AO Kalamata
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| Full name | Ποδοσφαιρικός Σύλλογος Καλαμάτα |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Μαύρη Θύελλα (Black Storm) |
| Founded | 1967 |
| Ground | Kalamata Metropolitan Stadium |
| Capacity | 4,000 |
| Chairman | George Rallis |
| Manager | Nikolaos Zalikas |
| League | Gamma Ethniki |
| 2016-17 | EPS Messinias, 1st (promoted) |
Kalamata F.C. (Greek: Π.Σ. Καλαμάτα) is a professional football club based in Kalamata, Greece, currently competing in Football League 2.
Kalamata F.C. was formed in 1967 in a merger among Apollon Kalamata and other local sides.
The team has competed in the Greek first division seven times, in 1972-73, 1974–75, from 1995-96 to 1997-98, and from 1999-00 to 2000-01.
Kalamata F.C. achieved its first two promotions to the first division, in 1972 and 1974, under President Lykourgos Gaitanaros. Its first two promotions in the early 1970s are considered the team's first golden era. The team could not stick in the top flight though, and would not have a resurgence until the 1990s.
Businessman Stavros Papadopoulos bought the team in 1992, while the club was stuck in Gamma Ethniki, the third division. Upon his arrival, Papadopoulos began pouring a substantial amount of money into the club, and by 1995 the team had achieved promotion to the first division. The team dropped back to the second division for one season in 1997, but again achieved promotion to the first division the very next year, and remained in the top flight until Papadopoulos sold the team in 2000. After Papadopoulos' departure Kalamata fell to the second division and has since stayed in the lower divisions.
The Papadopoulos era of Kalamata F.C. saw the signing of many international players from Ghana, such as Samuel Johnson, Afo Dodoo, Ebenezer Hagan, Peter Ofori-Quaye and Derek Boateng. Johnson later transferred from Kalamata to Anderlecht and later played for Fenerbahçe, Hagan transferred to Iraklis and then to PAOK, Ofori-Quaye was sold for a club record USD $3.5 million to Olympiacos, and Derek Boateng left for Panathinaikos. Kalamata F.C. is credited with starting the trend among Greek clubs of signing African talent since the late 1990s. The Papadopoulos era also saw the uncovering of a wealth of young Greek talent, including Greek international player Nikos Liberopoulos, who made his name at Kalamata before moving to Panathinaikos, and from there to AEK and Eintracht Frankfurt.
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