AO Rethymniaki Enosi Athliton

AO Rethymniaki Enosi Athliton (Greek: Α.Ο. Ρεθυμνιακή Ένωση Αθλητών), or simply REA, is a Greek women's association football club that competes in the Greek A Division. It was established in 2022 when the women's team of Neos Asteras Rethymno broke away from the Crete-based club and was rebranded as REA.[1]

REA
Full nameAthletic Club Rethymniaki Enosi Athliton
Short nameREA
Founded9 July 2022 (2022-07-09)
GroundSochora Municipal Stadium
ChairmanIraklis Manoukarakis
ManagerNikos Kyriakopoulos
LeagueGreek A Division
2022–23A Division, 3rd

History

Asteras Ladies was created in 2015 and represented Asteras Rethymno in the Greek C Division.[2] They were promoted to the first division in 2020, where they competed for two seasons, finishing 8th in 2020/21 and 4th in 2021/22 in the second group.

In the summer of 2022, they broke away and changed the club's name, colors and badge. The new name, REA, refers to Rhea, the mother goddess in Greek mythology, but it also stands for Rethymniaki Enosi Athliton (lit. 'Athletes' Union of Rethymno').[1]

The team consisted of the former Asteras players as well as new signings like Marina Koutri and Miljana Smiljkovic from PAOK, Viverly Erazo from Millonarios and Greek international defender Stela Kotsaki from Doxa 2016.

In 2022/23, during the regular season, they finished 3rd in the second group with 9 wins, 2 draws and 3 losses. They qualified for the play-offs round in which they won 4 out of 6 matches, finishing 3rd behind PAOK and Ergotelis.[3] Gisela Arrieta was the top goalscorer of the club with 16 goals.

Colours and badge

The colors of REA are gold, which symbolizes brightness and knowledge, and green, which represents the beginning of a new journey.

The club crest includes a tree with the Sun in the background. The Sun signifies the transmission of light, of life-giving energy and shows the unlimited potential for growth. The Tree is one of the symbols of the goddess Rhea, while also being the most sacred symbol of growth and the ultimate symbolism of man's path and purpose. The Tree is formed by the letters of the acronym REA.[4]

Current squad
As of 11 October 2023

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Greece GRE Eirini Manoukaraki
2 MF Greece GRE Stela Kotsaki
3 DF Greece GRE Kalioppi Vorria
4 DF Mexico MEX Paulina Solís
6 DF Greece GRE Aggeliki Panteri
7 DF Greece GRE Maria Kelaidi
8 MF Colombia COL Viverly Erazo
9 FW Greece GRE Dimitra Markoutsa
10 MF Greece GRE Eleni Tsikoudaki
11 MF Greece GRE Efi Brame
No. Pos. Nation Player
12 DF Greece GRE Eleni Alexaki
14 DF Greece GRE Sofia Dimiskidou
15 GK Greece GRE Panagiota Zalaora
16 MF Greece GRE Eirini Mergemoglou
17 FW Portugal POR Tânia Mateus
18 DF Greece GRE Anastasia Gkatsou
19 MF Greece GRE Eleftheria Dafermou (captain)
22 GK Finland FIN Ann-Sofie Gripenberg
— DF Greece GRE Eleftheria Kiachidou
— MF Colombia COL Paola Garcia

Coaching staff
As of 9 August 2023
Position Name
Head coach Greece Nikos Kyriakopoulos
Assistant coach Greece Antonis Platis
Goalkeeping coach
Assistant coach Greece Andreas Drygiannakis
Fitness coach

References
  1. "Έτοιμη η «ΡΕΑ» να γράψει ιστορία στο γυναίκειο ποδόσφαιρο!". goodnet.gr. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  2. "Γυναικεία Ομάδα από τον Αστέρα Ρεθύμνου". rethymnosports.gr. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  3. "Πρωτάθλημα Α΄ Κατηγορίας Γυναικών". epo.gr. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  4. "Ποδόσφαιρο Γυναικών: Δημιουργία της "ΡΕΑ – Ρεθυμνιακή Ένωση Αθλητών"". kingsport.gr. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
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