's fans, Pontioi's fans and Naoussa's fans. In season 1994–95 would find Veria, Naoussa and Pontioi Verias playing in Beta Ethniki. It was the first and the only time during football's history where these three teams would perform at the same championship, at the same season.

Stadium

West stand of Veria Stadium

The home ground of Veria is Veria Stadium which is a multi-purpose stadium located in Veria, Greece. It is used for football matches while in the past several music concerts took place their. The stadium was built in 1925. Since then, many improvements have been made, including adding of more seats in the stadium. Today the stadium holds about 7,000. It is situated 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) off the city centre. It was built in 1925 by members of music and gymnastics association Megas Alexandros. Record attendance is 10,309 for a game between Veria and Panathinaikos in 1970. However, during a game between Veria and PAOK there were about 12,000 fans, but most of them entered the stadium without a ticket. The stadium formerly held track races too but after the renovations in 2005 and 2007 the space for track runners was removed.

Training Facilities

The privately owned sports center of Veria FC is located in Tagarochori region, just outside the city of Veria. It has two full-size football pitches with grandstand and lighting, as well as a building that has locker rooms, fully equipped fitness center and guest house with many amenities for players of the "Queen". On 18 June 2015, Veria FC board announced a major upgrade of their training facilities in Tagarochori.[37] After the end of the upgrade the training center will include new locker rooms, new gym, sauna, whirlpool, recovery room, utility rooms and a brand new pitch, based on Superleague Greece main football pitch technical standards in order to provide the best available training invorement. The construction is set to finish in the end of the summer and the upgraded center is expected to be one of the most modern of Greece.

Honours

Domestic Titles and honours

League Performance

Season League Position
1962–63 Beta Ethniki Group D 6th
1963–64 Beta Ethniki Group D 9th
1964–65 Beta Ethniki Group D 6th
1965–66 Beta Ethniki Group C 1st (C)
1966–67 Alpha Ethniki 13th
1967–68 Alpha Ethniki 10th
1968–69 Alpha Ethniki 15th (R)
1969–70 Beta Ethniki Group C 1st (C)
1970–71 Alpha Ethniki 13th
1971–72 Alpha Ethniki 15th (R)
1972–73 Beta Ethniki Group C 7th
1973–74 Beta Ethniki Group C 6th
1974–75 Beta Ethniki Group C 4th
1975–76 Beta Ethniki Group B 2nd
1976–77 Beta Ethniki Group B 1st (C)
1977–78 Alpha Ethniki 18th (R)
1978–79 Beta Ethniki Group B 16th
1979–80 Beta Ethniki Group B 4th
1980–81 Beta Ethniki Group B 12th
1981–82 Beta Ethniki Group B 5th
1982–83 Beta Ethniki Group B 4th
1983–84 Beta Ethniki Group B 13th
1984–85 Beta Ethniki 10th
1985–86 Beta Ethniki 2nd (P)
1986–87 Alpha Ethniki 9th
1987–88 Alpha Ethniki 14th (R)
1988–89 Beta Ethniki 6th
1989–90 Beta Ethniki 11th

Season League Position
1990–91 Beta Ethniki 18th (R)
1991–92 Gamma Ethniki 3rd
1992–93 Gamma Ethniki 2nd (P)
1993–94 Beta Ethniki 9th
1994–95 Beta Ethniki 11th
1995–96 Beta Ethniki 2nd (P)
1996–97 Alpha Ethniki 10th
1997–98 Alpha Ethniki 9th
1998–99 Alpha Ethniki 17th (R)
1999–00 Beta Ethniki 13th (R)
2000–01 2nd Division* 14th (R)
2001–02 Delta Ethniki Group D 7th
2002–03 Delta Ethniki Group C 1st (C)
2003–04 Gamma Ethniki 8th
2004–05 Gamma Ethniki North Group 1st (C)
2005–06 Beta Ethniki 5th
2006–07 Beta Ethniki 3rd (P)
2007–08 Superleague 15th (R)
2008–09 Beta Ethniki 16th (R)
2009–10 Gamma Ethniki North Group 1st(C)
2010–11 Football League 8th
2011–12 Football League 2nd (P)
2012–13 Superleague 12th
2013–14 Superleague 15th
2014–15 Superleague 13th
2015–16 Superleague 14th
2016–17 Superleague TBD

(C) = Champions (P) = Promoted (R) = Relegated

Notable wins

Season Match Score
Alpha Ethniki – Superleague
1967–68 VeriaOlympiacos 2–1
1971–72 Veria – Olympiacos 2–1
1987–88 Veria – Olympiacos 1–0
1996–97 Veria – Olympiacos 1–0
1997–98 Veria – Olympiacos (at OAKA) 2–0
1966–67 PanathinaikosVeria 0–1
1977–78 Veria – Panathinaikos 3–1
2012–13 Veria – Panathinaikos 3–0
2014–15 Veria – Panathinaikos 1–0
1967–68 VeriaAEK Athens 1–0
1971–72 Veria – AEK Athens 1–0
1987–88 Veria – AEK Athens 1–0
1997–98 AEK Athens – Veria 1–2
1967–68 PAOKVeria 1–2
1970–71 Veria – PAOK 1–0
1971–72 Veria – PAOK 1–0
1986–87 Veria – PAOK 1–0
1987–88 Veria – PAOK 2–1
1967–68 Veria – Aris 2–1
1968–69 Veria – Aris 2–1
1970–71 Veria – Aris 1–0
1986–87 Aris – Veria 0–1
1986–87 Veria – Aris 1–0
2007–08 Veria – Aris 1–0
2012–13 Veria – Aris 3–1
1985–86 VeriaSkoda Xanthi 4–1
1986–87 VeriaEthnikos 5–2
1996–97 VeriaKavala 4–0
1996–97 VeriaPanachaiki 4–0
1996–97 VeriaKastoria 4–0
1997–98 Veria – Kavala 4–2
1997–98 Veria – Panionios 4–0
2011–12 VeriaPlatanias 5–0
2012–13 Veria – Platanias 5–0
2013–14 VeriaLevadiakos 4–3
2014–15 VeriaOFI Crete 4–1
2013–14 VeriaAsteras Tripolis 1–0
2014–15 Veria – Asteras Tripolis 4–0

Best campaigns

Season Achievement Notes
Greek Cup
1977–78 Quarter-finals eliminated by PAOK 5–0 in Thessaloniki.
2012–13 Quarter-finals eliminated by Panthrakikos 1–0 in Komotini, 0–1 in Veria
2014–15 Top 16 eliminated by Panionios 2–1 in Athens, 1–1 in Veria
Amateurs' Cup
2002–03 Final Champions against Preveza 2–1 in Sofades

Summary

Superleague Greece – Overall

Pos Team Seasons Points Played Won Drawn Lost G.F. G.A. G.D. 1 2 3 1st App Since/Last App Best
18 Veria 16 635 509 139 139 242 464 721 −257 1966–67 2012–13 9

League or status at 2015–16 in Greek football:

2016–17 Super League
2016–17 Football League
2016–17 Football League 2
2016–17 Local Championships
Club disappeared

Players

First team squad

As of 24 September 2016[38]

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

No. Position Player
1 Greece GK Georgios Kantimiris
2 Greece DF Stavros Vasilantonopoulos (on loan from AEK)
3 Ghana DF Mark Asigba (on loan from Olympiacos)
4 Greece DF Christos Melissis
5 Greece MF Stelios Marangos
6 France DF Mahamadou Sissoko
7 Spain MF Toni Calvo
8 Spain MF Antonio Tomás
9 Greece FW Pantelis Kapetanos
10 Mexico MF Pedro Arce
11 Serbia MF Kristijan Miljević
14 Spain MF Sisi
16 Greece DF Sofokolis Radis
17 Netherlands MF Jeffrey Sarpong
18 Spain DF Iván Malón
19 Greece MF Yiannis Papadopoulos
No. Position Player
20 Greece FW Dimitris Melikiotis
21 France DF Cyril Kali
22 Greece MF Panagiotis Linardos
23 Greece FW Ioakeim Zyngeridis
24 Greece MF Alexandros Doris
25 Greece MF Sotiris Balafas
26 Australia MF Terry Antonis (on loan from PAOK)
28 Argentina FW Pablo Vitti
30 Greece GK Theodoros Venetikidis
55 Spain GK Jonathan López
71 Greece MF Manolis Papasterianos
88 Georgia (country) DF Giorgi Navalovski
94 Greece DF Giannis Charontakis
96 Greece FW Dimitris Mavrias
99 Australia FW Billy Konstantinidis

Out on loan

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

No. Position Player
Greece MF Thomas Papadopoulos (on loan to Greece Aiginiakos)
No. Position Player

Professional youth contracts

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

No. Position Player
Greece GK Alexandros Safarikas
Serbia MF David Dujić

Veria U20 Squad

As of 31 August 2016[39]

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

No. Position Player
Greece GK Dimitrios Argiropoulos
Greece GK Alexandros Safarikas
Greece GK Theodoros Venetikidis
Greece GK Vasilis Sourovikis
Greece DF Kostas Dimitriadis
Greece DF Sofoklis Radis
Greece DF Argiris Toufas
Greece DF Vasilis Maggizis
Greece DF Antontis Karabinas
Greece DF Vangelis Lazopoulos
Greece DF Achilleas Nestoropoulos
No. Position Player
Greece DF Apostolis Nikolaidis
Greece DF Giorgos Nikopoulos
Greece DF Vasilis Panagiotidis
Greece MF Thomas Papadopoulos
Greece MF Alexandros Doris
Serbia MF David Dujić
Greece MF Giorgos Roggotis
Greece MF Ilias Mantos
Greece FW Anastasios Nauriniadis
Greece FW Christos Samiotis
Greece FW Marios Xatzikostantinou

One-club men

No. Player Nationality Position Debut Last match
1 Giorgos Masadis  Greece Goalkeeper 28 August 1966 31 May 1981

Notable players

Greek players
African players
American players
European players
Oceanian players

Most appearances

# Name Caps Goals
1
Giorgos Masadis
368 0
2
Dimitris Papatzikos
367 46
3
Sokratis Kousoulakis
360 8
4
Nikos Tsirelas
352 33
5
Panagiotis Michailidis
338 13

Most goals

# Name Caps Goals
1
Thomas Troupkos
204 55
2
Thomas Papadopoulos
239 54
3
Alexandros Alexandris
137 53
4
Lazaros Papadopoulos
178 50
5
Thomas Liolios
121 49

Superleague top scorers

R Player Nationality Position Goals Season
2ndBen NabouhaneComorosFW152013–14

Football League top scorers

R Player Nationality Position Goals Season
1stThomas LioliosGreeceFW271975–76
1stAlexandros AlexandrisGreeceFW211989–90
1stAlexandros AlexandrisGreeceFW161990–91
1stThomas TroupkosGreeceFW141994–95
2ndCalvin KadiSouth AfricaFW202011–12
3rdGiorgos VakoufarisGreeceFW161985–86

Club officials

Board of Directors

Position Staff
Major Shareholder Greece Konstantinos Papadopoulos
President Greece Konstantinos Papadopoulos
Vice–President Greece Argyris Proios
Board Member Vacant
Technical Director Greece Argyris Proios
Youth Department Greece Nikos Karabiberis
Financial Department Greece Anna Mitropoulou
Marketing Department Greece Antonis Tsalouchidis
Law Department Greece Aristides Mastrogiannis
Security Department Greece Dimitris Strafiotis

Technical and medical staff

Technical staff
Head coach Greece Thomas Grafas
Assistant coach TBA
Goalkeeping coach Greece Dimitris Kottaridis
Fitness coach Greece TBA
Serbia Goran Guzijan
Team Manager Greece Aris Veniopoulos
Interpreter Portugal King Ferreira
Caregiver Greece Thanasis Voulgaris
Greece Kosmas Rozintsis
Scouting staff
Scout N/A
Medical staff
Physio TBA
Masseur Greece Fotis Konstantakos
Greece Dimitris Lamprinidis
Greece Charis Pantelidis
Pathologist Greece Georgios Avramopoulos
Orthopedist Greece Nikolaos Dimou
Urologist Greece Georgios Minas
Surgeon Greece Prodromos Isaakidis
Dentist Greece Despοina Karvouna
Νutritionist Greece Athanasios Topis

Academy staff

Academy staff
Technical Director Greece Nikos Karabiberis
General Manager Greece Georgia Tsiamoura
U20 coach Greece Apostolis Terzis
Assistant coach Greece Germanos Safarikas
Goalkeeping coach Greece Dimitris Kottaridis
Fitness coach Greece Babis Siamoglou
U17 coach Greece Dimitris Christoforidis
U15 coach Greece Giannis Kapsaliaris

Managerial history

1960s – 1980s Managers
  • Greece Charis Kreopolidis (1960–61)
  • Greece Nikos Paggalos (1961–62)
  • Greece Giannis Voskas (1962–63)
  • Greece Kostas Velliadis (1963–65)
  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Sima Milovanov (1965–67)
  • Greece Antonis Kemanidis (1967)
  • Brazil Giovanni Varlen (1967–68)
  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Franjo Pasmanji (1968–69)
  • Greece Kostas Velliadis (1969–70)
  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Miljan Zeković (1970–71)
  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Franjo Pasmanji (1971–72)
  • Greece Kostas Velliadis (1972–73)
  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Predrag Milović (1973–74)
  • Greece Thanasis Loukanidis (1974, 1991)
  • Greece Giorgos Tsintzoglou (1974–76)
  • Greece Giannis Zafeiropoulos (1976–77)
  • Bulgaria Dobromir Zhechev (1977–78)
  • Greece Giorgos Tsintzoglou (1978, 1981)
  • Greece Dimitris Kalogiannis (1978–79)
  • Greece Themis Theodoridis (1979)
  • Greece Kostas Kefalidis (1979)
  • Greece Kostas Hatzimichail (1979–80)
  • Greece Neotakis Loukanidis (1980–81, 1991)
  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Predrag Milović (1981)
  • Greece Thanasis Paggalos (1981–82)
  • Greece Stefanos Gaitanos (1982–83, 1984)
  • Greece Giorgos Chasiotis (1983)
  • Greece Giorgos Tsintzoglou (1983–84)
  • Greece Achilleas Savvidis (1984)
  • Greece Panagiotis Michailidis & Giorgos Masadis (1984–85)
  • Greece Telis Mpatakis (1985–87)
  • Czechoslovakia Vladimír Táborský (1987–88)
  • Greece Kostas Karapatis (1988–89)
  • Greece Michalis Nousias (Caretaker) (1989)
  • Greece Takis Nikoloudis (1989)
  • Greece Panagiotis Kermanidis (1989–90)

1990s – 2000s (decade) Managers
  • Greece Giorgos Tsintzoglou (1990)
  • Greece Michalis Mpelis (1990–91)
  • Greece Giorgos Tsintzoglou (1991, 1993)
  • Greece Panagiotis Kermanidis (1991–92)
  • Greece Thanasis Dimitriadis (1992)
  • Greece Nikolaos Karidas (1992, 1997)
  • Greece Konstantinos Tsilios (1992–93)
  • Brazil Neto Guerino (1993)
  • Greece Michalis Nousias (1993–94)
  • Greece Makis Katsavakis (1994–96)
  • Romania Sorin Cârțu (1997)
  • Greece Stefanos Gaitanos (1997–98)
  • Greece Petros Ravousis (1998)
  • Greece Aris Adaloglou (Caretaker) (1998)
  • Greece Giorgos Chatzaras (1998–99)
  • Ukraine Oleh Protasov (1999–00)
  • Greece Panagiotis Tsalouchidis (2000)
  • Greece Tasos Karagkiozopoulos (2000–01)
  • Greece Konstantinos Katsonis (2001)
  • Greece Panagiotis Tsalouchidis (2001–03, 2004, 2008)
  • Romania Stefan Stoica (2003)
  • Greece Periklis Amanatidis (2003–04)
  • Greece Giorgos Kikeridis (2004 (Caretaker), 2005)
  • Greece Dimitris Kalaitzidis (2004–05, 2005–06)
  • Greece Makis Katsavakis (2005)
  • Greece Stefanos Gaitanos (2005–06, 2006–07)
  • Bulgaria Stojko Mladenov (2006)
  • Greece Dimitris Kalaitzidis (2006–07, 2007–08)
  • Serbia Ratko Dostanić (16 October 2007 – 10 December 2007)
  • Greece Ioannis Matzourakis (14 December 2007 – 11 March 2008)
  • Greece Leonidas Yfantidis (2008)
  • Greece Vasilis Papachristou (2008–09)
  • Greece Giorgios Kostikos (11 January 2009 – 30 June 2009)

2010s Managers

Presidential history

 
Name Nationality Years
Grigoris Kouteris Greece 1960–62
Alexandros Kontopoulos Greece 1962–63
Thomas Kallimpakas Greece 1963–65
Vaggelis Triantafillidis Greece 1965–66
Antonis Tsirtopoulos Greece 1966–67
Vaggelis Triantafillidis Greece 1967–69
Panagiotis Iordanou Greece 1969
Charis Papachrisanthou Greece 1969–70
Giorgos Tsaleras Greece 1970–71
Vaggelis Triantafillidis Greece 1971–72
Ilias Lazos Greece 1972–73
Stathis Panagiotidis Greece 1973–74
Thomas Kouteris Greece 1974–75
Giannis Dimitrakakis Greece 1975–76
Thomas Kouteris Greece 1976
Lakis Paschalidis Greece 1976–77
Giorgos Fakas Greece 1977–78
Michalis Karasavvidis Greece 1978
 
Name Nationality Years
Ilias Liatos Greece 1978–81
Charis Savvidis Greece 1981–82
Panagiotis Lekkas Greece 1982–85
Stefanos Kasapis Greece 1985–87
Thanasis Limpantsis Greece 1987–91
Stelios Kiriakidis Greece 1991–93
Konstantinos Ygropoulos Greece 1993
Giorgos Terzis Greece 1993
Antonis Alexiadis Greece 1993–94
Vasilis Tsamitros () Greece 1994–98
Alexis Kougias Greece 1998
Vasilis Tsamitros () Greece 1998–01
Thanasis Mpizetas Greece 2001
Konstantinos Gaivases Greece 2001–03
Nikos Papadopoulos Greece 2003–05
Giorgos Arvanitidis Greece 2005–14
Theodoros Karipidis Greece 2014–16
Konstantinos Papadopoulos Greece 2016–

See also

References

  1. "Veria Municipal Stadium" (in Greek). veriafc.gr. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  2. http://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Veroia/adeia-kai-prostimo-sthn-veroia.4277181.html
  3. http://www.kerkidasport.gr/index.php/-categories-32/1293--------
  4. http://www.kerkidasport.gr/index.php/-categories-32/1362-2009-05-18-18-26-37
  5. http://www.kerkidasport.gr/index.php/-categories-32/1364-2009-05-19-20-06-47
  6. Super User. "Ιστορία". ΠΑΕ ΒΕΡΟΙΑ – ΕΠΙΣΗΜΗ ΙΣΤΟΣΕΛΙΔΑ. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  7. Antonis. "Ανακοίνωση". ΠΑΕ ΒΕΡΟΙΑ – ΕΠΙΣΗΜΗ ΙΣΤΟΣΕΛΙΔΑ. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  8. OTO – Dev. "Απόφαση Πειθαρχικής Επιτροπής – Super League Ελλάδα". Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  9. "ΟΡΙΣΤΙΚΟ: ΑΘΩΩΘΗΚΕ Η ΠΑΕ ΒΕΡΟΙΑ!!".
  10. Antonis. "Εκσυγχρονίζεται το προπονητικό κέντρο". ΠΑΕ ΒΕΡΟΙΑ – ΕΠΙΣΗΜΗ ΙΣΤΟΣΕΛΙΔΑ. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  11. Antonis. "Ποδοσφαιριστής της Βέροιας ο Djamal Abdoun".
  12. Antonis. "Ποδοσφαιριστής της Βέροιας ο Radoslaw Majewski".
  13. Zisis. "Sasa Kajkut για 2 χρόνια".
  14. "Ραντεβού... στο Μιλάνο!".
  15. "Δεν άρεσε καθόλου στον Σαββίδη η ιδέα για Άρη".
  16. "Metrosport".
  17. "Καρυπίδης αντί Αρβανιτίδη στον Άρη".
  18. Κώστας, Τσιμόπουλος. "Συνεχίζονται οι επαφές Καρυπίδη με τους Κινέζους".
  19. Antonis. "Λύση συνεργασίας με Γιώργο Γεωργιάδη".
  20. Antonis. "Νέος προπονητής της "Βασίλισσας" ο Δημήτρης Ελευθερόπουλος".
  21. "Καρυπίδης: "Κινέζικη εταιρεία για τη ΒΕΡΟΙΑ"".
  22. Antonis. "Παραίτηση Θόδωρου Καρυπίδη".
  23. "Πήρε άδεια η Βέροια!".
  24. "Ολοκληρώθηκε και τυπικά η πώληση της ΠΑΕ ΒΕΡΟΙΑ!".
  25. Antonis. "Έναρξη συνεργασίας με Givova".
  26. "Τρέχουν οι εξελίξεις στην ΠΑΕ ΒΕΡΟΙΑ!".
  27. "ΒΕΡΟΙΑ: Τέλος ο Ελευθερόπουλος, σε αναζήτηση προπονητή!".
  28. "Οριστικό: Νέο αφεντικό στην ΠΑΕ ΒΕΡΟΙΑ!".
  29. Κινδυνεύει με υποβιβασμό η Βέροια!
  30. Μοναδικό κόστος 15.000 ευρώ για τη Βέροια
  31. Θωμάς Γράφας
  32. Antonis. "Ο νέος ύμνος της "Βασίλισσας του Βορρά"". ΠΑΕ ΒΕΡΟΙΑ – ΕΠΙΣΗΜΗ ΙΣΤΟΣΕΛΙΔΑ. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  33. "Ο Σ.Φ. ΒΕΡΟΙΑΣ "Queen's Boyz" επιστρέφει δυναμικά!".
  34. "Σοκ στην ΠΑΕ ΒΕΡΟΙΑ από τον θάνατο νεαρού ποδοσφαιριστή!!!".
  35. Συνεργασία Βέροιας- Σπόρτινγκ Λισαβόνας (in Greek). sport-fm.gr. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  36. Συνεργασία της Π.Α.Ε. Βέροιας με τον ΑΣ Νηρέας
  37. Antonis. "Εκσυγχρονίζεται το προπονητικό κέντρο". ΠΑΕ ΒΕΡΟΙΑ – ΕΠΙΣΗΜΗ ΙΣΤΟΣΕΛΙΔΑ. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  38. "Veria FC squad" (in Greek). superleaguegreece.net. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  39. "Veria FC U20 squad" (in Greek). Superleague Greece. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
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