The Rise & Fall & Rise of Aris FC

Aris F.C, who is located in Greece’s second largest city of Thessaloniki was founded in 1914, becoming the city’s second oldest club, after Iraklis & before fierce rivals PAOK. Aris, also known as the "Kitrinomavri" (yellow & black), have always managed to hold a strong following, playing out of the beautiful Kleanthis Vikelidis Stadium, also known as the Harilaou (suburb in which the stadium is in).
Going back in time, Aris has managed to win the domestic league on 3 occasions (1928’, 1932’, and 1946’), become the Cup Champions in 1970 & also experienced great memories in Europe, including the defeat of Atletico Madrid away in 2010.
For such a proud club, winning 4 major trophies isn’t enough to replicate the support it receives from its passionate fanatics of Super 3, famous all over the world for the noise & colour they bring to games.
The 2013-14 season resulted in the start of some very dark days for the club. That season, Aris finished last (18th) in the Greek Super league (1st division), but was demoted to Gamma Ethniki, Greece’s third & amateur division due to financial problems. The natural expectation by all Greek football fans was for promotion to be achieved in its first season, but this wasn’t to be the case. The club finished in second spot, behind Panserraikos who was elevated to the Football League (second division). After this result the board of Aris sent a request to the Greek National Football Board to be included in the Play-off spots to gain promotion. This request was declined & added to the circus that was ARIS.
The next season brought a new feeling to the club starting off with the sacking of previous Greek-American Alex Kalas who ran the football department. An influx of high quality players helped bring new hope to the Kirtinomavri, including the likes of Andreas Tatos, Gael N’Lundulu & Raul Bravo. The team managed by Nikos Anastsopoulos ran away with league, finishing the season on 87 points, 21 points above the next best placed team.
Finally promoted to the Football League in 2016, the club added to its star studded line up with the likes of Rafik Djebbour, Brana Ilic, Hugo Sousa & Kenan Bargan. However, on the back of promotion Aris yet again failed to gain successive promotions to the Greek Superleague. Aris finished the season in 3rd spot behind Apollon Smyrni & Lamia. Although a disappointing end to the season, one positive was the amazing support from the clubs fanatical fans. Home or away, north or south, wherever ARIS played felt like a home.
It now seemed like a trend, that the club would get promoted the second year in a division – This was now. As usual, summer was the time to bolster the squad & bolster it did by adding quality & experience. Georgios Delizisis & Dimitris Diamantopoulos came in with promotion experience, after achieving it with Apollon Smyrnis last year. In addition, it would be difficult to argue that the signing of the season has been Vangelis Platellas, a complete footballer who’s managed to turn games on their heads. Plattelas was signed from Atromitos, but previously was instrumental in the rise of A.E.K Athens from the lower leagues of Greece to the Superleague.
After a delayed start to the season ARIS took off with a bang & started to show early signs the God of War had awoken. Now 14 games into the campaign, Aris sit in first place with 11 wins, 3 draws & 0 losses. Super 3 are following their boys around the nation, with unbelievable away support witnessed at Doxa Dramas & the historical local derby against Apollon Pontou (formerly known as Kalamaria FC). The Aris manager Dimitris Spanos has the team in a good space & anything less than promotion would not be accepted by ARIS faithful. With Panachaiki & OFI biting at the heels of Aris, the club must ensure they continue their unbeaten run & achieve maximum points in the next 2 games against AE Sparti (home) & Pansearraikos FC (away), who if you remember stole promotion from Aris in the 2013-14 campaign – so there is some revenge on the line.

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