Chania FC
Chania Football Club (Greek: Π.Α.Ε. Χανιά) is a Greek professional football club based in Chania, Crete, Greece. They were established in 2017, as a result of a merger between the two regional clubs representing the Chania district in the Greek Second Division, PGS Kissamikos and AO Chania. The club currently plays in the Super League 2, the second tier of the Greek football league system.
Full name | Ποδοσφαιρική Αθλητική Ενωση Χανιά | ||
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Founded | 23 August 2017 as AO Chania−Kissamikos | ||
Ground | Perivolia Municipal Stadium | ||
Capacity | 4,527 | ||
Owner | Antonis Rokakis | ||
Chairman | Antonis Rokakis | ||
Manager | Giannis Taousianis | ||
League | Super League 2 | ||
2022–23 | Super League 2, 4th | ||
Website | Club website | ||
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History
AO Chania – Kissamikos
During the 2016–17 Greek Second Division season, Chania were represented in the Greek Second Division by two clubs, namely AO Chania of the city of Chania, and Kissamikos, based in the neighboring town of Kissamos. Kissamikos had quickly established itself in the Football League, managing to outgrow, and eventually outperform its more prestigious local competitor AO Chania. Facing insurmountable financial issues, AO Chania were forcibly relegated to the Gamma Ethniki at the end of the season after being deducted 33 points, while simultaneously having its licence revoked. In the summer of 2017, Kissamikos owner at the time Antonis Rokakis proposed a merger of the two clubs in an attempt to form a new, strong outfit to represent the region, and more specifically the city of Chania (as the region's competitor in the Greek Super League, Platanias is based in the neighboring town and municipality of Platanias). The initiative was eventually approved on 19 August 2017,[1] however, any club that would result from a potential merger would inherit the financial obligations of AO Chania. As such, Kissamikos changed its name to AO Chania − Kissamikos, retaining its original crest and colors,[2][3] while the club's home ground was relocated to Perivolia Municipal Stadium in Mournies, Chania.[4] The entire merger was met with fierce opposition by the supporters of Kissamikos.[5] On the other hand, supporters of AO Chania demanded Kissamikos' name and crest be completely erased, basically turning the club into a modern continuation of AO Chania.[6]
The new club became serious competitors in the two years following the merger, finishing 4th during the 2017–18 season, and 6th in 2018–19, thus becoming eligible to play in the 2019-formed Super League 2.
PAE Chania
In the summer of 2019, the club's board of directors changed the club's name to PAE Chania (Greek: ΠΑΕ Χανιά), indicating their intent to represent the entire Chania regional unit.[7][8] The 2019–20 season saw Chania FC achieve its best result to date, finishing third in the Super League 2.
Stadium
After the merger, the club moved to AO Chania's Perivolia Municipal Stadium, a multi-purpose stadium in Mournies, Chania.
Players
Current squad
- As of 2 October 2023
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Personnel
Ownership and current board
Position | Staff |
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Owner | Antonis Rokakis |
President | Antonis Rokakis |
1st Vice-President | Giorgos Xirouchakis |
2nd Vice-President | Stathis Ponirakos |
3rd Vice-President | Aris Lychnaras |
CEO | Periklis Touloupakis |
Communications Director | Lefteris Antonakakis |
Head Secretary | Argyro Stefanaki |
Public relations | Lefteris Bouzakis |
Technical Director | Giorgos Touloupakis |
Board member | Giannis Kakaounakis |
Board member | Giorgos Karbadakis |
Board member | Giorgos Marakakis |
Board member | Tasos Moisiadis |
Board member | Antonis Stathopoulos |
Board member | Ioannis Chaniotakis |
Coaching staff
Position | Staff |
---|---|
Manager | Giannis Taousianis |
Assistant manager | Nikos Manarolis |
Fitness coach | Georgios Gounelas |
Goalkeeping coach | Antonis Panagiotopoulos |
Individual improvement | Vasilis Koutas |
Medical and other staff
Position | Staff |
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Physiotherapist | Adam Boutzoukas |
Caregiver | Apostolis Koundourakis |
Caregiver | Giorgos Apostolakis |
References
- "Επίσημο: Συγχωνεύθηκαν Κισσαμικός και ΑΟ Χανιά (Greek)". sport-fm.gr.
- "Και εγένετο…. ΠΑΕ ΑΟ Χανιά-Κισσαμικός!". Onsports.gr (in Greek). 2017-08-24. Retrieved 2019-08-29.
- "Ανακοίνωση και δημοσίευση στο ΓΕΜΗ της τροποποίησης του καταστατικού της ΠΑΕ (Κωδικός Αριθμός Καταχώρησης 1245827)". businessregistry.gr. ΓΕΜΗ. 2017-11-09.
- "Καλεί τον κόσμο ο Κισσαμικός στο.. νέο του σπίτι - Γ Εθνική". Athletic Radio 104,2 (in Greek). 2013-10-30. Retrieved 2019-08-29.
- "Ανακοίνωση από το fan club kissamikos για την ένωση με ΑΟΧ". www.athlitiko.gr (in Greek). 2017-08-07. Retrieved 2019-08-29.
- "ΑΟΧ, ή Χανιά, ή τίποτε". www.footballleaguenews.gr (in Greek). 2018-06-10. Retrieved 2019-08-29.
- "Ιστορική απόφαση για το μέλλον της ομάδας". Kriti24.gr (in Greek). 2019-02-07. Retrieved 2019-08-29.
- "Ροκάκης: ΠΑΕ Χανιά σε λίγες μέρες". Flashnews.gr (in Greek). 2019-07-18. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
External links
- Official website (in Greek)