Country | Greece |
---|---|
Confederation | UEFA |
Founded | 1927 (Original Format) 2006 (Current Format) |
Number of teams | 16 |
Level on pyramid | 1 |
Relegation to | Football League |
Domestic cup(s) |
Greek Cup Greek Super Cup (Repealed) |
International cup(s) |
UEFA Champions League UEFA Europa League |
Current champions |
Olympiacos (2015–16) |
Most championships | Olympiacos (43 titles) |
TV partners | Nova Sports |
Website | Superleaguegreece.net |
2016–17 Superleague Greece |
The Superleague Greece (Greek: Ελληνική Σούπερ Λιγκ) is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on 16 July 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each. As of May 2013, Superleague Greece is ranked 12th in the UEFA ranking of leagues, based on performances in European competitions over the last five years.
Since the foundation of the first official Panhellenic Championship in 1927, only six clubs have won the title, with the "big three" of Greater Athens (Olympiacos, Panathinaikos and AEK Athens) dominating and only PAOK, Aris and AEL managing to break their dominance on a few occasions. The current champions are Olympiacos, who have won a total of 43 titles.
Between 1905 and 1912, a Panhellenic Championship was organised by the Hellenic Association of Amateur Athletics (SEGAS). This championship was actually a local tournament among clubs from Athens and Piraeus.
After the Balkan Wars and World War I, two football associations were formed, one organising a football league in Athens and Piraeus, and one doing the same in Thessaloniki. These were the Athens-Piraeus FCA (EPSAP) and the Macedonia FCA (EPSM). In 1923, a Panhellenic Champion was determined by a play-off game between the Athens-Piraeus and the Thessaloniki champions. Peiraikos Syndesmos won 3-1 against Aris Thessaloniki. This panhellenic final was not repeated the following year as the EPSAP was split into the Athens FCA (EPSA) and Piraeus FCA (EPSP) following a dispute.