Eleftheroupoli F.C., officially known as A.E. Eleftheroupoli (, Athlitiki Enosi Eleftheroupoleos), the "Athletic Union of Eleftheroupoli", is a Greek association football club based in Nea Ionia, a suburban town in the Athens prefecture, Greece. The club currently competes in the Athens Second Division.
History
Eleftheroupoli is one of the oldest football clubs in Greece, and it was founded by Greek refugees from Asia Minor (A. Neofytou, L. Dimitropoulos, A. Konstantinidis, N. Nikolaou, Ch. Theodorou, L. Konstantinidis, Th. Kiriakou, A. Nikolaou, G. Stefanidis, D. Kountouris, P. Tsakonas, and P. Tevekelis). The archives of the country's newspapers, some originating from 1926, provide insights into a club referred to as Enosi Eleftheroupoli. The inception of the football department occurred in 1929, laying the foundation for its future development. In the year 1934, the club took a significant step by merging with the football clubs Aris and Dafni Nea Ionia, subsequently adopting the name Athlitiki Enosi Eleftheroupoli. In 1937, following a period of six years, the club joined forces with Elpida Nea Ionia, leading to the establishment of a reformed organization called AE Eleftheroupoli Elpida. In 1961, the football club merged with AE Nea Ionia, creating a more competitive team aimed at excelling in the second division. The subsequent year witnessed the dissolution of the merger between the two clubs, primarily driven by numerous disagreements regarding the club's organizational structure. The year 1967 saw, once again, the club forced to merge with AE Nea Ionia, ultimately leading to the creation of Elpida Nea Ionia as a consequence of the junta regime's influence. After the dissolution of the military junta in Greece, the club was re-established and adopted the name Athlitiki Enosi Eleftheroupoli. The team managed to win the local municipality championship three times from 1932 to 1935 and was recognized by the court of Athens as an official club. The club gained many new fans due to that success. In 1939, the club was recognized by the Hellenic Football Federation and the Athens Football Clubs Association, while at the same time, it competed in the local third division. Moreover, it took part in the national second division, known at the time as Beta Ethniki, for a duration of two football seasons during the early 1960s. Over the years, the club's reputation deteriorated due to its perennial presence in the regional leagues. The club produced many talented players, such as Stelios Skevofilakas, Stelios Panagiotidis, Georgios Magiras, Emmanouil Kountouris, Konstantinos Mavridopoulos, Ioannis Vlantis, Georgios Sevastiadis, Athanasios Mitilinaios, Tryfon Tzanetis, Mario Mitaj, and others, who later went on to play for more prominent football clubs in Greece and abroad. Eleftheroupoli's player A. Papadopoulos died while defending Greece during World War II.
Stadium The municipal stadium located in Nea Ionia serves as the home ground for the Eleftheroupoli football club, and it was built in 1962. The stadium's main access point is located along Olympias Street. In 2004, the entire stadium underwent significant renovations, including the installation of a state-of-the-art turf system on the pitch. It is important to acknowledge that the upgrade of the dressing rooms was accomplished solely in 2007. In 2015, the construction of the new facilities and stands was entirely funded by the government of Greece. Additionally, this stadium acts as the primary venue for A.O. Nea Ionia and P.A.O. Alsoupoli football clubs, playing a significant role in the community's sports culture. In August 2024, the local government funded the renovation of the stadium's track and the upgrade of the floodlights.
At the beginning of 1932, many significant matches of the club were held at AEK Stadium. This was largely attributed to the insufficient resources of local authorities and the overwhelming number of teams within the municipality of Nea Ionia, which hindered the establishment of a suitable facility for the local football clubs.
Part of the dramatic film 'The Striker with Number 9', directed by Pantelis Voulgaris, was filmed in this stadium.
Supporters The club's fan base stems from the descendants of the 6,000 Asia Minor refugees who were selected to settle in the region during the population exchange between Greece and Turkey in 1922.
Honours +Eleftheroupoli F.C. honoursTypeCompetitionTitlesWinnersRunners-upThird placeRef.Domestic Beta Ethniki (Second-tier)0 1962 (Southern Group A)RegionalAthens FCA Second Division0 1960–61Athens FCA Third Division5 1948–49, 1981–82, 1989–90, 1991–92, 2005–06LocalNea Ionia First Division3 1934, 1937, 1938Nea Ionia Second Division2 1933, 1936
Shared record
Domestic performance Season by season in the higher divisions +SeasonCategoryPositionPointsGF \ GACupRef.1962Beta Ethniki (Southern Group A)3rd3022—19Fourth Round1962–63Beta Ethniki (Group 1)12th (R)4832—49Third Round The best result is highlighted in bold.
Key: 1R = First Round, 2R = Second Round, 3R = Third Round, 4R = Fourth Round, 5R = Fifth Round, GS = Group Stage, R16 = Round of 16, QF = Quarter-finals, SF = Semi-finals, C = Champion, P = Promotion, R = Relegation.
1962 Beta Ethniki campaign
1962–63 Beta Ethniki campaign
Greek Cup campaigns Season Round Venue Opponent Home Away Qual. Ref. 1941–44 Not held due to the Greco-Italian War and the German invasion of Greece 1948–49First RoundAEK StadiumArchimidis Piraeus – 2–1 1949–50First RoundRizoupoli StadiumAthinaikos 4–2 –Second RoundElefsina Municipal StadiumPanelefsiniakos – 2–0 1950–51First RoundZirineio StadiumA.S. Panerythraikos 2–1 –Second RoundChalandri Municipal StadiumA.E. Chalandri 7–2 –Third RoundNikaia Municipal StadiumA.E. Karava 4–2 –Fourth RoundRizoupoli StadiumApollon Smyrnis – 3–0 1951–52First RoundAEK StadiumKronos Athens 5–0 –Second RoundNear East StadiumA.E. Pagrati – 4–2 1952–53First RoundLeoforos Alexandras StadiumArion Athens 2–0 –Second RoundRizoupoli StadiumApollon Smyrnis – 3–2 1954–55First RoundRizoupoli StadiumP.A.O. Kalogreza 3–1 – Second RoundNea Sfageia StadiumFostiras – 5–2 1955–56First RoundAEK StadiumP.A.O. Saframpoli 0–0The only team to secure qualification after the match ended in a draw is Eleftheroupoli. The participation of Eleftheroupoli in the next stage of the cup, along with the absence of PAO Saframpoli, illustrates this point. The sources do not specify the reason. – Second RoundRizoupoli StadiumAris Athens – 1–0 1956–57First RoundAEK StadiumProodos Patisia 4–1 – Second RoundOmilos Thermopyles 2–1 – Third RoundZirineio StadiumΑ.Ο. Kifisia – 3–1 1957–58First RoundAEK StadiumA.E. Taksiarxes 6–0 –Second RoundRizoupoli StadiumA.Ο. Lavrio 5–2 –Third RoundVyronas National StadiumAthinaikos – 2–1 1961–62First RoundNea Ionia Municipal StadiumEthnikos Peristeri 10–2 –Second Round –Astrapi Rizoupoli 2–0 () –Third RoundZirineio StadiumG.S. Amarousion 3–2 –Fourth RoundStavros Mavrothalassitis StadiumEgaleo – 1–0 1962–63First Round –Bye – – –Second RoundEthnikos Peristeri 3–0 –Third RoundRizoupoli StadiumA.O. Giziakos 3–2 –Fourth RoundP.A.O. Kalogreza – 2–1 1963–64First RoundNea Ionia Municipal StadiumΑ.Ε. Iraklis 14–2 –Second Round –Fivos 2–0 () –Kallithea 2–0 () –Third RoundCholargos Municipal StadiumA.O. Cholargos 3–2 –Fourth RoundRizoupoli StadiumApollon Smyrnis – 2–1
Overall record in major competitions CompetitionHomeAwayTotalPldWDLGFGAGDWin%PldWDLGFGAGDWin%PldWDLGFGAGDWin%Beta EthnikiGreek CupTotal
Performance against higher-profile clubs Season Competition Round Opponent Home Away Ref.1949–50 Greek Cup First RoundAthinaikos 4–2 –1950–51 Fourth RoundApollon Smyrnis – 3–01952–53 Second RoundApollon Smyrnis – 3–2 1954–55 Second RoundFostiras – 5–21956–57 Third RoundA.O. Kifisia – 3–11957–58 Third RoundAthinaikos – 2–11961–62 Fourth RoundEgaleo – 1–01963–64 Fourth RoundApollon Smyrnis – 2–11961–62Beta EthnikiSouthern Group AAtromitos 1–0 0–0Diagoras 2–1 3–3Athinaikos 2–0 3–21962–63Group 1Atromitos 1–0 1–0Diagoras 1–0 4–2Athinaikos 0–1 1–1Panetolikos 0–0 3–0Panachaiki 3–1 8–01963–64Athens FCA A1 –Ethnikos Asteras 3–1 3–1Athinaikos 0–0 2–21982–83 Group AMarko 1–0 1–11983–84Group BA.E. Kifisia 1–0 1–2
Matches are classified as home or away depending on the team's allocation established after the Hellenic Football Federation's competition draw. Home and away games may not always take place at the designated home venue of the respective team.
List of former players by stint and official transfer
Greece
Georgios Magiras (1931–33) → AEK Athens Tryfon Tzanetis (1934–35) → AEK Athens Xenofon Markopoulos (1952–55) ← AEK Athens Ilias Boulbasis (1936–?) → AEK Athens Konstantinos Pavlis (1936–?) → Apollon Smyrnis Konstantinos Karabournis (1936–?) → Apollon Smyrnis Giannis Vlantis (?–1945) → AEK Athens Konstantinos Karagiaouris (1936–45) → AEK Athens Manolis Kountouris (?–1947) → AEK Athens Georgios Sevastiadis (?–1949) → AEK Athens Konstantinos Tzoras (?) → Apollon Smyrnis Athanasios Mitilinaios (?) → Apollon Smyrnis Nikos Xanthopoulos (?) → Unknown Georgios Filippou (?–1953) → Panathinaikos Konstantinos Mavridopoulos (?–1953) → Olympiacos Boutidis (?–1953) → AEK Athens Stelios Lianos (?–1955) → AEK Athens Stelios Panagiotidis (1934–60) → Panathinaikos Stelios Skevofilakas (1958–61) → AEK Athens Aris Mavridopoulos (?–1966) → PAS Giannina Athanasios Bazimas (?) → AEK Athens Aristeidis Mavrofrydis (?) → Egaleo Theodoros Pantazopoulos (?) → Olympiacos Athanasios Chelmis (?) → Ethnikos Piraeus Ioannis Polychronopoulos (?) → AEK Athens Dimitris Kotanidis (?) → AEK Athens Kleanthis Askaridis (1984–) ← PAS Giannina Antonis Panagiotopoulos (2004–06) → Mandraikos Georgios Iordanidis (2007–08) → Sholing Ahmet Satzit (2009–10) → A.O. Nea Ionia Nikolaos Theodoropoulos (2015–16) → Retired
Rest of Europe
Angelos Zisis (2007–08) → Unknown Mario Mitaj (?–2013) → AEK Athens Angelos Hamataj (2023) → A.O. Nea Ionia
Africa
Antoine Mbongue Ngoubo (2023–25) → Unknown
Personnel Current Board Updated 9 July 2026
Kit providers and sponsors Updated 30 May 2026
Kit manufacturer Period Shirt sponsors Zeus ?– Puma 2015–16 – Nike 2018–23 a&k Admiral 2023–26 Arxontiko Hall
References
Bibliography
External links Eleftheroupoli F.C. – Official Website Eleftheroupoli F.C. at Sofascore