A century after its founding, PAOK stands as one of Greece's most emblematic athletic clubs, with a history closely tied to the city of Thessaloniki and the experiences of refugee communities who reshaped it in the early 20th century.
The club was established on 20 April 1926 by Greeks from Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul) who had settled in Thessaloniki after being displaced and enduring hardship. Large numbers of Greek Orthodox were forcibly displaced from Constantinople and other parts of Asia Minor following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the Greco-Turkish War of 1919-1922. Their resettlement in cities such as Thessaloniki formed part of a wider population exchange between Greece and Turkey in 1923, which reshaped the region's demographic and social landscape.
These communities initially focused on survival before seeking opportunities for social and economic advancement. They organised themselves into communities in the city centre and soon formed an athletic association, the Panthessalonikian Athletic Club of Constantinopolitans, known as PAOK.
Historian Iakovos Michailidis describes the founding as significant within the broader transformation of Thessaloniki that year. Speaking to Voria.gr, he noted: "It was very important that a refugee club was founded in the capital of the refugees, Thessaloniki. And it is no coincidence that this happened in 1926, the year the city changed." He links this to the establishment of key institutions, such as Aristotle University and the Thessaloniki International Fair.
From its early years, PAOK became closely associated with refugee identity. As Michailidis explains, "The first identity that PAOK carried was the refugee one. Refugees from Constantinople, as well as other lost homelands, identified with it. They found in this club a common team, a reference point." At the same time, the club also came to embody wider social divides, including tensions between northern and southern Greece and between poorer and wealthier groups. He adds that it attracted "anyone who felt wronged," reflecting broader social inequalities.
The club's double-headed eagle symbol references Byzantine heritage, and the black-and-white colours represent mourning and rebirth, reinforcing this identity and helping to consolidate a strong fan base, particularly among refugee populations in northern Greece.
The club's growth accelerated in the post-war decades. By the 1950s, PAOK had begun to establish itself competitively, with the opening of Toumba Stadium in 1959 marking a turning point. Its first major successes came in the early 1970s, a period described as "crucial" for the club. During that decade, PAOK reached five consecutive Greek Cup finals, winning in 1972 and 1974, and secured its first league title in 1976. These achievements expanded its support base beyond its original social groups.
Michailidis notes that this era attracted new fans, including those drawn to a successful team and those who saw PAOK as competing "against the… establishment of Athens." The club's institutional development also progressed, with the creation of PAOK FC as a corporate entity and an initial share capital of 37.1 million drachmas.
In more recent decades, PAOK's identity has evolved further. The club now appeals to a broader social spectrum and has supporters across Greece and internationally. According to Michailidis, "Today PAOK does not appeal only to the popular classes; it has also moved into the middle classes… it has fans not only in northern Greece but throughout the country, even abroad." He attributes this expansion partly to sporting success and partly to the influence of owner Ivan Savvidis, who acquired a majority stake in 2012.
PAOK's 100-year history represents a "living memory" of displacement, resilience and social change, rooted in the experiences of those who rebuilt their lives in Thessaloniki.
by Maria Ritzaleou - adapted from Greek by Vassia Barba
