Kalamata F.C.
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| Full name | Ποδοσφαιρικός Σύλλογος "Η Καλαμάτα" | |||
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| Nickname(s) | Μαύρη Θύελλα (Black Storm) | |||
| Founded | 1967 | |||
| Ground | Kalamata Municipal Stadium | |||
| Capacity | 4,496 | |||
| Owner | George Prassas | |||
| Chairman | George Prassas | |||
| Manager | Nikos Anastopoulos | |||
| League | Super League Greece 2 | |||
| 2022–23 | Super League Greece 2, 6th | |||
| Website | Club website | |||
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Kalamata Football Club (
Creation and early years
Kalamata FC was formed in 1967 when local teams Apollon Kalamata FC and Kalamata Sports Club were forced to merge by the
, was chosen as the team's crest and was removed after the Greek restoration of democracy in 1974.History
The team has competed in the Greek first division seven times, in 1972–73, 1974–75, from 1995–96 to 1997–98, and from 1999–2000 to 2000–01.[2]
Kalamata F.C. achieved its first two promotions to the first division, in 1972 and 1974, under President Lykourgos Gaitanaros. Its first two promotions in the early 1970s are considered the team's first golden era.[citation needed] The team could not stick in the top flight though, and would not have a resurgence until the 1990s.
Businessman Stavros Papadopoulos bought the team in 1992, while the club was stuck in Gamma Ethniki, the third division. Upon his arrival, Papadopoulos began pouring a substantial amount of money into the club, and by 1995 the team had achieved promotion to the first division. The team dropped back to the second division for one season in 1997, but again achieved promotion to the first division the very next year, and remained in the top flight until Papadopoulos sold the team in 2000. After Papadopoulos' departure Kalamata fell to the second division and has since stayed in the lower divisions.
The Papadopoulos era of Kalamata F.C. saw the signing of many international players from
After being demoted to the second division in 1997, they eventually started to bring in young Brazilian talent, as well as some veterans of the biggest teams in Brazil. The Brazilians helped the team gain promotion to the first division right away in 1998. According to Brazilian media and insiders, Papadopoulos' son Daniil, a former high level amateur athlete in America, was supposedly instrumental in spotting some of the Brazilian talent and sending them to Kalamata FC.[
Kalamata's long-standing rivals are Paniliakos and Egaleo.
Crest and colours
Kalamata F.C.'s official colours are black and white, and the team is known in Greece as the "Black Storm" (Μαύρη Θύελλα).
Stadium
Kalamata plays its home matches at
Supporters
Kalamata F.C.'s most famous supporters' club is the "Bulldogs Fan Club".[4]
Rivals
Kalamata's long-standing rivals are
Sponsors
As for the 2019–20 the main sponsor of the team is the Greek electrical company Volterra SA and the kit provider is Capelli Sport.
Players
Current squad
- As of 31 January 2024
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Honours
Domestic
League titles
- Second Division[5]
- Winners (2): 1971–72 (Group 1), 1973–74 (Group 2)
- Third Division
- Winners (1): 2020–21 (South Group)
- Fourth Division
- Winners (2): 1984–85, 2010–11
Regional
League titles
- Messinia FCA Championship
- Winners (2): 1980−81, 2016−17
Cups
- Messinia FCA Cup
- Winners (4): 1953−54, 1982−83, 2016−17, 2017−18
League Participation
- First Division (7): 1972–1973, 1974–1975, 1995–1998, 1999–2001
- Second Division (20): 1967–1972, 1973–1974, 1975–1977, 1993–1995, 1998–1999, 2001–2010, 2021–present
- Third Division(21): 1977–1980, 1981–1982, 1985–1993, 2011–2016, 2017–2021
- Fourth Division (4): 1982–1985, 2010–2011
- Messinia FCA Championship (2): 1980–1981, 2016–2017
Notable wins
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European matches
| Season | Competition | Round | Club | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | UEFA Intertoto Cup | 3rd Round |  FK Chmel Blšany
|
0−3 | 0–5 |
Notable Former Managers
Bo Petersson (1995–97)
Eduardo Amorim (1997–98)
Andreas Michalopoulos (2003–04)
Notable Former Players
- Panagiotis Drougas
- Nikos Georgeas
- Nikos Liberopoulos
- Sotiris Liberopoulos
- Thomas Troupkos
- Kostas Frantzeskos
- Fanouris Goundoulakis
- Aristeidis Galanopoulos
- Christos Kalantzis
- Thanasis Kostoulas
- Sokratis Kopsachilis
- Ilias Anastasakos
- Vangelis Kaounos
- Alekos Dedes
- Thanasis Sentementes
- Panagiotis Bachramis
- Giorgos Bistikeas
- Vaggelis Koutsoures
- Christos Kelpekis
- Kyriakos Stamatopoulos
- Dimitrios Konstantopoulos
- Nikos Zapropoulos
- Christos Mikes
- Vasilios Georgopoulos
- Makis Belevonis
- Dimitris Markos
- Lysandros Georgamlis
- Antonis Mavreas
- Dimitris Spetzopoulos
- Ivan Tasic
- Sweden
- Peter Larsson
References
- ^ "History of Kalamata FC". fckalamata.gr. 2004-08-18. Archived from the original on 2019-08-29. Retrieved 2019-08-29.
- ^ "Greece - Final Tables 1959-1999". RSSSF. 2003-08-03. Archived from the original on 2023-10-11. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
- ^ "Kalamata Stadium". Stadia.gr. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2009-07-12.
- ^ "Bulldogs Fan Club". Bulldogs Fan Club. Archived from the original on 2009-02-06.
- ^ "Greece - List of Second Division Champions". RSSSF. 2004-06-03. Archived from the original on 2023-01-29. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
External links
- PAE Kalamata – official site (in Greek)
- Bulldogs Fan Club – supporters' club site (in Greek)
- Onsports.gr Profile
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