First up in Newcastle-Online’s guide to our Group D UEFA Cup opponents are Greek club Panionios N.F.C who we play away on the 21st of October at the Nea Smyrni Stadium. Panionios, formed in 1890 as Orfeas Smyrni and the oldest club in Greek football, qualified for this season’s UEFA cup by finishing a respectable 6th in the Greek A Division (Greece’s Premier League).

A small provincial club based some 3 miles or so from the south of Athens City Centre, Panionios, like Newcastle United, have had a topsy-turvy time of it over the years with both highs and lows.

None more so than in 2001 when going by the name of Panionios F.C, they applied for liquidation after financial difficulties and as a result of this - a new football club was formed: *Neos Panionios or Panionios N.F.C as they are more commonly known today - still retaining their 114 year history and heritage and free of financial burden. *Neos = new

Panionios are yet to win a Greek Championship but they have enjoyed success in the Greek Cup, winning the competition twice in their colourful history. The first a 3-1 win over the mighty AEK Athens in 1979 and more recently a 1-0 win over giants Panathinaikos in 1998. Like Newcastle they are striving to compete with those at the very top.

In Greece, Panionios are famous for their youth development programs, with several of Greece’s most talented players having both hailed from and developed by the ‘Panthers’ over the years. Like Newcastle, Panionios are credited with providing their country with great footballing names. Players like: Nikos Pentzaropoulos - a legendary goalkeeper in the 1950’s and considered as one of the finest Greek ‘goalies of all-time. Kostas Nestoridis - a star striker in the 1950’s and 60’s for AEK Athens. Thomas Mavros, Dimitris Saravakos and most recently Nikos Anastopoulos.

Panionios, managed by respected and acclaimed Slovakian coach Carol Pecze, are considered a cautious side but capable of pulling off victories against more fancied teams. Their main strength is in defence where they conceded just 29 goals last season, 11 less than champions Panathinaikos. Their weakness is in scoring goals, amassing only 40 compared to the Champions 62. However they have a strong spine and can cause damage on the counter-attack. One commentator from Phantis Sports Club, a Greek community, compared them to Aston Villa. They can cause an upset against Newcastle and our match will be far from easy.

Panionios’ Star Players

Player: Jaroslav Drobni
Position: Goalkeeper
Shirt: No. 1
Nationality: Czech Republic
Age: 25

The uncapped 6.3′ Drobni has built up a reputation in Greece as a fine shot stopper. The Czech goalie has been watched on several occasions by the national team but as of yet, has not been called up for his country. Not too hot on crosses apparently but more than capable between the sticks. Panathinaikos tried to buy him in the Summer but the two clubs couldn’t agree on a fee. They are expected to step up their interest when their season ends.

Player: Panagiotis Giannopoulos
Position: Centre-back
Shirt: No. 6
Nationality: Greece
Age: 32

The burly 6.1′ centre-back is somewhat of a cult figure for Panionios. Strong, experienced and a danger from set-pieces. Giannopoulos scored a brace in Panionios’ UEFA Cup 1st round 2nd leg 3-1 win over Italian side Udinese which ensured qualification to the group stage and a meeting with our lot. Apparently Giannopoulos isn’t the quickest but is a good reader of the game. Uncapped by Greece.

Player: Martin Parodi
Position: Midfielder
Shirt: No. 10
Nationality: Uruguay
Age: 30

Panionios’ playmaker in midfield. A diminutive full Uruguayan international with an eye for a pass and a creator of goals for their attackers. Apparently he is a silky player on his day with quick feet and an ability to ghost into attacking positions. Defensively weak however and can go missing when not on the ball. Parodi will look to pull the strings and to get on the end of things. Technically very skilful.

Player: Mario Breska
Position: Striker
Shirt: No. 28
Nationality: Slovakia
Age: 25

Small pacey forward, Breska is the man Panionios rely on to get goals. Recently capped by his country Slovakia after a few years in the wilderness where he failed to live up to his early promise that saw him titled Slovakia’s ‘Talent of the Year’ back in 2001. The equivalent of the PFA Young player of the year award. With Panionios however he has developed into somewhat of a dangerous attacker and a cult hero on the stands. Apparently he is attracting the attention of a “host of European clubs” and he will relish the opportunity to score against Newcastle. Panionios’ best and most dangerous player and one to watch.

Panionios’ Links With English Football

Panionios, surprisingly have strong ties with English football. Former Liverpool and Republic of Ireland great Ronnie Whelan was appointed their manager in 1998 where he guided them to the Quarter-final’s of the Cup Winners Cup. While at Panionios he signed former Manchester United and Norwich striker Mark Robbins and ex-Mackem striker Marco Gabbiadini.

Panionios’ European Form

Panionios have a decent European record and have participated in European competitions on 6 occasions - playing 21 times, winning 10, drawing 0, losing 11, scoring 24 and conceding 37. Not a bad record. They qualified for this season’s UEFA Cup by finishing 6th in their domestic League and reached the second round group stage by knocking out Italian side Udinese over two legs with a 3-1 win at the Nea Smyrni stadium overturning a 1-0 loss away in their first match. After winning the Greek Cup in 1998 they qualified for the Cup Winners Cup where they reached the Quarter-Final stage, getting knocked out by Sven Goran Eriksson’s Lazio side by an aggregate score of 6-0. Lazio went on to win the cup.

Last season they were knocked out of the UEFA Cup in the second round stage by Barcelona with Toon striker Patrick Kluivert scoring in a 3-0 win at the Nea Smyrni - so Paddy knows his way around the Panionios defence. Barcelona won the tie 5-0 on aggregate.

Although Panionios don’t have the greatest of European pedigree they are well accustomed to that level, unlike Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin.

Panionios’ Ground: Nea Smyrni Stadium

The Nea Smyrni Stadium has a capacity of 11,700 and is very similar to Real Mallorca’s Son Moix Stadium in shape and structure, although it’s not as vast as the Spanish sides ground. The Nea Smyrni contains an athletics track and only has one roof, with the rest of the stands an open bowl effect. Away supporters are usually housed in the south end, in the lower tier. Marco, a Udinese fan had this to say: “Facilities are not the best but the Smyrini is open and spacious with a hot atmosphere.”

The Stadium was built in 1940, 18 years after Panionios migrated from Smyrna, Asia Minor to a new suburb in Athens - Nea Smyrni with Smyrna refugees after the War in 1922.

Panionios’ Fans

Panionios don’t have a large fan base, in fact they have a small fan base in comparison to many English 3rd division clubs but what they lack in numbers they more than make up for it with 100% support for their club. Newcastle-Online have been in correspondence with one Panionios fan over the past few days and from what I gather they seem a canny bunch.

I asked whether the Toon Army would be made welcome at the Nea Smyrni Stadium and the response was comforting.

Marios from Panionios’ largest and most loyal supporters club ‘The Panthers Club’, told me:

“Of course you are welcome in Nea Smyrni and I hope that you will come.

“We have great relations with all the fans of Greece. Maybe we can drink some beers together before the game.

“It is a real pity that we can’t come to England because many of our guys from Panionios are students there and they wanted to play there (Newcastle).”

Panionios supporters are regarded as one of Greece’s most passionate, loyal and noisiest group of fans and reports indicate that they generate a “hellish noisy red hot” atmosphere. Like Geordies they live for their club and call on one another as ‘brothers’. “We would prefer to have only 1,000 proper and loyal Panthers than 10,000 sheep”, is their motto. The Panthers Club have had trouble in the past with hooliganism but they appear to have worked hard to rid themselves of that culture and are now a respectable supporters organisation with branches throughout the world, with one here in the UK containing over 50 members.

Due to their Liverpool connections the younger generation of Panionios fans follow the Scouse side as their second club and the Premiership is very popular among the Greek people so they will be more than aware of Newcastle United. Indeed Marios went on to say:

“Our view about Newcastle is that you have a great team and it’s very difficult to have a good result but we think that we can make it.

“With offensive players like Shearer and Kluivert you are really good.

“We saw Kluivert last year when we played with Barcelona and he scored a goal in Nea Smyrni.

“I believe that we will enjoy a nice game together.

Credits

To compile this ‘fact file’ Newcastle-Online have used many resources and contacted many people, too many to list, but we would like to say a special thank you to Marios from The Panthers Club for his co-operation and help and the guys from Phantis Sports Club, an online Greek Sports community, for all their help too. Very much appreciated lads.