Greek Football Season 2024/25

[Firnen]

The new season in Greece begins with big news, which in my view are related:

- AEK loses control of the Federation. The new Federation president is Makis Gagatsis from PAOK, with support from Olympiacos too. AEK tried to field a candidate (a corrupt retired judge) asking for Panathinaikos support too, but the bid failed immediately, Gagatsis had already secured a majority. This means that the AEK-appointed Federation CEO will also leave, as will the Head of Refereeing Committee Peter Frojdfelt and his assistant Mantalos (not the footballer).

- AEK owner Melissanidis suddenly decides to sell the team, and today the new owner of AEK is presented, Iliopoulos. Melissanidis has done this "cash-out" move before, in the 90s, when he felt that he lost control of the factors which made him champion.

- The new coach of Panathinaikos is Uruguayan Diego Alonso.

[Firnen]

Greek teams in Q2

Champions League:

PAOK vs Borac Banja Luca/Egnatia

Europa League:

Panathinaikos vs Botev Plovdiv/Maribor

Conferene League:

AEK vs Velez Mostar/Inter d'Escaldes

[seso]

After a terrible 2023-24 season in the Greek first division, Kifisia FC will compete in the 2024-25 second division. Obviously, the reason for last season's bad performance was the club's logo, so they changed it for the bad karma to go away!

There are a lot of Platanus trees in Kifisia (the city).

The new logo:

[mspm89]

After a terrible 2023-24 season in the Greek first division, Kifisia FC will compete in the 2024-25 second division. Obviously, the reason for last season's bad performance was the club's logo, so they changed it for the bad karma to go away!

There are a lot of Platanus trees in Kifisia (the city).

The new logo:

Platanus = plantains? They're such a staple crop in my region of the world that I can't help but find this very funny and bizarre. Even corn would feel less... corny!

EDIT: now I googled it and they're an unrelated species to the plantain. My bad.

[seso]

Platanus = plantains? They're such a staple crop in my region of the world that I can't help but find this very funny and bizarre. Even corn would feel less... corny!

EDIT: now I googled it and they're an unrelated species to the plantain. My bad.

Yes, they are different species.
I thought it's interesting that maple trees (its leaves are shown on the flag of Canada) and platanus are very distantly related species.

Also, Platanias FC crest is a red trifolium, probably from a designer's mistake who instead of a platanus foil, he designed a simple trefoil. The name of the village "Platanias" means "area of Platanus".

[Firnen]

- Olympiacos owner Marinakis returns to the position of Super League president after 6 months, beating Panathinaikos owner Alafouzos 7-6 (1 blank by Panaitolikos) in the vote. Marinakis was voted by PAOK and Alafouzos by AEK and Aris. The position has very little power apart from communication stunts, but was the confirmation that AEK is ousted from every seat of power (reminder that Makis Gagatsis from PAOK, with support from Olympiacos, is the new Federation president).

- The play-off format is changing: 1-4 for the champion, 5-8 for the last European spot, 9-14 for relegation. The format change will be formalized in the next SL meeting and was championed by PAOK and Olympiacos who believe that 5th Aris was helping AEK in the 1-6 play-offs. Aris is obviously furious about it (they can always finish 4th and be in the 1-4 play-offs but Aris isn't exactly known for their winning mentality).

[amenina]

- The play-off format is changing: 1-4 for the champion, 5-8 for the last European spot, 9-14 for relegation. The format change will be formalized in the next SL meeting and was championed by PAOK and Olympiacos who believe that 5th Aris was helping AEK in the 1-6 play-offs. Aris is obviously furious about it (they can always finish 4th and be in the 1-4 play-offs but Aris isn't exactly known for their winning mentality).

But if the cup is won by a team from outside the top 4, would the play-offs between teams 5-8 become meaningless?

[Firnen]

- The play-off format is changing: 1-4 for the champion, 5-8 for the last European spot, 9-14 for relegation. The format change will be formalized in the next SL meeting and was championed by PAOK and Olympiacos who believe that 5th Aris was helping AEK in the 1-6 play-offs. Aris is obviously furious about it (they can always finish 4th and be in the 1-4 play-offs but Aris isn't exactly known for their winning mentality).

But if the cup is won by a team from outside the top 4, would the play-offs between teams 5-8 become meaningless?

Yes, but a) the Cup Final is the last match of the season so the teams in the 5-8 group will still fight for 5th, and b) teams below 5th in the league never win the Cup in Greece, it has only happened 2 times the last 40 years (1998 and 2007).

[offside]

- The play-off format is changing: 1-4 for the champion, 5-8 for the last European spot, 9-14 for relegation.

What is your opinion about this format change? Do you like better this new format or the old one?

[Firnen]

- The play-off format is changing: 1-4 for the champion, 5-8 for the last European spot, 9-14 for relegation.

What is your opinion about this format change? Do you like better this new format or the old one?

4 less matches presumably for spring, so more chances to not have to pick between Europe and the league. So, yes.

[seso]

Regular season points of clubs in position 5-8 play-offs will be divided by 2.

[TommyChat]

A good change is that the 9-14 group will be home & away for a total of 10 games so it will be unlikely that even the 9th will be safe after regular season.
The old 7-14 group had only 7 games and only 4-5 teams were actually in danger.
Note: 2 teams will be relegated.

[TommyChat]

- The play-off format is changing: 1-4 for the champion, 5-8 for the last European spot, 9-14 for relegation. The format change will be formalized in the next SL meeting and was championed by PAOK and Olympiacos who believe that 5th Aris was helping AEK in the 1-6 play-offs. Aris is obviously furious about it (they can always finish 4th and be in the 1-4 play-offs but Aris isn't exactly known for their winning mentality).

But if the cup is won by a team from outside the top 4, would the play-offs between teams 5-8 become meaningless?

Yes, but a) the Cup Final is the last match of the season so the teams in the 5-8 group will still fight for 5th, and b) teams below 5th in the league never win the Cup in Greece, it has only happened 2 times the last 40 years (1998 and 2007).

Since the question was about outside the top 4, Panathinaikos actually finished 5th in regular season when they won the cup in 2022 (and finished 4th after play offs)

[TommyChat]

I am a bit curious about the cup format under the new federation leadership, the current one is already old for the Greek standards. With the new European Competitions format it would be unlikely to keep the same format for both league and cup with all those postponements in recent years. Actually I don't know what would happen if Olympiacos advanced to the semifinals at the cup. With 4 fewer league games at playoffs the cup can remain unchanged but the schedule will still be tight.

[Bulgarian]

Ludogorets have signed Camara from Oly. Is he any good?