Gymnastikos Syllogos Thessalonikis "Iraklis" (Greek: Γυμναστικός Σύλλογος Θεσσαλονίκης «Ηρακλής», Greek pronunciation:[iɾa'klis], English: Thessaloniki Athletic Club "Heracles"), commonly referred to as Iraklis Thessaloniki, is a Greek multi–sport club based in Thessaloniki. The club was founded on 29 November 1908 as Makedonikós Gymnastikós Sýllogos (Macedonian Athletic Club) and is one of the oldest and most historic sport clubs in Greece. It is named after Heracles, the mythicalGreekdemigod. Their colours are blue or cyan and white, inspired by the flag of Greece.[1]
G.S. Iraklis Thessalonikis traces its roots back on 1 July 1899 when Ómilos Filomoúson (Music Friends 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 sport department. After a merger with a local team, the club was refounded on 29 November 1908, called Makedonikós Gymnasticós Sýllogos (Macedonian Athletic Club). Two years later, "Iraklís" (Heracles) was added to the club's name as an honour to the ancient Greekhero.[1]
Later on, the club faced financial problems, but members of the club joined forces with another Greek athletic club of the city, called Olýmpia.[2] The result of this union was the foundation of a new club on 29 November 1908, called Makedonikós Gymnastikós Sýllogos (Macedonian Athletic Club), that gained a permission to operate by the Ottoman authorities.[3] The new club's first president was a Greek doctor, Alkiviadis Maltos.[3] The name of the club had a direct reference to the ethnic tensions that took place in the area at that time.[3]
Due to the revolt of 1908 of Young Turks and their promises for ease of ethnic tensions in the area, the club was forced to change its name.[3] Thus a new name was decided for the club, Ottomanikós Ellinikós Gymnastikós Sýllogos Thessaloníkis "Iraklís" (Thessaloniki Ottoman Greek Athletic Club "Heracles").[3] The new name was approved, together with a new statute and a new board of directors, by a general assembly of the club on 13 April 1911.[3] After the integration of Thessaloniki in the Kingdom of Greece, the operation of the club was accepted by the Greek courts in 1914 and on 11 January 1915 Gymnastikós Sýllogos Thessaloníkis "Iraklís" (Thessaloniki Athletic Club "Heracles") became a fully registered sports club.[3]
Sections
Ómilos Filomoúson football team, 1905Statue 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
G.S. Iraklis Thessalonikis is considered one of the most historical and important Greek sport clubs and maintains sections in many sports, including:[4]
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