View source for PAOK FC

{{Short description|Greek association football club}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{About||the major [[sports club|multi-sport club]]|P.A.O.K.}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname = PAOK
| fullname = Πανθεσσαλονίκειος Αθλητικός Όμιλος Κωνσταντινουπολιτών <br />'''Panthessaloníkios Athlitikós Ómilos Konstadinoupolitón'''<br />(Panthessalonian [[Sports club|Athletic Club]] of [[Constantinoupolis|Constantinopolitans]])
| nickname = {{unbulleted list|{{lang|el|Δικέφαλος}}<br/> ''Dikefalos'' ([[Double-headed eagle]])|{{lang|el|Ασπρόμαυροι}}<br />''Asprómavri'' (White-Blacks)}}|
| image = PAOK FC EMBLEM.png
| image_size = 150px
| founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1926|4|20}}
| short name = [[PAOK]]
| ground = [[Toumba Stadium]]<ref name="Home Ground">{{cite web|url=http://www.paokfc.gr/en/history-2/the-stadium/home-ground-en/|title=Home Ground|publisher=paokfc.gr}}</ref>
| capacity = 28,703 ([[All-seater stadium|all-seater]])
| owntitle = Owner
| owner = Dimera Group Limited Ltd<ref name="President">{{cite web|url=https://www.paokfc.gr/en/the-club/the-president/|title=The President|work=paokfc.gr}}</ref>
| chrtitle = President
| chairman = [[Ivan Savvidis]]
| mgrtitle = Head coach
| manager = [[Răzvan Lucescu]]
| league = [[Super League Greece]]
| season = [[2024–25 Super League Greece|2024–25]]
| position = [[Super League Greece]], 3rd of 14
| website = {{URL|https://www.paokfc.gr/|paokfc.gr}}
| current = 2025–26 PAOK FC season
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{{PAOK sections}}

'''PAOK FC''' ({{langx|el|ΠΑΕ ΠΑΟΚ}}, {{IPA|el|'pa.ok|}}),<ref>{{cite web|title=Myths, heroes and legends: PAOK in focus|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/021a-0e8d6f5c3b38-a0d88cf99272-1000--myths-heroes-and-legends-paok-in-focus/|work=[[UEFA]]|author=Vassiliki Papantonopoulou|date=31 October 2014|access-date=15 July 2019}}</ref> short for "Pan-Thessalonian [[Sports club|Athletic Club]] of [[Constantinople|Constantinopolitans]]" ({{langx|el|Πανθεσσαλονίκειος Αθλητικός Όμιλος Κωνσταντινουπολιτών|Panthessaloníkios Athlitikós Ómilos Konstadinoupolitón}}), and commonly known as '''PAOK Thessaloniki''', '''PAOK Salonika''' or simply '''PAOK''', is a Greek professional [[Association football|football]] club based in [[Thessaloniki]], [[Macedonia (Greece)|Macedonia]], Greece. PAOK are one of the top domestic clubs, the most successful and widely supported in [[Northern Greece]]. 

Established on 20 April 1926 by [[Greek refugees]] who fled to [[Thessaloniki]] from [[Istanbul|Constantinople]] in the wake of the [[Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922)]], they play their home games at [[Toumba Stadium]], a 29,000 seating capacity football ground. Their name, along with the club's emblem, the [[Roman Empire|Byzantine]]-style [[double-headed eagle]] with retracted wings, honours the memory of the people and places (mostly from the city of [[Constantinople]]) that once belonged to the [[Eastern Roman Empire]].<ref name="History">{{cite web|url=http://www.paokfc.gr/en/history-2/time-line/special-1/|title=History|work=paokfc.gr|access-date=26 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.footballhistory.org/club/paok.html|title=PAOK FC|work=footballhistory.org|author=Georgios Moralis|access-date=5 November 2019}}</ref> PAOK currently plays in the top-flight [[Super League Greece|Super League]], which they have won four times (in [[1975–76 Alpha Ethniki|1976]], [[1984–85 Alpha Ethniki|1985]], [[2018–19 Super League Greece|2019]] and [[2023–24 Super League Greece|2024]]). They are eight-time winners of the [[Greek Football Cup|Greek Cup]] (in [[1971–72 Greek Football Cup|1972]], [[1973–74 Greek Football Cup|1974]], [[2000–01 Greek Football Cup|2001]], [[2002–03 Greek Football Cup|2003]], [[2016–17 Greek Football Cup|2017]], [[2017–18 Greek Football Cup|2018]], [[2018–19 Greek Football Cup|2019]] and [[2020–21 Greek Football Cup|2021]]). The club is one of the three which have [[list of unrelegated association football clubs|never been relegated]] from the top national division and the only team in Greece that have won the [[Double (association football)|Double]] (in [[2018–19 PAOK FC season|2019]]) going [[list of unbeaten football club seasons|unbeaten]] (26–4–0 record) in a national [[Round-robin tournament|round-robin]] league tournament (league format since [[1959–60 Alpha Ethniki|1959]]).<ref name="2018/19 squad">{{cite web|title=A look at PAOK's 2018/19 squad|url=http://www.agonasport.com/agonasport-allnews/varela-has-change-of-heart-and-set-to-remain-at-paok-y5g9r-tbjfw|work=agonasport.com|author=Athan Stylos|date=30 May 2019|access-date=22 October 2019|archive-date=22 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022080443/https://www.agonasport.com/agonasport-allnews/varela-has-change-of-heart-and-set-to-remain-at-paok-y5g9r-tbjfw}}</ref>

The team has appeared several times in the [[UEFA Europa League]], but has yet to reach the group stage of the [[UEFA Champions League]]. PAOK have reached the quarter-finals of a European competition three times; once in the [[1973–74 European Cup Winners' Cup]] and twice in the [[UEFA Conference League]], in the [[2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League|2021–22]] and [[2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League|2023–24]] seasons. PAOK is the only Greek team that has more wins than losses in their European record (99 wins, 68 draws and 87 defeats, as of August 2025) and the 0–7 away [[1999–2000 UEFA Cup|UEFA Cup]] win over [[FC Locomotive Tbilisi|Locomotive Tbilisi]] on 16 September 1999 is the largest ever achieved by a Greek football club in all European competitions.

==History==

===Foundation and early years (1926–1939)===
{{For|the founding members and 1st Board of Directors of the major [[sports club|multi-sport club]]|P.A.O.K.|}}
[[File:Paok 1926.jpg|thumb|left|PAOK in 1926]]

PAOK FC is the oldest department of the major [[sports club|multi-sport club]] [[P.A.O.K.|AC P.A.O.K.]], which is closely linked with ''[[Beyoğlu S.K.|Hermes Sports Club]]'', that was formed in 1875 by the Greek community of [[Beyoğlu S.K.|Pera]], a district of [[Istanbul]] ([[Constantinople]]).<ref name="History"/>

The football club was founded in April 1926 by [[Constantinopolitan]]s who fled to [[Thessaloniki]] after the Greek defeat in the [[Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922)|Greco-Turkish War]]. PAOK's policy was to be open to every citizen of [[Thessaloniki]], leading to a minor rivalry with [[:el:Α.Ε.Κ. Θεσσαλονίκης|AEK Thessalonikis]], the other [[Constantinopolitan]] club of the city, in which only refugees were allowed to play. Both clubs were founded by [[Thessaloniki Union of Constantinopolitans|Enosis Konstantinoupoliton Thessalonikis]] (E.K.Th.), a social and political organisation.<ref>[https://www.acpaok.gr/el/page/9-istoria Ιστορία acpaok.gr]</ref>
The original logo of PAOK was a horseshoe and a four-leaf clover.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.paokfc.gr/istoria/chronologio/afieroma/|title=Αφιέρωμα ιστορίας ΠΑΟΚ|work=paokfc.gr|language=el}}</ref>

PAOK played their primary friendly match on 4 May 1926 at the stadium of [[Thermaikos]], defeating [[Megas Alexandros Thessaloniki]] 2–1. The first coach of the club was Kostas Andreadis who spent five years on the team's bench without demanding payment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://paokvoice.com/45072/90-chronia-paok90-chronia-proponites|title=90 χρόνια ΠΑΟΚ! 90 χρόνια προπονητές!|trans-title =90 years of PAOK, all PAOK FC managers|work=paokvoice.com|author=Labros Arnaoutoglou|language=el|date=11 March 2016|access-date=14 July 2017}}</ref> Their first captain was Michalis Ventourelis.

[[File:PAOK 1936-37.jpg|thumb|PAOK in 1937]]

In 1926–1927 season, PAOK participated in the 2nd tier of [[Macedonia Football Clubs Association]] ({{langx|el|Ένωση Ποδοσφαιρικών Σωματείων Μακεδονίας}} or Ε.Π.Σ.Μ.) local [[Macedonia Football Clubs Association|Macedonia championship]]. PAOK FC historic inaugural official match was a 3–1<ref>{{cite news |url=http://efimeris.nlg.gr/ns/pdfwin_ftr.asp?c=124&pageid=8433&id=-1&s=0&STEMTYPE=0&STEM_WORD_PHONETIC_IDS=ARsARdARrARm&CropPDF=0|title=PAOK–Nea Genea Kalamarias 3–1 |script-newspaper=el:Μακεδονια |page=3 |access-date=10 January 2021|date=13 December 1926|language=el}}</ref> win against [[Nea Genea Kalamarias]] on 12 December 1926. PAOK finished at the top of the 2nd division and faced the 1st division teams in classification matches, defeating all of them: [[Thermaikos Thermis F.C.|Thermaikos]] 4–1,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://efimeris.nlg.gr/ns/pdfwin_ftr.asp?c=124&pageid=9157&id=-1&s=0&STEMTYPE=0&STEM_WORD_PHONETIC_IDS=ARsARdARrARm&CropPDF=0|title=PAOK–Thermaikos 4–1 (5/6/1927), ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΙΑ newspaper (page 3)|work=efimeris.nlg.gr|access-date=10 January 2021|date=6 June 1927|language=el}}</ref> [[Aris Thessaloniki F.C.|Aris]] 2–1,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://efimeris.nlg.gr/ns/pdfwin_ftr.asp?c=124&pageid=9189&id=-1&s=0&STEMTYPE=0&STEM_WORD_PHONETIC_IDS=ARsARdARrARm&CropPDF=0|title=PAOK–Aris 2–1 (12/6/1927), ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΙΑ newspaper (page 3)|work=efimeris.nlg.gr|access-date=10 January 2021|date=13 June 1927|language=el}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.paokmania.gr/stiles/mme/176968-i-proti-niki-epi-tou-ari-1927|title=Η πρώτη νίκη επί του Άρη|trans-title=The first win against Aris|work=paokmania.gr|access-date=12 June 2020|date=12 June 2020|language=el}}</ref> Atlas Ippodromiou ([[Walkover|w/o]])<ref>{{cite news |url=http://efimeris.nlg.gr/ns/pdfwin_ftr.asp?c=124&pageid=9346&id=-1&s=0&STEMTYPE=0&STEM_WORD_PHONETIC_IDS=ARsARdARrARm&CropPDF=0|title=PAOK–Atlas Ippodromiou  |script-newspaper=el:Μακεδονια |page=3 |access-date=10 January 2021|date=18 July 1927|language=el}}</ref> and [[Iraklis 1908 Thessaloniki F.C.|Iraklis]] 1–0.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://efimeris.nlg.gr/ns/pdfwin_ftr.asp?c=124&pageid=9438&id=-1&s=0&STEMTYPE=0&STEM_WORD_PHONETIC_IDS=ARsARdARrARm&CropPDF=0|title=PAOK–Iraklis 1–0 |script-newspaper=el:Μακεδονια |page=3 |access-date=10 January 2021|date=8 August 1927|language=el}}</ref> In 1927–1928, PAOK participated for the first time in the 1st tier of [[Macedonia Football Clubs Association|Macedonian league]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Paok/o-paok-giortazei-91-xronia-zwhs.4622150.html|title=Ο ΠΑΟΚ γιορτάζει 91 χρόνια ζωής|trans-title=PAOK celebrates 91-year anniversary|work=sport24.gr|author=Kostas Petrotos|language=el|date=12 April 2017|access-date=14 July 2017}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

The first professional contract was signed by the club on 5 September 1928. The contract stipulated that the [[France|French]] footballer Raymond Etienne (of [[Jewish]] descent from [[Pera Club]]) would be paid 4,000 [[Modern drachma|drachmas]] per month. The contract was signed by Dr. Meletiou, the PAOK chairman, and Mr. Sakellaropoulos, the Hon. Secretary.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.paokmania.gr/stiles/arxeio/aspromavres-istories/40904-o-agnostos-raimon-etien |title=Ο άγνωστος Ραϊμόν Ετιέν...|trans-title=The unknown first foreign player of PAOK Raymond Ettienne |work=paokmania.gr|access-date=24 July 2019|date=7 December 2015|language=el}}</ref>

In March 1929, Athlitiki Enosis Konstantinoupoliton Thessalonikis (AEK Thessaloniki) was disbanded as a sports club and their members joined PAOK. PAOK thereupon changed their emblem, adopting the [[Double-headed eagle]], as a symbol of the club's [[Byzantine Greeks|Byzantine]]/[[Constantinople|Constantinopolitan]] heritage. PAOK also got possession of AEK facilities located around Syntrivani (i.e. Fountain Square), next to the Children's Heritage Foundation, where today stands the [[Faculty (division)|Faculty]] of [[Theology]] of the [[Aristotle University of Thessaloniki]]. The same year PAOK and Enosis Konstantinoupoliton Thessalonikis (E.K.Th.) wanted to expand the football ground, but they faced problems with the underground flow of the river. Finally, after technical works the keystone was put on 12 December 1930.

In 1930–1931, PAOK made their debut in the [[1930–31 Panhellenic Championship|Panhellenic Championship]], playing their first match on 1 February 1931 against [[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]] at [[Piraeus]], where they were defeated by 3–1, and ended the season in 5th place. The first foreign coach in team's history was [[Austrians|Austrian]] Rudolf Gasner, who served at PAOK in 1931–1932.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ο πρώτος ξένος τεχνικός του ΠΑΟΚ!|trans-title =PAOK's first foreign manager|url=http://www.paokmania.gr/stiles/arxeio/aspromavres-istories/109570-o-protos-ksenos-texnikos-tou-paok|language=el|work=paokmania.gr|date=2 September 2019|access-date=20 March 2020}}</ref> On 5 June 1932 the Syntrivani Stadium was inaugurated with PAOK's 3–2<ref>{{cite web|url=http://efimeris.nlg.gr/ns/pdfwin_ftr.asp?c=124&pageid=17684&id=-1&s=0&STEMTYPE=0&STEM_WORD_PHONETIC_IDS=ARsARdARrARm&CropPDF=0|title=PAOK–Iraklis 3–2 (5/6/1932), ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΙΑ newspaper (page 1)|work=efimeris.nlg.gr|access-date=10 January 2021|date=6 June 1932|language=el}}</ref> victory over [[Iraklis]]. Syntrivani meant to be their home ground for 27 years.<ref name="The first PAOK's home">{{Cite web|url =http://www.paokfc.gr/en/history-2/the-stadium/to-suntrivani/|title =The first PAOK's home|work=paokfc.gr|access-date=22 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.paokfc.gr/istoria/chronologio/oi-stathmoi-tis-istorias/|title=Σταθμοί στην ιστορία|trans-title=Stations of History|work=paokfc.gr|language=el|access-date=14 July 2017}}</ref>

In 1937, PAOK won their first regional title, the [[Macedonia Football Clubs Association|Macedonia championship]] ({{langx|el|Ε.Π.Σ.Μ.}}) and participated in the [[1936–37 Panhellenic Championship|Panhellenic Championship]], finishing 2nd. The 1937 team included: Sotiriadis, Vatikis, Goulios, Kontopoulos, Bostantzoglou, Panidis, Glaros, Kritas, Ioannidis, Kalogiannis, Koukoulas, Kosmidis, Apostolou, Vafiadis, Vasiliadis, Anastasiadis, Moschidis, Tzakatzoglou, Zakapidas.

===Greco-Italian War and World War II (1939–1945)===

On 28 May 1939, PAOK competed for first time in a [[1938-39 Greek Cup|Greek Cup]] [[List of Greek Cup finals|final]] against [[AEK Athens FC|AEK Athens]] and were defeated 2–1<ref>{{cite web|title=1939 Greek Cup final AEK–PAOK 2–1 (28/5/1939)|url=https://sport-retro.gr/aek-paok-prwta-pozaran-agkaliasmenoi-meta-epaixan-ton-teliko-kypellou-tou-1939/|language=el|work=sport-retro.gr|author=Manos Androulakis|date=5 November 2017|access-date=15 July 2019}}</ref> at [[Leoforos Alexandras Stadium]]. The following season, PAOK won the Northern Greece Championship and reached the two-legged final of the [[1939–40 Panhellenic Championship|Panhellenic Championship]], but they lost 5–3 on aggregate to [[AEK Athens|AEK]].<ref>{{cite web|title=1940 Panhellenic Championship two-legged final AEK–PAOK (5–3 agg.)|url=http://www.paokmania.gr/stiles/mme/160646-to-oneiro-kratise-ena-imixrono|language=el|work=paokmania.gr|date=16 June 2019|access-date=15 July 2019}}</ref>

[[File:Paok 1939.jpg|thumb|The team of 1939]]

The declaration of the [[Greco-Italian War]] caused mobilization in Greece and ended every sport activity. PAOK football players recruited to [[Hellenic Army]] and two of them died on duty: left defender Georgios Vatikis and goalkeeper [[Nikos Sotiriadis|Nikolaos Sotiriadis]]. They were among four Greek footballers who died in the war (the others were Spyridon Kontoulis of [[AEK Athens|AEK]] and [[Mimis Pierrakos]] of [[Panathinaikos F.C|Panathinaikos]]). Georgios Vatikis, the first Greek athlete to fall on the Greek-Italian front, served as a warrant officer. He was 22 years old when he died in [[Battle of Morava–Ivan]]. After his death, Vatikis was honorarily promoted to [[Hellenic Army officer rank insignia#Insignia|lieutenant]] and awarded the Silver [[Cross of Valour (Greece)|Cross of Valour]] and the Homeland of Gratitude. Nikolaos Sotiriadis, who played from 1932 until 1940 for PAOK, died on 28 January 1941 in [[Capture of Klisura Pass|Kleisura]], fighting with the rank of Sergeant for the 5th Infantry Regiment. He was 33 years old.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paokfc.gr/nea/20161028-apo-to-gipedo-sto-metopo/|title=Από το γήπεδο στο μέτωπο|trans-title =From the football field to the front|work=paokfc.gr|language=el|date=28 October 2016|access-date=29 March 2020}}</ref>

===Macedonia Football Clubs Association League (1946–1959)===

After the [[World War II]], in the early 1950s, [[PAOK Academy]] was created by the Austrian coach, Wilhelm (Willy) Sevcik, and was known as the "chicos of Willi". From the newly founded academy sprang some great football players of the period, such as [[Leandros Symeonidis]], Giannelos Margaritis and Giorgos Havanidis.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.netbet.gr/blog/τα-πρώτα-βήματα-του-παοκ/|title=Τα πρώτα βήματα του ΠΑΟΚ|trans-title =PAOK's first steps|language=el|work=netbet.gr|date=23 March 2017|access-date=24 July 2017}}</ref>

In 1948, PAOK won their second [[Macedonia Football Clubs Association|Macedonia Championship]], and then participated in the final phase of the [[1947–48 Panhellenic Championship|Panhellenic Championship]] where they were ranked third. PAOK footballers dedicated the title to the memory of team captain, Thrasyvoulos Panidis, who had lost his life (18 February 1948) in the [[Greek Civil War|civil war]] few days before. Panidis played for PAOK since 1930 and had 122 appearances.<ref>{{cite web|title=Αγνωστοι Ηρωες|trans-title =Unknown Heroes|url=http://www.ionikienotita.gr/?p=19056|language=el|work=ionikienotita.gr|author=Michalis Konstantis|date=28 October 2017|access-date=20 September 2019}}</ref> In 1950, they became [[Macedonia Football Clubs Association|champions of Macedonia]] for a third time, and the following year (1950–51), the team reached their second [[1950–51 Greek Cup|Greek Cup]] [[List of Greek Cup finals|final]], but lost 4–0<ref>{{cite web|title=1951 Greek Cup final Olympiacos–PAOK 4–0 (11/3/1951)|url=https://inpaok.com/443789/δραματικοί-ημιτελικοί-δράμα-τελικ/|language=el|work=inpaok.com|author=Giannis Sotiriou|date=26 April 2018|access-date=15 July 2019}}</ref> to [[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]] at [[Leoforos Alexandras Stadium]].

During the summer transfer period of 1953 [[:el:Λάμπης Κουιρουκίδης|Kouiroukidis]], Petridis, Progios, Geroudis, Kemanidis, Chassiotis and Angelidis joined the team. The arrival of Lampis Kouiroukidis from [[Doxa Drama F.C.|Doxa Drama]] was vital and alongside Lefteris Papadakis and Christophoros Yientzis, they formed a famous attacking trio.<ref>{{cite web|title=Αφιέρωμα στην τριπλέτα Γιεντζή-Κουϊρουκίδη-Παπαδάκη|trans-title=A feature article on Yientzis-Kouiroukidis-Papadakis attacking trio|url=http://www.paokmania.gr/stiles/arxeio/aspromavres-istories/28194-%CE%B7-%CE%B8%CF%81%CF%85%CE%BB%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AE-%CF%84%CF%81%CE%B9%CF%80%CE%BB%CE%AD%CF%84%CE%B1|language=el|work=paokmania.gr|date=15 April 2012|access-date=20 March 2020|archive-date=20 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320163110/http://www.paokmania.gr/stiles/arxeio/aspromavres-istories/28194-%25CE%25B7-%25CE%25B8%25CF%2581%25CF%2585%25CE%25BB%25CE%25B9%25CE%25BA%25CE%25AE-%25CF%2584%25CF%2581%25CE%25B9%25CF%2580%25CE%25BB%25CE%25AD%25CF%2584%25CE%25B1|url-status=dead}}</ref>

For four consecutive seasons (1954, 1955, 1956, 1957), PAOK won the [[Macedonia Football Clubs Association|Macedonia championship]] and participated in the Panhellenic Championship, finishing fourth each year. Yientzis was the [[List of top goalscorers in Super League Greece by season|top scorer]] in [[1953–54 Panhellenic Championship|1953–54 season]] and Kouiroukidis in [[1955–56 Panhellenic Championship|1955–56 season]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesg/grkprehist.html|title=Greece – Final Tables 1906–1959|last=Alexander Mastrogiannopoulos |date=11 June 2010|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=22 July 2017}}</ref> Coached by Nikos Pangalos, PAOK won the 1954 and 1955 local [[Macedonia Football Clubs Association|Macedonia championship]] unbeaten. In 1955, PAOK participated in a third [[1954–55 Greek Cup|Greek Cup]] [[List of Greek Cup finals|final]] and were defeated 2–0<ref>{{cite web|title=1955 Greek Cup final Panathinaikos–PAOK 2–0 (12/6/1955)|url=http://www.oldfootball.gr/sansimera/item/241-%CE%BA%CF%85%CF%80%CE%B5%CE%BB%CE%BB%CE%BF%CF%8D%CF%87%CE%BF%CF%82-%CE%BF-%CF%80%CE%B1%CE%BF-%CE%BC%CE%B5-%CE%B3%CE%BA%CE%BF%CE%BB%E2%80%A6-%CE%B1%CF%80%CF%8C-%CF%84%CE%B7-%CF%83%CE%AD%CE%BD%CF%84%CF%81%CE%B1.html|language=el|work=oldfootball.gr|author=Evanthis Gogoulis|date=12 June 2016|access-date=12 July 2019|archive-date=12 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712110318/http://www.oldfootball.gr/sansimera/item/241-%CE%BA%CF%85%CF%80%CE%B5%CE%BB%CE%BB%CE%BF%CF%8D%CF%87%CE%BF%CF%82-%CE%BF-%CF%80%CE%B1%CE%BF-%CE%BC%CE%B5-%CE%B3%CE%BA%CE%BF%CE%BB%E2%80%A6-%CE%B1%CF%80%CF%8C-%CF%84%CE%B7-%CF%83%CE%AD%CE%BD%CF%84%CF%81%CE%B1.html}}</ref> by [[Panathinaikos F.C.|Panathinaikos]] at [[Leoforos Alexandras Stadium]] (home ground of Panathinaikos). Ιn 1956, under Hungarian coach Erman Hoffman they won their third consecutive unbeaten local championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.paokfc.gr/en/history-2/time-line/stations-of-history/|title=Stations of History|work=paokfc.gr|access-date=22 July 2017}}</ref> The successful 4-year period ended with 1957 championship, coached by the Austrian [[Walter Pfeiffer (footballer)|Walter Pfeiffer]].

===Toumba Stadium and rise of Giorgos Koudas to prominence (1959–1969)===

[[File:Paok sintrivani 1930.jpg|left|thumb|Snapshot from the old Syntrivani stadium]]

The [[Aristotle University of Thessaloniki]] purchased a two-acre piece of land in the area of Syntrivani Stadium in order to construct new schools. PAOK had to relocate and a 7.5 acres area, owned by the [[Ministry of National Defence (Greece)|Ministry of National Defence]] at [[Toumba (Thessaloniki)|Toumba district]] was chosen as the adequate location. The purchase cost was set at 1.5 million [[Modern drachma|drachmas]] and was paid by PAOK administration in 20 six-month instalments of 75,000 drachmas each. On 7 February 1958, a committee of [[NRDC-GR|III Army Corps]] officers delivered the land to PAOK representatives.

There were still barracks on the premises, housing victims of the [[Greek Civil War]] and the [[1953 Ionian earthquake]]. Relocating all these people cost the club 70,000 drachmas. The total cost of the stadium's construction amounted to 6 million drachmas, with just 1.1&nbsp;million coming from the General Secretariat of Sports as subvention. In spring of 1958 construction work started, based on the plans of architect Minas Trempelas and civil engineer Antonis Triglianos. In an attempt to collect the necessary funds, the club issued the "Lottery for the construction of PAOK New Stadium" in April 1958 at a cost of 20 drachmas each. Since 1956, the administration was withholding 15% of the gate income in order to fund the construction of the new stadium. Many PAOK fans, apart from money, also contributed to construction by volunteering to work as builders. The construction of the stadium was completed at a record time of one year.

The inauguration event was scheduled for Sunday 6 September 1959 with a friendly encounter against [[AEK Athens FC|AEK]] (PAOK prevailed 1–0 with a goal by Kostas Kiourtzis). Prime minister [[Konstantinos Karamanlis]]'s attendance was cancelled at the last minute. However, several ministers of his government were there for the occasion. As for the ball for the first kick-off, it fell at 17:30 off an airplane of Sedes Military Air Base. On inauguration day, 15,000 PAOK supporters packed [[Toumba Stadium]], as that was the stadium's capacity back then. It would increase to 20,000 seats in the following months until it reached a 45,000-seat capacity in the mid-'70s through extensive expansion work.

The attendance record remains at 45,252 tickets and was registered on 19 December 1976 in the goalless draw against [[AEK Athens FC|AEK]]. In [[UEFA competitions|European football]], the highest attendance was a 45,200 crowd in the 1–0<ref>{{cite web|title=16/9/1975: ΠΑΟΚ–Μπαρτσελόνα 1–0|url=http://www.gazzetta.gr/stili/h-mixani-tou-xronou/article/1270761/1691975-paok-mpartselona-1-0-pics-vid|language=el|work=gazzetta.gr|author=Stavros Sountoulidis|date=16 September 2018|access-date=31 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Όταν η Μπαρτσελόνα υποκλίθηκε στον Κούδα και τον ΠΑΟΚ|trans-title =When Barcelona bowed down to Koudas and PAOK|url=https://sport-retro.gr/otan-h-barcelona-ypoklithike-ston-kouda-kai-ton-paok/|language=el|work=sport-retro.gr|author=Andreas Katsikaris|date=16 September 2017|access-date=31 October 2019}}</ref> win against [[F.C. Barcelona|Barcelona]] ([[1975–76 UEFA Cup|UEFA Cup]], 16 September 1975).<ref name="Home Ground"/><ref name="Toumba Stadium">{{cite web|title=Toumba Stadium|url=http://www.stadia.gr/toumba/toumba.html|work=stadia.gr|access-date=31 October 2019}}</ref><ref name="Toumba">{{cite web|title=Τούμπα 60 ετών|trans-title =60 years of Toumba Stadium|url=https://inpaok.com/592449/touba-60-eton/|language=el|work=inpaok.com|author=Giannis Malamas|date=6 September 2019|access-date=29 March 2020}}</ref>

====The first Alpha Ethniki years====

In ''[[1959-60 Alpha Ethniki]]'' – the precursor of the current [[Super League]] – was set up as a national round-robin tournament and the 1959–60 championship was the first nationwide league competition. In the first decade of Greek Alpha Ethniki (1959–1969), PAOK had a top-half finish in every season except from the 10th-place finish in [[1960–61 Alpha Ethniki|1961]]. The best outcome came out in [[1962–63 Alpha Ethniki|1963]] and [[1966–67 Alpha Ethniki|1967]] with a 4th-place finish. Notable players of this period were [[Leandros Symeonidis]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Λέανδρος Συμεωνίδης|url=http://www.paokmania.gr/stiles/arxeio/aspromavres-istories/53239-i-epistrofi-tou-mayrou-velous|language=el|work=paokmania.gr|date=5 October 2013|access-date=25 September 2019}}</ref> Giannis Giakoumis, Giannis Nikolaidis, Toulis Mouratidis, Pavlos Papadopoulos,<ref>{{cite web|title=Παύλος Παπαδόπουλος|url=http://www.paokfc.gr/nea/20150105-paok-story-paulos-papadopoulos/|language=el|work=paokfc.gr|date=5 January 2015|access-date=1 November 2019}}</ref> [[Anestis Afentoulidis]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Ανέστης Αφεντουλίδης|url=https://www.paokfc.gr/en/uncategorized-en/paok-story-anestis-afentoulidis/|work=paokfc.gr|date=1 December 2014|access-date=1 November 2019}}</ref> and Giorgos Makris.<ref>{{cite web|title=Γιώργος Μακρής|url=https://www.paokfc.gr/en/news/20161018-paok-story-giorgos-makris/|work=paokfc.gr|date=18 October 2016|access-date=1 November 2019}}</ref>

====Giorgos Koudas debut and start of the rivalry with Olympiacos====

[[Giorgos Koudas]]<ref name="Koudas1">{{cite web|title=The incredible life and times of Greek hero Giorgos Koudas|url=http://www.thesefootballtimes.co/2015/02/16/the-untold-story-of-giorgios-koudas/|work=thesefootballtimes.co|author=Blair Newman|date=16 February 2015|access-date=14 October 2019}}</ref><ref name="Koudas2">{{cite web|title=Η ζωή και η καριέρα του θρυλικού Γιώργου Κούδα|trans-title = Life and career of legendary Giorgos Koudas|url=https://sport-retro.gr/o-megalexandros-tou-ellinikou-podosfairou-sto-sport-retro-gr-h-zwi-kai-h-kariera-tou-thrylikou-giwrgou-kouda/|language=el|work=sport-retro.gr|author=Manos Androulakis|date=23 November 2017|access-date=25 September 2019}}</ref><ref name="Koudas3">{{cite web|url=http://www.gazzetta.gr/stili/oi-prwtagwnistes/article/835951/h-zoi-toy-giorgoy-koyda|title=H ζωή του Γιώργου Κούδα|trans-title = The life of Giorgos Koudas |language=el|work=gazzetta.gr|author=Stavros Sountoulidis|date=23 November 2015|access-date=3 July 2017}}</ref> was born on 23 November 1946 in [[Thessaloniki]]. Aged 12, he signed his first contract with PAOK and made his first team debut on 21 December 1963 in a 1–0 loss to [[Ethnikos Piraeus F.C.|Ethnikos]] at [[Leoforos Alexandras Stadium]]. Koudas' talent immediately started to excel and in [[1965–66 Alpha Ethniki|1965–66]] season he made 29 appearances and scored 13 goals. On 14 July 1966, PAOK fans were shocked by the news of Koudas' descent to [[Piraeus]], accompanied by his father (who was enraged with PAOK administration for financial reasons) and determined to sign for [[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]], who tempted him by offering a much higher annual salary without going into a negotiation with his club. PAOK president [[Giorgos Pantelakis]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Aφιέρωμα στo Γιώργο Παντελάκη|trans-title=A feature article on Giorgos Pantelakis|url=http://www.paokmania.gr/stiles/arxeio/aspromavres-istories/2793-afieroma-sto-giorgo-pantelaki|language=el|work=paokmania.gr|date=2 February 2018|access-date=12 September 2019}}</ref> never gave his consent for the transfer to be completed and for the next two seasons, Koudas participated only in Olympiacos friendly games. [[Greek military junta of 1967–1974|Military junta's]] General Secretary of Sports Kostas Aslanidis suggested in 1968 that Koudas should return to PAOK for two years and then move to Olympiacos, but Pantelakis refused saying  "''I may go to [[Gyaros]] island (place of exile for leftist political dissidents), but Koudas would never go to Olympiacos''".<ref>{{cite web|title=Η ιστορική απάντηση του Παντελάκη|trans-title =Pantelakis' historic response|url=http://www.mixanitouxronou.gr/ego-bori-na-pao-sti-giaro-o-koudas-omos-den-tha-pexi-ston-olimpiako-i-istoriki-apantisi-tou-proedrou-tou-paok-ston-chountiko-aslanidi-pou-mesolavise-gia-na-min-chalasi-i-metagrafi-i-diadilosi-t/|language=el|work=mixanitouxronou.gr|access-date=13 July 2019}}</ref> Eventually, Koudas returned to PAOK in the summer of 1968 and led the great team of the 1970s to glorious days. Fueled by this incident, [[Olympiacos–PAOK rivalry]] is considered nowadays the fiercest intercity football rivalry in Greece.

===1970s===

The 1970s decade was one of the best periods in the history of the football club. Scouting some of the best youth players in Northern Greece at the time and signing many of them to PAOK, president [[Giorgos Pantelakis]] built a strong team (including [[Stavros Sarafis]],<ref name="Sarafis">{{cite web|title=Σταύρος Σαράφης|url=https://www.forzaonline.gr/news/σταύρος-σαράφης-ave-ceasar/|language=el|work=forzaonline.gr|author=Stavros Sountoulidis|date=3 April 2019|access-date=26 September 2019}}</ref> [[Christos Terzanidis]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Χρήστος Τερζανίδης|url=http://www.paokmania.gr/stiles/arxeio/aspromavres-istories/52765-filotimos-o-terzanidis|language=el|work=paokmania.gr|date=25 September 2013|access-date=26 September 2019}}</ref> [[Kostas Iosifidis]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Κώστας Ιωσηφίδης|url=https://www.paokfc.gr/en/news/20160420-o-anthropos-ton-tessaron-titlon/|work=paokfc.gr|date=20 April 2016|access-date=26 September 2019}}</ref> [[Giannis Gounaris]], [[Dimitris Paridis]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Δημήτρης Παρίδης|url=http://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Paok/efyge-o-paridhs.3626187.html|language=el|work=sport24.gr|date=22 August 2015|access-date=26 September 2019}}</ref> [[Achilleas Aslanidis]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Αχιλλέας Ασλανίδης|url=http://www.paokmania.gr/stiles/arxeio/aspromavres-istories/141989-ta-55-gol-tou-axillea-aslanidi-pics-vid|language=el|work=paokmania.gr|date=7 April 2018|access-date=26 September 2019}}</ref> [[Koulis Apostolidis]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Κούλης Αποστολίδης|url=http://www.paokmania.gr/stiles/arxeio/aspromavres-istories/107296-i-epistrofi-tou-koyli-apostolidi|language=el|work=paokmania.gr|date=23 July 2017|access-date=20 March 2020}}</ref> [[Filotas Pellios]], [[Aristarchos Fountoukidis]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Αρίστος Φουντουκίδης|url=http://www.paokmania.gr/stiles/arxeio/aspromavres-istories/48726-eksi-xronia-xoris-ton-aristo|language=el|work=paokmania.gr|date=7 July 2019|access-date=26 September 2019}}</ref> [[Panagiotis Kermanidis]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Παναγιώτης Κερμανίδης|url=http://www.paokmania.gr/stiles/arxeio/aspromavres-istories/135837-ta-60-gol-tou-panagioti-kermanidi|language=el|work=paokmania.gr|date=23 November 2017|access-date=26 September 2019}}</ref> [[Angelos Anastasiadis]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Αγγελος Αναστασιάδης|url=http://www.paokmania.gr/stiles/arxeio/aspromavres-istories/45811-άγγελος-αναστασιάδης|language=el|work=paokmania.gr|date=17 May 2013|access-date=26 September 2019}}</ref> [[Neto Guerino]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Νέτο Γκουερίνο|url=http://www.paokmania.gr/stiles/arxeio/aspromavres-istories/141960-ta-66-gol-tou-neto-gouerino-pics-vid|language=el|work=paokmania.gr|date=6 April 2018|access-date=26 September 2019}}</ref> and captained by [[Giorgos Koudas]]). The team won their first Championship (1976), two Cups (1972, 1974), a [[Football Cup of Greater Greece|Greater Greece Cup]] (1973) and distinguished themselves in European competitions.

[[File:Christos Terzanidis photo by Vujcic.jpg|left|thumb|upright|[[Christos Terzanidis]], member of the great team of PAOK during the 1970s]]

PAOK participated in seven [[List of Greek Cup finals|Greek Cup finals]] from 1970 to 1978. In the [[1969–70 Greek Cup]] PAOK lost 1–0<ref>{{cite web|title=1970 Greek Cup final Aris–PAOK 1–0 (28/6/1970)|url=https://www.inpaok.com/444339/1970-πρώτος-τελικός-στη-θεσσαλονίκη/|language=el|work=inpaok.com|author=Giannis Sotiriou|date=28 April 2018|access-date=16 July 2019}}</ref> to [[Derby of Thessaloniki|local rivals]] [[Aris Thessaloniki F.C.|Aris]] in the final held at [[Kaftanzoglio Stadium]] and in the [[1970–71 Greek Cup]] final they were defeated 3–1<ref>{{cite web|title=1971 Greek Cup final Olympiacos–PAOK 3–1 (9/6/1971)|url=https://www.inpaok.com/443777/1971-η-πικρή-γεύση-του-φιναλίστ/|language=el|work=inpaok.com|author=Manos Tsalgatidis|date=1 May 2018|access-date=16 July 2019}}</ref> by [[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]] at [[Karaiskakis Stadium]] (home ground of Olympiacos).

The first domestic title PAOK won, was the [[1971–72 Greek Cup|Cup]] of [[1971–72 PAOK FC season|1971–72 season]]. PAOK reached the [[List of Greek Cup finals|final]] for the third straight year, sixth in total and it would be the fifth time traveling to [[Athens urban area|Athens]] for the trophy match. This time PAOK faced league champions [[Panathinaikos F.C.|Panathinaikos]] (runners-up in [[1970–71 European Cup|1971 European Cup]]). The final was held at Karaiskakis Stadium on 5 July 1972. PAOK players had 10,000 fans on their side and they vowed that it was about time to return with the trophy to [[Thessaloniki]]. PAOK won the game 2–1<ref>{{cite web|title=1972 Greek Cup final Panathinaikos–PAOK 1–2 (5/7/1972)|url=https://www.ert.gr/arxeio-afierwmata/o-paok-katakta-to-kypello-elladas-5-iouliou-1972/|language=el|work=ert.gr|date=5 July 2017|access-date=17 July 2019}}</ref> with [[Giorgos Koudas|Koudas]] scoring both goals. In the second half, a magnificent bicycle kick of [[Giannis Matzourakis|Matzourakis]] found the net, but the goal was surprisingly disallowed by referee Michas. PAOK triumphed and their first [[Greek Football Cup|Greek Cup title]] was widely celebrated by fans in Thessaloniki.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paokfc.gr/en/history-2/titles/cup-1972-nchc/special-1972/|title=The first title|work=paokfc.gr}}</ref>

In [[1972–73 PAOK FC season|1972–73 season]], PAOK came close to winning their first championship title playing exceptional football under the guidance of [[Les Shannon]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Les Shannon: Feisty footballer and coach|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/les-shannon-feisty-footballer-and-coach-764842.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/les-shannon-feisty-footballer-and-coach-764842.html |archive-date=24 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=independent.co.uk|author=Ivan Ponting|date=13 December 2007|access-date=4 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Λες Σάννον – Ο προπονητής που άλλαξε την ιστορία του ΠΑΟΚ|trans-title=Les Shannon, the coach that changed the course of PAOK's history|url=https://www.forzaonline.gr/news/λες-σάννον-ο-προπονητής-που-άλλαξε-την/|language=el|work=forzaonline.gr|author=Sotiris Milios|date=1 April 2019|access-date=4 October 2019}}</ref> On 25 February 1973 (matchday 20), PAOK, who were leading the league table by three points (point system 3–2–1) from rivals [[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]], suffered their first loss with 1–0<ref>{{cite web|title=Ολυμπιακός–ΠΑΟΚ 1–0 (25/2/1973) - Eνα ντέρμπι που έμοιαζε με γουέστερν!|trans-title =A derby like a Western|url=http://www.gazzetta.gr/stili/h-mixani-tou-xronou/article/1051402/ena-ntermpi-poy-emoiaze-me-goyestern-pics|language=el|work=gazzetta.gr|author=Stavros Sountoulidis|date=25 February 2017|access-date=12 July 2019}}</ref> in a much disputed [[Olympiacos–PAOK rivalry|derby against Olympiacos]] at Karaiskakis Stadium. PAOK complained that referee Fakis was not taking the proper disciplinary action against Olympiacos players who committed violent fouls. Two players (Iosifidis and Aslanidis) were substituted in the first half after sustaining injuries. One week later, PAOK lost 1–0 to [[Fostiras F.C.|Fostiras]] in Athens and Olympiacos drew 0–0 away to [[Egaleo F.C.|Egaleo]], results that left the two teams level on points. On 22 April 1973 (matchday 28), PAOK suffered a 3–5<ref>{{cite web|title=ΠΑΟΚ–Παναχαϊκή 3–5 (22/4/1973)|url=http://www.paokmania.gr/stiles/arxeio/aspromavres-istories/123119-i-odyniri-itta-apo-ton-panaxaiki|language=el|work=paokmania.gr|date=22 April 2017|access-date=13 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Η δωροδοκία (Το πριμ του Ολυμπιακού στους παίκτες της Παναχαϊκής)|trans-title=The bribery (Olympiacos' bonus to Panachaiki players)|url=https://www.sdna.gr/podosfairo/superleague/article/588841/i-dorodokia|language=el|work=sdna.gr|author=Zastro|date=18 April 2019|access-date=7 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Μαρτυρία - αποκάλυψη για το ΠΑΟΚ–Παναχαϊκή 3–5: "Ο Γουλανδρής πλήρωνε κρυφά επί ένα χρόνο"|trans-title=Wife of former Panachaiki player reveals in an interview that Olympiacos president Goulandris paid them in secret for one year |url=https://www.sdna.gr/podosfairo/855311_martyria-apokalypsi-gia-paok-panahaiki-3-5-o-goylandris-plirone-kryfa-epi-ena|language=el|work=sdna.gr|author=|date=2 July 2021|access-date=3 July 2021}}</ref> shock defeat against [[Panachaiki F.C.|Panachaiki]] at [[Toumba Stadium]] and Olympiacos who drew 1–1 away to [[Kavala F.C.|Kavala]], took the lead in the standings and with six wins in their remaining matches won the championship. At the end of the season, PAOK participated for fourth consecutive year in the [[1972–73 Greek Cup|Greek Cup]] [[List of Greek Cup finals|final]] and lost 1–0<ref>{{cite web|title=1973 Greek Cup final Olympiacos–PAOK 1–0 (17/6/1973)|url=https://www.inpaok.com/443862/1973-ήθελε-το-repeat-o-παοκ-αλλά/|language=el|work=inpaok.com|author=Manos Tsalgatidis|date=30 April 2018|access-date=16 July 2019}}</ref> to [[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]] at Karaiskakis Stadium (home ground of Olympiacos).

In [[1973–74 PAOK FC season|1973–74 season]], PAOK reached the quarter-finals of [[1973–74 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]] where they were knocked out by [[A.C. Milan|Milan]] 5–2 on aggregate.<ref>{{cite web|title=PAOK vs AC Milan (March 1974)|url=http://www.paokmania.gr/stiles/arxeio/aspromavres-istories/61417-ta-paixnidia-me-ti-milan-martios-73|language=el|work=paokmania.gr|date=20 March 2017|access-date=16 July 2019}}</ref> PAOK had defeated [[Legia Warsaw]] 2–1 on aggregate<ref>{{cite web|title=Legia Warsaw–PAOK 1–1 (19/9/1973)|url=http://www.gazzetta.gr/stili/h-mixani-tou-xronou/article/982041/proto-spoydaio-eyropaiko-vrady-toy-paok-vid|language=el|work=gazzetta.gr|author=Stavros Sountoulidis|date=19 September 2016|access-date=16 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=PAOK–Legia Warsaw 1–0 (3/10/1973)|url=http://www.paokmania.gr/stiles/arxeio/aspromavres-istories/111453-video-dokoumento-apo-to-paok-legkia|language=el|work=paokmania.gr|date=5 October 2016|access-date=16 July 2019}}</ref> and [[Olympique Lyonnais|Lyon]] 7–3 on aggregate<ref>{{cite web|title=Lyon–PAOK 3–3 (24/10/1973)|url=https://sport-retro.gr/paok-lyon-1973-3-3-koudas-terzanidis-sarafis-paridis/|language=el|work=sport-retro.gr|author=Manos Androulakis|date=24 October 2018|access-date=16 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=PAOK–Lyon 4–0 (7/11/1973)|url=http://www.gazzetta.gr/stili/afierwmata/article/1004654/i-omadara-toy-paok-poy-dielyse-ti-lyon|language=el|work=gazzetta.gr|author=Stavros Sountoulidis|date=7 November 2016|access-date=16 July 2019}}</ref> in the previous rounds. That season, PAOK reached the [[1973–74 Greek Cup|Greek Cup]] [[List of Greek Cup finals|final]] for a fifth consecutive year. The final was held at [[Nikos Goumas Stadium]], once again in [[Athens]], on 16 June, and was the first to be decided by a penalty shoot-out. The game ended 2–2 and PAOK won 4–3 on penalties over [[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]] with [[Koulis Apostolidis]] converting the last of the procedure.<ref>{{cite web|title=1974 Greek Cup final Olympiacos–PAOK 2–2 (3–4 pen.) (16/6/1974)|url=https://sport-retro.gr/paok-olympiacos-o-prwtos-telikos-pou-krithike-sta-penalti-htan-aspromavros/|language=el|work=sport-retro.gr|author=Manos Androulakis|date=16 June 2017|access-date=17 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paokfc.gr/en/history-2/titles/cup-1974-nchc/special-1974/|title=Cup Winner 1974|work=paokfc.gr}}</ref>

[[File:Filotas Pellios photo by Djuradj Vujcic.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Filotas Pellios]], defender and member of the 1975–76 champions team]]

====1975–76 Alpha Ethniki (first league title)====

{{For| the entire season results| 1975–76 PAOK FC season}}

{{football squad on pitch|align=left
|  GK = '''[[Mladen Furtula|Furtula]]'''
|  LB = '''[[Konstantinos Iosifidis|Iosifidis]]'''
| LCB = '''[[Filotas Pellios|Pellios]]'''
| RCB = '''[[Aristarchos Fountoukidis|Fountoukidis]]'''
|  RB = '''[[Ioannis Gounaris|Gounaris]]'''
|  DM = '''[[Christos Terzanidis|Terzanidis]]'''
| RCM = '''[[Angelos Anastasiadis|Anastasiadis]]'''
| LCM = '''[[Stavros Sarafis|Sarafis]]'''
| AM = '''[[Giorgos Koudas|Koudas]]'''
| RSS = '''[[Koulis Apostolidis|Apostolidis]]'''
| LCF = '''[[Neto Guerino|Guerino]]'''
| caption = PAOK lineup in [[1975–76 PAOK FC season|1975–76 season]] ([[Panagiotis Kermanidis|Kermanidis]] was also a first-team regular)
}}

In the [[1975–76 PAOK FC season]], with [[Gyula Lóránt]] at the helm,<ref>{{cite web|title=Γκιούλα Λόραντ: "Αθάνατος"...|url=http://www.paokmania.gr/stiles/arxeio/aspromavres-istories/641-gioyla-lorant-athanatos|language=el|work=paokmania.gr|date=31 May 2019|access-date=3 October 2019}}</ref> the team had two daily practices instead of one and physical condition of the players improved significantly. On 4 January 1976, PAOK won 4–0<ref>{{cite web|title=Ολυμπιακός–ΠΑΟΚ 0–4 (4/1/1976)|url=https://www.sport24.gr/football/to-epivlitiko-4-0-tou-paok-sto-g-karaiskakis-me-ton-olimpiako/|language=el|work=sport24.gr|date=4 January 2018|access-date=13 July 2019}}</ref> away at [[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]] (their biggest home defeat in their history). On 11 April, PAOK defeated [[Panionios F.C.|Panionios]] 4–0 and topped the table for first time that season, level on points with [[AEK Athens F.C.|AEK]] who lost 0–1 to [[Panathinaikos F.C.|Panathinaikos]]. On matchday 25, AEK were defeated 1–0 by [[Aris Thessaloniki F.C.|Aris]] in Thessaloniki and PAOK, with a 3–0 away win over [[Panachaiki F.C.|Panachaiki]], were alone at the top of the league table. The league title would be decided in two consecutive high-profile encounters at [[Toumba Stadium]]. PAOK prevailed 3–1 over Olympiacos and 1–0 over AEK with [[Neto Guerino]] scoring the winner in the 89th minute,<ref>{{cite web|title=On this day: Guerino hanging on the railings and the title!|url=https://www.paokfc.gr/en/news/20200502-san-simera-guerino/|work=paokfc.gr|date=2 May 2020|access-date=25 September 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=ΠΑΟΚ–ΑΕΚ 1–0 (2/5/1976) - Ένα γκολ που… άκουσε όλη η Θεσσαλονίκη|trans-title =A goal cheer heard across Salonica|url=https://www.sportime.gr/paok/ena-gkol-poy-akoyse-oli-i-thessaloniki/|language=el|work=sportime.gr|author=Maria Kaltsidi|date=2 May 2018|access-date=19 January 2021}}</ref> giving the Double-Headed Eagle of the North a four-point lead (point system 2–1–0). The league title was clinched on the following matchday, when AEK were held to a goalless draw at [[Panserraikos F.C.|Panserraikos]] and PAOK defeated 3–1 [[Iraklis FC|Iraklis]] at [[Kaftanzoglio Stadium]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paokfc.gr/en/history-2/titles/champion-1976-nchc/special-1976/|title=At the top of the Greek Championship|work=paokfc.gr}}</ref>

In the [[1976–77 PAOK FC season|1976–77 season]], the team tried to defend the title and reached the last 16 of [[1976–77 European Cup]] where they were knocked out by a far superior [[Dynamo Kyiv]] side.<ref>{{cite web|title=Τα ματς με τη Δυναμό Κιέβου...|trans-title =The matches against Dynamo Kyiv|url=http://www.paokmania.gr/stiles/arxeio/aspromavres-istories/49404-ta-mats-me-ti-dynamo-kievou|language=el|work=paokmania.gr|date=20 October 2017|access-date=4 November 2019}}</ref> On 1 May 1977 (matchday 28), PAOK were leading the league table and lost 1–0<ref>{{cite web|title=ΑΕΚ–ΠΑΟΚ 1–0 (1/5/1977) - Μια επεισοδιακή Πρωτομαγιά στη Φιλαδέλφεια|trans-title =An eventful May Day at Nikos Goumas Stadium|url=https://www.gazzetta.gr/stili/to-mauro-kouti/article/1470707/mia-epeisodiaki-protomagia-sti-filadelfeia-vids|language=el|work=gazzetta.gr|author=Stavros Sountoulidis|date=1 May 2020|access-date=7 May 2020}}</ref> to AEK at [[Nikos Goumas Stadium]] with a controversial first-half goal that was scored from a direct free kick while goalkeeper Milinis was still setting up the wall. Referee Tsoukaladelis credited the goal to AEK despite the heavy protests from PAOK players and also sent off PAOK midfielder [[Ioannis Damanakis|Damanakis]] in the first half for dangerous play. In the second half, a headed goal scored by [[Stavros Sarafis|Sarafis]] was wrongly ruled out for offside. PAOK fell from the top of the table. On 12 June (matchday 32), the team had a great chance against [[Panathinaikos F.C.|Panathinaikos]] at a packed [[Toumba Stadium]] to regain the lead (Panathinaikos were a point ahead). The game ended in a 0–0<ref>{{cite web|title=ΠΑΟΚ–Παναθηναϊκός 0–0 (12/6/1977) - Μια ισοπαλία...ένα χαμένο πρωτάθλημα!|trans-title =A draw that cost the league title|url=https://inpaok.com/571257/otan-echane-ena-protathlima/|language=el|work=inpaok.com|author=Giannis Sotiriou|date=12 June 2019|access-date=29 March 2020}}</ref> stalemate, disappointing fans eager to win a back-to-back championship, while the team performance in the championship decider also did not meet expectations.<ref>{{cite web|title=Προπόνηση με πολλές αποδοκιμασίες (1977)|trans-title =Training with a lot of booeing|url=https://www.paokmania.gr/stiles/mme/177068-proponisi-me-polles-apodokimasies-1977|language=el|work=paokmania.gr|date=14 June 2020|access-date=15 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Η ένταση έφερε αποχή των Σαράφη-Κούδα! (1977)|trans-title =Tension brought the abstention of Koudas and Sarafis|url=http://www.aspromavresistories.blogspot.com/2019/06/1977_15.html|language=el|work=aspromavresistories.blogspot.com|date=15 June 2019|access-date=24 September 2019}}</ref> On 22 June, PAOK lost 2–1<ref>{{cite web|title=1977 Greek Cup final Panathinaikos–PAOK 2–1 (22/6/1977)|url=https://www.inpaok.com/443534/1977-το-έγκλημα-στο-καραϊσκάκη/|language=el|work=inpaok.com|author=Panagiotis Kiriklidis|date=3 May 2018|access-date=15 July 2019}}</ref> to Panathinaikos in the [[Greek Cup 1976-77|Greek Cup]] [[List of Greek Cup finals|final]] held at [[Karaiskakis Stadium]]. President Pantelakis was furious with referee Platopoulos who sent off [[Ioannis Gounaris|Gounaris]] in the 64th minute and ordered PAOK players to leave the awarding ceremony without receiving their medals.

In the [[1977–78 PAOK FC season|1977–78 season]], PAOK finished runners-up in the league, with [[Konstantinos Orfanos|Kostas Orfanos]] finishing top scorer of the club in the league with 15 goals. The team's loss to AEK at the [[Nikos Goumas Stadium|Nea Filadelfeia Stadium]] at the end of the season sealed the title to the latter. The team also mounted a strong Cup run, beating Aris in the semi–finals on extra time, but lost 2–0<ref>{{cite web|title=1978 Greek Cup final AEK–PAOK 2–0 (4/6/1978)|url=https://www.inpaok.com/443566/1978-παοκ-αεκ-πράξη-δεύτερη/|language=el|work=inpaok.com|author=Panagiotis Kiriklidis|date=4 May 2018|access-date=16 July 2019}}</ref> to AEK in the [[Greek Cup 1977-78|Cup]] [[List of Greek Cup finals|final]] held at Karaiskakis Stadium.

Compared to the previous three seasons, the [[1978–79 PAOK FC season|1978–79]] season was lackluster, with a 4th place and early eliminations in the domestic Cup and the Cup Winners' Cup to Olympiacos and Servette, respectively, under Polish manager [[Egon Piechaczek]]. However, the team mounted a near perfect home run in all competitions, having only wins, save for a draw against Iraklis in October. The team was also affected by the deadly [[1978 Thessaloniki earthquake|June earthquake]] that plagued the city of Thessaloniki, with Toumba Stadium being unusable for a period of time.

Prior to the [[1979–80 PAOK FC season|1979–80 season]], [[football in Greece]] became fully professional and PAOK would become entangled in ownership controversies involving the club's ultras Gate 4 that would go on via various means for over two decades.

By March 1980, five teams were battling for the championship title. On 9 March 1980 (matchday 24), PAOK were leading the table and lost 0–2<ref>{{cite web|title=ΠΑΟΚ–Παναθηναϊκός 0–2 (9/3/1980) - Η πρώτη φορά που έπεσαν δακρυγόνα σε γήπεδο!|trans-title =The first time tear gas were used on a greek football field|url=http://www.sportime.gr/paok/san-simera-stin-toumpa-i-proti-fora-pou-epesan-dakrigona-se-gipedo/|language=el|work=sportime.gr|author=Maria Kaltsidi|date=9 March 2019|access-date=12 July 2019}}</ref> to [[Panathinaikos–PAOK rivalry|rivals]] Panathinaikos at [[Toumba Stadium]]. This was the first home defeat after a 62-game unbeaten run (52 wins/10 draws).<ref>{{cite web|title=Το απίστευτο εντός έδρας σερί του ΠΑΟΚ (1976–1980)!|trans-title =An incredible home winning streak|url=https://www.inpaok.com/329142/το-απίστευτο-σερί-του-παοκ/|language=el|work=inpaok.com|author=Giannis Sotiriou|date=28 November 2016|access-date=25 September 2019}}</ref> [[Georgios Kostikos (footballer, born 1958)|Kostikos]] scored two goals in the first half, but both of them were disallowed by referee Litsas. In the second half, Kostikos was brought down in the area by [[Nikos Kovis|Kovis]], but Litsas denied the penalty and sent off PAOK defender [[Filotas Pellios|Pellios]] who was protesting. In the final minutes of the game, PAOK had a chance to score from the penalty spot, but the fans shouted to [[Kostas Orfanos|Orfanos]] to send the ball wide. Orfanos made a really weak side foot-kick which was easily saved by goalkeeper [[Vasilis Konstantinou|Konstantinou]]. After the final whistle, all hell broke loose in and around the stadium with 23 police officers and 20 fans sustaining injuries.

In April, Piecharczek was sacked after a series of poor results and was replaced by Gyula Lóránt, who returned after his successful title charge four years earlier, but couldn't pull the team above an ultimately disappointing 5th place in the league table. Adding to the club's short term troubles, Toumba's Gate 8 collapsed in February due to the 1978 earthquake, which rendered the stadium unusable until early into the following season, with the team playing at Iraklis' [[Kaftanzoglio Stadium]] for that time period.

=== 1980s: Professionalism, league title and financial troubles ===
On [[1980–81 PAOK FC season|31 May 1981]], PAOK manager [[Gyula Lóránt]] had a heart attack in the 16th minute of the match against Olympiacos at [[Toumba Stadium]] when [[Giorgos Koudas|Koudas]] headed the ball wide from close range. Doctors attempted to resuscitate him, but he died before the ambulance arrived. At half-time PAOK players were told that he had been taken to hospital and were only told about his death after the game. PAOK eventually won the derby 1–0<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paokfc.gr/en/news/20150531-i-mera-pou-efuge-o-lorant/|title=The day Lóránt was lost|work=paokfc.gr|date=31 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=ΠΑΟΚ–Ολυμπιακός 1–0 (31/5/1981) - Η ημέρα που «έφυγε» ο Λόραντ|trans-title =The day Lóránt passed away|url=http://www.sdna.gr/monimes-stiles/san-simera/article/602993/paok-i-imera-poy-efyge-o-lorant-pics-vid|language=el|work=sdna.gr|author=Giannis Paraskevaidis|date=31 May 2019|access-date=12 July 2019}}</ref> with the goal by substitute [[Vassilis Vasilakos]] (who had been sitting next to Lóránt when he collapsed). PAOK players wanted to dedicate a [[Greek Football Cup|Greek Cup title]] to his memory, but the team lost 3–1<ref>{{cite web|title=1981 Greek Cup final Olympiacos–PAOK 3–1 (21/6/1981)|url=http://www.sdna.gr/podosfairo/kypello-elladas/article/596375/o-protos-telikos-ton-xoyligkan|language=el|work=sdna.gr|date=11 May 2019|access-date=15 July 2019}}</ref> to Olympiacos in the [[Greek Cup 1980-81|Greek Cup]] [[List of Greek Cup finals|final]] held at [[Nikos Goumas Stadium]] on 21 June.

In the [[1981–82 PAOK FC season|1981–82]] season PAOK contested a domestic double, but ultimately fell short of both trophies, owing to a mediocre form in the last fixtures of the league, which condemned the team to a 3rd-place position, and a tense semi–final at [[Leoforos Alexandras Stadium|Leoforos Alexandras]] against Panathinaikos, where the team conceded a late goal from [[Grigoris Charalampidis]], resulting in elimination. Moreover, the team engaged in a memorable tie against West German powerhouse [[Eintracht Frankfurt]] in [[1981–82 European Cup Winners' Cup|that year]]'s Cup Winners' Cup. After a 2–0 loss at the [[Waldstadion (Frankfurt)|Waldstadion]], anticipation for the return tie was massive. In front of a crowd of 35,000 (unofficial estimates range much higher), the team had a dominant display and managed to equal the 2–0 deficit, but failed to score the third goal prior to the penalty shootout. After up-and-coming [[Christos Dimopoulos]]'s penalty was saved, [[Bruno Pezzey]] netted the winning penalty kick.

On [[1982–83 PAOK FC season|29 June 1983]], PAOK participated once again in the [[Greek Cup 1982-83|Greek Cup]] [[List of Greek Cup finals|final]] which was held for first time at the newly built [[Olympic Stadium of Athens]]. Captained for last time in a Greek Cup final by [[Giorgos Koudas|Koudas]], the team lost 2–0<ref>{{cite web|title=1983 Greek Cup final AEK–PAOK 2–0 (29/6/1983)|url=http://www.sport24.gr/football/ellada/GreekCup/paok-aek-o-telikos-poy-tha-ekleine-to-oaka-gia-tis-ellhnikes-omades.5509641.html|language=el|work=sport24.gr|author=Manos Navrozidis|date=11 May 2019|access-date=15 July 2019}}</ref> to AEK despite their superiority over the opponents that day. A first-half goal by [[Georgios Kostikos (footballer, born 1958)|Giorgos Kostikos]] was ruled out for offside.

PAOK also made a memorable appearance against German giants [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]] in the second round of the [[1983–84 UEFA Cup]], where they were knocked out on penalties (9–8) after two goalless draws.<ref>{{cite web|title=PAOK–Bayern Munich 0–0 (19/10/1983)|url=http://www.paokmania.gr/stiles/arxeio/aspromavres-istories/134119-otan-i-bagern-irthe-stin-toympa-vid|language=el|work=paokmania.gr|date=19 October 2018|access-date=16 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Bayern Munich–PAOK 0–0 (9–8 pen.) (2/11/1983)|url=http://www.sdna.gr/monimes-stiles/san-simera/article/131118/h-megali-vradia-toy-paok-sto-monaxo-pics-vids|language=el|work=sdna.gr|author=Vaso Prevezianou|date=2 November 2015|access-date=16 July 2019}}</ref> Bayern's first penalty kick, taken by [[Klaus Augenthaler]], was saved twice by PAOK goalkeeper [[Mladen Furtula]], but the English referee Arthur Robinson ordered the penalty to be retaken both times. Augenthaler admitted in a 2018 interview that the referee favored Bayern and that he felt uncomfortable when he was asked to take the penalty for a third time.<ref>{{cite web|title=La prima volta del Bayern Monaco ai rigori|trans-title =Bayern's first penalty shoot-out|url=http://www.foxsports.it/2017/11/12/legenden-bundesliga-prima-volta-bayern-monaco-ai-rigori/|language=it|work=foxsports.it|author=Elmar Bergonzini|date=12 November 2017|access-date=4 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Το "Έπος του Μονάχου" που έμεινε στη μέση… |trans-title =The 'Munich's epic' that was not fulfilled|url=http://www.gazzetta.gr/stili/h-mixani-tou-xronou/article/1287740/epos-toy-monahoy-poy-emeine-sti-mesi|language=el|work=gazzetta.gr|author=Stavros Sountoulidis|date=2 November 2018|access-date=4 November 2019}}</ref> At the end of the season, Koudas and Furtula retired from professional football.

[[File:Kyriakos Alexandridis photo by Djuradj Vujcic.jpg|left|thumb|upright|[[Kyriakos Alexandridis]] member of the 1984–85 champions team]]

====1984–85 Alpha Ethniki (second league title)====
{{For| the entire season results| 1984–85 PAOK FC season}}

{{football squad on pitch|align=right
|  GK = '''[[Takis Pantelis|Pantelis]]'''
|  LB = '''[[Nikos Alavantas|Alavantas]]'''
| RCB = '''[[Haris Baniotis|Baniotis]]'''
| LCB = '''[[Ivan Jurišić (footballer, born 1956)|Jurišić]]'''
|  RB = '''[[Apostolos Tsourelas|Tsourelas]]'''
|  DM = '''[[Thomas Singas|Singas]]'''
| LCM = '''[[Vasilios Vasilakos|Vasilakos]]'''
| RCM = '''[[Georgios Skartados|Skartados]]'''
| LSS = '''[[Christos Dimopoulos|Dimopoulos]]'''
| RSS = '''[[Rade Paprica|Paprica]]'''
| CF = '''[[Georgios Kostikos (footballer, born 1958)|Kostikos]]'''
| caption = Players with most apps in [[1984–85 PAOK FC season|1984–85 season]] ([[Georgios Kostikos (footballer, born 1958)|Kostikos]] had 23 apps / 10 goals, [[Ioannis Damanakis|Damanakis]] and [[Kyriakos Alexandridis|Alexandridis]] had 24 apps each)
}}

PAOK's second championship came in [[1984–85 PAOK FC season|1984–85 season]], under Austrian manager [[Walter Skocik]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paokfc.gr/en/history-2/titles/champion-1985-nchc/special-1985/|title=From controversy to coronation|work=paokfc.gr}}</ref> Notable team figures included [[Georgios Skartados]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Γιώργος Σκαρτάδος|url=http://www.paokmania.gr/stiles/arxeio/aspromavres-istories/1337-afieroma-sto-giorgo-skartado|language=el|work=paokmania.gr|date=16 May 2016|access-date=25 September 2019}}</ref> [[Nikos Alavantas]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Νίκος Αλαβάντας|url=http://www.paokfc.gr/nea/20150925-o-nikos-alavantas-thumatai/|language=el|work=paokfc.gr|date=25 September 2015|access-date=26 September 2019}}</ref> [[Thomas Singas]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Θωμάς Σίγγας|url=http://www.paokmania.gr/stiles/arxeio/aspromavres-istories/114565-afieroma-ston-thoma-sigga|language=el|work=paokmania.gr|date=29 November 2016|access-date=26 September 2019}}</ref> [[Rade Paprica]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Ράντε Πάπριτσα|url=https://www.paokfc.gr/en/news/20190428-paok-story-rade-paprica/|work=paokfc.gr|date=28 April 2019|access-date=26 September 2019}}</ref> and the attacking duo of [[Georgios Kostikos (footballer, born 1958)|Giorgos Kostikos]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Γιώργος Κωστίκος|url=http://www.paokmania.gr/stiles/arxeio/aspromavres-istories/137239-ta-78-gol-tou-giorgou-kostikou|language=el|work=paokmania.gr|date=25 December 2017|access-date=26 September 2019}}</ref> and [[Christos Dimopoulos]]. It was the last season at the club for [[Ioannis Damanakis]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Γιάννης Δαμανάκης|url=http://www.paokmania.gr/stiles/arxeio/aspromavres-istories/129257-i-metagrafi-tou-damanaki-ston-paok|language=el|work=paokmania.gr|date=22 July 2017|access-date=26 September 2019}}</ref> and captain [[Kostas Iosifidis]], who ended his football career.

On 20 January 1985 (matchday 15), PAOK gained a five-point lead (point system 2–1–0) with a 1–0<ref>{{cite web|title=Παναθηναϊκός–ΠΑΟΚ 0–1 (20/1/1985) - Τη μέρα που ο ΠΑΟΚ «είδε» τον τίτλο|trans-title =The day PAOK 'eyed' the title|url=http://www.gazzetta.gr/stili/h-mixani-tou-xronou/article/1035917/ti-mera-poy-o-paok-eide-ton-titlo-picsvid|language=el|work=gazzetta.gr|author=Stavros Sountoulidis|date=20 January 2017|access-date=13 July 2019}}</ref> away win over [[Panathinaikos F.C.|Panathinaikos]] at the [[Olympic Stadium of Athens]]. The crucial goal was scored by Paprica in the 80th minute with a diving header. On 9 June, PAOK clinched the league title with a goalless draw at [[Nea Smyrni Stadium]] against [[Panionios F.C.|Panionios]], as Panathinaikos were held to a 2–2 draw by bottom of the table [[Pierikos]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Ο ΠΑΟΚ κλειδώνει τον τίτλο (9/6/1985)!|trans-title =PAOK clinches the league title|url=http://www.paokmania.gr/stiles/arxeio/aspromavres-istories/16266-o-paok-kleidonei-ton-titlo-9-6-1985|language=el|work=paokmania.gr|date=9 June 2016|access-date=7 October 2019}}</ref> On 22 June, 10-man (Vasilakos was sent-off early in the first half) PAOK lost 4–1<ref>{{cite web|title=1985 Greek Cup final AEL–PAOK 4–1 (22/6/1985)|url=http://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Ael/trianta-xronia-apo-to-prwto-stemma-ths-ael.3530900.html|language=el|work=sport24.gr|author=Thodoris Kounadis|date=22 June 2015|access-date=16 July 2019}}</ref> to [[Athlitiki Enosi Larissa F.C.|Larissa]] in the [[Greek Cup 1984-85|Greek Cup]] [[List of Greek Cup finals|final]] held at the Olympic Stadium of Athens and wasted the opportunity to win a first domestic Double. PAOK's top goalscorer that season, [[Christos Dimopoulos]], did not participate as he left the team at Athens airport when they arrived from Thessaloniki for the game. He went to the headquarters of [[Motor Oil Hellas|Motor Oil]] (company of Panathinaikos president [[Yiorgos Vardinogiannis|Vardinogiannis]]) in order to seal his transfer to Panathinaikos as his five-year contract with PAOK was expiring.<ref>{{cite web|title=Χρήστος Δημόπουλος|url=http://www.gazzetta.gr/football/article/1020791/o-paok-kai-o-fonias-toy-picsvids|language=el|work=gazzetta.gr|author=Stavros Sountoulidis|date=14 December 2016|access-date=16 July 2019}}</ref>

In the [[1987–88 PAOK FC season|1987–88 season]], PAOK were fighting for the title (along with [[Larissa F.C.|AEL]] and [[AEK Athens F.C.|AEK]]) up to matchday 23, when they suffered a surprising 0–2 home defeat to [[Iraklis FC|Iraklis]]. Earlier that season, on 6 December 1987, PAOK made a record 6–1<ref>{{cite web|title=ΠΑΟΚ–Ολυμπιακός 6–1 (6/12/1987) - Βαρύ κι ασήκωτο μέχρι και σήμερα|trans-title =Heavy and unbearable to this day|url=http://www.gazzetta.gr/stili/h-mixani-tou-xronou/article/1299987/paok-olympiakos-6-1-vary-ki-asikoto-mehri-kai-simera-pics-vid|language=el|work=gazzetta.gr|author=Stavros Sountoulidis|date=6 December 2018|access-date=12 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ο 'Αποδυτηριάκιας' (Κώστας Καίσαρης) γράφει στην εφημερίδα Φίλαθλος για τον κόσμο του ΠΑΟΚ πριν και μετά το 6–1 στις Σέρρες|trans-title =Journalist reports on PAOK fans before and after the game|url=http://www.inpaok.com/600548/i-ymni-gia-ton-kosmo-tou-paok/|language=el|work=inpaok.com|author=Manos Tsalgatidis|date=9 October 2019|access-date=12 October 2019}}</ref> win over [[Olympiacos–PAOK rivalry|rivals Olympiacos]] at [[Serres Municipal Stadium]] (biggest defeat of [[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]] in Greek Alpha Ethniki/Superleague history). PAOK finished third in the league and qualified for [[1988–89 UEFA Cup]] where they faced [[Napoli FC|Napoli]] of [[Diego Maradona|Maradona]], [[Careca]] and [[Alemão (footballer, born 1961)|Alemão]]. The team fought vigorously, but lost 2–1 on aggregate.<ref>{{cite web|title=Napoli–PAOK 1–0 (7/9/1988)|url=http://www.sdna.gr/monimes-stiles/san-simera/article/510019/otan-o-paok-systithike-ston-marantona-kai-ti-napoli-vid|language=el|work=sdna.gr|author=Marios Stampoulis|date=7 September 2018|access-date=16 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=PAOK–Napoli 1–1 (6/10/1988) / Maradona statement|url=http://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Paok/otan-o-marantona-ypoklinotan-sthn-atmosfaira-ths-toumpas.4302006.html|language=el|work=sport24.gr|date=6 October 2016|access-date=13 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=PAOK Salonicco–Napoli, 1988: venti feriti, uno ero io|trans-title =PAOK–Napoli, 1988: twenty injured, one of them was me|url=https://www.ilnapolista.it/2017/08/paok-salonicco-napoli-1989-venti-feriti-uno-ero-io/|language=it|work=ilnapolista.it|author=Fabrizio d'Esposito|date=25 August 2017|access-date=26 April 2020}}</ref> Maradona, when asked on [[RAI TV]], moments after the final whistle of the second leg at [[Toumba Stadium]], if he had ever played in such an atmosphere, said "''I have played a lot of games, but I have never seen anything like this. We couldn't find any rhythm and I believe that it was difficult for the opponents too. It was a weird encounter''".

=== The Thomas Voulinos era (1989–1996) ===

In the [[1989–90 PAOK FC season|1989–90 season]], with [[Magdy Tolba]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Μαγκντί: Ο πρώτος Αφρικανός του ΠΑΟΚ!|trans-title=Magdy: PAOK's first African player|url=http://www.paokmania.gr/stiles/arxeio/aspromavres-istories/105098-magknti-o-protos-afrikanos-tou-paok|language=el|work=paokmania.gr|date=11 June 2016|access-date=26 September 2019}}</ref> shining and youngster [[Giorgos Toursounidis]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Γιώργος Τουρσουνίδης|url=http://www.paokfc.gr/nea/20151006-paok-story-giorgos-toursounidis/|language=el|work=paokfc.gr|date=6 October 2015|access-date=26 September 2019}}</ref> rising, the team managed to reach the half-way stage of the competition topping the table (winter champions),<ref>{{cite web|title=Πρωταθλητής χειμώνα, με γεμάτη Τούμπα!|trans-title=Winter champions at a packed Toumba Stadium|url=http://www.paokmania.gr/stiles/arxeio/aspromavres-istories/171372-protathlitis-xeimona-me-gemati-toympa|language=el|work=paokmania.gr|date=21 January 2020|access-date=20 March 2020}}</ref> but good form deteriorated and PAOK finished third.

The [[1990–91 PAOK FC season|1990–91 season]] started with PAOK facing [[Sevilla FC|Sevilla]] in the first round of the [[1990–91 UEFA Cup|UEFA Cup]] and they were knocked out on penalties after two goalless draws.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sevilla–PAOK 0–0 (19/9/1990) - Με ήρωα τον Γκιτσιούδη στο "Σάντσεθ Πιθχουάν"|url=http://www.paokfc.gr/nea/20150919-me-iroa-gitsioudi-sto-sanchez-pithxouan/|language=el|work=paokfc.gr|author=|date=19 September 2015|access-date=13 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=PAOK vs Sevilla (1990)|url=http://www.paokmania.gr/stiles/arxeio/aspromavres-istories/111356-apokleismos-apo-ta-11-metra-apo-tin-sevilli|language=el|work=paokmania.gr|date=3 October 2016|access-date=13 July 2019}}</ref> On 23 September 1990 (matchday 2), president Thomas Voulinos stormed the field in the 77th minute of the [[Panathinaikos–PAOK rivalry|derby against Panathinaikos]] at the [[Olympic Stadium of Athens]]. Voulinos was furious with referee Karamanis and despite the fact that the scoreline was 3–0<ref>{{cite web|title=Παναθηναϊκός–ΠΑΟΚ 3–0 (διεκόπη, 23/9/1990) - Όταν ο Βουλινός πήρε τον ΠΑΟΚ και έφυγε από το ΟΑΚΑ|trans-title=When Voulinos took his team and left from the pitch of Athens Olympic Stadium|url=http://www.sdna.gr/monimes-stiles/san-simera/article/378639/otan-o-voylinos-pire-ton-paok-kai-efyge-apo-oaka-vids|language=el|work=sdna.gr|author=Giannis Paraskevaidis|date=23 September 2017|access-date=12 July 2019}}</ref> and the winner was already determined, he ordered PAOK players to leave the pitch. After the game which was eventually abandoned, he said "''We felt like sheep that were heading to be butchered and that was unacceptable''". PAOK were later penalised with a three-point deduction and had to play five home games behind closed doors. The two teams met again in the [[1990–91 Greek Cup|Greek Cup semi-finals]] and in the 57th minute of the second leg at [[Toumba Stadium]], Voulinos once again entered the pitch angry at decisions by referee Vasilakis.<ref>{{cite web|title=Αποκλεισμός από τη σφυρίχτρα του Βασιλάκη!|trans-title=Disqualified due to Vasilakis' poor refereeing|url=http://www.paokmania.gr/stiles/arxeio/aspromavres-istories/123208-apokleismos-apo-ti-sfyrixtra-tou-vasilaki|language=el|work=paokmania.gr|date=24 April 2019|access-date=20 March 2020}}</ref> Panathinaikos won 2–1 on aggregate.
In [[1991–92 PAOK FC season|1991–92 season]], under Croatian manager [[Miroslav Blažević]], PAOK qualified against the then strong [[KV Mechelen]] (winners in [[1987–88 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|1988]], semi-finalists in [[1988–89 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|1989]] Cup Winners' Cup / quarter-finalists in [[1989–90 European Cup|1990 European Cup]]) in the first round of [[1991–92 UEFA Cup]], 2–1 on aggregate.<ref>{{cite web|title=PAOK vs KV Mechelen (1991)|url=http://www.paokmania.gr/stiles/arxeio/aspromavres-istories/2149-ta-paixnidia-me-ti-velgiki-malin|language=el|work=paokmania.gr|date=18 September 2016|access-date=13 July 2019|archive-date=13 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713153636/http://www.paokmania.gr/stiles/arxeio/aspromavres-istories/2149-ta-paixnidia-me-ti-velgiki-malin|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Stefanos Borbokis]] scored the winner in the 85th minute of the second leg at [[Achter de Kazerne]] Stadium.<ref>{{cite web|title=Στέφανος Μπορμπόκης|url=http://www.paokfc.gr/nea/20150824-paok-story-stefanos-mpormpokis/|language=el|work=paokfc.gr|date=24 October 2015|access-date=7 October 2019}}</ref> Blazevic was replaced by [[Ioannis Gounaris|Gounaris]] later and the team lost in the two-legged [[1991–92 Greek Cup|Greek Cup]] [[List of Greek Cup finals|final]] to [[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]], 3–1 on aggregate.<ref>{{cite web|title=1992 Greek Cup two-legged final Olympiacos–PAOK (3–1 agg.)|url=http://www.inpaok.com/444197/1992-χαμένος-στην-καινοτομία-της-επο/|language=el|work=inpaok.com|author=Panos Georgogiannis|date=8 May 2018|access-date=15 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715111107/https://inpaok.com/444197/1992-%CF%87%CE%B1%CE%BC%CE%AD%CE%BD%CE%BF%CF%82-%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B7%CE%BD-%CE%BA%CE%B1%CE%B9%CE%BD%CE%BF%CF%84%CE%BF%CE%BC%CE%AF%CE%B1-%CF%84%CE%B7%CF%82-%CE%B5%CF%80%CE%BF/|archive-date=15 July 2019}}</ref> On 24 May 1992 (matchday 32), PAOK lost 1–2<ref>{{cite web|title=ΠΑΟΚ–Ολυμπιακός 1–2 (24/5/1992) - Ένα σερί που κράτησε 23 χρόνια|trans-title=A winning streak that lasted for 23 years|url=http://www.oldfootball.gr/sansimera/item/212-%CE%AD%CE%BD%CE%B1-%CF%83%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%AF-%CF%80%CE%BF%CF%85-%CE%BA%CF%81%CE%AC%CF%84%CE%B7%CF%83%CE%B5-23-%CF%87%CF%81%CF%8C%CE%BD%CE%B9%CE%B1.html|language=el|work=oldfootball.gr|author=Giannis Santolis|date=24 May 2016|access-date=12 July 2019|archive-date=12 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712100033/http://www.oldfootball.gr/sansimera/item/212-%25CE%25AD%25CE%25BD%25CE%25B1-%25CF%2583%25CE%25B5%25CF%2581%25CE%25AF-%25CF%2580%25CE%25BF%25CF%2585-%25CE%25BA%25CF%2581%25CE%25AC%25CF%2584%25CE%25B7%25CF%2583%25CE%25B5-23-%25CF%2587%25CF%2581%25CF%258C%25CE%25BD%25CE%25B9%25CE%25B1.html}}</ref> to Olympiacos at [[Toumba Stadium]] and suffered their first home defeat against [[Olympiacos–PAOK rivalry|rivals]] Olympiacos after a 24-game unbeaten run (21 wins/3 draws – 21 league matches/3 cup matches – goals 52/12) which lasted for 23 years.<ref>{{cite web|title=Οταν ο Ολυμπιακός έχανε από τα...Τέμπη (21 ματς πρωταθλήματος, 19–2–0, γκολ 47–11)|trans-title=Olympiacos' losing streak at Toumba (21 league matches, 19–2–0, goals 47–11) |url=https://thessports.gr/soccer/οταν-έχανε-από-τα-τέμπη/|language=el|work=thessports.gr|date=9 March 2014|access-date=12 July 2019}}</ref> It is rumoured that after this shock defeat, the renowned PAOK [[ultras]] leader Thomas Mavromichalis<ref>{{cite web|title=The "General" returns home|url=https://www.paokfc.gr/en/news/20200224-o-stratigos-epestrepse-sto-spiti-tou/|work=paokfc.gr|date=24 February 2020|access-date=23 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=ΠΑΟΚ Vs Ολυμπιακός: Ο Μάκης έλειπε όταν έσπασε η παράδοση...|trans-title= Makis was absent from Toumba when PAOK lost to Olympiacos after 23 years...|url=https://www.gazzetta.gr/weekend-journal/article/1447514/paok-vs-olympiakos-o-makis-eleipe-otan-espase-i-paradosi|language=el|work=gazzetta.gr|author=Stavros Sountoulidis|date=23 February 2020|access-date=18 May 2020}}</ref> (nicknamed Makis Manavis, i.e., [[greengrocer]] due to his profession – PAOK ultras refer to him as «The General») decided to never set foot again at Toumba Stadium.

On 1 October 1992, the PAOK v. [[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.|Paris Saint–Germain]]<ref>{{cite web|title=PAOK vs PSG (abandoned, 1992)|url=http://www.gazzetta.gr/stili/h-mixani-tou-xronou/article/987623/i-mayri-nyhta-toy-paok-me-tin-pari-pics-vids|language=el|work=gazzetta.gr|author=Stavros Sountoulidis|date=1 October 2016|access-date=12 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Le match du jour, 1er octobre 1992: PAOK–PSG, Paris dans l'enfer de Salonique|trans-title=The match of the day, 1 October 1992: PAOK-PSG, Paris at the hell of Salonica|url=http://www.paris-canalhistorique.com/le-match-du-jour-1er-octobre-1992-paok-psg-paris-dans-lenfer-de-salonique/|language=fr|work=paris-canalhistorique.com|author=Rémi Gyuru|date=1 October 2016|access-date=26 April 2020}}</ref> [[1992–93 UEFA Cup|UEFA Cup match]] was abandoned due to crowd violence. PAOK were punished with a two-year ban from all European competitions by UEFA's disciplinary committee. The sentence was later reduced to one year. In the [[1994–95 PAOK FC season|1994–95 season]], under Dutch manager [[Arie Haan]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Αρι Χάαν: Μπαλαδόρος, καπνιστής και… ΠΑΟΚτσής|trans-title=Arie Haan: Great player, smoker and...PAOK fan|url=http://www.gazzetta.gr/football/article/913743/ari-haan-mpaladoros-kapnistis-kai-paoktsis|language=el|work=gazzetta.gr|author=Stavros Sountoulidis|date=28 April 2016|access-date=7 October 2019}}</ref> PAOK finished third in the league and [[Apollon Smyrni F.C.|Apollon Athens]] took their place in the next season's UEFA Cup.

The [[1995–96 PAOK FC season|1995–96 season]] was the worst in the club's history. PAOK were seriously threatened with a possible relegation for first time in their history. The team managed to avoid relegation a few weeks before the end of the season, finishing in a record low 14th place, with various demonstrations and riots against Voulinos throughout the season, including an arson attack on his house after a 1–3 loss to AEK in November 1995. However, the team mounted a consistent Cup run, being eliminated in the semi–finals by [[Apollon Smyrnis F.C.|Apollon Athens]].

=== The George Batatoudis era (1996–2003) ===
In 1996, Thomas Voulinos handed over a debt-free PAOK to [[:el:Γιώργος Μπατατούδης|Giorgos Batatoudis]]. Numerous transfers of quality players such as [[Zisis Vryzas]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Ζήσης Βρύζας|url=http://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Paok/o-topikisths-kai-monaxikos-vruzas.2023380.html|language=el|work=sport24.gr|date=23 November 2012|access-date=8 November 2019}}</ref> [[Spyros Marangos]], free kick specialist [[Kostas Frantzeskos]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Οταν ο ΠΑΟΚ πήρε από τον ΟΦΗ τον Φραντζέσκο|trans-title=When PAOK acquired Frantzeskos from OFI|url=http://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Paok/otan-o-paok-phre-apo-ton-ofh-ton-messia.1636635.html|language=el|work=sport24.gr|author=Nikos Dragolias|date=11 February 2012|access-date=3 October 2019}}</ref> [[Percy Olivares]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Percy Olivares interview|url=http://www.contra.gr/longreads/o-persi-olivares-stin-synenteyxi-tis-zois-toy-sto-contra-gr.7361702.html|language=el|work=contra.gr|author=Giannis Bairaktaris|date=8 March 2017|access-date=8 November 2019}}</ref> and [[Joe Nagbe]]<ref name="Δώδεκα">{{cite web|title=Δώδεκα|trans-title=Twelve|url=http://www.isovitis.gr/index.php/palia/1513-dodeka|language=el|work=isovitis.gr|author=Nikos Ioannidis|date=28 May 2016|access-date=26 September 2019|archive-date=9 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809193031/http://www.isovitis.gr/index.php/palia/1513-dodeka|url-status=dead}}</ref> took place under the new administration. In [[1996–97 PAOK FC season|May 1997]], after a five-year absence from European competitions, PAOK qualified for the [[1997–98 UEFA Cup|UEFA Cup]] under coach [[Angelos Anastasiadis]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Μεθυσμένη πολιτεία...|trans-title=A drunken state...|url=https://www.tanea.gr/1997/05/26/sports/methysmeni-politeia/|language=el|work=tanea.gr|author=Giorgos Minos|date=26 May 1997|access-date=26 April 2020}}</ref> The club's reappearance at European level was marked by a victory and qualification over [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]], 2–1 on aggregate.<ref>{{cite web|title=PAOK vs Arsenal (September 1997)|url=https://sport-retro.gr/o-christos-sotirakopoulos-sto-sport-retro-gr-gia-tin-prokrisi-tou-paok-epi-tis-arsenal/|language=el|work=sport-retro.gr|author=Manos Androulakis|date=30 September 2017|access-date=17 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Greeks' late goal sends Arsenal tumbling out|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-greeks-late-goal-sends-arsenal-tumbling-out-1233381.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-greeks-late-goal-sends-arsenal-tumbling-out-1233381.html |archive-date=24 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=independent.co.uk|author=Mike Rowbottom|date=1 October 1997|access-date=15 July 2019}}</ref> Arsenal went on to win a [[1997–98 Arsenal F.C. season|domestic Double that season]]. Remembering the first leg encounter, captain [[Tony Adams]] and goalkeeper [[David Seaman]] spoke very highly of the atmosphere created by PAOK fans at [[Toumba Stadium]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Άνταμς: "Δεν ξεχνώ την Τούμπα"|trans-title= Adams: "I can't forget Toumba Stadium" |url=http://www.gazzetta.gr/football/article/793314/antams-sto-gtv-xehorizo-olympiako-den-xehno-tin-toympa?page=2|language=el|work=gazzetta.gr|author=Giannis Georgopoulos, Thanos Sarris|date=28 August 2015|access-date=24 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Η υπόκλιση Σίμαν στη Τούμπα|trans-title=Seaman praised Toumba atmosphere|url=http://sdna.gr/podosfairo/europa-league/article/602457/i-ypoklisi-siman-stin-toympa|language=el|work=sdna.gr|author=Eleni Mpountou|date=29 May 2019|access-date=20 March 2020}}</ref>

On [[1997–98 PAOK FC season|9 February 1998]], PAOK player [[Panagiotis Katsouris]], aged 21, was returning from an amateur [[Five-a-side football|5x5]] match, when his car skidded off the road due to excessive speed, hitting the barriers at the [[Thermi]] [[Interchange (road)|interchange]] outside Thessaloniki. His death was verified in [[AHEPA Hospital]] shortly afterwards. He was buried on 12 February in the Anastaseos Cemetery in Thessaloniki. A bust was erected in his memory at [[Toumba Stadium]] and memorial services are held each year near the accident scene. In February 2009, PAOK announced that a football tournament, bearing his name, would be held annually. Katsouris' '''No 17''' jersey was permanently retired by the club in his memory.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paokfc.gr/en/panagiotis-katsouris-en/|title=Panagiotis' memory is still alive...|work=paokfc.gr}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=9/2/1998: Η μέρα που έφυγε το γελαστό παιδί|trans-title=The day the smiling kid passed away|url=http://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Paok/9-2-1998-h-mera-poy-efyge-to-gelasto-paidi.4519797.html|language=el|work=sport24.gr|author=Kostas Petrotos|date=9 February 2017|access-date=16 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title="Κατσούρη ζεις…" Η ζωή που έζησε και δεν έζησε|trans-title=The life of Panagiotis Katsouris|url=https://sport-retro.gr/panagioti-katsouri-zeis-h-zwi-pou-ezise-kai-den-ezise/|language=el|work=sport-retro.gr|author=Manos Androulakis|date=9 February 2017|access-date=8 November 2019}}</ref>

Early on 4 October 1999, in a bus accident in the [[Vale of Tempe]], [[Thessaly]], six PAOK fans were killed (Kyriakos Lazaridis, Christina Tziova, Anastasios Themelis, Charalampos Zapounidis, Georgios Ganatsios, Dimitris Andreadakis). The bus was heading back to [[Thessaloniki]] after a 1–1<ref>{{cite web|title=1–1 στο ΟΑΚΑ, λίγο πριν το δράμα των Τεμπών!|trans-title=1–1 at Athens Olympic Stadium, shortly before Tempe's drama|url=http://www.paokmania.gr/stiles/arxeio/aspromavres-istories/166082-1-1-sto-oaka-ligo-prin-to-drama-ton-tempon|language=el|work=paokmania.gr|date=3 October 2019|access-date=4 October 2019}}</ref> draw against [[Panathinaikos F.C.|Panathinaikos]] at the [[Olympic Stadium of Athens]]. A ceremony in commemoration of the incident has taken place every year since.<ref name="4.10.1999 Tempi">{{cite web|title=Time doesn't go by, it stops...|url=http://www.paokfc.gr/en/04-10-99-tempi-en/|work=paokfc.gr|access-date=16 July 2019}}</ref><ref name="Η μαύρη μέρα του ΠΑΟΚ">{{cite web|title=Τέμπη 4/10/1999: Η "μαύρη" μέρα του ΠΑΟΚ|trans-title=The black day of PAOK|url=http://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Paok/temph-4-10-1999-h-maurh-mera-toy-paok.2439978.html|language=el|work=sport24.gr|author=Vagelis Chatzigeorgoudis|date=4 October 2013|access-date=16 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Seven Killed in Greece Bus Wreck|url=http://www.apnews.com/c29ca2a4a865210e52f469a9dfc9babe|work=apnews.com|date=4 October 1999|access-date=16 July 2019|archive-date=16 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716075523/https://www.apnews.com/c29ca2a4a865210e52f469a9dfc9babe|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In January 2000, PAOK appointed [[Dušan Bajević]] as their new manager. PAOK won the [[2000–01 Greek Cup|2001 Greek Cup]] beating [[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]] 4–2<ref>{{cite web|title=Κυρίαρχος ο ΠΑΟΚ νίκησε με 4–2 τον Ολυμπιακό και κατέκτησε το Κύπελλο Ελλάδας|trans-title=A dominant PAOK beat Olympiacos 4–2 and won the Greek Cup|url=http://www.in.gr/2001/05/12/sports/kyriarxos-o-paok-nikise-me-4-2-ton-olympiako-kai-katektise-to-kypello-elladas/|language=el|work=in.gr|date=12 May 2001|access-date=8 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=2001 Greek Cup final Olympiacos–PAOK 2–4 (12/5/2001)|url=http://www.gazzetta.gr/stili/afierwmata/article/919801/i-kataktisi-toy-kypelloy-apo-ton-paok-2001|language=el|work=gazzetta.gr|author=Stavros Sountoulidis|date=12 May 2016|access-date=15 July 2019}}</ref> in the [[2001 Greek Football Cup Final|final]] held at [[Nikos Goumas Stadium]] on 12 May 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paokfc.gr/en/history-2/titles/cup-2001-nchc/special-2001/|title=Title again...with a triumph against Olympiacos|work=paokfc.gr}}</ref>

On 17 May 2003, PAOK defeated [[Derby of Thessaloniki|local rivals]] [[Aris Thessaloniki F.C.|Aris]] 1–0<ref>{{cite web|title=Georgiadis goal enough for PAOK|url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0191-0f844e1d853c-7ed39db0b286-1000--georgiadis-goal-enough-for-paok/|work=[[UEFA]]|date=17 May 2003|access-date=15 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Πήρε το Κύπελλο στο σπίτι του...|trans-title=They won the Cup on their home ground|url=http://www.tanea.gr/2003/05/19/sports/pire-to-kypello-sto-spiti-toy/|language=el|work=tanea.gr|author=Antonis Repanas|date=19 May 2003|access-date=8 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=2003 Greek Cup final PAOK–Aris 1–0 (17/5/2003)|url=http://www.gazzetta.gr/stili/h-mixani-tou-xronou/article/1085084/2003-aris-paok-0-1-ston-axehasto-teliko-tis-toympas|language=el|work=gazzetta.gr|author=Stavros Sountoulidis|date=17 May 2017|access-date=15 July 2019}}</ref> in the [[2003 Greek Football Cup Final|final]] held at [[Toumba Stadium]] with an excellent goal scored by [[Georgios Georgiadis (footballer, born 1972)|Georgiadis]] and earned their [[2002–03 Greek Cup|fourth Greek Cup title]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paokfc.gr/en/history-2/titles/cup-2003-nchc/special-2003/|title=A Cup triumph in Toumba|work=paokfc.gr}}</ref> PAOK manager [[Angelos Anastasiadis]] became the first in the club's history to win the Cup both as a player (in [[Greek Cup 1973-74|1974]]) and manager.

During the seven-year period of Batatoudis' ownership, PAOK's debts rose to about €10&nbsp;million.

[[File:Angelos Anastasiadis (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Angelos Anastasiadis]], 2002–03 Greek Cup winner as a coach]]

=== The Giannis Goumenos era: troubled times (2003–2006) ===

The [[2003–04 PAOK FC season|2003–04 season]] was an unexpected success. Batatoudis was no longer the major shareholder<ref>{{cite web|title=Παιχνίδια στην πλάτη του ΠΑΟΚ...|trans-title =Transfers of shares against PAOK interest|url=http://www.gazzetta.gr/super-league/article/item/281481-paixnidia-stin-plati-toy-paok|language=el|work=gazzetta.gr|author=Dimos Mpouloukos|date=16 April 2012|access-date=26 September 2019}}</ref> and under coach Anastasiadis, PAOK managed to finish third in the league and reached the third qualifying round of [[2004–05 UEFA Champions League]], where they faced [[Maccabi Tel Aviv FC|Maccabi Tel Aviv]]. The first leg at Toumba Stadium ended 1–2,<ref>{{cite web|title=PAOK–Maccabi Tel Aviv 1–2 (10/8/2004)|url=https://www.ant1news.gr/Sports/article/89278/prospathise-alla--|language=el|work=ant1news.gr|date=10 August 2004|access-date=26 April 2020}}</ref> but it was later awarded 0–3<ref>{{cite web|title=PAOK punished with 3–0 loss|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/01a0-0e6b032c8c9c-e83d1694f5fe-1000--paok-punished-with-3-0-loss/|work=[[UEFA]]|date=13 August 2004|access-date=17 July 2019}}</ref> against PAOK for fielding a suspended player - [[Liasos Louka]], a Cypriot player still serving a two-match ban in [[UEFA]] competitions (for his sending-off in a [[UEFA Intertoto Cup]] tie while playing for [[Nea Salamis Famagusta FC|Nea Salamis]] on 8 July 2000) had played. Eventually, the team failed to qualify for the [[2004–05 UEFA Champions League group stage|group stage]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Ιστορικό λάθος|trans-title =Historical mistake|url=http://www.tanea.gr/2004/08/12/sports/istoriko-lathos/|language=el|work=tanea.gr|author=Alexis Tsatsoulis|date=12 August 2004|access-date=17 July 2019}}</ref>

[[Rolf Fringer]] succeeded [[Angelos Anastasiadis]] in September 2004,<ref>{{cite web|title=Anastasiadis given push at PAOK|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/025a-0eaaa0683d90-5bd23315aada-1000--anastasiadis-given-push-at-paok/|work=[[UEFA]]|date=27 September 2004|access-date=24 April 2020}}</ref> but after a few games, he was replaced by [[Nikos Karageorgiou]], who led the club to a [[2004–05 Alpha Ethniki|fifth-place finish]] in May 2005 and a subsequent [[2005–06 UEFA Cup]] qualification.

In late May 2006, the club's poor financial position started to emerge; players declared they had been unpaid for months. A shocking decision by [[UEFA]] to ban the club from the upcoming [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Εκτός Κυπέλλου UEFA ο ΠΑΟΚ, στη θέση του ο Ατρόμητος|trans-title =PAOK banned from UEFA Cup and replaced by Atromitos|url=http://www.in.gr/2006/06/02/sports/football/ektos-kypelloy-uefa-o-paok-sti-thesi-toy-o-atromitos/|language=el|work=in.gr|date=2 June 2006|access-date=17 July 2019}}</ref> brought the club close to dissolution. The organized supporters' groups launched an all-out war against president Giannis Goumenos during the summer of 2006,<ref>{{cite web|title=Ο αποδιοπομπαίος (η)Γούμενος του ΠΑΟΚ|trans-title =PAOK's scapegoat|url=http://www.tovima.gr/2008/11/25/sports/o-apodiopompaios-i-goymenos-toy-paok/|language=el|work=tovima.gr|date=27 August 2006|access-date=17 July 2019}}</ref> even occupying the club's offices in Toumba stadium for a handful of days.<ref>{{cite web|title=Κατάληψη στην Τούμπα|trans-title =PAOK's headquarters at Toumba occupied|url=http://www.sport-fm.gr/article/podosfairo/45552|language=el|work=sport-fm.gr|date=5 May 2006|access-date=4 October 2019}}</ref> The situation was worsening for Goumenos after various negotiations with possible investors failed,<ref>{{cite web|title=Ο κύκλος των χαμένων επενδυτών|trans-title =The unsuccessful negotiations with potential new investors|url=http://www.tovima.gr/2008/11/25/sports/o-kyklos-twn-xamenwn-ependytwn-2/|language=el|work=tovima.gr|date=19 November 2006|access-date=17 July 2019}}</ref> constant allegations of embezzlement emerged,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.enet.gr/?i=news.el.article&id=69911|title=Στο σκαμνί για υπεξαίρεση ο Γούμενος|trans-title =Goumenos on trial for embezzlement|language=el|work=enet.gr|author=V. Papanastasoulis|date=4 August 2009|access-date=26 June 2015}}</ref> and especially after his decision to sell star player [[Dimitris Salpingidis]] to [[Panathinaikos F.C.|Panathinaikos]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Στα ''πράσινα'' ο Σαλπιγγίδης|trans-title =Salpingidis in the green jersey|url=http://www.contra.gr/podosfairo/sta-prasina-o-salpiggidis.6752120.html|language=el|work=contra.gr|author=Dimitris Kritis|date=17 August 2006|access-date=17 July 2019}}</ref>

On 13 November 2006, Goumenos resigned from PAOK presidency<ref>{{cite web|title=Παραιτήθηκε από την προεδρία της ΠΑΕ ΠΑΟΚ ο Γ. Γούμενος|trans-title =Goumenos resigned from PAOK's presidency|url=http://www.in.gr/2006/11/13/sports/football/paraitithike-apo-tin-proedria-tis-pae-paok-o-g-goymenos-se-anamoni-toy-prwtodikeioy/|language=el|work=in.gr|date=14 November 2006|access-date=17 July 2019}}</ref> leaving huge debts behind (during the three-year period of Goumenos' ownership, the club's debts rose from about €10&nbsp;million to around €30&nbsp;million → €10&nbsp;million were the primary debt obligations plus €20&nbsp;million from additional taxes, fines and surcharges)<ref>{{cite web|title=Γιατί μπλέχτηκε τελικά με τον ΠΑΟΚ ο Γούμενος;|trans-title =Why Goumenos got involved in PAOK?|url=http://www.sport-fm.gr/article/65087|language=el|work=sport-fm.gr.|author=Giorgos Zachariadis|date=14 November 2006|access-date=7 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Το "τσακάλι του Χρηματιστηρίου" που έγινε το "μαύρο πρόβατο" του ΠΑΟΚ|trans-title =How an intelligent stockbroker became PAOK's scapegoat|url=https://www.tovima.gr/2008/11/25/sports/to-tsakali-toy-xrimatistirioy-poy-egine-to-mayro-probato-toy-paok/|language=el|work=tovima.gr|author=Dimitris Dragogias|date=25 November 2008|access-date=7 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Φάκελος: Χρέη του ΠΑΟΚ|trans-title =Case file: PAOK's debts|url=https://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Paok/fakelos-xreh-toy-paok.3376885.html|language=el|work=sport24.gr|author=Kostas Petrotos|date=25 March 2015|access-date=7 April 2020}}</ref> and few weeks later, Nikos Vezyrtzis–Apostolos Oikonomidis duo (former [[PAOK BC]] presidents) assumed temporary management of the club.<ref>{{cite web|title=Προσωρινή διοίκηση πρωτοδικείου στην ΠΑΕ ΠΑΟΚ|trans-title=New temporary PAOK administration ordered by first instance court|url=http://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Paok/article275696.ece|language=el|work=sport24.gr|author=Paris Tselepidis|date=30 November 2006|access-date=17 July 2019|archive-date=17 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190717070058/https://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Paok/article275696.ece|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Zagorakis – Vryzas management with massive fans' support (2007–2012)===
[[File:Theodoros Zagorakis.jpg|thumb|upright|left|[[Theodoros Zagorakis]], the iconic captain and former president of PAOK FC]]

In June 2007, former player and captain [[Theodoros Zagorakis]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Euro 2004 Legends: Theodoros Zagorakis|url=https://www.goal.com/en-india/news/477/euro-2016/2012/06/04/3148048/euro-2004-legends-theodoros-zagorakis-greece|work=goal.com|author=Kishen Patel|date=4 June 2012|access-date=4 October 2019}}</ref> assumed the presidency of the club, replacing the Nikos Vezyrtzis and Apostolos Oikonomidis administration and thus ushered a new era, in an effort to bring the club back to successes.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ο Ζαγοράκης κρεμάει τα παπούτσια του για να αναλάβει πρόεδρος στον ΠΑΟΚ|trans-title =Zagorakis ends football career to assume PAOK presidency|url=http://www.in.gr/2007/06/14/sports/football/o-zagorakis-kremaei-ta-papoytsia-toy-gia-na-analabei-proedros-ston-paok/|language=el|work=in.gr|date=14 June 2007|access-date=9 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Zagorakis announces retirement, set to take over at PAOK|url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/soccer-europe-greece/soccer-zagorakis-announces-retirement-set-to-take-over-at-paok-idUKL1579490620070615?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0&sp=true|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807104330/https://uk.reuters.com/article/soccer-europe-greece/soccer-zagorakis-announces-retirement-set-to-take-over-at-paok-idUKL1579490620070615?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0&sp=true|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 August 2020|work=uk.reuters.com|date=15 June 2007|access-date=31 October 2019}}</ref>

In [[2007–08 PAOK FC season]], the early replacement of [[Georgios Paraschos]] by the well-known established manager [[Fernando Santos (Portuguese footballer)|Fernando Santos]]<ref>{{cite web|title=PAOK plump for Santos experience|url=http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=580840.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100707013224/http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=580840.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 July 2010|work=[[UEFA]]|date=5 September 2007|access-date=23 July 2019}}</ref> did little to prevent a ninth-place finish in the league.<ref>{{cite web|title=Όταν ο Σάντος αμφισβητήθηκε έντονα στον ΠΑΟΚ|trans-title =When Santos' work was questioned|url=http://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Paok/otan-o-santos-amfisvhththhke-entona-ston-paok.4163037.html|language=el|work=sport24.gr|author=Nikos Dragolias|date=10 July 2016}}</ref> On 6 January 2008, [[Zisis Vryzas]] ended his football career coming on as a substitute in the game against [[Athlitiki Enosi Larissa F.C.|AEL]] and immediately started his tenure as PAOK sports director.<ref>{{cite web|title=Long-serving striker ends career|url=http://www.ekathimerini.com/54428/article/ekathimerini/sports/long-serving-striker-ends-career|work=ekathimerini.com|date=3 January 2008|access-date=23 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Το... αυθεντικό "Zisis the end"|url=http://www.gazzetta.gr/football/superleague/article/1181895/aythentiko-zisis-end|language=el|work=gazzetta.gr|author=Stavros Sountoulidis|date=6 January 2018|access-date=23 July 2019}}</ref>

[[File:20150616 - Portugal - Italie - Genève - Fernando Santos.jpg|thumb|upright|Coach [[Fernando Santos (Portuguese footballer)|Fernando Santos]]]]

The club's finances gradually improved thanks to new sponsorship deals and the continuing support from fans (the number of season tickets was vastly increased<ref>{{cite web|title=Ασπρόμαυρα ρεκόρ και ιστορίες… διαρκείας!|trans-title =Records and stories about season tickets|url=http://www.gazzetta.gr/football/article/1138951/aspromayra-rekor-kai-istories-diarkeias|language=el|work=gazzetta.gr|author=Stavros Sountoulidis|date=19 September 2017|access-date=23 July 2019}}</ref>). In June 2008, [[Theodoros Zagorakis]] announced the club's intention of building a new [[PAOK FC Sport Center]]<ref name="paokfc1">{{cite web |url=http://www.paokfc.gr/swift.jsp?CMCCode=100602&extLang= |title=Αθλητικο Κεντρο Π.Α.Ο.Κ. |access-date=23 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100212212612/http://www.paokfc.gr/swift.jsp?CMCCode=100602&extLang= |archive-date=12 February 2010  }}</ref> in the [[Nea Mesimvria]] [[urban area]] of [[Thessaloniki]], owned by the club.<ref>{{cite web|title=Απέκτησε αθλητικό κέντρο στη Νέα Μεσήμβρια|trans-title=PAOK acquired land in Nea Mesimvria to build a sports center|url=http://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Paok/article316583.ece|language=el|work=sport24.gr|date=27 June 2008|access-date=10 October 2019|archive-date=10 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010072804/https://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Paok/article316583.ece|url-status=dead}}</ref> The administration had already acquired land from the municipality of [[Agios Athanasios, Greece|Agios Athanasios]] and the project would be executed by former president Vasilis Sergiannidis'<ref>{{cite web|title=Aφιέρωμα στoν Βασίλη Σεργιαννίδη|url=http://www.paokmania.gr/stiles/arxeio/aspromavres-istories/106327-afieroma-ston-vasili-sergiannidi|language=el|work=paokmania.gr|date=4 July 2019|access-date=12 September 2019|archive-date=19 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819024139/http://www.paokmania.gr/stiles/arxeio/aspromavres-istories/106327-afieroma-ston-vasili-sergiannidi|url-status=dead}}</ref> construction company.<ref name="Training Center">{{cite web|url=http://www.paokfc.gr/en/the-club/facilities-en/training-center/|title=Training Center|publisher=paokfc.gr}}</ref><ref name="Αθλητικό Κέντρο ΠΑΟΚ">{{cite web|title=Αθλητικό Κέντρο ΠΑΟΚ: μια βόλτα στο χρόνο|trans-title =The PAOK FC Sport Center through time|url=http://www.gazzetta.gr/stili/afierwmata/article/883099/athlitiko-kentro-paok-mia-volta-sto-hrono-pics|language=el|work=gazzetta.gr|author=Stavros Sountoulidis|date=26 February 2016|access-date=23 July 2019}}</ref>

In the summer of 2008, the club brought in promising winger [[Vieirinha]] and widely known internationals [[Pablo Contreras]], [[Zlatan Muslimović]] and [[Pablo Gabriel García|Pablo García]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Με λύσεις σε όλες τις γραμμές, τρίβει τα χέρια του ο Φερνάντο Σάντος|trans-title =Fernando Santos satisfied with roster|url=http://www.tanea.gr/2008/07/26/sports/me-lyseis-se-oles-tis-grammes-tribei-ta-xeria-toy-o-fernanto-santos/|language=el|work=tanea.gr|author=Antonis Repanas|date=26 July 2008|access-date=18 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=PAOK sign Pablo García|url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/117/greece/2008/07/31/799043/paok-sign-pablo-garcía|work=goal.com|author=Chris Paraskevas|date=31 July 2008|access-date=31 October 2019}}</ref> In the winter transfer window that followed, [[Olivier Sorlin]] and [[Lino (footballer, born 1977)|Lino]] joined the team.<ref>{{cite web|title=PAOK agree Sorlin loan from Rennes|url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/117/greece/2009/01/03/1038583/paok-agree-sorlin-loan-from-rennes|work=goal.com|author=Chris Paraskevas|date=3 January 2009|access-date=31 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=PAOK sign Lino from Porto|url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/117/greece/2009/01/10/1053364/official-paok-sign-lino-from-porto|work=goal.com|author=Chris Paraskevas|date=10 January 2009|access-date=31 October 2019}}</ref> The end of the [[2008–09 PAOK FC season|2008–09 PAOK FC]] found PAOK in second place, eight points behind champions Olympiacos. However, the team lost in the Super League playoffs (pos. 2–5) to Panathinaikos and finished in fourth place.<ref>{{cite web|title=Αδερφέ, εσύ ήσουν ΠΑΟΚ και απλά δεν το ήξερες...|trans-title =García, you were already a PAOK fan, you simply didn't know that... |url=http://www.contra.gr/Longread/paok/pablo-garcia-paok.4050448.html|language=el|work=contra.gr|author=Antonis Tsakaleas|date=11 May 2016}}</ref>

[[File:Pablogarcia cropped.jpg|thumb|upright|left|[[Pablo Gabriel García|Pablo García]] in action for [[PAOK]] in 2010]]

In the [[2009–10 PAOK FC season]], PAOK fought for the title up to matchday 26 (Panathinaikos were two points ahead), when they lost 2–0<ref>{{cite web|title=Αρης–ΠΑΟΚ 2–0 (14/3/2010) - Όταν ο Σπάθας «έσφαξε» τον ΠΑΟΚ στο... γόνατο|trans-title =When PAOK was victimized by referee Spathas|url=http://www.sdna.gr/monimes-stiles/san-simera/article/179126/otan-o-spathas-esfakse-ton-paok-sto-gonato-vid|language=el|work=sdna.gr|date=14 March 2016|access-date=12 July 2019}}</ref> against [[Derby of Thessaloniki|local rivals Aris]] at [[Kleanthis Vikelidis Stadium]]. The club complained about referee Spathas; after the final whistle, Zagorakis went to the dressing room and apologized to PAOK players for not being able to protect them against poor refereeing.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ζαγοράκης: Συγγνώμη που δεν μπορώ να σας προστατεύσω|trans-title =Zagorakis: I am sorry for not being able to protect you|url=http://www.newsit.gr/athlitika/zagorakis-syggnomi-poy-den-mporo-na-sas-prostateyso/2043415/|language=el|work=newsit.gr|date=14 March 2010|access-date=24 July 2019}}</ref> PAOK went on to win the league playoffs (pos. 2–5) and qualified for [[2010–11 UEFA Champions League]] third qualifying round, but the success was swiftly followed by [[Fernando Santos (Portuguese footballer)|Fernando Santos]]' announcement of his decision to depart, having concluded his three-year contract as head coach.<ref>{{cite web|title=Santos to quit coaching PAOK|url=http://www.soccernews.com/santos-to-quit-coaching-paok/37057/|work=soccernews.com|date=18 May 2010|access-date=31 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Το αντίο του Φερνάντο Σάντος|trans-title =Fernando Santos' farewell|url=http://www.contra.gr/podosfairo/to-antio-toy-fernanto-santos-vids.6853614.html|language=el|work=contra.gr|author=Sakis Ginas|date=18 May 2010|access-date=23 July 2019}}</ref> It was eventually decided in mid-June that [[Mario Beretta]] would be his successor.<ref>{{cite web|title=PAOK hire Italian coach Beretta|url=https://www.soccernews.com/paok-hire-italian-coach-beretta/39395/|work=soccernews.com|date=14 June 2010|access-date=25 December 2020}}</ref>

Beretta was quickly replaced by [[Pavlos Dermitzakis]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/01e7-0e74f1b37f1a-3ee45ca72af0-1000--paok-swap-beretta-for-dermitzakis/|title=PAOK swap Beretta for Dermitzakis|date=24 July 2010|website=Union of European Football Associations |access-date=26 June 2015}}</ref> and became the shortest-serving PAOK coach ever, sitting on the bench for just 38 days.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.agonasport.com/agonasport-allnews/the-quickest-coaching-changes-in-the-superleague|title=The quickest coaching changes in the Superleague|date=14 August 2017|work=agonasport.com|author=Dimitris Spiridakos|access-date=25 December 2020|archive-date=4 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404041859/https://www.agonasport.com/agonasport-allnews/the-quickest-coaching-changes-in-the-superleague|url-status=dead}}</ref> With Dermitzakis at the helm, PAOK faced [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]] and was ultimately eliminated on the [[away goals rule]], managing a 1–1<ref>{{cite web|title=Ajax–PAOK 1–1 (28/7/2010)|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/01e7-0e74fabdda1a-eb50316fce20-1000--paok-give-dermitzakis-a-night-to-remember/|work=[[UEFA]]|author=Chris Driessen|date=28 July 2010|access-date=31 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Η τελευταία ανάσα του Βλάνταν|trans-title =Vladan's last breath before being substituted|url=http://www.paok24.com/podosfairo/48448/i-teleutaia-anasa-tou-vlantan-picsvideos|language=el|work=paok24.com|author=Stergios Anastasiadis|date=28 July 2015|access-date=24 July 2019}}</ref> draw in Amsterdam and a thrilling 3–3<ref>{{cite web|title=Ajax hold off determined PAOK comeback|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/01e8-0e750ad11942-a1f8e84277c9-1000--ajax-hold-off-determined-paok-comeback/|work=[[UEFA]]|author=Vassiliki Papantonopoulou|date=4 August 2010|access-date=31 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Αγγιξε τα… αστέρια ο ΠΑΟΚ αλλά τα έχασε από τον Αγιαξ|url=http://www.in.gr/2010/08/04/sports/football/aggikse-ta-asteria-o-paok-alla-ta-exase-apo-ton-agiaks/|language=el|work=in.gr|date=4 August 2010|access-date=24 July 2019}}</ref> draw in [[Thessaloniki]]. Entering the [[2010–11 UEFA Europa League qualifying phase and play-off round|UEFA Europa League playoff round]], PAOK were drawn against [[Fenerbahçe S.K. (football)|Fenerbahçe]], also eliminated from the [[UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] third qualifying round. PAOK won the home game 1–0<ref>{{cite web|title=Στόχος επετεύχθη για τον ΠΑΟΚ, 1–0 τη Φενέρμπαχτσε|trans-title =Target accomplished, 1–0 win over Fenerbahçe|url=http://www.in.gr/2010/08/19/sports/football/stoxos-epeteyxthi-gia-ton-paok-1-0-ti-fenermpaxtse/|language=el|work=in.gr|date=19 August 2010|access-date=24 July 2019}}</ref> in Thessaloniki, then secured a 1–1<ref>{{cite web|title=Το "έπος της Πόλης"|trans-title =The 'Constantinople's epic'|url=http://www.inpaok.com/193748/το-έπος-της-πόλης-2/|language=el|work=inpaok.com|author=Giannis Sotiriou|date=26 August 2014|access-date=24 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Η "άλωση" της Πόλης από μέσα… |url=http://www.gazzetta.gr/stili/h-mixani-tou-xronou/article/970981/i-alosi-tis-polis-apo-mesa-pics-vids|language=el|work=gazzetta.gr|author=Stavros Sountoulidis|date=26 August 2016|access-date=24 July 2019}}</ref> draw after extra time in [[Istanbul|Constantinople]]. Dermitzakis was removed after a 1–0 loss to [[Panathinaikos FC]] on 17 October.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dermitzakis vacates PAOK post|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/01ea-0e75c8c1bc6d-cfdb06787eee-1000--dermitzakis-vacates-paok-post/|work=[[UEFA]]|date=17 October 2010|access-date=31 October 2019}}</ref> His assistant, [[Makis Chavos]], replaced him as caretaker manager<ref>{{cite web|title=ΠΑΟΚ, Ευρώπη, Χάβος|trans-title =PAOK, Europe, Chavos|url= https://www.contra.gr/podosfairo/paok-eyropi-chavos.7130740.html|language=el|work=contra.gr|author=Chrisanthos Dovletoglou|date=11 January 2014|access-date=10 May 2020}}</ref> and PAOK reached the [[2010–11 UEFA Europa League knockout phase#round of 32|knockout phase]] of the [[Europa League]], losing 2–1 on aggregate to [[PFC CSKA Moscow|CSKA Moscow]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Ignashevich on the spot to send CSKA through|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0254-0d7cfecb8af0-d0f3cb6b7048-1000--ignashevich-on-the-spot-to-send-cska-through/|work=[[UEFA]]|author=Richard van Poortvliet|date=22 February 2011|access-date=31 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Όσκαρ ατυχίας και αποκλεισμός του ΠΑΟΚ από την ΤΣΣΚΑ Μόσχας|trans-title =Unlucky PAOK eliminated by CSKA Moscow|url=http://www.in.gr/2011/02/22/sports/football/oskar-atyxias-kai-apokleismos-toy-paok-apo-tin-tsska-mosxas/|language=el|work=in.gr|date=22 February 2011|access-date=24 July 2019}}</ref> In the [[2010–11 Super League Greece|league]], PAOK finished third and qualified for the [[2011–12 UEFA Europa League]].

[[File:Laszlo Boloni.jpg|thumb|Tottenham 1–2 PAOK, [[László Bölöni]] at [[White Hart Lane]]]]

PAOK board appointed [[Romanians|Romanian]] [[László Bölöni]] as the club's new head coach for the following season.<ref>{{cite web|title=PAOK hire experienced Bölöni|url=http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=1641105.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816005525/https://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid%3D1641105.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 August 2019|work=[[UEFA]]|date=9 June 2011|access-date=23 July 2019}}</ref> The team qualified from the [[2011–12 UEFA Europa League qualifying phase and play-off round|UEFA Europa League playoff round]] and entered the [[2011–12 UEFA Europa League group stage|group stage]]. On 30 November 2011, PAOK achieved a historic 2–1<ref>{{cite web|title=Ten-man PAOK advance thanks to Tottenham win|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/01f7-0e7b4890562f-1b3515f8f92d-1000--ten-man-paok-advance-thanks-to-tottenham-win/|work=[[UEFA]]|author=Josh Hershman|date=30 November 2011|access-date=24 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Tottenham 1–2 PAOK Salonika (30/11/2011)|url=http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/15850170|work=bbc.com|author=Michael Da Silva|date=30 November 2011|access-date=15 July 2019}}</ref> victory over [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] at [[White Hart Lane]]. With this victory, the club qualified for the knockout phase for a second consecutive year. On 26 January 2012, [[Theodoros Zagorakis]] resigned from the club's presidency and was replaced by [[Zisis Vryzas]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Παραιτήθηκε ο Ζαγοράκης, τον διαδέχτηκε ο Βρύζας|trans-title =Zagorakis resigned, succeeded by Vryzas|url=http://www.tovima.gr/2012/01/26/sports/paok-paraitithike-o-zagorakis-ton-diadextike-o-bryzas/|language=el|work=tovima.gr|date=26 January 2012|access-date=16 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=PAOK president Zagorakis resigns to appease angry fans|url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-greece-paok/paok-president-zagorakis-resigns-to-appease-angry-fans-idUKTRE80P1O820120126|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190204122411/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-greece-paok/paok-president-zagorakis-resigns-to-appease-angry-fans-idUKTRE80P1O820120126|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 February 2019|work=uk.reuters.com|author=Harry Papachristou|date=26 January 2012|access-date=23 July 2019}}</ref>

===The Ivan Savvidis era (2012–present)===
{{Recentism|section|date=August 2023}}
On 10 August 2012, [[Ivan Savvidis]]<ref name="President"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Ivan Savvidis|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/ivan-savvidis/#555695c52b1f|work=forbes.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ivan Savvidis personal website|url=http://savvidi.ru/en/|work=savvidi.ru|access-date=28 March 2020|archive-date=28 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328094323/http://savvidi.ru/en/|url-status=dead}}</ref> acquired PAOK ownership by depositing a fee of €9,951,000 and thus becoming the major shareholder of the club.<ref>{{cite web|title=Επιβεβαίωση εισροής κεφαλαίων από τον Ιβάν Σαββίδη|trans-title=Savvidis' income funds confirmed|url=http://www.sportdog.gr/life/ellada/article/115133/epibebaiwthhke-h-eisroh|language=el|work=sportdog.gr|date=10 August 2012|access-date=16 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Savvidis takes big stake in PAOK Football Club|url=https://greece.greekreporter.com/2012/08/11/russian-politician-savvidi-takes-big-stake-in-paok-soccer-team/|work=greekreporter.com|author=Areti Kotseli|date=11 August 2012|access-date=17 July 2019}}</ref>

In [[2012–13 PAOK FC season]], under manager [[Giorgos Donis]], PAOK finished 2nd during the regular period, qualifying for the [[Super League Greece]] playoffs (pos. 2–5). After a [[Greek Football Cup|Greek Cup]] semi-final loss to [[Asteras Tripoli]], Donis was replaced by technical director and former player [[Georgios Georgiadis (footballer, born 1972)|Georgios Georgiadis]], who was appointed as caretaker manager.<ref>{{cite web|title=Georgiadis stands in for Donis at PAOK helm|url=https://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/association=gre/news/newsid=1946362.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512145450/http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/association=gre/news/newsid=1946362.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 May 2013|work=[[UEFA]]|date=29 April 2013|access-date=24 April 2020}}</ref> PAOK managed to win qualification for the [[2013–14 UEFA Champions League#Third qualifying round|third qualifying round]] of the [[2013–14 UEFA Champions League]] through the playoffs after a last game win against [[PAS Giannina F.C.|PAS Giannina]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Η ζωή στον ΠΑΟΚ μετά τον Σάντος|trans-title=PAOK's journey after Santos|url=http://www.onsports.gr/podosfairo/superleague/story/482532/h-zoi-ston-paok-meta-ton-santos|language=el|work=onsports.gr|date=5 May 2015|access-date=29 June 2017}}</ref>

In June 2013, PAOK appointed [[Huub Stevens]] as their new coach,<ref>{{cite web|title=Stevens accepts PAOK post|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/020a-0e8514800670-7f064c72ae3c-1000--stevens-accepts-paok-post/?iv=true|work=[[UEFA]]|date=14 June 2013|access-date=24 April 2020}}</ref> but he was dismissed in March 2014 after achieving poor results.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/9194569/huub-stevens-dismissed-by-paok-salonika-after-greek-super-league-disappointment|title=Huub Stevens dismissed by PAOK Salonika after Greek Super League disappointment|date=3 March 2014|work=skysports.com|access-date=5 September 2015}}</ref> Once again, [[Georgios Georgiadis (footballer, born 1972)|Georgiadis]] was appointed as caretaker manager and the team managed to reach the [[2013–14 Greek Football Cup|2013–14 Greek Cup]] [[2014 Greek Football Cup Final|final]], but lost 4–1<ref>{{cite web|title=2014 Greek Cup final Panathinaikos–PAOK 4–1 (26/4/2014)|url=http://www.inpaok.com/443635/2014-λαβωμένος-παοκ-κυπελλούχος-λαός/|language=el|work=inpaok.com|author=Giannis Malamas|date=11 May 2018|access-date=18 July 2019}}</ref> to [[Panathinaikos F.C.|Panathinaikos]] at the [[Olympic Stadium of Athens]].

In March 2015, Law N° 4321/2015 on regulations for kickstarting the economy was adopted by the Greek government and stated that a total repayment of a company's primary debt obligations would lead to the deletion of all additional taxes, fines and surcharges.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nόμος υπ' αριθ. 4321 Ρυθμίσεις για την επανεκκίνηση της οικονομίας.|trans-title=Law N° 4321/2015 on regulations for kickstarting the economy|url=https://www.taxheaven.gr/law/4321/2015|language=el|work=taxheaven.gr|date=21 March 2015|access-date=8 April 2020}}</ref> On 12 May 2015, PAOK owner [[Ivan Savvidis]] paid the total amount of the club's debts towards Greek public authorities, a fee of  €10,886,811.<ref>{{cite web|title=PAOK FC present full payment invoices of their depts|url=http://www.paokfc.gr/en/news/20150512-i-paradosi-ton-parastatikon-eikones-video/|work=paokfc.gr|date=12 May 2015|access-date=18 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ελεύθερος ο ΠΑΟΚ! Παρελθόν ο βραχνάς των χρεών|trans-title=PAOK are free from debt burden!|url=http://www.in.gr/2015/05/12/sports/football/eleytheros-o-paok-parelthon-o-braxnas-twn-xrewn-tis-pae/|language=el|work=in.gr|date=12 May 2015|access-date=17 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ξεπέρασε κάθε προσδοκία η 'ρύθμιση Βαλαβάνη'. Ξεχρέωσε και ο ΠΑΟΚ|trans-title=Regulatory reform for kickstarting the economy exceeded all expectations. PAOK paid off their debts too|url=https://www.news247.gr/oikonomia/xeperase-kathe-prosdokia-i-rythmisi-valavani-xechreose-kai-o-paok.6347694.html|language=el|work=news247.gr|date=14 May 2015|access-date=7 April 2020}}</ref> On 27 May, PAOK hired [[Frank Arnesen]] as their new sports director.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.paokfc.gr/en/news/20150527-athlitikos-dieuthumtis-tou-paok-o-frank-arnesen/|title=Frank Arnesen takes over as PAOK FC Sports Director|work=paokfc.gr|date=27 May 2015|access-date=31 October 2019}}</ref> On 18 June, [[Igor Tudor]] was hired as the new manager of the club, signing a three-year contract.<ref>{{cite web|title=Igor Tudor takes PAOK reins for three seasons|url=http://www.paokfc.gr/en/news/20150618-o-igor-tudor-ston-paok/|work=paokfc.gr|date=18 June 2015|access-date=31 October 2019}}</ref> On 2 September, PAOK announced the signing of [[Dimitar Berbatov]] on a one-year deal.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dimitar Berbatov joins PAOK|url=https://www.paokfc.gr/en/news/paiktis-tou-paok-o-dimitar-berbatov/|work=paokfc.gr|date=2 September 2015|access-date=26 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Presentation of Dimitar Berbatov: backstage camera|url=https://www.paokfc.gr/en/news/20150904-i-parakamera-tis-parousiasis-tou-berbatov/|work=paokfc.gr|date=4 September 2015|access-date=26 April 2020}}</ref> Playing a [[Formation (association football)|3–5–2 formation]], the team progressed through three qualifying rounds to reach the [[2015–16 UEFA Europa League|UEFA Europa League group stage]] and on 10 December, PAOK made a surprising 1–0<ref>{{cite web|title=Mak show means PAOK outflank Dortmund|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0257-0defb50bb20a-92f27ed9e71b-1000/|work=[[UEFA]]|author=Daniel Thacker|date=10 December 2015|access-date=26 April 2020}}</ref> away win over [[Borussia Dortmund]] at [[Signal Iduna Park]]. Tudor was replaced in March 2016 by youth-team coach [[Vladimir Ivić]]<ref>{{cite web|title=PAOK replaces manager Tudor with Vladan Ivic|url=http://www.ekathimerini.com/206806/article/ekathimerini/sports/paok-replaces-manager-tudor-with-vladan-ivic|work=ekathimerini.com|author=Graham Wood|date=9 March 2016|access-date=23 July 2019}}</ref> and the team won the Super League playoffs (pos. 2–5) and qualified for the [[2016–17 UEFA Champions League]] third qualifying round.

PAOK won the [[2016–17 Greek Football Cup|2016–17 Greek Cup]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paokfc.gr/en/history-2/titles/kupello-2017-en-nchc/special-2017/|title=The first trophy of the Savvidis era|work=paokfc.gr}}</ref> beating [[AEK Athens F.C.|AEK]] 2–1<ref>{{cite web|title=2017 Greek Cup final PAOK–AEK 2–1 (6/5/2017)|url=http://sport24.gr/football/ellada/GreekCup/o-paok-phre-to-kupello-2-1-thn-aek.4659035.html|language=el|work=sport24.gr|author=Themis Kaisaris|date=6 May 2017|access-date=15 July 2018}}</ref> in the [[2017 Greek Football Cup Final|final]] held at [[Panthessaliko Stadium]] with a controversial goal scored by [[Pedro Henrique Konzen|Pedro Henrique]] in the 81st minute. Linesman Kalfoglou failed to indicate that the scorer was in an offside position. In the same phase of play, moments before [[Marin Leovac|Leovac]] made the cross to Henrique, [[José Ángel Crespo|Crespo]] was brought down in the area by [[André Simões|Simoes]], but PAOK were denied a penalty by referee Kominis.<ref>{{cite web|title=Πριν το γκολ - οφσάιντ προηγήθηκε πέναλτι στον Κρέσπο|trans-title=A penalty on Crespo preceded the offside goal|url=http://www.metrosport.gr/article/prin-to-gkol-ofsaint-proigithike-penalti-ston-krespo-vid|language=el|work=metrosport.gr|date=7 May 2017|access-date=23 July 2018}}</ref> The final was marred by crowd violence before the kick-off.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eurosport.com/football/paok-salonica-beat-aek-athens-to-win-greek-cup-final-marred-by-crowd-violence_sto6156107/story.shtml|title= PAOK Salonica beat AEK Athens to win Greek Cup final marred by crowd violence|work=eurosport.com|date=7 May 2017|access-date=7 May 2020}}</ref> In the Super League playoffs (pos. 2–5) that followed, a game against Panathinaikos at [[Leoforos Alexandras Stadium]] was abandoned (scoreline 1–0 at the time) when Ivić was struck on his head by a beer can that was thrown from the crowd.<ref>{{cite web|title=Panathinaikos–PAOK interrupted after manager Ivic's head injury|url=http://www.sdna.gr/news-english/article/330093/panathinaikos-paok-clash-interrupted-because-manager-ivics-injury|work=sdna.gr|date=17 May 2017|access-date=23 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Game abandoned as Panathinaikos fan hits PAOK coach with beer can|url=http://www.ekathimerini.com/218509/article/ekathimerini/sports/game-abandoned-as-panathinaikos-fan-hits-paok-coach-with-beer-can|work=ekathimerini.com|author=George Georgakopoulos|date=18 May 2017|access-date=22 July 2019}}</ref> The Serbian coach was taken to a public hospital and the match was interrupted by referee Kominis in the 54th minute. Panathinaikos representatives claimed that Ivić exaggerated the impact of the injury and could continue.<ref>{{cite web|title=Κωνσταντίνου: "Έκανε θέατρο ο Ίβιτς για να το πάρει στα χαρτιά"|trans-title=Konstantinou: "Ivic acted a theatrical play in order to win the game by court decision"|url=http://www.sdna.gr/podosfairo/superleague/article/330076/konstantinoy-ekane-theatro-o-ivits-gia-na-parei-sta-xartia|language=el|work=sdna.gr|date=18 May 2017|access-date=22 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Αλαφούζος: Διεφθαρμένος ο Σαββίδης, θεατρίνος ο Ίβιτς |trans-title=Alafouzos: Savvidis is a corrupt person, Ivic is an actor|url=http://www.protothema.gr/sports/article/684493/alafouzos-dieftharmenos-o-savvidis-theatrinos-o-ivits/|language=el|work=protothema.gr|date=1 June 2017|access-date=22 July 2019}}</ref> The game was awarded 0–3 to PAOK by court decision. AEK went on to win the playoffs and PAOK finished 4th. After the end of the season, Ivić did not renew his contract<ref>{{cite web|title=Ivic and PAOK officially part ways|url=http://www.agonasport.com/agonasport-allnews/ivic-and-paok-officially-part-ways|work=agonasport.com|author=Sarantos Kaperonis|date=10 June 2017|access-date=23 July 2019|archive-date=23 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723153139/https://www.agonasport.com/agonasport-allnews/ivic-and-paok-officially-part-ways|url-status=dead}}</ref> and the club appointed [[Aleksandar Stanojević]] whose tenure as PAOK manager did not last long. On 11 August 2017, he was replaced by [[Răzvan Lucescu]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Stanojevic sacked after 56 days, Lucescu takes over PAOK|url=http://www.agonasport.com/agonasport-allnews/stanojevic-sacked-after-56-days-lucescu-takes-over-paok|work=agonasport.com|author=Sarantos Kaperonis|date=11 August 2017|access-date=23 July 2019|archive-date=23 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723153550/https://www.agonasport.com/agonasport-allnews/stanojevic-sacked-after-56-days-lucescu-takes-over-paok|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==== 2017–18 eventful season ====
{{For| the entire season results| 2017–18 PAOK FC season}}

[[File:Aleksandar Prijović 2017.jpg|thumb|170px|left|[[Aleksandar Prijović]], Top goalscorer in 2017–2018 season]]

On 25 February [[2017–18 Super League Greece|2018]] (and while PAOK were leading the league table being 2pts ahead of AEK), [[Olympiacos–PAOK rivalry|PAOK–Olympiacos derby]] was suspended before kick-off when Olympiacos manager [[Óscar García Junyent]] was hit by an object thrown from the crowd (reportedly by an unfolding cash register paper roll). Óscar García received medical attention before being taken to a private general hospital ([[Interbalkan Medical Center]]). The private clinic where García was taken issued a statement about five hours after the coach was admitted, saying that due to his medical condition (sensitivity in the jaw, neck pain, dizziness and nausea) García had to stay at the hospital overnight and PAOK vs Olympiacos game never started.<ref>{{cite web|title=To ντέρμπι ΠΑΟΚ–Ολυμπιακός δεν άρχισε ποτέ - Ρολό ταμειακής τραυμάτισε τον Γκαρθία|trans-title = PAOK–Olympiacos derby never started - Cash register paper roll injured Garcia|url=http://www.enikos.gr/sports/562157/o-travmatismos-tou-gkarthia-ti-anaferei-o-kanonismos-gia-to-antik|language=el|work=enikos.gr|date=25 February 2018|access-date=18 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=PAOK v Olympiakos abandoned after manager is hospitalised by toilet roll thrown by fans|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/paok-v-olympiakos-abandoned-after-manager-is-hospitalised-by-toilet-roll-thrown-by-fans/news-story/11fd98481a47d63f2f4c48e9837ffbf2|work=foxsports.com|date=26 February 2018|access-date=19 July 2019}}</ref> Olympiacos communications chief Karapapas stated that he expected a huge apology from PAOK for the incident and that their rivals should become more civilized if they want to develop into a big club. He also claimed that the object that fell onto García was a sealed cash register paper roll, which can be as heavy as a stone and when thrown from a certain height and distance with a certain force can be a very powerful blow.<ref>{{cite web|title=Καραπαπάς: "Να συναντήσει ο ΠΑΟΚ τον πολιτισμό για να γίνει μεγάλη ομάδα"|trans-title =Karapapas: "PAOK should become more civilized if they want to develop into a big club"|url=http://sport24.gr/football/omades/Olympiakos/karapapas-na-synanthsei-o-paok-ton-politismo-gia-na-ginei-megalh-omada.5095203.html|language=el|work=sport24.gr|date=25 February 2018|access-date=29 July 2019}}</ref> PAOK representatives claimed that the whole incident was a certain tactic from Olympiacos, which eventually did not work out because there was no injury sustained.<ref>{{cite web|title=Σχόλιο Ραζβάν Λουτσέσκου|trans-title=One-word comment of PAOK manager Razvan Lucescu|url=http://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Paok/loytseskoy-se-dhmosiografoys-einai-deiloi.5095218.html|language=el|work=sport24.gr|date=25 February 2018|access-date=19 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Δηλώσεις υπεύθυνου επικοινωνίας ΠΑΕ ΠΑΟΚ Κυριάκου Κυριάκου|trans-title=PAOK communications chief Kyriakos' remarks on the matter|url=http://www.sport24.gr/football/ellada/SuperLeague/kyriakos-as-doyn-oi-armodioi-tis-antegklhseis-toy-k-karapapa-kai-toy-k-kovasevits-me-opadous-aproklhta.5095229.html|language=el|work=sport24.gr|date=25 February 2018|access-date=19 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=PAOK point finger at Olympiacos in Toumba scandal|url=http://www.agonasport.com/agonasport-allnews/paok-point-finger-at-olympiacos-in-toumba-scandal|work=agonasport.com|author=Shaun Nicolaides|date=25 February 2018|access-date=27 July 2019|archive-date=29 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729082702/https://www.agonasport.com/agonasport-allnews/paok-point-finger-at-olympiacos-in-toumba-scandal|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The story of Oscar Garcia's "injury" and Olympiacos departure from Toumba Stadium|url=http://www.sdna.gr/news-english/article/439263/story-oscar-garcias-injury-and-olympiacos-departure-tumba-stadium|work=sdna.gr|date=1 March 2018|access-date=19 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=La noche más aciaga de Óscar García|trans-title=Óscar García's darkest night|url=https://eldesmarque.com/vigo/celta/noticias/136328-la-noche-mas-aciaga-de-oscar-garcia|language=es|work=eldesmarque.com|author=Alberto Bravo|date=6 November 2019|access-date=3 November 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Εφετείο για Οσκαρ Γκαρθία στην Τούμπα: "Δεν υπήρξε σωματική βλάβη"|trans-title=Court of Appeal verdict (PAOK fan case) on Óscar García at Toumba: ″There was no physical injury″|url=http://www.ethnos.gr/athlitismos/73422_efeteio-gia-oskar-gkarthia-stin-toympa-den-ypirxe-somatiki-blabi|language=el|work=ethnos.gr|date=21 November 2019|access-date=23 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Top 10: Foot et PQ / 4. Et l'Oscar revient à... Oscar|url=http://www.sofoot.com/top-10-foot-et-pq-481275.html|language=fr|work=sofoot.com|author=Éric Maggiori et Mathieu Rollinger|date=18 March 2020|access-date=23 March 2020}}</ref> Medical report of the official doctor of the match, approved by the Greek Football Federation (EPO), stated that García was not seriously injured and could return on the bench, but Olympiacos questioned doctor's credibility because he was a PAOK employee, working in PAOK youth academy.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Soap Opera|url=http://www.agonasport.com/agonasport-allnews/the-soap-opera|work=agonasport.com|author=Greg Gavalas|date=3 March 2018|access-date=22 July 2019|archive-date=22 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722100719/https://www.agonasport.com/agonasport-allnews/the-soap-opera|url-status=dead}}</ref> Referee Aretopoulos (who had many controversial moments in his career<ref>{{cite web|title=Ο Αρετόπουλος στα... "ερυθρόλευκα"|trans-title=Aretopoulos in... "red and white"|url=http://www.metrosport.gr/article/o-aretopoulos-sta-erithrolefka|language=el|work=metrosport.gr|date=1 December 2014|access-date=29 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Αρετόπουλος, ένα γνήσιο παιδί του συστήματος!|trans-title =Aretopoulos, a genuine child of all the establishment's desires|url=http://www.sdna.gr/podosfairo/superleague/article/256546/aretopoylos-ena-gnisio-paidi-toy-systimatos-vids|language=el|work=sdna.gr|date=23 October 2016|access-date=29 July 2019}}</ref>) submitted two match reports to describe why the game was abandoned (an initial report<ref>{{cite web|title=Το φύλλο αγώνα της Τούμπας δείχνει... δικαστικό θρίλερ!|trans-title=Official match report preludes a thriller court case|url=http://www.sdna.gr/podosfairo/superleague/article/438201/fyllo-agona|language=el|work=sdna.gr|author=Giorgos Fradelakis|date=26 February 2018|access-date=22 July 2019}}</ref> at Toumba Stadium and a supplementary report<ref>{{cite web|title=Συμπληρωματική έκθεση Αρετόπουλου που "καίει" τον ΠΑΟΚ - Ζητήθηκε αναβολή, αλλά δεν έγινε δεκτή|trans-title=Supplementary report foredooms PAOK|url=http://www.sport-fm.gr/article/podosfairo/sumplirwmatiki-ekthesi-aretopoulou-pou-kaiei-ton-paok-zitithike-anaboli-alla-den-egine-dekti/3503705|language=el|work=sport-fm.gr|date=2 March 2018|access-date=22 July 2019}}</ref> few days later that was demanded by first-instance court judge). [[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]] were later awarded a 0–3 win by court decision.

[[File:Razvan Lucescu, press conference FC Basel - PAOK FC, 1 August 2018.jpg|thumb|220px|right|[[Răzvan Lucescu]], most successful PAOK manager]]

On 11 March [[2017–18 Super League Greece|2018]], during a championship decider [[Double-headed eagles derby|derby against AEK]] (timeline of events before the game: 24 Feb: PAOK 52pts/AEK 50pts, 25 Feb: PAOK–Olympiacos suspended before kick-off, 26 Feb: Atromitos–AEK 1–1 and PAOK 52pts/AEK 51pts, 4 Mar: Asteras Tripoli–PAOK 3–2, AEK–Panionios 1–0 and AEK 54pts/PAOK 52pts, 5 Mar: first-instance court sentence: PAOK deducted 3pts, game awarded 0–3 to Olympiacos, 2 home games behind closed doors and AEK 54pts/PAOK 49pts, 10 Mar: court of appeal sentence: 3pts returned to PAOK, game awarded 0–3 to Olympiacos, closed doors penalty suspended and AEK 54pts/PAOK 52pts), the president of the team, [[Ivan Savvidis]], stormed onto the pitch when referee Georgios Kominis disallowed a 90th-minute goal scored by [[Fernando Varela (Cape Verdean footballer)|Fernando Varela]] with a header.<ref>{{cite web|title=Πόσο καλά θυμάσαι το γκολ του Βαρέλα; (quiz, poll) |trans-title=How well do you remember the goal of Varela?|url=http://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Paok/paok-aek-poso-kala-thymasai-to-gkol-toy-varela.5315141.html|language=el|work=sport24.gr|author=Nikos Tzavaras|date=23 September 2018|access-date=18 July 2019}}</ref> The goal was initially credited to PAOK by both the referee who pointed the center spot and the linesman who never raised his flag and ran towards the center. About 10–15 seconds later and while PAOK players were celebrating, linesman Pontikis was approached by AEK players who were protesting and approximately 3 minutes after the goal was scored, they altered their decision. The goal was ruled out for offside (according to referee Kominis, [[Maurício (footballer, born October 1988)|Maurício]] influenced play). Savvidis entered the pitch with few members of his personal guard and [[Ľuboš Micheľ]] (former UEFA Elite referee).<ref>{{cite web|title=Εισβολή Σαββίδη στο γήπεδο, ζητούσε από τους παίκτες του ΠΑΟΚ να φύγουν|trans-title=Savvidis invaded the pitch, urging PAOK players to leave |url=http://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Paok/eisvolh-savvidh-sto-ghpedo-zhtouse-apo-toys-paiktes-toy-paok-na-fugoyn.5117001.html|language=el|work=sport24.gr|date=11 March 2018|access-date=18 July 2019}}</ref> At first, he ordered his team to leave the pitch, but his request was denied by PAOK captain [[Vieirinha]]. Afterwards they went close to the referee, where Micheľ expressed his complaints about the decision. Leaving the pitch 1 minute after his entry, a tension was built between Savvidis and members of AEK bench and moments later Savvidis took off his jacket and a gun appeared attached to his belt.<ref>{{cite web|title=PAOK president Ivan Savvidis enters pitch with hand gun on his belt|url=http://en.protothema.gr/paok-president-ivan-savvidis-enters-pitch-with-hand-gun-on-his-belt-photos/|work=en.protothema.gr|date=11 March 2018|access-date=19 July 2019}}</ref> The referee suspended the game and sent the two teams to the dressing rooms. Savvidis tried to enter into the referees' dressing room, but he was denied entrance by security and few minutes later he left the stadium.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ivan Savvidis mistake and the hypocrisy of football Mafia|url=http://www.sdna.gr/news-english/article/443654/ivan-savvidis-mistake-and-hypocrisy-football-mafia|work=sdna.gr|author=Vasilis Papatheodorou|date=13 March 2018|access-date=24 July 2019}}</ref> Kominis' intention was the game to be continued after 1 hour (and blew his whistle outside the dressing rooms calling the two teams<ref>{{cite web|title=Το επίμαχο βίντεο με τον Κομίνη στα αποδυτήρια της Τούμπας|trans-title=The controversial video of Kominis from Toumba Stadium's dressing rooms|url=http://www.onsports.gr/podosfairo/superleague/story/593934/paok-aek-ayto-einai-to-epimaxo-vinteo-me-ton-komini-sta-apodytiria-tis-toympas|language=el|work=onsports.gr|date=11 April 2018|access-date=18 July 2019}}</ref>), but AEK general manager [[Vasilis Dimitriadis]] approached him and claimed (as can be heard in audio<ref>{{cite web|title=Ηχητικό ντοκουμέντο από Τούμπα, Γκαγκάτσης: "Ελάτε έξω να παίξουμε" – Δημητριάδης: "Με όπλο; Θα μας σκοτώσουν!" |trans-title=Audio recording from Toumba Stadium, Gagatsis: "Come out to play" – Dimitriadis: "With a gun? They 're gonna kill us!"|url=http://www.sportdog.gr/sports/podosfairo/article/443389/hxhtiko-ntokoymento-apo-toympa-elate-eksw-na-paiksoyme-ndash-me-to-oplo-tha-mas-skotwsoyn|language=el|work=sportdog.gr|date=12 March 2018|access-date=24 July 2019}}</ref>) that the players of AEK were terrified from the incident and could not continue as he felt that their safety was at risk. PAOK vice-president Chrisostomos Gagatsis is heard trying to persuade Dimitriadis to order AEK players to return on the pitch. Soon after, the game was abandoned.

[[File:Paok-spartak (14).jpg|thumb|190px|left|Alexandros Paschalakis]]

The incident caused the league to be suspended by the Greek government.<ref>{{cite web|title=Greek football league suspended, government decides|url=http://en.protothema.gr/breaking-news-greek-football-league-suspended-government-decides/|work=en.protothema.gr|date=12 March 2018|access-date=18 July 2019}}</ref> AEK manager [[Manuel Jiménez Jiménez|Manolo Jiménez]] giving his side of the story, confirmed that Kominis wanted the game to be concluded, but AEK president told them not to play.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jimenez shocked by the Toumba chaos|url=http://www.agonasport.com/agonasport-allnews/jimenez-shocked-by-the-toumba-chaos|work=agonasport.com|author=Shaun Nicolaides|date=11 March 2018|access-date=24 July 2019|archive-date=24 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724090832/https://www.agonasport.com/agonasport-allnews/jimenez-shocked-by-the-toumba-chaos|url-status=dead}}</ref> He also said about a year later, that AEK players and himself realized that Savvidis was actually carrying a gun on his belt when they received photos on their cellphones and not while they were on the pitch.<ref>{{cite web|title=Χιμένεθ: "Δεν είδαμε τον Σαββίδη να κουβαλάει όπλο" |trans-title=Jiménez: "We didn't see Savvidis carrying a gun"|url=http://sport24.gr/football/omades/Aek/ximeneth-den-eidame-ton-savvidh-na-koyvalaei-oplo.5464911.html|language=el|work=sport24.gr|date=16 March 2019|access-date=29 July 2019}}</ref> AEK midfielder [[Panagiotis Kone]] in an interview after the game also confirmed that Kominis told them to go out and play for the remaining 5 minutes, but he did not inform AEK players as to whether he would award or overturn PAOK goal when asked in the dressing rooms. He replied that they would be informed outside on the pitch.<ref>{{cite web|title=Κονέ: "Αθλιότητες όσα έκανε ο Σαββίδης" |trans-title=Kone: "What Savvidis did was awful"|url=http://sport24.gr/football/omades/Aek/kone-athliothtes-osa-ekane-o-savvidhs.5117291.html|language=el|work=sport24.gr|date=11 March 2018|access-date=24 July 2019}}</ref> Of course, both Jiménez and Kone condemned Savvidis' actions and held him responsible for the interruption. PAOK goalkeeper [[Alexandros Paschalakis]] stated that it was clearly a legitimate goal scored by Varela, because Maurício was behind the goalkeeper and did not influence play. He also said that Savvidis' invasion of the pitch wasn't proper.<ref>{{cite web|title=Πασχαλάκης: "Ήταν καθαρό το γκολ του Βαρέλα"|trans-title=Paschalakis: "Varela's goal was legitimate"|url=http://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Paok/pasxalakhs-htan-katharo-to-gkol-toy-varela.5117285.html|language=el|work=sport24.gr|date=12 March 2018|access-date=29 July 2019}}</ref> On his official match report, referee Kominis wrote down that when the match was interrupted the scoreline was 1–0 and that he decided to award the goal.<ref>{{cite web|title=Giorgos Kominis' controversial referee report|url=http://www.agonasport.com/agonasport-allnews/giorgos-kominis-controversial-referee-report|work=agonasport.com|author=Graham Wood|date=12 March 2018|access-date=19 July 2019|archive-date=19 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719074505/https://www.agonasport.com/agonasport-allnews/giorgos-kominis-controversial-referee-report|url-status=dead}}</ref> Kominis received a summons to appear at the court hearing, but he sent a letter instead, explaining that he could not show up for personal reasons.<ref>{{cite web|title="Άκυρο" από Κομίνη! Δεν πάει στην εκδίκαση του ΠΑΟΚ – ΑΕΚ |trans-title=Kominis does not appear in court hearing|url=http://www.newsit.gr/athlitika/podosfairo/akyro-apo-komini-den-paei-stin-ekdikasi-tou-paok-aek/|language=el|work=newsit.gr|date=15 March 2018|access-date=18 July 2019}}</ref> He also received a legal document with 3 questions from first-instance court judge and gave a definite answer in one of them and a vague response in the other two.<ref>{{cite web|title=Αποκάλυψη στη "Δίκη": Ο Κομίνης απάντησε στο ένα από τα τρία ερωτήματα του δικαστή|trans-title=Kominis answered to one out of three questions from the judge|url=http://www.skai.gr/news/sports/article/369286/apokalupsi-sti-diki-o-kominis-apadise-sto-ena-apo-ta-tria-erotimata-tou-dikasti/|language=el|work=skai.gr|date=19 March 2018|access-date=24 July 2019}}</ref> Ivan Savvidis apologised for his behaviour two days after the game<ref>{{cite web|title=Statement by Ivan Savvidis|url=http://www.paokfc.gr/en/news/20180312-dilosi-ivan-savvidi/|work=paokfc.gr|date=13 March 2018|access-date=18 July 2019}}</ref> and he was later banned from all football stadiums for three years. [[PAOK F.C.|PAOK]] were sentenced with a 3pt deduction (and 2pts from next season's championship) and [[AEK Athens F.C.|AEK]] were awarded a 0–3 win by court decision.<ref>{{cite web|title=PAOK punished with 3-point deduction, 2 from next season, 3-year ban for Savvidis|url=http://www.sdna.gr/news-english/article/449722/paok-punished-3-points-deduction-2-next-year-3-years-ban-savvidis|work=sdna.gr|date=29 March 2018|access-date=24 July 2019}}</ref> The 6-point swing was a major blow to PAOK's title hopes and the club was unable to secure the title as AEK were crowned champions with three match-days to go.

The club still managed to end their season on a high note by winning their [[2017–18 Greek Football Cup|second consecutive Greek Cup]] beating AEK 2–0<ref>{{cite web|title=2018 Greek Cup final AEK–PAOK 0–2 (12/5/2018)|url=http://onsports.gr/podosfairo/story/596424/aek-paok-0-2-tis-edeixe-poios-einai-o-pragmatikos-protathlitis|language=el|work=onsports.gr|date=12 May 2018|access-date=15 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=PAOK outplays AEK to lift the Greek Cup in Athens|url=http://www.ekathimerini.com/228603/article/ekathimerini/sports/paok-outplays-aek-to-lift-the-greek-cup-in-athens|work=ekathimerini.com|author=George Georgakopoulos|date=12 May 2018|access-date=15 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Champions on the pitch, Greek Cup winners on their pitch|url=http://www.paokfc.gr/en/news/20180512-protathlitis-sto-gipedo-kupellouxos-sto-diko-tous-gipedo/|work=paokfc.gr|date=12 May 2018|access-date=23 July 2019}}</ref> in the [[2018 Greek Football Cup Final|final]] held at the [[Olympic Stadium of Athens]] (AEK home ground at the time), with the match refereed after many years in Greece by a foreign referee ([[David Fernández Borbalán]]). During the post-game press conference, manager [[Răzvan Lucescu|Lucescu]] and captain [[Vieirinha]] (final MVP<ref>{{cite web|title=Vieirinha named Greek Cup final MVP|url=http://www.agonasport.com/agonasport-allnews/vieirinha-named-greek-cup-final-mvp|work=agonasport.com|author=Shaun Nicolaides|date=12 May 2018|access-date=23 July 2019|archive-date=23 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723105244/https://www.agonasport.com/agonasport-allnews/vieirinha-named-greek-cup-final-mvp|url-status=dead}}</ref>) both stated that [[2017–18 PAOK FC season|2018 championship title was stolen from PAOK]].<ref>{{cite web|title='They stole the double from us', says Luscescu|url=http://www.agonasport.com/agonasport-allnews/they-stole-the-double-from-us-says-luscescu|work=agonasport.com|author=Graham Wood|date=12 May 2018|access-date=23 July 2019|archive-date=23 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723104225/https://www.agonasport.com/agonasport-allnews/they-stole-the-double-from-us-says-luscescu|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Βιεϊρίνια: Έχω κουραστεί να λέω ότι μας έκλεψαν το πρωτάθλημα |trans-title=Vieirinha: I am tired of saying that they stole from us the championship|url=http://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Paok/tromero-ksespasma-vieirinia-kata-simoes-vranies-ximeneth-kai-miralas.5195409.html|language=el|work=sport24.gr|date=12 May 2018|access-date=23 July 2019}}</ref>

====2018–19 unbeaten Champions and first Domestic Double====
[[File:Paok-spartak (16).jpg|thumb|PAOK 3–2 Spartak Moscow, August 2018]]

{{football squad on pitch|width=160|align=left
|  GK = '''[[Alexandros Paschalakis|Paschalakis]]'''

|  LB =  '''[[Vieirinha]]'''

| LCB =  '''[[José Ángel Crespo|Crespo]]'''

| RCB =  '''[[Fernando Varela (Cape Verdean footballer)|Varela]]'''

|  RB =  '''[[Léo Matos|Matos]]'''

| RCM =  '''[[Maurício (footballer, born October 1988)|Maurício]]'''

| LCM =  '''[[Yevhen Shakhov (footballer, born 1990)|Shakhov]]'''

| LW =  '''[[Diego Biseswar|Biseswar]]'''

| RW =  '''[[Léo Jabá|Jabá]]'''

| SS =  '''[[Dimitris Pelkas|Pelkas]]'''

| CF =  '''[[Aleksandar Prijović|Prijović]]'''
| caption = PAOK 2018–19 unbeaten Champions ([[Chuba Akpom|Akpom]] was the striker for the 2nd half of the season) 
}}

{{For| the entire season results| 2018–19 PAOK FC season}}
[[2018–19 PAOK FC season|2018–19 season]] was the best in club's history.<ref name="2018/19 squad"/> During the [[2018–19 Super League Greece]], the major derbies, after decades in Greek football history, were refereed by foreign referees.

On 21 April, PAOK beat [[Levadiakos F.C.|Levadiakos]] 5–0 and clinched the league title, hosting a memorable celebration.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jubilant PAOK celebrate in style|url=http://www.agonasport.com/agonasport-allnews/jubilant-paok-celebrate-in-style|work=agonasport.com|author=Shaun Nicolaides|date=21 April 2019|access-date=22 October 2019|archive-date=22 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022080452/https://www.agonasport.com/agonasport-allnews/jubilant-paok-celebrate-in-style|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=PAOK's Title Celebrations - The View From Above|url=https://dugout.com/paokfc/poak-champion-celebrations-view-from-above|work=dugout.com|date=23 April 2019|access-date=22 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paokfc.gr/en/news/20190430-to-global-effect-tou-protathliti-paok/|title=Champions PAOK and their global effect|work=paokfc.gr|date=30 April 2019|access-date=24 April 2020}}</ref> On 5 May, PAOK earned their 26th win in 30 games to complete an undefeated season (26–4–0 record).<ref>{{cite web|title=PAOK 1st undefeated team in Greek league season for 55 years|url=http://www.espn.com/espn/wire/_/section/soccer/id/26678865|work=espn.com|date=5 May 2019|access-date=22 October 2019}}</ref> This is arguably the best performance in Greek football history, the previous held by [[Panathinaikos F.C.|Panathinaikos]], who won the [[1963–64 Alpha Ethniki]] title undefeated, but with a 24–6–0 record.<ref name="Invincibles">{{cite web|url=https://www.agonasport.com/agonasport-allnews/The%20Invincibles,%20Greek%20style|title=The Invincibles, Greek Style|work=agonasport.com|author=Shaun Nicolaides|date=4 June 2019|access-date=30 October 2019|archive-date=18 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220418195118/https://www.agonasport.com/agonasport-allnews/The%20Invincibles,%20Greek%20style|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=ΠΑΟΚ: Αήττητος και καλύτερος απ' όλους!|trans-title=Unbeaten and better than anyone else!|url=http://www.gazzetta.gr/stili/to-mauro-kouti/article/1352570/paok-aittitos-kai-kalyteros-ap-oloys|language=el|work=gazzetta.gr|author=Stavros Sountoulidis|date=6 May 2019|access-date=23 July 2019}}</ref> PAOK were also the only [[List of unbeaten football club seasons|unbeaten European football club]] in the national championships held across Europe during the 2018–2019 season.<ref>{{cite web|title=PAOK the only unbeaten European league champions|url=http://www.agonasport.com/agonasport-allnews/paok-the-only-unbeaten-european-league-champions|work=agonasport.com|author=Shaun Nicolaides|date=8 May 2019|access-date=23 July 2019}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

On 11 May, PAOK won the [[Greek Football Cup|Greek Cup]] for [[2018–19 Greek Football Cup|third consecutive year]], defeating [[AEK Athens F.C.|AEK]] 1–0.<ref>{{cite web|title=2019 Greek Cup final AEK–PAOK 0–1 (11/5/2019)|url=http://sdna.gr/podosfairo/kypello-elladas/match-report/596665/paok-aek|language=el|work=sdna.gr|author=Eleni Mpountou|date=11 May 2019|access-date=15 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Akpom seals PAOK's first ever double|url=http://www.ekathimerini.com/240389/article/ekathimerini/sports/akpom-seals-paoks-first-ever-double|work=ekathimerini.com|author=George Georgakopoulos|date=11 May 2019|access-date=15 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Three-peat PAOK|url=http://www.agonasport.com/agonasport-allnews/three-peat-paok|work=agonasport.com|author=Graham Wood|date=11 May 2019|access-date=23 July 2019|archive-date=23 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723155830/https://www.agonasport.com/agonasport-allnews/three-peat-paok|url-status=dead}}</ref> This was the third consecutive Greek Cup [[2019 Greek Football Cup Final|final]] against the same opponent and it was held for second consecutive year at the [[Olympic Stadium of Athens]] (AEK home ground at the time). The [[Video assistant referee]] (VAR) was used for the first time in [[Football in Greece|Greek football]] and in a Greek Cup final. The winning goal came in the 45th minute with an overhead kick of [[Chuba Akpom]]. [[Dimitris Pelkas]] provided the assist. With this Greek Cup victory, PAOK FC achieved a domestic [[Double (association football)|Double]] for first time in their history.

[[Vieirinha]] was named MVP of the Season.<ref>{{cite web|title=André Vieirinha voted 11888 MVP of 2018-19 season|url=https://www.paokfc.gr/en/nea/20190612-11888-mvp-tis-sezon-2018-19-o-andre-vieirinha/|language=en|work=paokfc.gr|author=|date=12 June 2019}}</ref>

====2020–21 Greek Cup winners and UEFA Europa Conference League quarter-finalists====
On 22 May 2021, under Uruguayan manager and fan favorite [[Pablo García (Uruguayan footballer, born 1977)|Pablo García]], PAOK won their eighth [[Greek Football Cup|Greek Cup]] title, beating [[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]] 2–1<ref>{{cite web|title=Krmencik's late strike gives PAOK its eighth Greek Cup|url=http://www.ekathimerini.com/sports/1161636/krmencik-s-late-strike-gives-paok-its-eighth-greek-cup-images/|work=ekathimerini.com|author=George Georgakopoulos|date=23 May 2021|access-date=24 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The habit that became an addiction!|url=http://www.paokfc.gr/en/news/20210522-i-sunitheia-pu-egine-latreia/|work=paokfc.gr|date=23 May 2021|access-date=24 May 2021}}</ref> in the [[2021 Greek Football Cup Final|final]] held at the [[Athens Olympic Stadium]] with [[Michael Krmenčík]] scoring the winner in the 90th minute.And PAOK conquered the [[Greek Football Cup|Greek Cup]] for 8th time in the history of the club. In the [[2021–22 PAOK FC season|2021–22 season]], PAOK reached the quarter-finals of the inaugural [[UEFA Conference League]], losing 1–3 on aggregate to [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]]. On 21 May 2022, PAOK lost 1–0<ref>{{cite web|title=Panathinaikos ends eight-year trophy drought lifting the Greek Cup|url=http://www.ekathimerini.com/sports/1185019/panathinaikos-ends-eight-year-trophy-drought-lifting-the-greek-cup/|work=ekathimerini.com|author=George Georgakopoulos|date=22 May 2022|access-date=29 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Inglorious finale to an incredible season|url=http://www.paokfc.gr/en/news/20220521-adoxo-finale-se-mia-apithani-sezon/|work=paokfc.gr|date=21 May 2022|access-date=29 June 2022}}</ref> to [[Panathinaikos F.C.|Panathinaikos]] in the [[2021–22 Greek Football Cup|Greek Cup]] [[2022 Greek Football Cup Final|final]] which was held at the [[Olympic Stadium of Athens]].

'''2022–23 [[2022–23 Greek Football Cup|Greek Cup]] final disappointment and early European exit'''

The [[2022–23 PAOK FC season|2022–23 season]] started with an early elimination in the UECL 2nd Qualifying Round to [[PFC Levski Sofia|Levski Sofia]] and a slow start in the league, being 5th at the end of October. However, the team resurged and entered the play–offs as title contenders, but, in a repeat of the previous season, failed to live up to expectations and finished 4th, 16 points below the top. The team's cup run was stopped at the [[2023 Greek Football Cup final|final]] against AEK Athens, behind closed doors at the [[Panthessaliko Stadium]], losing 2–0 even though AEK Athens received an early red card in the game.

====2023–24 Greek Championship and UEFA Conference League quarter-finalists====
{{football squad on pitch|align=left
|  GK =  '''[[Dominik Kotarski|Kotarski]]'''
|  LB =  '''[[Abdul Baba Rahman|Baba]]'''
| LCB =  '''[[Konstantinos Koulierakis|Koulierakis]]'''
| RCB =  '''[[Tomasz Kędziora|Kędziora]]'''
|  RB =  '''[[Joan Sastre (footballer)|Sastre]]'''
| RCM =  '''[[Soualiho Meïté|Meïté]]'''
| LCM =  '''[[Stefan Schwab|Schwab]]'''
| LW =  '''[[Taison]]'''
| RW =  '''[[Andrija Živković|Živković]]'''
| SS =  '''[[Giannis Konstantelias|Konstantelias]]'''
| CF =  '''[[Brandon Thomas (footballer)|Brandon]]'''
| caption = PAOK starting XI in the 2023–24 season ([[Magomed Ozdoyev|Ozdoyev]], [[Kiril Despodov|Despodov]] and [[Thomas Murg|Murg]] were also first-team regulars) 
}}
{{For| the entire season results| 2023–24 PAOK FC season}}

The 2023–24 season started with new signings in the summer window, such as [[Kiril Despodov]]. The team managed to suffice in the qualifying rounds of the Conference League, tightly beating [[Beitar Jerusalem F.C.|Beitar Jerusalem]] and topping [[HNK Hajduk Split]] and [[Heart of Midlothian F.C.|Hearts]] in the 2nd, 3rd and play–off qualifying rounds respectively. In the group stage, the team defeated [[Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi|HJK]] before scoring a memorable home victory at an atmospheric Toumba Stadium against [[2021–22 UEFA Europa League|2022]] Europa League winners [[Eintracht Frankfurt]] 2–1 on injury time, a feat which the club would repeat against [[Aberdeen F.C.|Aberdeen]] in [[Pittodrie Stadium|Pittodrie]], followed by a draw against Aberdeen at home.

In March, PAOK played [[GNK Dinamo Zagreb|Dinamo Zagreb]] at the [[Stadion Maksimir|Maksimir Stadium]] for the competition's round of 16, suffering a 2–0 defeat. However, in the return leg, PAOK managed an impressive 5–1 comeback, qualifying to the quarterfinals with a score of 5–3 on aggregate. The [[2023–24 UEFA Conference League]] run ended in the quarter-finals where PAOK played against [[Club Brugge KV|Club Brugge]]. In the first leg, PAOK lost 1–0. They didn't manage to make up for the loss in the second leg, where PAOK lost 0–2.

In [[2023–24 PAOK FC season|2023–24 season]], PAOK after finishing first in the regular season, managed to remain on top after the conclusion of the play-offs winning their fourth [[Greek Championship]] on a remarkable fashion.<ref>{{cite web |title=PAOK wins the most dramatic Super League Greek championship |url=https://www.ekathimerini.com/sports/1239174/paok-wins-the-most-dramatic-super-league-championship/ |website=ekathimerini |access-date=20 May 2024}}</ref> PAOK defeated all their major rivals ([[AEK Athens F.C.|AEK]], [[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]], [[Panathinaikos F.C.|Panathinaikos]] and [[Aris Thessaloniki F.C.|Aris]]) in the last four matches, winning against the three [[Greek league|league]] contenders from [[Athens metropolitan area|Athens]] at [[Toumba Stadium|home]] and clinching the title with a 1–2 away victory over [[Derby of Thessaloniki|city rivals]] [[Aris Thessaloniki F.C.|Aris]] at the [[Kleanthis Vikelidis Stadium]] on 19 May 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paokfc.gr/en/news/20240520-kamaroste-ton/|title=Time to be proud|website=paokfc.gr|date=20 May 2024|accessdate=20 May 2024}}</ref>

== Crest and colours ==

=== Crest ===
The first emblem of [[PAOK]] depicted a four-leaf clover and a horseshoe. The leaves were green and above them were the initials of the word "PAOK". Kostas Koemtzopoulos, one of PAOK's founding members, came up with this idea, inspired by his favourite brand of cigarettes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.paokfc.gr/en/history-2/hall-of-fame/|title=Milestones|work=paokfc.gr}}</ref>

On 20 March 1929,  Enosis Konstantinoupoliton Thessalonikis (A.E.K.) was dissolved and absorbed by PAOK and a mournful version of the [[double-headed eagle]] with the wings closed instead of stretched, indicating the grief for the [[Greek refugees|lost homelands]], was adopted as the club's new emblem.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.acpaok.gr/el/page/9-istoria |title=Ιστορία|language=el|work=acpaok.gr|access-date=24 July 2019}}</ref>

On 11 June 2013, under the presidency of [[Ivan Savvidis]], a golden outline was added to the crest, as a symbol of the club's [[Byzantine Greeks|Byzantine]] heritage.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.contra.gr/Soccer/Hellas/Superleague/paok/to-neo-logotypo-toy-paok.2290771.html|title=Το νέο λογότυπο του ΠΑΟΚ|trans-title=PAOK's new logo|language=el|work=contra.gr|author=Chrisanthos Dovletoglou|date=11 June 2013|access-date=22 June 2017|archive-date=24 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180824034132/https://www.contra.gr/Soccer/Hellas/Superleague/paok/to-neo-logotypo-toy-paok.2290771.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oldfootball.gr/istoria-ppodosfairou/istoria-shmatwn/item/40-2016-02-06-13-14-12.html|title=Η ιστορία του σήματος του ΠΑΟΚ|trans-title=PAOK logo history|language=el|work=oldfootball.gr|author=Kostas Pallis|date=6 February 2016|access-date=14 October 2019|archive-date=14 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014154244/http://www.oldfootball.gr/istoria-ppodosfairou/istoria-shmatwn/item/40-2016-02-06-13-14-12.html}}</ref>

During the 2018–19 season, the first emblem was used on the third kit.

=== Colours ===

The club's colours have always been black and white, black for the sorrow related to countless thousands of [[Greek refugees]] who were forced to leave the land their ancestors had been living in for centuries ([[Asia Minor]], [[Eastern Thrace]], [[Pontus (region)|Pontus]], [[Caucasus]]) and white for the hope of a new beginning that came with settling in a new home.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forzaonline.gr/news/kathe-fanela-mia-istoria-se-aspro-kai-mavro-fonto/|title=Κάθε φανέλα, μια ιστορία, σε άσπρο και μαύρο φόντο|trans-title=Each shirt comes with a story in black and white background|language=el|work=forzaonline.gr|author=Stavros Sountoulidis|date=16 August 2019|access-date=14 October 2019}}</ref> PAOK's traditional kit features a black and white vertical striped shirt, combined with black or white shorts and socks. Various types of shirts were used throughout the club's history and the most common alternatives were those with thinner or wider stripes, the all-black one and the all-white one.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://inpaok.com/298575/όλες-οι-117-φανέλες-παοκ-pic/ |title=Όλες οι 117 φανέλες ΠΑΟΚ!|trans-title=All 117 PAOK shirts|language=el|work=inpaok.com|author=Thodoros Chastas|date=8 March 2016|access-date=24 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.contra.gr/podosfairo/photostory-oi-emfaniseis-toy-paok-stin-a-ethniki.7226147.html|title=PHOTOSTORY: Οι εμφανίσεις του ΠΑΟΚ στην Α' Εθνική|trans-title=PAOK kits in National League|language=el|work=contra.gr|author=Manos Androulakis|date=23 September 2014|access-date=14 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.gazzetta.gr/weekend-journal/article/847842/retro-stories-oi-faneles-toy-paok|title=Retro stories: Οι φανέλες του ΠΑΟΚ!|trans-title=PAOK shirts|language=el|work=gazzetta.gr|author=Stavros Sountoulidis|date=20 December 2015|access-date=14 October 2019}}</ref> Over the years, several other colours were used on the [[Third jersey|3rd kit]], such as grey, silver, blue, purple, orange and red.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.gazzetta.gr/podosfairo/article/369365-enas-paok-me-alla-xromata…-pics|title=Ένας ΠΑΟΚ με άλλα χρώματα…|trans-title=PAOK alternative kits|language=el|work=gazzetta.gr|date=7 February 2013|access-date=14 October 2019}}</ref>

==== Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors ====
The current kit manufacturer is [[Macron (sportswear)|''Macron'']], a collaboration that started in July 2015 and was renewed twice until 2027.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.paokfc.gr/en/news/paok-kit-sponsor-macron/|title=PAOK initiate collaboration with Macron|work=paokfc.gr|date=11 July 2015|access-date=16 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.paokfc.gr/en/news/20181221-ananeosi-sunergasias-gia-paok-kai-macron/|title=PAOK and Macron extend their partnership|work=paokfc.gr|date=21 December 2018|access-date=16 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.paokfc.gr/en/news/20230322-paok-kai-macron-mazi-mexri-to-2027/|title=PAOK and Macron renew partnership until 2027|work=paokfc.gr|date=22 March 2023|access-date=23 March 2023}}</ref> ''Stoiximan'', a Greek [[online gambling]] company, is the shirt sponsor since June 2017, with the sponsorship deal extended twice and set to last until 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paokfc.gr/en/news/20221104-paok-kai-stoiximan-mazi-os-to-2025/|title=PAOK and Stoiximan together until 2025|work=paokfc.gr|date=4 November 2022|access-date=4 November 2022}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
!Period
!Kit manufacturer
!Shirt sponsor
!Shirt sponsorship deal
|-
| 1972–1975 || [[Umbro]] || rowspan=5 | —
|-
| 1975–1977 || [[Adidas]]
|-
| 1977–1980 || [[Umbro]]
|-
| 1980–1981 || [[Asics|Asics Tiger]]
|-
| 1981–1983 || rowspan=3 | [[Puma SE|Puma]]
|-
| 1983–1984 || [[Suzuki]]
|-
| 1984–1985 || Persika (carpet factory) || 5M [[Modern drachma|Dr.]] for 1 year
|-
| 1985–1986 || rowspan=3 | [[Asics|Asics Tiger]] || [[Doperman]] Fashion
|-
| 1986–1987 || Persika
|-
| 1987–1988 || [[OPAP#OPAP's games|PRO-PO]]
|-
| 1988–1989 || [[Asics]] || rowspan=2 | [[Coplam]] (doors and windows)
|-
| 1989–1990 || rowspan=2 | [[Adidas]]
|-
| 1990–1991 || rowspan=2 | [[AGNO]] (dairy industry)
|-
| 1991–1992 || rowspan=2 | [[Diadora]]
|-
| 1992–1993 || [[Nissan]]
|-
| 1993–1995 || ABM<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.abmdiffusion.it/paok-salonicco/|title=PAOK Salonicco photogallery|language=it|work=abmdiffusion.it|access-date=24 July 2019}}</ref> || | —
|-
| 1995–1996 || rowspan=2 | [[Puma SE|Puma]] || [[Astir Insurance]] 
|-
| 1996–1997 || [[National Bank of Greece|Ethniki Insurance]]
|-
| 1997–2002 ||rowspan=4| [[Adidas]] || [[General Bank of Greece|General Bank]]
|-
| 2002–2003 || Oikos [[Missias]] (telesales)
|-
| 2003–2005 || [[Hellenic Petroleum|EKO]]
|-
| 2005–2006 || [[Egnatia Insurance]]
|-
| 2006–2007 || rowspan=3 | [[Puma SE|Puma]]|| —
|-
| 2007–2010 || [[DEPA]] || €2.9m for 2.5 years<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.contra.gr/podosfairo/chorigos-sti-fanela-i-depa.6800229.html|title=Χορηγός στη φανέλα η ΔΕΠΑ|trans-title=DEPA is the new shirt sponsor|language=el|work=contra.gr|author=Sakis Ginas|date=3 January 2008|access-date=16 October 2019}}</ref>
|-
| 2010–2012 || rowspan=3 | [[OPAP#OPAP's games|Pame Stoixima]] ||rowspan=3 | €7.2m for 5 years<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.newsbomb.gr/sports/story/18218/o-opap-kai-epishma-chorhgos-toy-paok|title=Ο ΟΠΑΠ και επίσημα χορηγός του ΠΑΟΚ|trans-title=OPAP officially introduced as PAOK sponsor|language=el|work=newsbomb.gr|date=4 January 2011|access-date=16 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.sportandbusiness.gr/athlitikibiomixania/item/18007-παοκ-με-τον-οπαπ-στην-φανέλα-και-φέτος|title=ΠΑΟΚ: Με τον ΟΠΑΠ στην φανέλα και φέτος|trans-title=OPAP shirt sponsorship extended for another year|language=el|work=sportandbusiness.gr|date=19 August 2013|access-date=16 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.skai.gr/news/sports/pos-moirazetai-stis-pae-tis-super-league-i-xorigia-tou-opap|title=Πώς μοιράζεται στις ΠΑΕ της Super League η χορηγία του ΟΠΑΠ|trans-title=How the OPAP sponsorship is split between the Superleague teams|language=el|work=skai.gr|date=24 June 2015|access-date=16 October 2019}}</ref>
|-
| 2012–2013 || [[Umbro]] 
|-
| 2013–2015 || [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]] 
|-
| 2015–2017 || rowspan=2 | [[Macron (sportswear)|Macron]] || [[Sportingbet]]<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.paokfc.gr/en/news/20150922-i-sportingbet-xrusos-xorigos-tis-pae-paok/|title=Sportingbet become PAOK FC ''Golden Partner''|work=paokfc.gr|date=22 September 2015|access-date=16 October 2019}}</ref> ||€2.4m for 2 years<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.sdna.gr/podosfairo/superleague/article/112529/giati-o-paok-epelekse-sportingbet|title=Γιατί ο ΠΑΟΚ επέλεξε Sportingbet|language=el|work=sdna.gr|author=Stavros Kolkas|date=10 September 2015|access-date=16 October 2019}}</ref>
|-
| 2017– ||[[Stoiximan]]<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.paokfc.gr/nea/20170630-i-stoiximan-megalos-xorigos-tis-pae-paok/|title=Η Stoiximan Μεγάλος Χορηγός της ΠΑΕ ΠΑΟΚ|language=el|work=paokfc.gr|date=30 June 2017|access-date=16 October 2019}}</ref> || €5.4m for 3 years<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.sdna.gr/podosfairo/superleague/article/346142/ayto-einai-deal-toy-paok-me-ti-stoiximangr|title=Αυτό είναι το deal του ΠΑΟΚ με τη Stoiximan.gr|language=el|work=sdna.gr|date=30 June 2017|access-date=16 October 2019}}</ref>
|}

==Facilities==

===Toumba Stadium===
PAOK's current home ground is [[Toumba Stadium]], which was built in 1959. During the years, this artifact of modern architecture has been used as an owned country house by fellow citizens of Thessaloniki, commemorating the actual roots of this great club.<ref name="Home Ground"/><ref name="Toumba Stadium"/><ref name="Toumba"/>

===New Toumba Stadium project===

PAOK administration have already presented to the Greek public authorities an architecture study of a new at [[Toumba Stadium]]. The [[Greece|Greek]] Council of State (CoS), the country's supreme court, in April 2022 approved a proposal to set up the complete redevelopment of Toumba Stadium, with the CoS deeming legal a draft Presidential Decree concerning the approval of a Special Urban Plan for the district of [[Toumba]], where the venue is located. On 21 June 2022, PAOK has formalized the beginning of a collaboration with a team consisting of domestic engineering and consulting firm SALFO and global architectural design company [[Populous (company)|Populous]] to deliver the project.<ref>{{cite web|title=A historic day|trans-title =|url=http://www.paokfc.gr/en/news/20220621-mia-istoriki-mera/|language=|work=paokfc.gr|author=|date=21 June 2022|access-date=5 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Populous Appointed as Lead Architect for New PAOK FC Stadium|trans-title =|url=http://www.populous.com/populous-appointed-as-lead-architect-for-new-paok-fc-stadium|language=|work=populous.com|author=|date=22 June 2022|access-date=5 July 2022}}</ref> It is estimated that PAOK will be granted a building permit in 2023 and the new stadium will be completed by 2026 and will have a capacity of 41,926 spectators.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Θεσσαλονίκη: "Νέα Τούμπα" με υπόγεια Κλεάνθους και πάρκινγκ |url=https://www.typosthes.gr/athlitika/209282_thessaloniki-nea-toympa-me-ypogeia-kleanthoys-kai-parkingk |access-date=2023-02-21 |website=Typosthes.gr |language=el-GR}}</ref> PAOK would probably move to [[Kaftanzoglio Stadium]] until the new Stadium is built.

New [[Toumba Stadium]] project plans present some significant changes to the original stadium, notably a giant roof covering the entire stadium which counters a common criticism of the current ground regarding exposure to weather and elements outside of Gates 1 and 2. The existing stands would be demolished and reconstructed, moving closer to the pitch and eliminating the distance from the former running track.
However, as of early 2024, the project has been in a continuous stalemate.

<gallery caption="" widths="120px" heights="120px">
File:Thessalonioki, Stadium of PAOK - panoramio.jpg|[[Toumba Stadium]]
File:Tumba stadium - panoramio.jpg|External view
File:Paok-spartak (2).jpg|Inside view
File:Paok-Ajax-toumpa.jpg|Inside view
File:PAOK Mannschaftbus.jpg|PAOK FC bus
</gallery>

===Training ground===

[[PAOK FC Sport Center]] is the training ground of the first team and [[PAOK Academy|Academy]], located in [[Nea Mesimvria]] area of [[Thessaloniki (regional unit)|Thessaloniki]]. The construction started under the presidency of [[Theodoros Zagorakis]].<ref name="Training Center"/><ref name="Αθλητικό Κέντρο ΠΑΟΚ"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.paokfc.gr/en/paok-academy-en/philosophy/intro/|title=PAOK Academy|work=paokfc.gr}}</ref>

===New Thermi Training Center===
On 19 January 2024, a blessing of the land where the club's new training center will be built took place. The newly acquired plot of land is located on the 8th road of the [[Tagarades]] farmland in the [[Communities and Municipalities of Greece|community]] of the [[Thermi|Thermi municipality]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The blessing of PAOK's new training center [video]|trans-title =|url=https://www.paokfc.gr/en/news/20240119-agiasmos-ektasis-neou-proponitikou-kentrou-pae-paok/|language=|work=paokfc.gr|author=|date=19 January 2024}}</ref>

== Supporters ==
{{see also|Gate 4}}

[[File:Paok-spartak (11).jpg|thumb|left|PAOK fans in Gate 4]]
[[File:Toumba-Stadium7.jpg|thumb|Big shirt in Toumba stadium]]

PAOK FC is the most widely supported football club in [[Northern Greece]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gazzetta.gr/football/superleague/2415716/ereyna-alco-gia-podosfairo-sti-boreia-ellada-i-protia-toy-paok|title=Ερευνα Alco για το ποδόσφαιρο στη Βόρεια Ελλάδα: Η πρωτιά του ΠΑΟΚ (Δείγμα: 1,000)|trans-title =ALCO research on football in Northern Greece|work=gazzetta.gr|author=|date=1 February 2025|access-date=3 February 2025}}</ref> and with the 3rd largest fanbase in the country, according to the latest polls and researches.<ref name="ALCO">{{cite web|url=https://www.ethnos.gr/athlitismos/152232_open-ereyna-gia-elliniko-podosfairo-poia-omada-ypostirizoyn-oi-ellines-filathloi|title= OPEN έρευνα για το ελληνικό ποδόσφαιρο: Ποια ομάδα υποστηρίζουν οι Ελληνες φίλαθλοι - Πανελλαδική δημοσκόπηση της ALCO για το (Δείγμα: 2,000)|trans-title =ALCO nationwide poll conducted for OPEN TV channel|language=el|work=ethnos.gr|author=|date=5 April 2021|access-date=5 April 2021}}</ref><ref name="Metron Analysis">{{cite web|url=http://www.sdna.gr/podosfairo/article/23312/o-opadikos-xartis-tis-elladas|title= Ο οπαδικός χάρτης της Ελλάδας - Πανελλαδική δημοσκόπηση της Metron Analysis για το SDNA (Δείγμα: 1,402)|trans-title =Metron Analysis nationwide poll conducted for SDNA sports website|language=el|work=sdna.gr|author=Sotiris Milios|date=17 March 2015|access-date=5 July 2017}}</ref><ref name="Palmos Analysis">{{cite web|url=https://tvxs.gr/news/ellada/polites-bromiko-podosfairo-ftaine-oi-paragontes|title=Δημοσκόπηση της Palmos Analysis για το Tvxs (Δείγμα: 1,010)|trans-title =Palmos Analysis poll conducted for Tvxs news website|language=el|work=tvxs.gr|date=30 November 2014|access-date=11 October 2019}}</ref><ref name="University of Macedonia">{{cite web|url=http://www.kathimerini.gr/791452/article/epikairothta/a8lhtismos/apa3iwmeno-to-ellhniko-podosfairo|title=Ερευνα για το ελληνικό επαγγελματικό ποδόσφαιρο από το Πανεπιστήμιο Μακεδονίας για λογαριασμό του ΣΚΑΪ (Δείγμα: 1,006)|trans-title =University of Macedonia research on greek professional football conducted for SKAI TV channel|language=el|work=kathimerini.gr|author=Thanos Mplounas|date=11 November 2014|access-date=11 October 2019}}</ref><ref name="gazzetta.gr poll">{{cite web|url=http://www.gazzetta.gr/article/521539/ti-elavan-oles-oi-omades-sto-opadopsifisma-pics|title=Τι έλαβαν όλες οι ομάδες στη μεγαλύτερη απογραφή που έγινε ποτέ από ένα αθλητικό website (Δείγμα: 65,857)|trans-title =Results of the biggest poll ever conducted by a sports website|language=el|work=gazzetta.gr|date=4 July 2013|access-date=11 October 2019}}</ref>

PAOK's traditional fanbase comes from the city of [[Thessaloniki]], where the club is based, as well as from the rest of [[Macedonia (Greece)|Macedonia region]] and Northern Greece. They also have fans all over the country and in the [[Greek Diaspora]] (Germany, Australia, USA, etc.). Research by [[Marca (newspaper)|Marca]] in August 2018 reported that PAOK are the most popular Greek football team on [[social media]].<ref name="Marca">{{cite web|title=The most popular teams on social media in Europe|url=http://www.marca.com/en/football/real-madrid/album/2018/08/22/5b7d454e22601d18428b463b_4.html|work=marca.com|date=23 August 2018|access-date=14 October 2019}}</ref><ref name="Marca PAOK">{{cite web|title=PAOK are the most popular team in Greece|url=http://www.paokfc.gr/en/news/20180823-dimofilesteri-omada-stin-elladao-paok/|work=paokfc.gr|date=23 August 2018|access-date=11 October 2019}}</ref><ref name="social media">{{cite web|url=http://www.gazzetta.gr/weekend-journal/article/1279196/i-paok-mania-sta-social-media-pics-vids|title=Η ΠΑΟΚ-mania στα social media!|language=el|work=gazzetta.gr|author=Stavros Sountoulidis|date=13 October 2018|access-date=10 October 2019}}</ref>

[[Toumba Stadium]] is infamous for its hostile atmosphere, a factor that led to the attribution of the Stadium as "'''The Black Hell'''".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1066879-top-10-most-hostile-football-stadiums|title=10 Most Hostile World Football Stadiums|work=bleacherreport.com|author=Allan Jiang|date=15 February 2012|access-date=24 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/european-football-best-atmospheres-ranked/bltd8788e5f19e26166|title=San Siro, Anfield and European football's best atmospheres - ranked|work=goal.com|author=Mark Doyle, Richard Martin|date=16 May 2023|access-date=17 May 2023}}</ref> On high-profile encounters, when the players walk out of the tunnel, the song [[Hells Bells (song)|Hells Bells]] by [[AC/DC]] is heard from the stadium's speakers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.inpaok.com/137807/παίκτες-του-παοκwelcome-to-the-hell/|title="Welcome to the hell"|language=el|work=inpaok.com|author=Manos Tsalgatidis|date=5 October 2013|access-date=13 October 2019}}</ref> The notorious Gate 4 is home to many PAOK organized supporters' groups from around the globe, with the homonymous ''[[Gate 4]]'' fan club which was founded in April 1976, being the most familiar everywhere.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.coelispex.eu/sports/soccer/paok-an-endless-black-and-white-devotion/|title=PAOK: an endless black and white devotion|work=coelispex.eu|author=Aegletes Coelispex|date=7 October 2018|access-date=13 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gazzetta.gr/football/article/909048/magkia-moy-poy-eimai-paoktsis|title="Μαγκιά μου που είμαι ΠΑΟΚτσής..."!|trans-title=Proud to be a PAOK fan|language=el|work=gazzetta.gr|author=Stavros Sountoulidis|date=20 April 2016|access-date=12 October 2019}}</ref> The supporters' group from [[Neapoli, Thessaloniki|Neapoli]] district of Thessaloniki that was founded in 1963 is the oldest one.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.paokmania.gr/stiles/arxeio/aspromavres-istories/47892-αφιέρωμα-στον-σφ-παοκ-νεάπολης-μπέλλος|title=Αφιέρωμα στον Σύνδεσμο Φίλων ΠΑΟΚ Νεάπολης "Μπέλλος"|trans-title=Neapoli fan club 'Mpellos'|language=el|work=paokmania.gr|date=21 June 2013|access-date=12 October 2019}}</ref> One of the biggest banners in the world was created by PAOK's fan club in [[Michaniona]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.protothema.gr/sports/article/355400/video-to-megalutero-pano-tis-europis-anikei-ston-paok/|title=Το μεγαλύτερο πανό της Ευρώπης ανήκει στον ΠΑΟΚ!|trans-title=Europe's biggest banner belongs to PAOK!|language=el|date=21 February 2014|work=protothema.gr|access-date=5 July 2017}}</ref>

'''No 12''' jersey is dedicated to the fans, the symbolic 12th man on the pitch. It was permanently retired by the club on 16 August 2000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.in.gr/2000/08/16/sports/o-12os-paiktis-toy-paok-apektise-kai-fanela/|title=Ο 12ος… παίκτης του ΠΑΟΚ απέκτησε και φανέλα|trans-title=PAOK's 12th player got a jersey|language=el|work=in.gr|date=16 August 2000|access-date=13 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.inpaok.com/587233/otan-aposyrthike-i-fanela-me-to-12/|title=Όταν αποσύρθηκε η φανέλα "12"|trans-title=When No 12 jersey was retired|language=el|work=inpaok.com|author=Michalis Koutsogiannis|date=16 August 2019|access-date=13 October 2019}}</ref>

=== Vale of Tempe tragedy (1999) ===

3,000 [[PAOK]] fans descended to the [[Olympic Stadium of Athens]] for the game against [[Panathinaikos FC|Panathinaikos]] on 3 October 1999. A few hours later, on its way back to [[Thessaloniki]], the double-decker bus of the [[Eleftherio-Kordelio|Kordelio]] fan club collided with a truck and fell into a ditch in the [[Vale of Tempe]], [[Thessaly]]. The aftermath of the bus crash was devastating. Six [[PAOK]] fans lost their lives ('''Kyriakos Lazaridis''', '''Christina Tziova''', '''Anastasios Themelis''', '''Charalampos Zapounidis''', '''Georgios Ganatsios''', '''Dimitris Andreadakis''') and many others were injured. A [[roadside memorial]] was erected at the site of the crash bearing the following inscription: "''Their love for PAOK brought them here, left them here and went beyond''".<ref name="4.10.1999 Tempi"/><ref name="Η μαύρη μέρα του ΠΑΟΚ"/>

=== Supporters friendships ===
*{{flagicon|SRB}} [[FK Partizan|Partizan]]
*{{flagicon|RUS}} [[CSKA Moscow]]
*{{flagicon|GRE}} [[OFI Crete F.C.|OFI]]

PAOK fans maintain a strong friendship with the supporters of Serbian club [[FK Partizan|Partizan]], the ''[[Grobari]]''. On many occasions, fans from both clubs traveled to watch each other's games.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thessnews.gr/article/24080/paok-%E2%80%93-partizan-etsi-xekinisan-ola|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180630071514/http://www.thessnews.gr/article/24080/paok-%E2%80%93-partizan-etsi-xekinisan-ola|url-status=live|archive-date=30 June 2018|title=ΠΑΟΚ – Παρτιζάν: Έτσι ξεκίνησαν όλα|trans-title=How it all started|language=el|work=thessnews.gr|date=20 February 2017|access-date=11 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gazzetta.gr/weekend-journal/article/989548/idio-hroma-idia-thriskeia-idio-aima|title=Ίδιο χρώμα, ίδια θρησκεία, ίδιο αίμα!|trans-title =Same colour, same religion, same blood!|language=el|work=gazzetta.gr|author=Stavros Sountoulidis|date=8 October 2016|access-date=24 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gazzetta.gr/football/article/613212/i-progonos-tis-aek-kai-toy-paok|title=Μία Πολίτικη ιστορία|trans-title =A Besiktas fan article on Constantinople's football history|language=el|work=gazzetta.gr|author=Vasilis Sambrakos|date=14 May 2014}}</ref>

A good rapport exists between PAOK and [[OFI Crete F.C.|OFI Crete]] fans, a friendship that started in October 1987 when OFI faced [[Atalanta B.C.|Atalanta]] for [[1987–88 European Cup Winners' Cup|1987–88 Cup Winners' Cup]] at [[Toumba Stadium]] and numerous PAOK fans supported the Cretans.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gentikoule.gr/san-simera/15098-san-simera-kapos-etsi-xekinise-i-filia-ofi-paok|title=Κάπως έτσι ξεκίνησε η φιλία ΟΦΗ–ΠΑΟΚ|trans-title =How OFI–PAOK friendship started|language=el|work=gentikoule.gr|author=Manolis Sarris|date=10 October 2011|access-date=11 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.contra.gr/podosfairo/paok-ofi-mia-alithini-filia.7071869.html|title=ΠΑΟΚ–ΟΦΗ, μία αληθινή φιλία|trans-title =A true friendship|language=el|work=contra.gr|author=Chrisanthos Dovletoglou|date=28 September 2013|access-date=11 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.onsports.gr/podosfairo/superleague/story/174503/didaxan-podosfairiko-politismo-oi-filoi-ofh-kai-paok|title=Δίδαξαν ποδοσφαιρικό πολιτισμό οι φίλοι ΟΦΗ και ΠΑΟΚ|trans-title = OFI and PAOK fans showed what football fan culture means|language=el|work=onsports.gr|author=Tassos Vardakis|date=13 February 2012|access-date=}}</ref> A mutual respect stands between PAOK and [[Panionios F.C.|Panionios]] fans.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.onsports.gr/podosfairo/superleague/story/266649/panionios-paok-yparxei-ki-ayto-to-podosfairo|title=Πανιώνιος - ΠΑΟΚ: Υπάρχει κι αυτό το ποδόσφαιρο...|trans-title =|language=el|work=onsports.gr|author=|date=5 November 2012|access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportime.gr/podosfairo/paok/i-panthires-evalan-mesa-tous-paoktsides/|title=Οι "Πάνθηρες" έβαλαν μέσα τους ΠΑΟΚτσήδες!|trans-title = Panionios fans led PAOK fans inside the stadium|language=el|work=sportime.gr|author=Nikos Toskitsis|date=20 December 2019|access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sport-fm.gr/article/podosfairo/superleague1/thura-4-sebasmos-kai-euxaristw-stous-panthires/4030811|title=Θύρα 4: "Σεβασμός και ευχαριστώ στους Πάνθηρες"|trans-title = PAOK fan club ''Gate 4'' thank Panionios fan club ''Panthires''|language=el|work=sport-fm.gr|author=|date=20 December 2019|access-date=}}</ref>

=== Rivalries ===
{{further|Olympiacos–PAOK rivalry|Derby of Thessaloniki|Panathinaikos–PAOK rivalry|Double-headed eagles derby}}
[[File:PAOK - Olympiakos 1-0 (1).jpg|thumb|PAOK 1–0 Olympiacos, 2009 Greek Cup quarter-final]]

The [[Olympiacos–PAOK rivalry|rivalry between Olympiacos and PAOK]] is the fiercest intercity football rivalry in Greece and is long-standing, emerging in the 1960s, when [[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]] unsuccessfully tried to acquire [[Giorgos Koudas]] from [[PAOK]], approaching him directly without going into a negotiation with his club.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ολυμπιακός – ΠΑΟΚ: Ξετυλίγοντας το κουβάρι της κόντρας που κρατά πάνω από μισό αιώνα|trans-title=A rivalry enduring for over half a century|url=http://www.eleftherostypos.gr/sports/136392-olympiakos-paok-ksetyligontas-to-koybari-tis-kontras-poy-krata-pano-apo-miso-aiona/|language=el|work=eleftherostypos.gr|author=Vasilis Nikolopoulos|date=22 October 2017|access-date=10 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Αυτή η βεντέτα δε θα σβήσει ποτέ|trans-title=This vendetta would never fade away|url=https://www.tanea.gr/2013/11/08/sports/ayti-i-benteta-den-tha-sbisei-pote/|language=el|work=tanea.gr|author=Dimitris Moros|date=8 November 2013|access-date=4 January 2021}}</ref> A longtime heated rivalry exists between [[Derby of Thessaloniki|PAOK and local rivals Aris]].<ref>{{cite web|title=ΠΑΟΚ–Αρης. Μία διαμάχη χρόνων|trans-title=A longstanding conflict|url=http://www.thesstoday.gr/ΠΑΟΚ-Άρης-Μία-διαμάχη-χρόνων/|language=el|work=thesstoday.gr|date=8 May 2018|access-date=17 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Thessaloniki – Aris and PAOK and the tale of football artwork|url=http://www.futbolgrad.com/thessaloniki-aris-paok-football-artwork/|author=Manuel Veth|work=futbolgrad.com|date=28 August 2018|access-date=6 May 2020}}</ref> [[Panathinaikos–PAOK rivalry|Panathinaikos]] and [[Double-headed eagles derby|AEK]], [[Athens]]' two big clubs, are also considered major rivals.<ref>{{cite web|title=Τελικά τι είναι το Παναθηναϊκός–ΠΑΟΚ;|trans-title=In the end, what is Panathinaikos vs PAOK?|url=https://www.contra.gr/stiles/telika-ti-einai-to-panathinaikos-paok.7293050.html|language=el|work=contra.gr|author=Zastro|date=20 February 2016|access-date=18 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Όπου τολμούν οι Αετοί: Ίδιο έμβλημα, κοινή καταγωγή, διαφορετικοί κόσμοι|trans-title=Where Eagles dare: Same emblem, common origin, different worlds|url=https://www.sdna.gr/podosfairo/kypello-elladas/article/325716/opoy-tolmoyn-oi-aetoi-idio-emvlima-koini-katagogi|language=el|work=sdna.gr|date=6 May 2017|access-date=18 May 2020}}</ref> There are also some less intense rivalries, like those with [[Iraklis Thessaloniki FC|Iraklis]] (local conflict) and [[Athlitiki Enosi Larissa F.C.|AEL]].

==Honours==

===Domestic===
[[File:Greek Football Cup and Greek Football Championship Cup (PAOK-TV, May 2019).png|thumb|350px|The Double Trophies in 2019]]
*'''[[Super League Greece]]'''
**'''Winners (4):''' [[1975–76 Alpha Ethniki|1975–76]], [[1984–85 Alpha Ethniki|1984–85]], [[2018–19 Super League Greece|2018–19]], [[2023–24 Super League Greece|2023–24]]
*'''[[Greek Football Cup]]'''
**'''Winners (8):''' [[1971–72 Greek Football Cup|1971–72]], [[1973–74 Greek Football Cup|1973–74]], [[2000–01 Greek Football Cup|2000–01]], [[2002–03 Greek Football Cup|2002–03]], [[2016–17 Greek Football Cup|2016–17]], [[2017–18 Greek Football Cup|2017–18]], [[2018–19 Greek Football Cup|2018–19]], [[2020–21 Greek Football Cup|2020–21]]
*'''[[Double (association football)|Double]]'''
**'''Winners (1):''' [[2018–19 PAOK FC season|2018–19]]

===Continental===
* '''[[European Cup]]:'''
** Last 16 (1): [[1976–77 European Cup|1976–77]]
* '''[[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]]:'''
** Quarter-finalists (1): [[1973–74 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|1973–74]]
* '''[[UEFA Conference League]]'''
** Quarter-finalists (2): [[2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League|2021–22]], [[2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League|2023–24]]

===Regional===
*'''[[Macedonia Football Clubs Association|Macedonia FCA Championship]]:'''
**'''Winners (7):''' 1936–37, 1947–48, 1949–50, 1953–54, 1954–55, 1955–56, 1956–57
*'''Macedonia–Thrace FCA Championship:'''
**'''Winners (1):''' 1939–40

===Other===
*'''[[Football Cup of Greater Greece|Greater Greece Cup]]''' <small>(defunct)</small>
**'''Winners (1):''' 1973

==European record==
{{main|PAOK FC in European football}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; font-size:95%"
|-
! style="width:215px;"|Competition
!style="width:30px;"|{{Abbr|App|Appearances}}
! style="width:30px;"|{{Abbr|Pld|Games played}}
! style="width:30px;"|{{Abbr|W|Won}}
! style="width:30px;"|{{Abbr|D|Drawn}}
! style="width:30px;"|{{Abbr|L|Lost}}
! style="width:60px;"|{{Abbr|Goals|Goals for and against}}
|-
|align="left"|[[UEFA Champions League|European Cup / Champions League]]
|10
|32
|8
|10
|14
|45–57
|-
|align="left"|[[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup / Europa League]]
|30
|168
|65
|47
|56
|238–192
|-
|align="left"|[[UEFA Conference League]]
|3
|34
|18
|7
|9
|55–34
|-
|align="left"|[[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]]
|6
|18
|8
|5
|5
|24–23
|-
|align="left"|[[Inter-Cities Fairs Cup]]
|3
|6
|2
|0
|4
|5–17
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''52'''
|'''258'''
|'''101'''
|'''69'''
|'''88'''
|'''367–323'''
|}

<small>Last updated: 6 November 2025</small>

===UEFA Club Ranking===
{{updated|21 Aug 2025}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
! Rank !! Team !! Coeff.
|-
|49||align=left|{{Flagicon|TUR}} [[Galatasaray]]|| 41.750		
|-
|50||align=left|{{Flagicon|CZE}} [[Slavia Praha]]|| 41.000		
|-
|51||align=left|{{Flagicon|UKR}} [[Shakhtar Donetsk]]|| 40.500			
|-
|52||align=left|{{Flagicon|CZE}} [[Viktoria Plzen]]|| 39.750	
|-
|'''53'''||align=left|{{Flagicon|GRE}} '''PAOK'''||''' 39.750'''		
|-
|54||align=left|{{Flagicon|POR}} [[S.C. Braga|Braga]]|| 39.500
|-
|55||align=left|{{Flagicon|BEL}} [[KAA Gent|Gent]]|| 39.000
|-
|56||align=left|{{Flagicon|ESP}} [[Sevilla]]|| 39.000	
|-
|}

==Players==
===Current squad===
{{updated|3 March 2025}}<ref>{{cite web |title=First Team |url=https://www.paokfc.gr/en/a-omada/first-team-2-en/a-team-roster-en/|work=paokfc.gr}}</ref>

{{fs start|nonumber=|bg=000000|color=ffffff|border=FFFFFF}}
{{Fs player|no= 1|pos=GK|nat=CZE|name=[[Jiří Pavlenka]]}}
{{Fs player|no= 2|pos=MF|nat=GUI|name=[[Mady Camara]]}}
{{Fs player|no= 3|pos=DF|nat=ENG|name=[[Jonjoe Kenny]]}}
{{Fs player|no= 4|pos=DF|nat=ITA|name=[[Alessandro Vogliacco]]|other=on loan from [[Genoa CFC|Genoa]]}}
{{Fs player|no= 5|pos=DF|nat=GRE|name=[[Giannis Michailidis]]}}
{{Fs player|no= 6|pos=DF|nat=CRO|name=[[Dejan Lovren]]}}
{{Fs player|no= 7|pos=FW|nat=GRE|name=[[Giorgos Giakoumakis]]|other=on loan from [[Cruz Azul]]}}
{{Fs player|no= 8|pos=MF|nat=FRA|name=[[Soualiho Meïté]]}}
{{Fs player|no= 9|pos=FW|nat=RUS|name=[[Fyodor Chalov]]}}
{{Fs player|no=10|pos=MF|nat=GRE|name=[[Dimitrios Pelkas|Dimitris Pelkas]]}}
{{fs player|no=11|pos=MF|nat=BRA|name=[[Taison]]|other=[[Vice Captain (association football)|vice captain]]}}
{{fs player|no=14|pos=MF|nat=SRB|name=[[Andrija Živković]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|captain]]}}
{{Fs player|no=16|pos=DF|nat=POL|name=[[Tomasz Kędziora]]}}
{{Fs player|no=18|pos=MF|nat=CRO|name=[[Luka Ivanušec]]|other=on loan from [[Feyenoord]]}}
{{Fs player|no=21|pos=DF|nat=GHA|name=[[Baba Rahman]]}}
{{fs mid|nonumber=|bg=000000|color=ffffff|border=FFFFFF}}
{{Fs player|no=22|pos=MF|nat=ITA|name=[[Alessandro Bianco]]|other=on loan from [[ACF Fiorentina|Fiorentina]]}}
{{Fs player|no=23|pos=DF|nat=ESP|name=[[Joan Sastre (footballer)|Joan Sastre]]}}
{{Fs player|no=25|pos=DF|nat=GRE|name=[[Konstantinos Thymianis]]}}
{{Fs player|no=27|pos=MF|nat=RUS|name=[[Magomed Ozdoyev]]}}
{{Fs player|no=32|pos=DF|nat=SCO|name=[[Greg Taylor (Scottish footballer)|Greg Taylor]]}}
{{Fs player|no=39|pos=MF|nat=GRE|name=Dimitrios Berdos}}
{{Fs player|no=41|pos=GK|nat=GRE|name=[[Dimitrios Monastirlis]]}}
{{Fs player|no=52|pos=MF|nat=GRE|name=Dimitris Chatsidis}}
{{Fs player|no=56|pos=FW|nat=GRE|name=Anestis Mythou}}
{{Fs player|no=65|pos=MF|nat=GRE|name=[[Giannis Konstantelias]]}}
{{Fs player|no=77|pos=MF|nat=BUL|name=[[Kiril Despodov]]}}
{{Fs player|no=88|pos=GK|nat=GEO|name=[[Luka Gugeshashvili]]}}
{{Fs player|no=90|pos=DF|nat=GRE|name=[[Dimitrios Kottas]]}}
{{Fs player|no=97|pos=DF|nat=GRE|name=Dimitrios Bataoulas}}
{{Fs player|no=99|pos=GK|nat=GRE|name=[[Antonis Tsiftsis]]}}
{{Fs end}}

====Reserves and Academy====
{{main|PAOK B|PAOK Academy}}
{{Fs start|nonumber=|bg=000000|color=ffffff|border=FFFFFF}}
{{Fs player|no=33|pos=MF|nat=GRE|name=[[Dimitrios Tsopouroglou]]}}
{{Fs player|no=43|pos=MF|nat=ESP|name=Mahamadou Balde}}
{{Fs player|no=45|pos=FW|nat=GRE|name=Giannis Gitersos}}
{{Fs mid|nonumber=|bg=000000|color=ffffff|border=FFFFFF}}
{{Fs player|no=69|pos=DF|nat=GRE|name=Konstantinos Polykratis}}
{{Fs player|no=81|pos=GK|nat=GRE|name=Vasilios Nikolakoulis}}
{{Fs player|no=93|pos=MF|nat=POL|name=[[Maksymilian Sznaucner]]}}
{{Fs end}}

Source:  [https://www.paokfc.gr/a-omada/a-omada/a-team-roster/ PAOK Squad]

====Out on loan====
{{fs start|nonumber=|bg=000000|color=ffffff|border=FFFFFF}}
{{Fs player|no=20|nat=GRE|pos=MF|name=[[Christos Zafeiris]]|other=at [[SK Slavia Prague|Slavia Prague]] until 31 December 2025}}
{{fs player|no=|pos=MF|nat=ENG|name=[[Shola Shoretire]]|other=at [[PEC Zwolle]] until 30 June 2026}}
{{Fs player|no=|pos=GK|nat=GRE|name=[[Konstantinos Balomenos]]|other=at [[Anagennisi Karditsa F.C.|Anagennisi Karditsa]] until 30 June 2026}}
{{fs mid|nonumber=|bg=000000|color=ffffff|border=FFFFFF}}
{{Fs player|no=|pos=DF|nat=GRE|name=[[Lefteris Lyratzis]]|other=at [[Panserraikos FC|Panserraikos]] until 30 June 2026}}
{{Fs player|no=|pos=DF|nat=USA|name=[[Jonathan Gómez (soccer, born 2003)|Jonathan Gómez]]|other=at [[Albacete Balompié|Albacete]] until 15 July 2026}}
{{Fs end}}

===Captains (since 1959)===

[[File:Andrija Živković.jpg|thumb|180px|right|Club captain [[Andrija Živković]]]]
{|
|- valign="top"
|
{| class="wikitable alternance"
|-
! style="color:#FFFFFF; background:black;"|Name
! style="color:#FFFFFF; background:black;"|Period
|-
|{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Leandros Symeonidis]] || 1959–1969
|-
|{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Giorgos Koudas]] || 1969–1974
|-
|''Various''{{efn|[[Giorgos Koudas]], [[Stavros Sarafis]], [[Koulis Apostolidis]] and [[Giannis Gounaris]] were co-captains.}} || 1974–1980
|-
|{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Giorgos Koudas]] || 1980–1984
|-
|{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Konstantinos Iosifidis]]|| 1984–1985
|-
|{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Nikos Alavantas]] || 1985–1989
|-
|{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Georgios Skartados]] || 1989–1992
|-
|{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Alexandros Alexiou]] || 1992–1996
|-
|{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Theodoros Zagorakis]] || 1996–1998
|-
|{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Giorgos Toursounidis]] || 1998–1999
|-
|{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Kostas Frantzeskos]] || 1999–2000
|-
|{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Anastasios Katsabis]] || 2000–2002
|-
|{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Pantelis Kafes]] || 2002–2003
|}
|
{| class="wikitable alternance"
|-
! style="color:#FFFFFF; background:black;"|Name
! style="color:#FFFFFF; background:black;"|Period

|-
|{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Loukas Karadimos]] || 2003–2004
|-
|{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Dimitris Salpingidis]] || 2004–2005
|-
|{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Theodoros Zagorakis]] || 2005–2007
|-
|{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Georgios Georgiadis (footballer, born 1972)|Georgios Georgiadis]] || 2007–2008
|-
|{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Pantelis Konstantinidis]] || 2008–2009
|-
|{{flagicon|Portugal}} [[Sérgio Conceição]] || 2009–2010
|-
|{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Kostas Chalkias]] || 2010–2012
|-
|{{flagicon|Uruguay}} [[Pablo Gabriel García|Pablo García]] || 2012–2013
|-
|{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Dimitris Salpingidis]] || 2013–2014
|-
|{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Stefanos Athanasiadis]] || 2014–2017
|-
|{{flagicon|Portugal}} [[Vieirinha]]|| 2017–2025
|-
|{{flagicon|Serbia}} [[Andrija Živković]] || 2025–
|}
|}

;Notes
{{notelist}}

===MVP of the Season===
{| <ref>{{cite web |title=MVP |url=https://www.paokfc.gr/category/mvp-news/|work=paokfc.gr}}</ref>
|-
|valign="top"|
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="color:#FFFFFF; background:black;"|Year
! style="color:#FFFFFF; background:black;"|Winner
|-
|1989–90||{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Georgios Skartados]]
|-
|1990–91||{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Georgios Mitsibonas]]
|-
|1991–92||{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Alexandros Alexiou]]
|-
|1992–93||{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Alexandros Alexiou]]
|-
|1993–94||{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Alexandros Alexiou]]
|-
|1994–95||{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Alexandros Alexiou]]
|-
|1995–96||{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Paraschos Zouboulis]]
|-
|1996–97||{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Theodoros Zagorakis]]
|-
|1997–98||{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Kostas Frantzeskos]]
|-
|1998–99||{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Kostas Frantzeskos]]
|-
|1999–2000||{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Kostas Frantzeskos]]
|-
|2000–01||{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Pantelis Konstantinidis]]
|-
|2001–02||{{flagicon|CYP}} [[Ioannis Okkas]]
|-
|2002–03||{{flagicon|CYP}} [[Ioannis Okkas]]
|-
|2003–04||{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Dimitris Salpingidis]]
|}
|width="1"|&nbsp;
|valign="top"|
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="color:#FFFFFF; background:black;"|Year
! style="color:#FFFFFF; background:black;"|Winner
|-
|2004–05||{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Dimitris Salpingidis]]
|-
|2005–06||{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Dimitris Salpingidis]]
|-
|2006–07||{{flagicon|POL}} [[Marcin Mięciel]]
|-
|2007–08||{{flagicon|POR}} [[Daniel Fernandes (footballer)|Daniel Fernandes]]
|-
|2008–09||{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Kostas Chalkias]]
|-
|2009–10||{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Lino (footballer, born 1977)|Lino]]
|-
|2010–11||{{flagicon|POR}} [[Vieirinha]]
|-
|2011–12||{{flagicon|URU}} [[Pablo García (Uruguayan footballer, born 1977)|Pablo García]]
|-
|2012–13||{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Lino (footballer, born 1977)|Lino]]
|-
|2013–14||{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Lino (footballer, born 1977)|Lino]]
|-
|2014–15||{{flagicon|ALB}} [[Ergys Kaçe]]
|-
|2015–16||{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Georgios Tzavellas]]
|-
|2016–17||{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Panagiotis Glykos]]
|-
|2017–18||{{flagicon|POR}} [[Vieirinha]]
|-
|2018–19||{{flagicon|POR}} [[Vieirinha]]
|}
|width="1"|&nbsp;
|valign="top"|
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="color:#FFFFFF; background:black;"|Year
! style="color:#FFFFFF; background:black;"|Winner
|-
|2019–20||{{flagicon|CRO}} [[Josip Mišić (footballer, born 1994)|Josip Mišić]]
|-
|2020–21||{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Christos Tzolis]]
|-
|2021–22||{{flagicon|SVN}} [[Jasmin Kurtić]]
|-
|2022–23||{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Giannis Konstantelias]]
|-
|2023–24||{{flagicon|SRB}} [[Andrija Živković]]
|-
|2024–25||{{flagicon|GUI}} [[Mady Camara]]
|}
|}
Source: [https://www.paokfc.gr/nea/20250622-mvp-tis-sezon-2024-25-o-mady-camara/]
<references group="nb" />

==Management==
===Coaching staff===
[[File:Răzvan Lucescu.jpg|thumb|upright|350px|Răzvan Lucescu (pictured in 2018)]]

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan="2" style="background:black;| <span style="color:white">Coaching staff</span>
|-
|{{flagicon|ROM}} [[Răzvan Lucescu]]
|Head coach
|-
|{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Gianpaolo Castorina]]
|rowspan="3"|Assistant coaches
|-
|{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Pantelis Konstantinidis]]
|-
|{{flagicon|ROM}} [[Nicolae Constantin]]
|-
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Vangelis Lappas
|Goalkeeping coach
|-
!colspan="2" style="background:black;| <span style="color:white">Fitness coaches</span>
|-
|{{flagicon|ITA}} Matteo Spatafora
|Head of Fitness Coach
|-
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Georgios Tsonakas
|Fitness Coach
|-
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Vasilios Kanaras
|rowspan="2"|Rehabilitation Coaches
|-
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Anestis Aslanidis
|-
|{{flagicon|ROM}} Cristian Fota
|Mental Coach
|-
!colspan="3" style="background:black;| <span style="color:white">Sport management</span>
|-
|{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Christos Karipidis]]
|Technical Director
|-
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Panagiotis Tsiknas
|Deputy technical director
|-
|{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Giorgos Theodoridis]]
|Team Manager
|-
|{{flagicon|ITA}} Matteo Serra
|Head of Scout 
|-
!colspan="4" style="background:black;| <span style="color:white">Analyst department</span>|-
|-
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Kyriakos Tsitiridis
|rowspan="2"|Analyst Vis track
|-
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Ioannis Tsaniklidis
|-
|{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Ioannis Thomaidis]]
|rowspan="2"|Opponent analyst
|-
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Makis Kosmidis
|-
!colspan="2" style="background:black;| <span style="color:white">Medical department</span>
|-
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Dr. Periklis Papadopoulos
|rowspan="4"|Head of Medical Staff
|-
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Dr. Ioannis Gigis
|-
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Dr. Konstantinos Ditsios
|-
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Dr. Ioannis Rallis
|-
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Dr. Theocharis Kyriakidis
|Team Doctor
|-
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Ioanna Paspala
|Nutritionist
|-
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Nikolaos Tsirelas
|Head of Physiotherapist
|-
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Petros Nikolakoudis
|rowspan="4"|Physiotherapist
|-
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Athanasios Kapoulas
|-
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Nikolaos Mouratidis
|-
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Georgios Gannikos
|-
|}
Source: [https://www.paokfc.gr/a-omada/a-omada/a-team-texniko-epiteleio// PAOK Staff]

===Notable managers===
{{Further|List of PAOK FC managers}}
The following managers won at least one trophy when in charge of PAOK:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="color:#FFFFFF; background:black;"|Name
! style="color:#FFFFFF; background:black;"| Period
! style="color:#FFFFFF; background:black;"| Trophies
|-
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Les Shannon]]
|1971–1974
|2 [[Greek Football Cup|Greek Cups]], [[Football Cup of Greater Greece|Greater Greece Cup]]
|-
|{{flagicon|Hungary}} [[Gyula Lóránt]]
|1974–1976
|[[Super League Greece|Greek Championship]]
|-
|{{flagicon|Austria}} [[Walter Skocik]]
|1984–1986
|[[Super League Greece|Greek Championship]]
|-
|{{flagicon|Bosnia}} [[Dušan Bajević]]
|2000–2002
|[[Greek Football Cup|Greek Cup]]
|-
|{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Angelos Anastasiadis]]
|2002–2004
|[[Greek Football Cup|Greek Cup]]
|-
|{{flagicon|Serbia}} [[Vladimir Ivic]]
|2016–2017
|[[Greek Football Cup|Greek Cup]]
|-
|{{flagicon|ROM}} [[Răzvan Lucescu]]
|2017–2019, 2021–present
|2 [[Super League Greece|Greek Championships]], 2 [[Greek Football Cup|Greek Cups]]
|-
|{{flagicon|URU}} [[Pablo García (footballer, born 1977)|Pablo García]]
|2020–2021
|[[Greek Football Cup|Greek Cup]]
|-
|}

=== Club personnel ===
[[File:Ivan Savvidis.jpg|thumb|upright|220px|Chairman Ivan Savvidis]]

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="color:#FFFFFF; background:black;"|Position
! style="color:#FFFFFF; background:black;"|Name
|-
|Owner
|Dimera Group Limited Ltd
|-
|Chairman
|{{flagicon|RUS}}|{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Ivan Savvidis]]
|-
|A Vice President and CEO
|{{flagicon|RUS}} Maria Goncharova
|-
|B Vice President
|{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Aggelos Anastasiadis]]
|-
|rowspan="6"|Board of Directors
|-
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Antonis Kiourexidis
|-
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Dr Periklis Papadopoulos
|-
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Dimitris Moutsakis
|-
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Marios Tsakas
|-
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Bouloubasis Christos
|-
|General Football Advisor
|{{flagicon|POR}} [[Vieirinha]]
|-
|Football Business Manager 
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Pantelis Thomareis
|-
|General Manager of Sports Facilities 
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Giannis Dimogiannis
|-
|Commercial Director
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Evaggelos Chrysochoos
|-
|Media Director
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Giorgos Kouventidis
|-
|}
Source: [https://www.paokfc.gr/sullogos/dioikitiko-sumvoulio/// PAOK Board]

=== Chairmen history ===
{|
|- valign="top"
|
{| class="wikitable alternance"
|-
! style="color:#FFFFFF; background:black;"|Period
! style="color:#FFFFFF; background:black;"|Name
|-
|1979–1984
|{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Giorgos Pantelakis]]
|-
|1984–1985
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Petros Kalafatis
|-
|1985–1988
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Charis Savvidis
|-
|1988–1989
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Ioannis Dedeoglou
|-
|1989–1990
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Thomas Voulinos
|-
|1990
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Apostolos Alexopoulos
|-
|1990–1996
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Thomas Voulinos
|-
|1996
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Georgios Kalyvas
|-
|1996–1998
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Georgios Batatoudis
|-
|1998
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Petros Kalafatis
|-
|1998–2001
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Georgios Batatoudis
|-
|2001–2003
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Petros Kalafatis
|}
|
{| class="wikitable alternance"
|-
! style="color:#FFFFFF; background:black;"|Period
! style="color:#FFFFFF; background:black;"|Name

|-
|2003
|{{flagicon|Greece}} Georgios Batatoudis
|-
|2003
|{{flagicon|Greece}} Vasilios Sergiannidis
|-
|2003
|{{flagicon|Greece}} Ioannis Goumenos
|-
|2003
|{{flagicon|Greece}} Vasilios Pagonis
|-
|2004–2006
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Ioannis Goumenos
|-
|2006–2007
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Nikolaos Vezyrtzis
|-
|2007–2009
|{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Theodoros Zagorakis]]
|-
|2009–2010
|{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Zisis Vryzas]]
|-
|2010–2012
|{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Theodoros Zagorakis]]
|-
|2012–2014
|{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Zisis Vryzas]]
|-
|2014–2016
|{{flagicon|CYP}} Iakovos Aggelidis
|-
|2016
|{{flagicon|Slovakia}} [[Ľuboš Micheľ]]
|-
|}
|
{| class="wikitable alternance"
|-
! style="color:#FFFFFF; background:black;"|Period
! style="color:#FFFFFF; background:black;"|Name

|-
|2016–
|{{flagicon|Greece}} {{flagicon|RUS}} [[Ivan Savvidis]]
|}
|}

== Records and statistics ==
{{further|List of PAOK FC records and statistics|List of PAOK FC seasons}}

[[File:Giorgos Koudas.jpg|thumb|upright|Legendary [[Giorgos Koudas]], a powerful attacking midfielder, is the appearances recordman and second all-time goalscorer of the club.]]

=== One-club men ===

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;margin-left:1em"
! style="color:#FFFFFF; background:black;"|Player
! style="color:#FFFFFF; background:black;"|Position
! style="color:#FFFFFF; background:black;"|Debut
! style="color:#FFFFFF; background:black;"|Last match
|-
| align="left" |{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Leandros Symeonidis]]||[[Midfielder (association football)|MF]]||1 July 1954||1 July 1969
|-
| align="left" |{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Giorgos Koudas]]||[[Midfielder (association football)|MF]]||21 December 1963||26 February 1984
|-
| align="left" |{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Stavros Sarafis]]||[[Midfielder (association football)|MF]]||8 October 1967||7 June 1981
|-
| align="left" |{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Konstantinos Iosifidis]]||[[Defender (association football)|DF]]||19 September 1971||16 June 1985
|}

=== Player records ===

[[Giorgos Koudas]] holds the record for most PAOK league appearances, having played 504 matches (607 overall) from 1963 to 1984.<ref name="Koudas1"/><ref name="Koudas2"/><ref name="Koudas3"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Τα 133 γκολ του Γιώργου Κούδα στο πρωτάθλημα|trans-title =Koudas' 133 league goals|url=http://www.paokmania.gr/stiles/arxeio/aspromavres-istories/135545-ta-133-gol-tou-giorgou-koyda|language=el|work=paokmania.gr|date=18 November 2017|access-date=29 October 2019}}</ref>

[[Stavros Sarafis]] is the club's top goalscorer with 169 goals overall (136 in league matches), from 1967 to 1981.<ref name="Sarafis"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Τα 136 γκολ του Σταύρου Σαράφη στο πρωτάθλημα|trans-title =Sarafis' 136 league goals|url=http://www.paokmania.gr/stiles/arxeio/aspromavres-istories/135423-ta-136-gol-tou-kaisara|language=el|work=paokmania.gr|date=16 November 2017|access-date=29 October 2019}}</ref>

{{football squad on pitch|align=right
|  GK = '''[[Mladen Furtula|Furtula]]'''
|  LB = '''[[Konstantinos Iosifidis|Iosifidis]]'''
| LCB = '''[[Fernando Varela (Cape Verdean footballer)|Varela]]'''
| RCB = '''[[Aristarchos Fountoukidis|Fountoukidis]]'''
|  RB = '''[[Vieirinha]]'''
|  LW = '''[[Dimitris Paridis|Paridis]]'''
| LCM = '''[[Georgios Skartados|Skartados]]'''
| RCM = '''[[Theodoros Zagorakis|Zagorakis]]'''
| RW = '''[[Giorgos Koudas|Koudas]]'''
| LCF = '''[[Stavros Sarafis|Sarafis]]'''
| RCF = '''[[Georgios Kostikos (footballer, born 1958)|Kostikos]]'''
| caption = The "Greatest Ever" squad chosen by {{URL|https://www.dugoutworldwide.com|dugoutworldwide.com}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sdna.gr/podosfairo/superleague/article/564702/i-hall-fame-endekada-toy-paok-mesa-apo-dugout|title = Η Hall of Fame ενδεκάδα του ΠΑΟΚ μέσα από το Dugout (Pic)|date = 6 February 2019}}</ref>
}}

{| cellpadding=8
|-
|valign="bottom"|'''Most league appearances''':
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left"
|-
! style="color:#FFFFFF; background:black;"|Rank
! style="color:#FFFFFF; background:black;"|Name
! style="color:#FFFFFF; background:black;"|Apps
|-
| '''1'''
|{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Giorgos Koudas]]
| '''504'''
|-
| 2
|{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Kostas Iosifidis]]
| 397
|-
| 3
|{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Giannis Gounaris]]
| 376
|-
| 4
|{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Stavros Sarafis]]
| 358
|-
| 5
|{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Aristotelis Fountoukidis]]
| 336
|-
| 6
|{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Koulis Apostolidis]]
| 281
|-
| 7
|{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Georgios Skartados]]
| 265
|-
| 8
|{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Dimitris Salpingidis]]
| 262
|-
| 9
|{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Giorgos Toursounidis]]
| 261
|-
| 10
|{{flagicon|Portugal}} [[Vieirinha]]
| 253
|}
| valign=top |

'''League top goalscorers''':
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left"
|-
! style="color:#FFFFFF; background:black;"|Rank
! style="color:#FFFFFF; background:black;"|Name
! style="color:#FFFFFF; background:black;"|Goals
|-
| '''1'''
|{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Stavros Sarafis]]
| '''136'''
|-
| 2
|{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Giorgos Koudas]]
| 133
|-
| 3
|{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Dimitris Salpingidis]]
| 90
|-
| 4
|{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Georgios Skartados]]
| 84
|-
| 5
|{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Georgios Kostikos (footballer, born 1958)|Georgios Kostikos]]
| 78
|-
| 6
|{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Stefanos Athanasiadis]]
| 71
|-
| 7
|{{flagicon|Brazil}} [[Neto Guerino]]
| 66
|-
| 8
|{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Panagiotis Kermanidis]]
| 60
|-
| 9
|{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Achilleas Aslanidis]]
| 55
|-
| 10
|{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Koulis Apostolidis]]
| 51
|}
|}

=== Domestic records ===

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; font-size:95%"
!width="230"| Outline
!width="230"| Record
|-
| align="left"| [[Double (association football)|Double]] winners, going [[List of unbeaten football club seasons|unbeaten]] in a national round-robin [[Super League Greece|league]] tournament (league format since 1959).
| [[2018–19 PAOK FC season|2018–19 season]]
|-
| align="left"| [[List of Greek football champions|Champions]], starting the season with a points deduction.
| [[2018–19 Super League Greece]] (PAOK started the season on –2 points)
|-
| align="left"| Worst league title defence.
| 10th place ([[1985–86 Alpha Ethniki|1985–86]])
|-
| align="left"| Most consecutive league games scoring.
| 69 (PAOK lost two games 0–3 by court decision during this period that are not taken into account)
|-
| align="left"| Most consecutive league games scoring away.
| 35 (5/11/2017 → 3/2/2020)
|-
| align="left"| Fewest league goals conceded at home in a season.
| 3 in 17 games ([[1994–95 Alpha Ethniki|1994–95]])
|-
| align="left"| Most seasons with a points deduction.
|9 ([[1963–64 Alpha Ethniki|1963–64]], [[1986–87 Alpha Ethniki|1986–87]], [[1990–91 Alpha Ethniki|1990–91]], [[1995–96 Alpha Ethniki|1995–96]], [[2013–14 Super League Greece|2013–14]], [[2015–16 Super League Greece|2015–16]], [[2016–17 Super League Greece|2016–17]], [[2017–18 Super League Greece|2017–18]], [[2018–19 Super League Greece|2018–19]])
|-
| align="left"| Most consecutive seasons with a points deduction.
|4 ([[2015–16 Super League Greece|2015–16]], [[2016–17 Super League Greece|2016–17]], [[2017–18 Super League Greece|2017–18]], [[2018–19 Super League Greece|2018–19]])
|-
| align="left"| Record league win against [[Olympiacos FC|Olympiacos]].
|PAOK 6–1 Olympiacos (6/12/1987) – ''[[Serres Municipal Stadium]]''
|-
| align="left"| Record league away win against Olympiacos.
|Olympiacos 0–4 PAOK (4/1/1976) – ''[[Karaiskakis Stadium]]''
|-
| align="left"| Winners of 3 consecutive [[Greek Football Cup|Greek Cup]] [[List of Greek Cup finals|finals]] against the same opponent.
| [[2016–17 Greek Football Cup|2017]], [[2017–18 Greek Football Cup|2018]] and [[2018–19 Greek Football Cup|2019]] Greek Cup finals (vs [[AEK Athens FC|AEK]])
|-
| align="left"| Winners of 2 consecutive [[Greek Football Cup|Greek Cup]] [[List of Greek Cup finals|finals]] that were held at the opponent's home ground.
| [[2017–18 Greek Football Cup|2018]] and [[2018–19 Greek Football Cup|2019]] Greek Cup finals (held at ''[[Athens Olympic Stadium]]'', [[AEK Athens FC|AEK]]'s home ground at the time)
|-
| align="left"| [[Greek Football Cup|Greek Cup]] runners-up.
| 15 times 
|-
| align="left"| Biggest [[UEFA competitions|European]] win by a Greek football club.
| [[FC Locomotive Tbilisi|Locomotive Tbilisi]] 0–7 PAOK (16 September 1999, [[1999–2000 UEFA Cup|UEFA Cup]])
|-
| align="left"| Consecutive continental away wins.
| 4 ([[2023–24 PAOK FC season|2023–24 season]])
|-
| align="left"| Most points for a Greek football club in a European competition group stage.
| 16 (W5–D1–L0), [[2023–24 UEFA Conference League]]
|-
| align="left"| Won all away matches in the group stage of a European competition.
| 3 ([[2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League#Group G|2023–24 UEFA Conference League]])
|-
| align="left"| Most [[UEFA Cup and Europa League records and statistics|UEFA Europa League]] appearances.
| 29
|-
| align="left"| Most consecutive [[UEFA Cup and Europa League records and statistics|UEFA Europa League]] appearances.
| 12
|-
| align="left"| Most [[UEFA Conference League]] matches.
| 34 
|-
|}

=== Notable supporters ===
*[[Effie Achtsioglou]], politician
*[[Anastasis Daskalakis]], footballer
*[[Stefanos Athanasiadis]], footballer, former PAOK captain
*[[Angelos Anastasiadis]], former football player and coach
*[[Giorgos Aftias]], journalist<ref name="sdna.gr">{{Cite web|url=https://www.sdna.gr/podosfairo/1051426_aytias-eimai-paokara-alla-makari-na-parei-protathlima-o-panathinaikos-vid|title=Αυτιάς: "Είμαι ΠΑΟΚάρα, αλλά μακάρι να πάρει το πρωτάθλημα ο Παναθηναϊκός" (vid) &#124; SDNA|access-date=26 October 2023|archive-date=18 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230818153246/https://www.sdna.gr/podosfairo/1051426_aytias-eimai-paokara-alla-makari-na-parei-protathlima-o-panathinaikos-vid|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[Giannis Aggelakas]], [[musician]]<ref name="thestival.gr">{{cite web |title=Γιάννης Αγγελάκας: ΠΑΟΚ είμαι, τί άλλο; |url=https://www.thestival.gr/eidiseis/xalara/58919-giannis-aggelakas3a-paok-eimai2c-ti-allo3b/ |website=thestival.gr |date=21 October 2012 |access-date=2 April 2023 |archive-date=15 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230815143639/https://www.thestival.gr/eidiseis/xalara/58919-giannis-aggelakas3a-paok-eimai2c-ti-allo3b/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[Anna Korakaki]], shooter<ref name="in.gr">{{cite web |title=Άννα Κορακάκη: "Θέλω να πάρει το πρωτάθλημα ο ΠΑΟΚ" |url=https://www.in.gr/2018/10/30/sports/football/anna-korakaki-thelo-na-parei-protathlima-o-paok/ |website=in.gr |date=30 October 2018 |access-date=2 April 2023 |archive-date=2 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402084555/https://www.in.gr/2018/10/30/sports/football/anna-korakaki-thelo-na-parei-protathlima-o-paok/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[Elena Asimakopoulou]], actor
*[[Orestis Chalkias]], actor<ref name="makthes.gr">{{cite web |access-date=19 May 2024 |archive-date=19 May 2024 |title=Ορέστης Χαλκιάς: Ο πρωταγωνιστής του "Maestro" αποθεώνει τον ΠΑΟΚ (φωτ.) |url=https://www.makthes.gr/orestis-chalkias-o-protaghonistis-toy-maestro-apotheonei-ton-paok-fot-704698 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519223339/https://www.makthes.gr/orestis-chalkias-o-protaghonistis-toy-maestro-apotheonei-ton-paok-fot-704698 |url-status=live |website=makthes.gr}}</ref>
*[[Iordanis Chasapopoulos]], journalist
*[[Vicky Chatzivasileiou]], journalist, TV presenter
*[[Sissy Christidou]], TV presenter
*[[Rallia Christidou]], singer, politician
*[[Makis Christodoulopoulos]], singer
*[[Olympia Chopsonidou]], model
*[[Demy (singer)|Demy]], singer
*[[Georgios Donis]], football player and coach
*[[Pyrros Dimas]], Olympic champion, politician
*[[Stratos Dionysiou]], singer
*[[Konstadinos Gatsioudis]], Greek javelin thrower
*[[Periklis Iakovakis]], athlete, European champion
*[[Michalis Iatropoulos]], actor
*[[Antonis Kanakis]], journalist
*[[Vasilis Karras]], singer<ref name="Ο Βασίλης Καρράς ψηφίζει... ΠΑΟΚ!">{{cite web|language=el|title=Ο Βασίλης Καρράς ψηφίζει... ΠΑΟΚ!|url=https://www.metrosport.gr/o-vasilis-karras-psifizi-paok-video-21550|access-date=18 August 2023|archive-date=18 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230818152923/https://www.metrosport.gr/o-vasilis-karras-psifizi-paok-video-21550|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[Stavros Kalafatis]], MP with [[Nea Dimokratia]]
*[[Charis Kastanidis]], former MP with [[PASOK]]
*[[Nikos Kourkoulis]], singer
*[[Eva Kaili]], journalist, politician
*[[Georgios Koudas]], footballer, former PAOK captain 
*[[Razvan Lucescu]], Romanian former football player and coach<ref name="metrosport.gr">{{cite web|title=Lucescu: PAOK is the club of my heart|url=https://www.metrosport.gr/loytseskoy-o-paok-einai-i-omada-tis-kardias-moy-itan-ypochreosi-mas-na-prokrithoyme-stoys-omiloys-833596|website=metrosport.gr|language=Greek|date=19 September 2023|access-date=27 October 2023|archive-date=27 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027051324/https://www.metrosport.gr/loytseskoy-o-paok-einai-i-omada-tis-kardias-moy-itan-ypochreosi-mas-na-prokrithoyme-stoys-omiloys-833596|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[Manos Loizos]], composer<ref name="Ο Γιάννης Πάριος θυμάται">{{cite web |title=Ο Γιάννης Πάριος θυμάται |url=https://www.tovima.gr/2012/12/03/vimagazino/o-giannis-parios-thymatai/ |website=tovima.gr |date=3 December 2012 |publisher=Λένα Παπαδημητρίου |access-date=2 April 2023 |archive-date=2 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402085148/https://www.tovima.gr/2012/12/03/vimagazino/o-giannis-parios-thymatai/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[Kostas Makedonas]], singer
*[[Sokratis Malamas]], singer
*[[Manolis Mitsias]], singer
*[[Giorgos Minos]], sports journalist
*[[Alkinoos Ioannidis]], singer
*[[Ioanna Lilly]], former model
*[[Nikos Oikonomou]], basketball player
*[[Kyriakos Papadopoulos]], footballer
*[[Nikos Papazoglou]], singer
*[[Paola (Greek singer)|Paola]], singer<ref name="athensmagazine.gr">{{cite web|url=https://www.athensmagazine.gr/article/stars-tv/29787-nai-re-paola-h-ekrhktikh-laikh-diva-einai-paok-kai-akoyei-metallica-telika-hrthe-h-synteleia|title=Ναι ρε Πάολα! Η εκρηκτική λαϊκή diva είναι ΠΑΟΚ και ακούει Metallica! Τελικά... ήρθε η συντέλεια|language=el|access-date=18 August 2023|archive-date=18 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230818152923/https://www.athensmagazine.gr/article/stars-tv/29787-nai-re-paola-h-ekrhktikh-laikh-diva-einai-paok-kai-akoyei-metallica-telika-hrthe-h-synteleia|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[Elena Rapti]], politician
*[[Branislav Prelevic]], Serbian basketball player and coach, former PAOK president and Greek champion
*[[Dimitris Salpingidis]], football player and coach, former PAOK captain
*[[Dionysis Savvopoulos]], [[musician]]<ref name="Δημήτρης Θεοδωρόπουλος">{{cite web |title=Σαββόπουλος: "Ο Τσίπρας είναι long play αυταπατώμενος" |url=https://www.tovima.gr/2016/08/19/vimagazino/sabbopoylos-o-tsipras-einai-long-play-aytapatwmenos/ |website=tovima.gr |date=19 August 2016 |publisher=Δημήτρης Θεοδωρόπουλος |access-date=2 April 2023 |archive-date=2 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402084746/https://www.tovima.gr/2016/08/19/vimagazino/sabbopoylos-o-tsipras-einai-long-play-aytapatwmenos/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Euclid Tsakalotos]], former [[Ministry of National Economy and Finance (Greece)|Minister of Economy]]<ref name="aftodioikisi.gr">{{cite web |title=Τσακαλώτος: Τραγoυδάει το σύνθημα του ΠΑΟΚ για τον… Μάικλ Τζάκσον (βίντεο) |url=https://www.aftodioikisi.gr/paraskinia/tsakalotos-tragoydaei-to-synthima-toy-paok-gia-ton-maikl-tzakson-vinteo/ |access-date=18 August 2023 |archive-date=18 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230818152923/https://www.aftodioikisi.gr/paraskinia/tsakalotos-tragoydaei-to-synthima-toy-paok-gia-ton-maikl-tzakson-vinteo/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[Akis Tsochatzopoulos]], Former Minister of National Defence of Greece
*[[Popi Tsapanidou]], journalist
*[[Giorgos Toursounidis]], football player and coach, former PAOK captain
*[[Natassa Theodoridou]], singer
*[[Rania Thraskia]], journalist, politician
*[[Tasos Telloglou]], journalist
*[[Fay Skorda]], TV presenter
*[[Gerasimos Skiadaresis]], actor
*[[Vasso Laskaraki]], actress
*[[Katerina Stikoudi]], actress, model, singer
*[[Sofoklis Schortsanitis]], basketball player, 2006 FIBA Silver Medalist, former PAOK player
*[[Stavros Sarafis]], footballer, former PAOK player
*[[Kyriakos Velopoulos]], politician
*[[Nikos Vertis]], singer
*[[Evangelos Venizelos]], politician
*[[Zisis Vryzas]], footballer, [[Euro 2004]] champion, former PAOK player and president
*[[Kostas Vasileiadis]], basketball player
*[[Theodoros Zagorakis]], footballer, Euro 2004 champion, politician, former PAOK president
*[[Christos Zabounis]], journalist
*[[Kostas Zouraris]], author, former MP<ref name="in2life.gr">{{Cite web |url=https://www.in2life.gr/article/1017424/diashmoi-ellhnes-stis-kerkides-gia-tis-omades-toys |title=Διάσημοι Έλληνες στις κερκίδες για τις ομάδες τους - In2life |date=10 November 2022 |access-date=26 October 2023 |archive-date=26 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231026105153/https://www.in2life.gr/article/1017424/diashmoi-ellhnes-stis-kerkides-gia-tis-omades-toys |url-status=live }}</ref>

== See also ==
{{portal bar|Association football|Greece}}
{{colbegin|colwidth=22em}}
*[[P.A.O.K.]]
*[[List of PAOK FC managers]]
*[[PAOK B]]
*[[Greek refugees]]
*[[PAOK F.C. in European football]]
*[[List of PAOK FC records and statistics]]
*[[List of PAOK FC seasons]]
*[[PAOK FC (women)]]
*[[Thessaloniki]]
*[[Toumba (Thessaloniki)]]
*[[Toumba Stadium]]
*[[PAOK FC Sport Center]]
*[[PAOK Academy]]
*[[P.A.O.K. H.C.]]
*[[P.A.O.K H.C Women's Handball]]
{{colend}}

== Bibliography ==
* Kanotas, Miltiadis (2005). ''80 χρόνια, αυτός είναι ο ΠΑΟΚ'' {{in lang|el}}. Ελλάδα: Εκδόσεις Εκδοτική Θεσσαλονίκης.
* Κυρίτσης, Δημήτρης; Στεφανίδης, Ανέστης; Τσιομπανούδη, Ελένη (2005). ''ΠΑΟΚ, Πανθεσσαλονίκειος Αθλητικός Όμιλος Κωνσταντινοπουλιτών 1926–2005'' {{in lang|el}}. Ελλάδα: Εκδόσεις Κέντρο Ιστορίας Θεσσαλονίκης. {{ISBN|978-960-88595-2-4}}.
* Μπλιάτκας, Κώστας (2005). ''Γιώργος Κούδας, της ζωής μου το παιχνίδι'' {{in lang|el}}. Ελλάδα: Εκδόσεις Ιανός. {{ISBN|978-960-7827-35-7}}.
* Συλλογικό έργο (2009). ''Για πάντα πρωταθλητές, Π.Α.Ο.Κ. Ποδόσφαιρο-Μπάσκετ'' {{in lang|el}}. Ελλάδα: Εκδόσεις Σκάι. {{ISBN|978-960-482-020-7}}.
* Τσάλλος, Αλέξιος (2010). ''Το αλφαβητάρι του ΠΑΟΚ'' {{in lang|el}}. Ελλάδα: Εκδόσεις Δίαυλος. {{ISBN|978-960-531-259-6}}.
* Τσιώλης, Σταύρος (2011). ''Ταξιδεύοντας με τον ΠΑΟΚ'' {{in lang|el}}. Ελλάδα: Εκδόσεις Αιγόκερως. {{ISBN|978-960-322-419-8}}.
* Πετρακόπουλος, Σταύρος (2016). ''Τα «μυθικά» του ΠΑΟΚ'' {{in lang|el}}. Ελλάδα: Εκδόσεις Friends Press. {{ISBN|978-618-82397-0-8}}.
* Ζαμπούνης, Χρήστος (2016). ''ΠΑΟΚ αφού'' {{in lang|el}}. Ελλάδα: Εκδόσεις Φερενίκη. {{ISBN|978-960-9513-58-6}}.
* Ιωαννίδης, Νίκος (2017). ''Μια εποχή στο τσιμέντο'' {{in lang|el}}. Ελλάδα: Εκδόσεις Τόπος. {{ISBN|978-960-499-192-1}}.
* Εδίρνελης, Σωκράτης (2018). ''Το κλεμμένο πρωτάθλημα'' {{in lang|el}}. Ελλάδα: Εκδόσεις ΑΛΔΕ. {{ISBN|978-960-9451-89-5}}.
* Παππούς, Μιχάλης (2019). ''Ο ΠΑΟΚ του '70'' {{in lang|el}}. Ελλάδα: Εκδόσεις University Studio Press. {{ISBN|978-960-12-2421-3}}.
* Βασιλόπουλος, Κώστας (2023). ''Ραζβάν Λουτσέσκου, Double PAOK'' {{in lang|el}}. Ελλάδα: Εκδόσεις Φερενίκη. {{ISBN|978-960-9513-89-0}}.

== Filmography ==
* Νίκος Τριανταφυλλίδης. ''90 χρόνια ΠΑΟΚ – Νοσταλγώντας το μέλλον'', 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=90 χρόνια ΠΑΟΚ – Νοσταλγώντας το μέλλον|trans-title =90 years of PAOK – Nostalgia for the future|url=http://www.paokfc.gr/nea/20161101-90-xronia-paok-nostalgontas-to-mellon/|language=el|work=paokfc.gr|date=1 November 2016|access-date=15 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=90 years of PAOK - Nostalgia for the future|url=http://www.laikaproductions.gr/en/90-years-paok/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191115165406/http://www.laikaproductions.gr/en/90-years-paok/|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 November 2019|work=laikaproductions.gr|access-date=15 November 2019}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|PAOK FC}}

'''Official websites'''
* {{Official website}} {{In lang|el|en|ru}}
* [http://www.slgr.gr/en/team/671/ PAOK] at [[Super League Greece|Super League]] {{in lang|en|el}}
* [https://www.uefa.com/nationalassociations/teams/50130--paok/ PAOK] at [[UEFA]]
'''News sites'''
* PAOK on [http://www.paok24.com/ paok24.com] {{in lang|el}}
* [https://www.novasports.gr/paok-podosfairo/85848?type=news/ PAOK news] ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026152222/https://www.novasports.gr/paok-podosfairo/85848?type=news%2F |date=26 October 2020 }}) from [[Nova Sports]]
* [https://www.flashscore.gr/team/paok/Kry6HxA9/ Current results of PAOK matches]

'''Media'''
* [https://www.youtube.com/user/paokfootball Official channel] on [[YouTube]]

{{P.A.O.K.}}
{{PAOK FC}}
{{Navboxes|title = PAOK F.C. templates|titlestyle = background:black; color:white; border:1px solid gold;
|list1=
{{PAOK FC squad}}
{{PAOK FC managers}}
{{PAOK FC seasons}}
{{PAOK FC matches}}
}}
{{Super League Greece teamlist}}
{{Football in Greece}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:PAOK F.C.}}

[[Category:PAOK FC]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1926]]
[[Category:1926 establishments in Greece]]
[[Category:Football clubs in Thessaloniki]]
[[Category:Unrelegated association football clubs]]