| Full name | Όμιλος Φιλάθλων Ηρακλείου Ómilos Filáthlon Iraklíou (Heraklion Fans' Club) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname | O Ómilos (The Club) | |||
| Short name | OFI | |||
| Founded | 1925; 100 years ago (1925) | |||
| Ground | Pankritio Stadium | |||
| Capacity | 26,240 | |||
| President | Michael Bousis | |||
| Head coach | Christos Kontis | |||
| League | Super League Greece | |||
| 2024–25 | Super League Greece, 8th of 14 | |||
| Website | oficretefc.com | |||
| Departments ofOFI | |||||||||||||||
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OFI Football Club (Greek:ΠΑΕ Όμιλος Φιλάθλων Ηρακλείου 1925,Heraklion Sportsmen Club 1925 FC), commonly referred to asOFI, is a Greek professionalfootball club based inHeraklion, on the island ofCrete. It is part of theOFI multi-sports club. The team competes in theSuper League Greece, the top division of theGreek football league system, and hosts home games at theTheodoros Vardinogiannis Stadium inHeraklion, with capacity of 9 833 spectators.
OFI Crete is the most successful Cretan club and the only one from the island to have participated in European competitions. It is the team outside the two major urban centers ofAthens andThessaloniki with the most continuous appearances in theGreek first division, with 48 appearances as of 2024 since its debut in the first division in 1968-69.[1] The club has secured oneGreek Cup (1986–87) and oneBalkans Cup (1989), and has competed seven times inUEFA competitions, distinguishing it as the premier team outside Athens and Thessaloniki.
OFI was founded in the winter of 1925[2] by a group of Cretan athletes who trained together in Heraklion. They formed a new club namedOmilos Filathlon Irakliou (acronymOFI), which translates as "Heraklion Sportsmen Club".[3] The club aimed to compete in various athletic events and exhibitions. In its early years, most members were among its own founders.
The pre-war years posed significant challenges for Crete and Greece as a whole, making travel and participation in national tournaments difficult for OFI. As a result, the club primarily competed in local matches on the island, often facing other Heraklion-based teams. Although no official records survive, older supporters estimate that OFI played roughly 400 matches before the German occupation of Crete.[4]
Football competitions in Crete were suspended during World War II, with many OFI players joining the war effort; some lost their lives. After the war, Greece’s “First Division” resumed but was dominated by Athens and Thessaloniki clubs, leaving little room for provincial teams like OFI.

Because teams outside these major cities were required to progress through multiple preliminary stages, OFI—despite being Crete’s leading side—initially failed to qualify for the national championship. In 1957–58, OFI finally succeeded by winning its preliminary group, but the club finished last in the National Championship. A more stable footing emerged in 1962 with the creation of the official Second Division, where OFI established a firmer presence in Greek football.
In 1962–63 the official Greek 2nd division league was set up for first time. OFI was one of the teams that participated in the league and completed the season in 9th position. In 1963–64 and 1964–65, OFI finished in 3rd and 5th position respectively.
In 1965–66, OFI were the champions of the 2nd Division of Greek football and only one step away from promotion to the official 1st National Division of Greek football.Yet, the Hellenic Football Federation decided that even the champions of the 2nd Division had to play preliminary games in order to be promoted.[5]
OFI lost in the play-off matches and remained in the 2nd Division. In 1966–67 the disappointment was huge, even though OFI ended in 3rd position. Everyone on the island of Crete was feeling that the moment where they could see the pride of their island in the top league was very close.In 1967–68, OFI finished in 2nd position and went into play-off games with the bottom team of the 1st division. The final match of the play-offs was to take place in the city ofChania, on 26 June 1968. OFI, with the help of 10,000 Cretans thrashed the team from the 1st division with a 3–0 win and made the dreams of thousands of supporters come true.[6] OFI was an official member of the 1st National Division.[7]
OFI's debut in the national 1st division was very difficult. "Omilos" ended the first round in 15th position. It was a very difficult task to remain in the league. However, in the 2nd round the Cretans played magnificently and finally finished in 12th place. In the next season OFI had already gained the experience of playing in the top league of Greek football. The "Snakes" finished in 13th place, but the strange thing was that OFI remained unbeaten in almost all of their home games in Heraklion. Only two teams managed to survive and leave Crete with an away win. Thus, even if OFI was not a feared opponent, all the other teams were anxious when taking the trip to the island of Crete.
1970–71 was the worst season the team from Heraklion ever had in the 1st Division. OFI ended in 17th position and was relegated for the last time in their history to the 2nd division. The whole season was a tragedy for the Cretans. OFI had to meet "old friends" from the 2nd division again and start battling again in order to be promoted for a second time.
OFI had been relegated again, but this time the 2nd division had changed entirely. After all, the championship had been more officially organized and opponents were tougher than before.
OFI spent another 5 seasons in the 2nd division, from 1971–72 to 1975–76. During the first season, the team was continually in 1st place.
However, at the end of the season, OFI's good performances deteriorated and they finally finished 4th. In 1972–73 the management decided on a complete overhaul of the squad. In these circumstances, the 13th position OFI achieved was predictable, yet a new era of the stars of OFI had just begun. In the next season OFI finished 6th and in 1974–75 they finished 5th. In the next season the league was divided again into two groups, each of 20 teams. The champions of each group would be promoted directly to the First National Division. OFI couldn't afford to miss this chance.Everything started perfectly for "Omilos" in 1975–76. They finished 1st at the end of the first round with a huge lead over the runners-up and then finished the season as champions. The whole island of Crete was celebrating the promotion of OFI to the 1st division. Up to the present, (2007), OFI have never been relegated again.
During the late 1970s,OFI Crete established itself as a competitive team in the Greek 1st Division. In the1976–77 season, despite being new to the top flight, OFI finished in 6th place, gaining national attention.Dimitris Papadopoulos emerged as the league's top scorer that year.[8] The club continued to perform respectably over the next two seasons, finishing 8th and 7th respectively. During this period, OFI remained unbeaten at home, including against league heavyweights likePanathinaikos,Olympiacos,AEK, andPAOK, who found it challenging to secure points when visiting Crete.
The transformation of Greek football into a professional competition in the1979–80 season coincided with the arrival of theVardinoyiannis family as majority shareholders of OFI. Under the leadership ofTheodoros Vardinoyiannis, the club entered a new era. In their first professional season, OFI finished 11th, with their only home loss being to Panathinaikos.[9][10][11]
From the early 1980s, Panathinaikos began to send young players to OFI as part of a strategic collaboration. This led to mixed results, as the influx of inexperienced players contributed to OFI's struggles in the1980–81 season, where they finished in 13th place. The subsequent seasons saw gradual improvement, with the team finishing 9th in1981–82 and 7th in1982–83.
Thus, in1983–84, three goalkeepers, one midfielder, and one defender came from Panathinaikos to OFI. Among these players wereNikos Nioplias andVangelis Chosadas, who became key contributors to the team. However, the strategy of relying on young, untested players continued to yield inconsistent results, and OFI finished in 8th place that season. Despite these challenges, the team began to develop a more cohesive unit, laying the groundwork for future success.
The following season, OFI's fortunes improved under a new coach, who managed to harness the potential of the team, turning them into a more competitive force in the Greek league.
In 1985, OFI appointed Dutch coachEugène Gerards, marking the beginning of a 15-year tenure.[12] This remains the longest coaching stint in the history of the Greek League. In 1985–86, OFI finished 2nd in the league, missing out on the championship by five points. The team followed this up with a 3rd-place finish in 1986–87 and 4th in 1987–88.
On 21 June 1987, Gerards led OFI to the Greek Cup by defeatingIraklis 3–1 on penalties at the Olympic Stadium in Athens.[13]
In the 1987–88 season, OFI finished abovePanathinaikos for the first time, including a 2–1 win over them in Heraklion, with a last-minute goal by Stefanos Vavoulas. During this era, OFI also participated in European competitions such as theUEFA Cup in 1986[14] and theUEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1987.[15]
On 7 June 1989, OFI won theBalkans Cup after defeatingFK Radnički Niš 3–1 in Serres.[16]
In the following seasons (1989–1992), OFI finished 6th, 7th, and 6th. On 27 May 1990, OFI overturned a 4–0 deficit againstOlympiacos at Karaiskakis Stadium to win 4–5.[17]
In 1992–93, OFI finished 4th in the league and qualified for the UEFA Cup, where they eliminatedSlavia Prague andAtlético Madrid before being knocked out byBoavista.[18] Despite this European run, OFI finished 7th in the 1993–94 Championship.
In 1996–97, OFI finished 3rd and qualified for the UEFA Cup again, with four of its players called up to the Greek national team.[19] The season ended with a 2–1 victory over Panathinaikos, leaving them outside the European qualification spots.
In 2000, after 15 years, Gerards announced his retirement from the OFI bench, capping an era that saw the club consistently rank among Greece's elite teams.[20] This would be the last time OFI qualified for European competition for the next 20 years, until their return in the 2019–20 season.[21][22]
The early 21st century was a time of transition for OFI, as the club navigated a series of challenges while maintaining its position in the Greek Super League. The retirement of key players such as Nioplias and Machlas led to a period of rebuilding, with the team making adjustments to its roster and management. Although 2001 proved to be a difficult year, with OFI fighting to remain in the 1st League, the following seasons saw gradual improvement, as the club managed to secure safety from relegation with increasing consistency.
President Fanouris Vatsinas appointed GermanReiner Maurer as coach in the summer of 2006.[23] Maurer revitalized the team's style of play, and for the first time since the Gerards era, OFI was in contention for a European spot. The club even participated in the Intertoto Cup in the summer of 2007. Although they did not advance far, this marked an important achievement for the club. However, the 2007–08 season proved to be another test, and after a difficult campaign, Maurer was replaced byGeorgios Paraschos, and later by Czech coachFrantišek Straka.[24]
In 2009, OFI faced further challenges, including leadership changes and financial difficulties. The fans called for President Vatsinas to step down, and former player Machlas expressed his interest in purchasing the club, offering significant financial support.[25] Despite efforts to turn the season around, Straka was dismissed, andIoannis Matzourakis was brought in.[26] However, OFI was ultimately relegated to the second division after finishing 16th in the 2008–09 season.[27]
Despite these setbacks, OFI has shown resilience. Following the season, some senior players filed claims over unpaid wages, leading to their departure, but the club remained determined to rebuild and return to its former standing.
After a challenging period, OFI returned to theSuper League in 2011 under a new administration led by former OFI legendNikos Machlas.[28] The club achieved an impressive 6th-place finish inthe 2013−14 season, showcasing the team's potential. However, significant financial difficulties, with debts amounting to around €12 million,[29] hindered further success. During the2014–15 season, the club fell behind in the league standings, and on 21 March 2015, OFI withdrew from professional competitions due to the administration's inability to meet financial obligations.[30] In a touching moment, the 15 remaining players took to the pitch atTheodoros Vardinogiannis Stadium to bid farewell to OFI's loyal fans.[31][32] After 47 consecutive years in professional competitions, OFI was relegated to amateur status.[33][34]
In response, the professional football department merged withits parent sports club, and a new leadership took over, initiating a fresh start. This allowed OFI to compete in the amateurGamma Ethniki (third tier) under a new administration, free from the financial burdens of the past.[35] OFI quickly bounced back, securing promotion after winning the2015−16 Gamma Ethniki title.[36] After two successful seasons in theFootball League, OFI reclaimed its place in theSuper League as2017−18 Second Division champions, alongside historic rivalsAris Thessaloniki.[37]
On 4 October 2018, Professional Sports Committee of Greece announced that Michael Bousis became the new major shareholder of OFI[38] and in a few days (on 10 October) he took over the leadership of the administration during a press conference in Heraklion.[39][40]
On 18 April 2019, the Professional Sports Committee of Greece announced that team Vice President C' Angelo P. Palivos, his brother Gregory Palivos and their mother Vassiliki Tyrvolis Palivos, secured ownership and control of 36.4% of the team's shares. The brothers both served on the teams Board of Directors on behalf of the Palivos family of Las Vegas, Nevada & Chicago, Illinois.
On 22 June 2020, Michael Bousis bought out the shares of the Palivos family and became again the majority owner of OFI Crete FC. On the same day, Angelo and Gregory Palivos resigned from their board seats.
On 17 May 2021, Michael Bousis announced that Minas Lysandrou, is the new CEO of the club. Lysandrou served as AEK Athens F.C. CEO up until 31 March 2021.
Under Bousis’s leadership, OFI experienced a varying success in the Greek Super League. After narrowly avoiding relegation in the 2018–19 season through the playoffs, OFI made a significant leap in 2019–20, finishing 5th and qualifying for European competition for the first time in 20 years. Although they faced challenges in subsequent seasons, finishing 13th in 2020–21, OFI remained resilient and stayed in the Super League. In 2021–22, they achieved 8th place, and in 2022–23, they topped the playout group to secure 7th place. In 2023–24, despite finishing 10th in the regular season, OFI comfortably avoided relegation, continuing their presence in the Super League.
OFI's traditional crest has been a significant symbol of the club since its foundation in 1925, undergoing several variations over the years. The original crest featured a white shield with a black outline and a diagonal black ribbon containing the club's acronym "ΟΦΗ" in white Greek letters, read from the bottom left to the top right of the crest. In 2016, as part of the club's re-entry into professional competitions after its dissolution the year before, the club's foundation date «1925» was added to the crest, and the outline was significantly thickened to create a substantial visual change from the logo of the bankrupt, liquidated forerunner club.
On August 7, 2020, the club's new administration introduced a new crest, replacing the traditional shield with a circle. The new emblem features the Greek letters "ΟΦΗ" at the center of the circle. According to the club's press release, this design shift represents unity, strength, authenticity, and pride. The perfect circle symbolizes a complete world, a new football ethos, and the vision of the people of OFI for the team and the island of Crete. The design was inspired by the lines of a football field as seen from above, with the letters O and H corresponding to the two penalty areas, and the letter Φ representing the center of the pitch.[41]
The colours that OFI has used since its foundation are black and white. Black is a traditional color worn by Cretan men, reflecting the island's heritage. Additionally, no other sports club in Crete had the same colour combination at the time. These colours have become synonymous with the club's identity, representing its heritage and values.
Sponsorships:

OFI's home ground is theTheodoros Vardinogiannis Stadium, located inHeraklion,Crete,Greece.[42] Originally built in 1951, it has since undergone several renovations. The stadium is popularly known by its nickname "Yedi Kule," a reference to the famousHeptapyrgion (also known as "Yedi Kule" inOttoman Turkish)—a Byzantine and Ottoman-era fortress located in the Acropolis ofThessaloniki, Greece.
After the death of OFI's iconic leader, the stadium was officially named after Theodoros Vardinogiannis. The inaugural match took place on 11 November 1951, with OFI playing against the team of A.S.D.A.N. (similar to the current national team), resulting in a 4–1 defeat for OFI. Despite the loss, the event was historic, as OFI had finally acquired a permanent "home" to host its loyal fans and support the growing football culture in Heraklion. The stadium was built on the site of former Christian, Jewish and Armenian cemeteries, and the pitch area still contains remnants of large gun emplacements from theWorld War II occupation by German forces.
The highest recorded attendance at Yedi Kule was 12,391 spectators during a match between OFI andOlympiacos on 25 September 1988, which OFI won 2–1.[43]
Starting from the 2025–26 season, OFI will play its home matches at thePankritio Stadium, as the historical stadium can no longer be licensed for official use due to structural safety concerns, therefore it no longer meets the necessary standards for accommodating spectators.
OFI has a big fan base in Crete. Most popular organized fan clubs are the "Snakes 4 Heraklion club" and "S.F Cretans 4 T. Papadopoulos".[44][45]
OFI fans have good relations with the fans ofPAOK, a friendship that started in October 1987 when OFI facedAtalanta for1987–88 Cup Winners' Cup atToumba Stadium and numerous PAOK fans supported the Cretans.[46][47][48]
OFI has a long-standing rivalry with local sideErgotelis, often referred to as the "Cretan derby." The rivalry dates back to 1929 when the first-ever match between the two sides, a friendly, ended in chaos. The game, held in August 1929, was abandoned after just 35 minutes due to a violent clash between players. At that time, Ergotelis were leading by one goal.[49]
The rivalry intensified under theGreek military junta of 1967–1974, when new legislation mandated that every regional Greek city should be represented by just one football team. At that time, both OFI and Ergotelis were competing in the Second National Division (Football League). After the 1966–67 season, Ergotelis finished 8th, while OFI placed higher in the standings, resulting in Ergotelis' relegation. The legislation also allowed the remaining second-division teams to sign players from relegated clubs, which led to five key Ergotelis players transferring to OFI. This marked the beginning of a prolonged period where Ergotelis languished in the lower leagues.
The rivalry, however, softened in the early 2000s when Ergotelis made their return to top-flight football. In a display of solidarity, OFI fans attended Ergotelis' games during their debut season in the Super League. Further evidence of improving relations came when Ergotelis loaned their legendary scorer,Patrick Ogunsoto, to a financially struggling OFI in the Beta Ethniki (second division) for no fee, to help the club in its bid to return to the Super League.[50]
| Season | Category | Position | Cup |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–01 | Alpha Ethniki | 12th | GS |
| 2001–02 | Alpha Ethniki | 8th | R16 |
| 2002–03 | Alpha Ethniki | 8th | R16 |
| 2003–04 | Alpha Ethniki | 11th | R16 |
| 2004–05 | Alpha Ethniki | 13th | R16 |
| 2005–06 | Alpha Ethniki | 13th | 4R |
| 2006–07 | Super League | 7th | 5R |
| 2007–08 | Super League | 12th | QF |
| 2008–09 | Super League | 14th | 5R |
| 2009–10 | Beta Ethniki | 3rd | 5R |
| 2010–11 | Football League | 3rd | 4R |
| 2011–12 | Super League | 10th | SF |
| 2012–13 | Super League | 14th | 3R |
| 2013–14 | Super League | 6th | SF |
| 2014–15 | Super League | 16th | QF |
| 2015–16 | Gamma Ethniki (Group 4) | 1st | - |
| 2016–17 | Football League | 4th | R16 |
| 2017–18 | Football League | 1st | R16 |
| 2018–19 | Super League | 13th | R16 |
| 2019–20 | Super League | 6th | R16 |
| 2020–21 | Super League | 12th | FR |
| 2021–22 | Super League | 8th | R16 |
| 2022–23 | Super League | 7th | 5R |
| 2023–24 | Super League | 10th | QF |
| 2024–25 | Super League | 8th | RU |
Best position in bold.
Key: FR = First Round, 3R = Third Round, 4R = Fourth Round, 5R = Fifth Round, GS = Group Stage, R16 = Round of 16, QF = Quarter-finals, SF = Semi-finals, RU = Runner-up.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Owner and president | |
| Vice president & CEO | |
| Club Director | |
| Commercial Manager | |
| Legal Counsel | |
| Football Admin | |
| Team Manager | |
| Player Liaison | |
| Head of Scouting | |
| Communication Director | |
| TMS and game operations |
| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Head coach | |
| Assistant head coach | |
| Fitness coach | |
| Goalkeeper coach | |
| Analyst |
| Season | Competition | Round | Club | Home | Away | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986–87 | UEFA Cup | 1st Round | 1–0 | 0–4 | ||
| 1987–88 | Cup Winners' Cup | 1st Round | 3–1 | 0–1 | ||
| 2nd Round | 1–0 | 0–2 | ||||
| 1993–94 | UEFA Cup | 1st Round | 1–0 | 1–1 | ||
| 2nd Round | 2–0 | 0–1 | ||||
| 3rd Round | 1–4 | 0–2 | ||||
| 1995–96 | Intertoto Cup | Group stage (Group 7) | 2–1 | |||
| 0–1 | ||||||
| 2–0 | ||||||
| 4–3 | ||||||
| 2nd Round | 1–2 | |||||
| 1997–98 | UEFA Cup | 2nd Qual. Round | 3–1 | 0–0 | ||
| 1st Round | 3–0 | 1–2 | ||||
| 2nd Round | 3–2 | 1–3 | ||||
| 2000–01 | UEFA Cup | 1st Round | 6–0 | 0–0 | ||
| 2nd Round | 2–2 | 1–4 | ||||
| 2007–08 | Intertoto Cup | 3rd Round | 0–1 | 0–1 | ||
| 2020–21 | UEFA Europa League | 2nd Qual. Round | 0–1 | — |
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