G.S. Iraklis Thessaloniki

G.S. Iraklis

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Full name	Gymnasticos Syllogos Iraklis (Gymnastics Club Heracles)
Nicknames	Γηραιός / Gireos (The elder)
Founded	1899, as Omilos Filomouson 29 November 1908 as Macedonikos Gymnasticos Syllogos
Colours	Blue, White
Chairman	Ioannis Mesthaneus
Website	www.iraklis.org

Active departments of GS Iraklis
Football	Basketball (Men's)	Basketball (Women's)
Volleyball	Waterpolo	Handball
Athletics	Swimming	Rugby
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Ice Hockey	Judo	Wrestling
Boxing	Fencing

Gymnasticos Syllogos Iraklis (Greek: Γυμναστικός Σύλλογος Ηρακλής, English: Gymnastics Club Heracles), commonly referred to as Iraklis, is a Greek multi-sports club based in Thessaloniki. The club was founded in 1908 as "Macedonikos Gymnasticos Syllogos" (Macedonian Gymnastics Club) and is one of the oldest and most historic sports-clubs in Greece. It is named after Heracles, the mythical Greek demigod. Their colours are blue or cyan and white, inspired by the Greek flag.

Iraklis traces its roots back in 1899 when Omilos Filomouson (meaning Friends of Music Club) was established. The club was established as a cultural union of the Greeks of Thessaloniki (then under Ottoman sovereignty), and in 1902 was founded also a sports department. After a merger with a local team, the club was re-founded on 29 November 1908, called Macedonikos Gymnasticos Syllogos (meaning Macedonian Gymnastics Club). A year later, "Iraklis" (Heracles) was added to the club's name as an honour to the ancient Greek hero.

Departments

Omilos Filomouson football team, 1905

Statue of Jerzy Iwanow-Szajnowicz in Thessaloniki. Athlete of Iraklis and member of the Greek resistance during the WWII, was executed by the Nazis in 1943

Iraklis is considered one of the most historical and important Greek sport clubs and maintains departments in many sports, including:

• Iraklis F.C. (founded in 1908, ceased to compete as a part of the club in 2011) - Football
• Iraklis B.C. (founded in 1924) - Basketball
• Iraklis V.C. (founded in 1921) - Volleyball
• Iraklis Track and field (founded in 1908) - Track and field
• Iraklis Handball (founded in 1994) - Handball
• Iraklis Rugby union (founded in 2005) - Rugby union
• Iraklis Ice hockey (founded in 2009) - Ice hockey
• Iraklis Water polo (founded in 1975) - Water polo
• Iraklis Swimming (founded in 1975) - Swimming
• Iraklis Synchronized swimming (founded in 1995) - Synchronized swimming
• Iraklis Freestyle wrestling (founded in 1967) - Freestyle wrestling
• Iraklis Judo (founded in 1979) - Judo
• Iraklis Amateur Boxing (founded in 1965) - Amateur Boxing
• Iraklis Weightlifting (founded in 1967) - Weightlifting
• Iraklis Cycling (founded in 1972) - Cycling
• Iraklis Fencing (founded in 1972) - Fencing
• Iraklis Table tennis - Table tennis

Honours

File:Hercule Farnèse (musée archéologique de Naples) (8310009883).jpg

Farnese Hercules, emblem of the club

Football

• Greek Cup: 1
  • 1976
• Balkans Cup: 1
  • 1985

Basketball

Men

• Greek Championships: 2
  • 1928, 1935

Women

• Greek Championships: 3
  • 1968, 1971, 1972

Volleyball

Men

• Greek Championships: 5
  • 2002, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2012
• Greek Cups: 6
  • 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2012
• Greek Super Cups: 4 (record)
  • 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008
• Greek Cup A1 Ethniki: 1 (record)
  • 1999

Αthletics

Voula Patoulidou

Men

• Greek Championships: 6
  • 1975, 1976, 1979, 1984, 1985, 1986
• Greek Cups: 2
  • 1979, 1990

Women

• Greek Championships: 1
  • 1991
• Greek Cross Country Championships: 6
  • 1967, 1981, 1990, 1991, 1992, 2009
• Greek Cups: 3
  • 1989, 1990, 1991

Rugby Union

Emblem of the rugby union team

• Greek Championship Rugby Union: 1
  • 2013

Freestyle Wrestling

Men

• Greek Championships: 11
  • 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

Fencing

Men

• Greek Épée team championship: 1
  • 1983

Women

• Greek Foil team championship: 1
  • 1978

European honours of team sports

Season	Football	Basketball	Volleyball
1984–85	Balkans Cup Winner
1994–95		FIBA Saporta Cup Semi-finals
1996–97		FIBA Saporta Cup Semi-finals
2001–02			CEV Champions League 3rd place
2003–04			CEV Champions League 4th place
2004-05			CEV Champions League 2nd place
2005-06			CEV Champions League 2nd place
2008-09			CEV Champions League 2nd place

Gallery

Football

• 

  The team for the 1930–31 season

• Kaftantzogleioexterior.jpg

  Kaftanzoglio Stadium

• 

  Vasilis Hatzipanagis

• 

  The team for the 1999–00 season

Basketball

• Papodopoulos.jpg

  Lazaros Papadopoulos

• Sofoklis Schortsanitis naional team (cropped).jpg

  Sofoklis Schortsanitis

• Diamantidis.jpg

  Dimitris Diamantidis

Volleytball

• 

  Thomas Hoff

• Rolando Despaigne.png

  Rolando Jurquin Despaigne

• Matej Černič 4.jpg

  Matej Cernic

• Frantz Granvorka.jpg

  Frantz Granvorka

• Lloyballbra.jpg

  Lloy Ball

External links

Official websites

• Iraklis Gymnastics Club
• Iraklis Football Club
• Iraklis Basketball Club
• Iraklis Volleyball Club
• Iraklis Track and field
• Iraklis Swimming

Press

• Blue Arena