The curious case that is OFI FC
OFI. O Omilos (The Club) as known to its fans, is based in Heraklion - Crete, and has been around since 1925. With the most appearances in the top leagues of Greece from all the Cretan clubs they should be used as a yard stick for success in the island.. So why do things always go wrong at the club?
Formed in 1925 as a sporting club the football club has been its biggest department for a long time now. Early days for OFI were terrible. Crete as a whole was poverty stricken and with WW1 and WW2 the club could not afford to compete outside of the island thus would only play games with local clubs. Once the German occupation ended OFI were able to participate in the First Division National Championship but a variety of issues and red tape meant that even though they were the best team in Crete they would not get to play in the top league till 1957. Their time in the top division was short lived as the long trips put a financial strain on the club and in 1962 they finished last thus being relegated.
Lucky for OFI their relegation coincided with a national second division being created which they remained in for several years almost getting promoted but falling just short on a few occasions but finally cracked the top league again in 1968. In the coming years steady progression was made up until the disastrous 1977 season which they finished 17th and were relegated again.
Back in the top flight in the mid 1970's OFI thought they hit the jackpot with Vardinogiannis Group purchasing the club but they would soon realise they had become a feeder club to Panathinaikos who was also owned by them. Not knowing how to work this in their favour was an issue up until the legendary Eugene Gerards came in as manager. For 15 years (a Greek managerial record) Eugene works minor miracles with the club and had them in the top part of the table missing out on a title by 5 points during season 1985/1986. The best was yet to come for the club as during the 1987 season OFI were crowned Greek Cup Champions beating Iraklis 3-1 on penalties after the game ended 1-1. Buy this time they were a feared team and a serious threat to the championship power that came from Athens and Piraeus.
Of course with all the highs there are lows and during the late 80's and early 90's OFI finished mid table and whilst making the Greek Cup final again during season 1990 they would ultimately lose to Olympiakos 4-2.
The link up with Vardinogiannis Group was difficult for the club as any player that would show potential would usually be transferred to the more illustrious Panathinaikos. During season 1995/96 PAO came knocking on the door for a striker and whilst they eagerly wanted Nikos Machlas his refusal to play for them meant that they had to settle for his team mate Alexis Alexoudis and whilst this was seen as somewhat of a success from the fans it was short lived as Machlas would transfer to Vitesse Arnhem shortly afterwards.
The following seasons again saw cross club transfers happen which ultimately suited PAO.
Nioplias become surplus to them and returned to OFI only for PAO to then raid the club of its best midfielder and defender in Kostas Kiassos and Kostas Konstantinidis respectively. OFI fans would celebrate though as during the penultimate game of the 1996/1997 season they beat PAO to ensure they finished 3rd and PAO 5th, missing out on European football.
The good times ended when Gerards announced his retirement from football at the end of season 2000. This is when the clubs instability and downfall began. A raft of poor signings, bad managerial appointments and financial issues had plagued the club to the point where former players would chip in with their own money to assist. This bandaid solution would work up until a Nikos Machlas administration took over the club. Success instantly followed but the debts kept growing to the point the club would go broke and relegated to the third division.
Clear of all its debts the club worked its way to being just outside the Super League until this season where the club once again got itself into financial pressure subsequently having to release a host of players from its roster. As I write this, they are sitting second on the ladder, the players who stayed seem to be focused on one thing and that is success. Currently occupying an automatic promotion position into the GSL, one wonders if they do ultimately get promoted will the club gamble its future and fall massively into debt trying to achieve footballing success or will it work within its means and become a stable member of the leagues top flight?
Sadly with its past and current poor administration, it doesn't look like changing for the better anytime soon.
Formed in 1925 as a sporting club the football club has been its biggest department for a long time now. Early days for OFI were terrible. Crete as a whole was poverty stricken and with WW1 and WW2 the club could not afford to compete outside of the island thus would only play games with local clubs. Once the German occupation ended OFI were able to participate in the First Division National Championship but a variety of issues and red tape meant that even though they were the best team in Crete they would not get to play in the top league till 1957. Their time in the top division was short lived as the long trips put a financial strain on the club and in 1962 they finished last thus being relegated.
Back in the top flight in the mid 1970's OFI thought they hit the jackpot with Vardinogiannis Group purchasing the club but they would soon realise they had become a feeder club to Panathinaikos who was also owned by them. Not knowing how to work this in their favour was an issue up until the legendary Eugene Gerards came in as manager. For 15 years (a Greek managerial record) Eugene works minor miracles with the club and had them in the top part of the table missing out on a title by 5 points during season 1985/1986. The best was yet to come for the club as during the 1987 season OFI were crowned Greek Cup Champions beating Iraklis 3-1 on penalties after the game ended 1-1. Buy this time they were a feared team and a serious threat to the championship power that came from Athens and Piraeus.
Of course with all the highs there are lows and during the late 80's and early 90's OFI finished mid table and whilst making the Greek Cup final again during season 1990 they would ultimately lose to Olympiakos 4-2.
The link up with Vardinogiannis Group was difficult for the club as any player that would show potential would usually be transferred to the more illustrious Panathinaikos. During season 1995/96 PAO came knocking on the door for a striker and whilst they eagerly wanted Nikos Machlas his refusal to play for them meant that they had to settle for his team mate Alexis Alexoudis and whilst this was seen as somewhat of a success from the fans it was short lived as Machlas would transfer to Vitesse Arnhem shortly afterwards.
The following seasons again saw cross club transfers happen which ultimately suited PAO.
Nioplias become surplus to them and returned to OFI only for PAO to then raid the club of its best midfielder and defender in Kostas Kiassos and Kostas Konstantinidis respectively. OFI fans would celebrate though as during the penultimate game of the 1996/1997 season they beat PAO to ensure they finished 3rd and PAO 5th, missing out on European football.
The good times ended when Gerards announced his retirement from football at the end of season 2000. This is when the clubs instability and downfall began. A raft of poor signings, bad managerial appointments and financial issues had plagued the club to the point where former players would chip in with their own money to assist. This bandaid solution would work up until a Nikos Machlas administration took over the club. Success instantly followed but the debts kept growing to the point the club would go broke and relegated to the third division.
Clear of all its debts the club worked its way to being just outside the Super League until this season where the club once again got itself into financial pressure subsequently having to release a host of players from its roster. As I write this, they are sitting second on the ladder, the players who stayed seem to be focused on one thing and that is success. Currently occupying an automatic promotion position into the GSL, one wonders if they do ultimately get promoted will the club gamble its future and fall massively into debt trying to achieve footballing success or will it work within its means and become a stable member of the leagues top flight?
Sadly with its past and current poor administration, it doesn't look like changing for the better anytime soon.
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