Panthessaloníkios Athlitikós Ómilos Konstantinoupolitón Football Club was first established in 1926. The team is usually known as PAOK and occasionally referred to as PAOK Salonika. They have enjoyed significant success at domestic level over the years and are considered one of Greece's biggest clubs. The side have rivalries with the likes of Olympiakos, Aris Thessaloniki and AEK Athens.
PAOK's golden era began in the 1970s, with Greek Cup wins coming in the 1971–72 and 1973–74 seasons. Between those years, they finished as league runners up. Then, in 1975–76, they were crowned as league champions for the first time, losing only two matches all season and finishing five points ahead of AEK Athens. After finishing in 2nd place again in 1977–78, a second league title followed in 1984–85.
The team's third and fourth Greek Cup victories came about in 2000–01 and 2002–03, with PAOK beating Olympiakos and Aris, respectively, in the finals. Although they have yet to add to their two league titles, the club finished as runners up in the playoffs in 2009–10, gaining entry into the following season's UEFA Champions League. To date, their best performance in a continental competition came in 1973-74, when they reached the quarter finals of the European Cup Winners' Cup.
Perhaps the team's best-known and most talented former player is Giorgos Koudas, who holds the club record for most appearances. Other notable footballers to represent PAOK over the years include: Stavros Sarafis, Konstantinos Iosifidis, Giorgos Skartados, Ioannis Gounaris and Theodoros Zagorakis.
PAOK play their home matches at PAOK Statium, which is also known as Toumba Stadium. The ground opened back in 1959 and is owned by the club. The venue underwent significant renovations from 2003 to 2004, ahead of its use as a training venue for the 2004 Summer Olympic Games. It is currently able to hold a maximum of 28,703 supporters.
