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Iraklis Larissa (Greek: Ηρακλής Λάρισας), also known by its full name Athlitiki Enosi Iraklis Larissa (Greek: Αθλητική Ένωση Ηρακλής Λάρισας), simply called Iraklis, is a Greek football club based in the city of Larissa. The team currently competes in the Super League Greece 2, the 2nd tier of the Greek football league system.

Iraklis Larissa

Full name	Athlitiki Enosi Iraklis Larissa
Founded	1982; 40 years ago (1982)
Ground	Athletic Center Neapoli Larissa
Chairman	Lampros Ioakim
Manager	Panagiotis Dilberis
League	Super League Greece 2
2021–22	Gamma Ethniki, 1st
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours

History

Early years

Iraklis Larissa was founded in 1930 in the district of Neapoli in Larissa. Its first president was Petros Papakonstantinou. Iraklis was the fifth team of the city to be recognized by the Union Football Association of Thessaly after Pelasgiotida, the Excursion Club, Aris Larissa and Dimitra Larissa (known today as Apollon). They also participated in the first championship of 1930–31. In 1960, Iraklis also became one of the founding members of Union Football Association of Larissa.[1]

On 7 December 1947, Iraklis won 2–1 against Niki Volos and won the Thessalian Cup, thus qualifying for the Greek Cup. They made it to the quarterfinals in which they eventually lost 0–6 against Olympiacos. Iraklis were the first team from Larissa to make it to the round of eight.[1]

In the seasons 1962–63 and 1963–64, Iraklis played in the Beta Ethniki.[1]

Founding of AEL

After the idea was in the planning since 1958, Iraklis alongside Toxotis Larissa, Aris Larissa and Larisaikos merged in 1964 to form AEL. The newly formed team eventually went on to write Greek football history for being the only team outside the two major cities, Athens and Thessaloniki, to win the championship, as well as winning two Greek cups. Iraklis' president Kostas Tzovaridis became the first president of the newly founded AEL.[1]

Nowadays

For the next 18 years there was no presence of Iraklis in football. But, Iraklis was re-founded in 1982, after the merge of two neighbouring clubs in: Livadaki A.O. (founded in 1976) and Neapoli A.O.. In 1996, the team made it to the finals of the Greek Football Amateur Cup which they lost 1–2 against Ethnikos Katerini.

After several years of struggle, Lampros Ioakim took over the reigns of Iraklis as president and with his vision led the team to win the 2016–17 Larissa FCA A1 (sixth tier) season. Ioakim put a lot of importance and focus into the development of a youth center in order to develop players that will lead the team in the upcoming years.[1] Having won the 2018–19 Larissa FCA (fifth tier) season, Iraklis returned to the Gamma Ethniki after several decades. The conditions now seem ripe for the return of Iraklis towards professional leagues. The staffing of the sports department with an alloy of experienced and very young and talented football players of the prefecture, are strategic moves that outline the basic principles of the philosophy followed by the young Iraklis. Back to the roots, investing into the local potential and a productive process of highlighting talents through its academies.[1]

Honours

• Gamma Ethniki
  • Group Winners (1): 2021–22
• Larissa FCA
  • Winners (3): 1998–99, 1999–00, 2018–19
  • Runners-up (1): 2017–18
• Larissa FCA A1
  • Winners (1): 2016–17
  • Runners-up (1): 2012–13
• Larissa FCA Beta
  • Winners (1): 2011–12
• Larissa FCA Gamma
  • Winners (1): 2010–11
• Greek Football Amateur Cup
  • Runners-up (1): 1995–96
• Larissa FCA Cup
  • Winners (1): 1995–96
  • Runners-up (6): 1986–87, 1989–90, 1994–95, 1996–97, 1997–98, 2021–22
• Larissa FCA Super Cup
  • Winners (1): 2019
• Thessaly FCA Cup
  • Winners (1): 1946–47

Players

Current squad

As of 5 August 2022

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

No. Pos. Nation Player 2 DF  GRE Konstantinos Balamotis 3 MF  GRE Konstantinos Kaberis 4 DF  GRE Alexandros Galitsios 5 DF  GRE Stergios Dodontsakis 6 MF  GRE Lefteris Bamis 7 MF  GRE Giorgos Lesaj 8 MF  GRE Stergios Tsimikas 9 FW  GRE Omiros Syrengelas 10 MF  GRE Spyros Zafiriou 12 DF  GRE Konstantinos Efthymiadis 13 GK  GRE Fotis Koutzavasilis 14 MF  GRE Dimitris Soubasi 17 MF  GRE Panagiotis Mantikas 19 MF  GRE Dimitris Soubasis

No. Pos. Nation Player 20 MF  GRE Giannis Christidis 22 FW  GRE Giannis Koutsioudis 23 DF  GRE Stelios Kapsalis 30 FW  ARG Emanuel Escuredo 31 MF  GRE Spyros Gougoudis 32 DF  GRE Marios Kapsalis 33 FW  GRE Michalis Gargalas 44 DF  GRE Lampros Angeloulis 45 FW  MNE Veljko Batrovic 46 DF  GRE Giorgos Lagonidis 80 FW  GRE Dimitris Tasioulis 94 GK  GRE Anastasios Papagiannis 99 GK  GRE Emil Daci

Out on loan

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

No. Pos. Nation Player

Notable players

• Kostas Katsaras
• Thomas Makris
• Nikos Goulios
• Ilias Kotsios
• Giannis Valaniadis
• Konstantinos Nebegleras
• Petros Karanastasis
• Vangelis Kotsios

Coaches

• Nikos Vlahoulis
• Giannis Papagiannis
• Christos Andreoudis
• Vangelis Kotsios (2010-2012)
• Thanasis Tsotsos (2012–2013)
• Kostas Kolomitrousis (2013–2014)
• Takis Parafestas (2014)
• Giannis Tsakmakidis (2015–2018)
• Christos Chatziliadis (2018–2022)
• Panagiotis Dilberis (2022–present)

Chairmen

• Giorgos Filippou
• Giorgos Architektonidis
• Thomas Filippou
• Lampros Ioakim (2016–present)

References

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