PAOK Academy
Football club
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
PAOK Academy is the football academy system of Greek professional football club PAOK consisting of eleven official youth teams (Under-6/7, Under-8, Under-9, Under-10, Under-11, Under-12, Under-13, Under-14, Under-15, Under-17 and Under-20), based on the young athletes' age.[1] PAOK's U15, U17 and U20 teams all play in Greek Super League's [2] (Superleague U15, U17 and U20 respectively). Ιn 2016–17 season, U20 team participated in UEFA Youth League as a champion on official superleague U17 2015–16. This academy holds more than 280 young players,[3] and also more than 50 people work there (coaches, trainers, doctors etc.). The PAOK Academy maintains 16 training centers outside of Thessaloniki. These are in Athens, Didimoticho, Alexandroupoli, Komotini - Xanthi, Kilkis, Kavala, Drama, Kozani, Katerini, Lamia, Corfu, Rethymnon, Chios, Chalkidiki, Cyclades and Rhodes.[4]
| Full name | PAOK Academy | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1952 | ||
| Ground | PAOK FC Sport Center, Nea Mesimvria | ||
| Capacity | 300 | ||
| Owner | PAOK FC | ||
| Chairman | Ivan Savvidis | ||
| League | Superleague U19, U17, U15 | ||
| 2019-2020 | 1st | ||
| Website | http://www.paokfc.gr/en/paok-academy-en/ | ||
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History
The first youth academy was created in 1952. The visionary was Austrian coach Wilhelm (Willi) Sefzik. His dream was to be able to bring out new talents that could evolve from an early age into the PAOK team.[5] In 2007–2009, The former president Theodoros Zagorakis began the rebirth of the academies. Vangelis Pourliotopoulos undertook the reorganization, and for the first time in PAOK history started an organized effort of the club to exploit, to bring out new talents, and promote young footballers systematically from the infrastructure departments of PAOK's to the first team. In 2009, the cost reached €1 million per year.[6] At that time the "Football Prints" program was created. Today more than 90 academies participate in this program. In 2008, the first hostels in the Toumba Stadium were inaugurated. In the first three years, the hostels accommodated 14 children, who came from outside Thessaloniki
The evolution of academies continues to date, with Ivan Savvidis investing in a new home that will host young footballers. In September 2015, the PAOK Academy acquired a seven-storey building in the center of Thessaloniki,[7] where 55 young football players live there.[8] The cost of academies has now reached €2 million per year, making it the most expensive academy in Greece.[9] According to the International Center for Sports Studies (CIES), the club has the best academies in Greece.[10]
Organization
PAOK invest in setting up its own football schools to bring out talented children. To this day the club maintains 13 training centers in every corner of the country. PAOK FC youth sections, with the assistance of their network of collaborating academies (football prints), select the most talented players of each region, in order to have them train often and gradually follow the schedules and aims of the PAOK academy players.
The objective of the club is encounter young talented athletes aged no more than 12, and hand them at least 7 years of proper the footballing education, so that they can dive into the mentality and philosophy of their club. The scouting team visits each training centre once each month, in order to supervise the children's progress. Some distinguished children are invited to Thessaloniki to join the PAOK Academy, which will be staying at PAOK's house.[4]
Since 2013, PAOK maintains a cooperation with Juventus on the academies sector.[11]
Football Prints
PAOK football prints, is a network of academies working with the PAOK academy. Football Prints network functions through a communication system that is based on the eagerness of local academies to work and push talented children. The coordination of all academies has the Vangelis Pourliotopoulos and Kyriakos Alexandridis. In 2014, PAOK FC also organized their first "PAOK Football Prints Network Tournament". Since 2009, the club hold the annual youth tournament “Panagiotis Katsouris” in his memory, a renowned tournament and among the best in the Balkans.[12]
List of academies
The 90 academies of "Football Prints" in Greece, according to geographic criteria.
Mikrasiatikos Kaisarianis
Calcetto FC Chania
PAOK Isaakiou
F. Dramas
Atsalenios academy
PAOK Kristonis
PAOK Komitini
Pindos Konitsa
Panlefkadios
Siatista
Play Zone
RIA Sport
Proteas Achilleas Pereas Elpides Sikeon Bebides Ionias Kypseli Neapolis Liti academy Academy MAS Atromitos Triadiou GS Ilioupoli Lykoi AE falirou PAOK Kymina-Malgara Malakopi Pylaias Aetoi fc Doxa Drymou Ioannis Papafis academy Magnisiakos M. Alexandros Kaloxoriou Champions Pefkon Keravnos Agiou Pavlou Ethnikos Sohou Diaplasi Oreokastro Achilleas Triandrias Doxa Elpidas Evosmou Toumba FC Orfeas Eleftheroupolis Mundialito PAOK Kavalas Aetos Orfanou Athletic Academy Skydras
PAOK Patriarxio
Apollon Kruas Vrisis
- Alexandroupoli: Pontiakos Alexandroupolis,[13]
- Argos: PAOK Koutsopodiou.[13]
- Arta: Dias Kostakion Arta.[14]
- Aspropyrgos: Pyrichios PAOK FC Aspropyrgou.[15]
- Athens: Athens Cosmos Club,[13] Mikrasiatikos Kaisarianis.[16]
- Chalkida: PAOK Kanithou Chalkidas.[17]
- Chalkidiki: Elpides Marmara, PAOK Stavrou.[13]
- Chania: Arena fc PAOK,[13] Calcetto FC Chania.[17]
- Corfu: Olympiada Karousadon.[18]
- Didymoteicho: PAOK Iasmos, PAOK Isaakiou.[14]
- Drama: PAOK Megas Alexandros,[19] Prosotsani,[13] Fillipos Dramas.[13]
- Florina: Pas Florina.[19]
- Heraklion: Lido Soccer,[20] Atsalenios academy.
- Imathia: Meliki Academy
- Ioannina: PAS Asteras Ioaninon.[13]
- Karpenisi: PAOK Karpenisiou.[21]
- Kastoria: Kronos Kastorias.[19]
- Katerini: Katerini academy 2006.[19]
- Kavala: Orfeas Eleftheroupolis,[13] Mundialito,[19] PAOK Kavalas,[19] Aetos Orfanou.[19] PAOK Frixos Eleftheroupolis
- Kilkis: Alexandros Kilkis,[19] PAOK Kristonis.
- Komotini: Fair Play,[22] PAOK Komitini.[19]
- Konitsa: PAOK Konitsa, Pindos Konitsa.[14]
- Kos: PAOK Kos.[13]
- Kozani: Koilon academy,[19] Siatista academy.[13]
- Lefkada: Tilikratis Lefkada, Panlefkadios.[23]
- Lemnos: Filoktitis Kontia.
- Lesbos: Apollon Vounarakiou.
- Orestiada: Oinoi Orestiadas.[24]
- Patra: Keravnos Agiou Vasiliou.[15]
- Paxoi: Paxoi academy.[13]
- Pella: Athletic Academy Skydras,[19] PAOK Patriarxio,[19] Apollon Kruas Vrisis.[25]
- Pieria: Giotsa academy, Makrygialos, Play Zone 2006.[13]
- Preveza: Real Team Preveza, RIA Sport academy.[15]
- Ptolemaida: Hercules Ptolemaidas.[19]
- Rethymno: Astera Rethymnou.[13]
- Rhodes: Euklhs Soronis.,[13] Asteras Pastida.[26]
- Skiathos: AO Skiathos academy.
- Serres: Niki Christou,[19] Ethnikos Sidirokastrou,[13] Alistrati.[13]
- Thasos: Theagenis Thasos.[13] akademy AO Ptamias
- Thesprotia: Elpides Acheronta,[27] Doxa Gardikiou.[13]
- Thessaloniki: Proteas,[13] Achilleas Pereas,[13] Elpides Sikeon,[13] Bebides Ionias,[13] Kypseli Neapolis,[13] Liti academy,[13] Academy MAS Atromitos Triadiou,[13] GS Ilioupoli,[13] Lykoi, AE falirou, PAOK Kymina-Malgara, Malakopi Pylaias,[28] Aetoi fc,[28] Doxa Drymou,[28] Ioannis Papafis academy,[18] Magnisiakos,[18] M. Alexandros Kaloxoriou, Champions Pefkon,[29] Keravnos Agiou Pavlou,[27] Ethnikos Sohou, Diaplasi Oreokastro,[17] Achilleas Triandrias,[15] Doxa Elpidas Evosmou,[30] Toumba FC.[31]
- Veria: Doxa Makroxoriou.[13]
- Xanthi: Elpides PAOK Xanthi.[22]
- Larnaca: Nuovo Calcio .
- Pano Polemidia: Karmiotissa Anorthosi Polemidion.
- Paphos: Olympico academy.
Academy Personnel
| Sport management and organisation | |
|---|---|
 Vangelis Pourliotopoulos |
General Manager |
| Georgios Georgiadis |
Technical Director |
| Giorgos Theodoridis |
U19 Team Manager |
| U17, U15 Team Manager | |
| Kyriakos Alexandridis |
Football Prints Supervisor |
| Grigoris Karavelis |
Technical Advisor |
| Konstantinos Vourtsis |
Functional Overhang |
| Ioanna Charalampous |
Student Officer |
| Team coaches | |
| Petros Tsiapakidis |
U19 Coach |
| Dimitrios Orfanos |
U17 Coach |
| Petros Tsiapakidis |
U15 Coach |
| Dimitris Orfanos |
U14 Coach |
| Andreas Balabanis |
U13 Coach |
| Savvas Konstantinidis |
U12 Coach |
| Georgios Gourtsas |
U11 Coach |
| Spyridon Koulouris |
U10 Coach |
| Antonis Krinitsas |
U9 Coach |
| Maria Exadaktylou, Magdalini Tsoukala |
U7, U6 Coach |
| Fitness coaches | |
| Evagelos Alexopoulos |
U19 Fitness coach |
 Ebenezer Hagan |
U17 Fitness coach |
| Vasileios Bilis |
U15 Fitness coach |
| Analysis department | |
| Ioannis Vlachos |
Head Analyst |
| Ilias Galanopoulos |
Match Analyst |
| Alexandros Theodoridis |
Data Analyst |
| Ioannis Abatzidis |
Data Analyst |
| Ioannis Avramidis |
Head Scout |
| Kostas Lagonidis |
Scouting |
| Stefanos Borbokis |
Scouting |
| Medical department | |
| Dr. Argyrios Karavelis |
Head of Medical Services |
| Dr. Giorgos Ziogas |
Toccupational physiologist |
| Irini Rera |
Psychologist |
| Ioanna Paspala |
Nutritionist |
| Stavros Terzanidis |
U19 Physiotherapist |
| Konstantinos Michailidis |
U17 Physiotherapist |
| Michail Kostidis |
U15 Physiotherapist |
Source: PAOK F.C.
Players
PAOK U19
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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PAOK U17
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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PAOK U15
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Honours
Titles won and honours by the PAOK academy's teams.
Official Youth Championship's - International Tournaments
- Greek Superleague U19
- Winners (7) : 2002–03, 2006–07, 2013–14, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21
- Runners-up (4) : 2011–12, 2015–16, 2022–23, 2023–24
- Superleague Greece Youth Cup
- Winners (1) : 2025
- Broersen International Youth Tournament U19
- Culemborg Cup
- Winners (1) : 2018-19
- Runners-up (1) : 2012-13
- Greek Superleague U17
- Winners (6) : 2012–13, 2015–16, 2019–20, 2021–22, 2023–24, 2024-25
- Runners-up (3) : 2014–15, 2018–19, 2022–23
- International Youth Tournament U17
- Craig Brown Memorial Trophy
- Winners (1) :2025-26
- Greek Superleague U15
- Winners (6) : 2014–15, 2016–17, 2018–19, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024-25
- Runners-up (3) : 2013–14, 2015–16, 2021–22
- International Youth Tournament U15
- Universal Youth Cup
- Winners (1) : 2025-26
- International Viktor Ponedelnik's Cup
- Winners (1) : 2014-15
- Rimini Cup
- Winners (2) : 2013-14, 2001–02
- «We Love Football» tournament
- Runners-up (1) : 2015-16 [39]
Domestic - International tournaments Under
- International Children’s Football Festival
- Winners (1) : 2015-16
- Lennart Johansson Academy Trophy
- Winners (2) : 2012-13, 2016–17
- Runners-up : 2015
- Panagiotis Katsouris" Football tournament
- Winners (2) : 2013-14, 2014–15
- CVV Zwervers
- Runners-up : 2013-14
- Lukoil Cup
- Winners (2) : 2013-14, 2016-17 [40]
- Rodos Knights Cup
- Winners (1) : 2014-15
- Pfingst Cup
- Runners-up : 2016-17
- Marc Overmars
- Winners (1) : 2015-16
- Lokoball
- Winners (2) : 2012-13, 2013–14
- Runners-up : 2015, 2016
- Panagiotis Katsouris" Football tournament
- Winners (1) : 2014
- 1 SANDANSKI CUP
- Winners (1) : 2013-14
- 1 Invitational Cup Stockholm
- Winners (1) : 2014-15
- 1 Catnic Cup*
- Winners (1) : 2016
- 1 Paris World Cup
- Winners (1) : 2015-16
- 1 Max Sport Youth Cup
- Winners (1) : 2014-15
- 1 International tournaments Serbia
- Winners (1) : 2013-14 [41]
- IV International Football Tournament «Mini Football Magic
- **Winners (1) : 2015
International Orthopaedikos U10 Juniors Cup 2016
- Runners-up : 2016
- Pfingst Cup
- **Winners (1) : 2013-14
- International Tournaments Krnjevo
- **Winners (1) : 2014 [42]
- 2 Dragan Mance Cup
- **Winners (1) : 2017
- Olympico Paphos Tournament
- **Winners (1) : 2017
- Germany Offenbach Tournament
- **Winners (1) : 2017[43]
Records
Top Scorers (All competitions)
| Ranking | Nationality | Name | Years | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greece | Alexandros Gargalatzidis | 2016–2019 | 29 |
| 2 | Greece | Giorgos Doumtsis | 2016–2020 | 28 |
| 3 | Greece | Georgios Tzovaras | 2016–2019 | 23 |
| 4 | Greece | Zisis Chatzistravos | 2016–2019 | 22 |
| 5 | Greece | Dimitrios Panidis | 2018–2021 | 22 |
Appearances (All competitions)
| Ranking | Nationality | Name | Years | Appearances |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greece | Zisis Chatzistravos | 2016–2019 | 84 |
| 2 | Greece | Georgios Tzovaras | 2016–2019 | 74 |
| 3 | Greece | Charis Tsingaras | 2017–2020 | 71 |
| 4 | Greece | Giorgos Doumtsis | 2016–2020 | 71 |
| 5 | Greece | Giannis Michailidis | 2017–2020 | 70 |
Notable players
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Notable players coming from the club's youth departments include:
- Leandros Symeonidis
- Giorgos Koudas
- Koulis Apostolidis
- Filotas Pellios
- Angelos Anastasiadis
- Kostas Orfanos
- Nikos Alavantas
- Charis Baniotis
- Stefanos Borbokis
- Giorgos Toursounidis
- Vangelis Nastos
- Dimitris Salpingidis
- Georgios Fotakis
- Christos Karypidis
- Lazaros Christodoulopoulos
- Stefanos Athanasiadis
- Kostas Stafylidis
- Ergys Kaçe
- Stelios Kitsiou
- Dimitris Pelkas
- Efthymis Koulouris
- Giannis Michailidis
- Lefteris Lyratzis
- Charis Tsingaras
- Christos Tzolis
- Georgios Koutsias
- Konstantinos Koulierakis
- Giannis Konstantelias
- Stefanos Tzimas
- Dimitris Chatsidis
Top transfer sales
| Pos. | Player | To | Fee | Date | Notes | Source(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FW | Stefanos Tzimas |  1. FC Nürnberg |
€18,000,000 | 3 February 2025 | Plus €3.75m from next sale | [44][45] |
| DF | Konstantinos Koulierakis | VfL Wolfsburg |
€11,750,000 | 30 August 2024 | Plus 3 million bonus target | [46] |
| FW | Christos Tzolis |  Norwich City |
€11,000,000 | 12 August 2021 | Plus €600k from next sale | [47][48] |
| FW | Efthymis Koulouris |  Toulouse |
€3,500,000 | 22 June 2019 | [49] | |
| FW | Georgios Koutsias |  Chicago Fire |
€2,360,000 | 28 February 2023 | [50] | |
| FW | Lazaros Christodoulopoulos | Panathinaikos |
€2,200,000 | 26 June 2008 | [51] | |
| MF | Dimitris Pelkas |  Fenerbahçe |
€2,200,000 | 5 October 2020 | [52] | |
| FW | Dimitris Salpingidis | Panathinaikos |
€1,800,000 | 17 August 2006 | Plus 3 Panathinaikos players | [53] |
| DF | Kostas Stafylidis | Bayer Leverkusen |
€1,500,000 | 25 July 2012 | [54] | |
| DF | Christos Karypidis |  Hearts |
€478,000 | 3 August 2006 | [55] | |
| GK | Nikolaos Botis |  Inter Milan (Youth) |
€350,000 | 1 September 2020 | [56] | |
| DF | Stelios Kitsiou | Ankaragücü |
€300,000 | 21 July 2019 | [57] | |
| MF | Charis Tsingaras | Toulouse |
€300,000 | 1 September 2022 | Loan fee | [58] |