We continue our detailed look at each of our Conference League opponents by focusing on Panathinaikos, one of the most heralded teams in the competition.
Chelsea have storied history in Athens, beating Real Madrid in the Cup Winners’ Cup final there in 1971, after a replay. We also met Panathinaikos’ great rivals Olympiacos during our 2007/08 Champions League campaign.
Panathinaikos are a fresh face who we will play on Thursday 24 October, away from home. You can see the rest of Chelsea’s Conference League fixtures here.
Factfile
Full name: Panathinaikos Football Club
Country: Greece
City: Athens
Formation: 1908, as Football Club of Athens
Major honours: Greece Super League winners (20 times, most recently 2009/10), Greece Cup winners (20 times, most recently last season)
Head coach: Diego Alonso
2023/24 league finish: 4th
Stadium: Athens Olympic Stadium
Colours: Green and white
Nickname: The Clover, The Greens
Rivals: Olympiakos
European record
European Cup/Champions League: Panathinaikos reached the final of the European Cup in 1971. While we were beating Real Madrid in their home city of Athens, they lost 2-0 to Ajax in our home city of London, Wembley the venue. They have lost twice more at the semi-final stage, including again to Ajax in 1996.
UEFA Cup/Europa League: They have reached the quarters twice, losing to Jose Mourinho’s Porto after extra-time in 2002/03, having won the first leg 1-0 in Portugal.
Conference League: This is their first appearance in the group stage proper, having lost to Slavia Prague in the third qualifying round in 2022/23.
2024/25 so far…
Like Chelsea, Panathinaikos have won, drawn and lost a game in their opening three league fixtures. And like Chelsea, they progressed through the Conference League play-off round with a 3-2 aggregate win, having been knocked out of the Europa League on penalties by their old nemesis Ajax. They overturned a 2-1 first-leg deficit against Lens by winning the return game 2-0 in Athens.
Current squad
Their squad contains players from no fewer than 16 different countries. Brazilian Tetewho scored the decisive goal against Lens [pictured celebrating top]had a loan spell with Leicester during the first half of 2023.
Dutch defender Bart Schenkeveld is their experienced captain, Facundo Pellestri joined from Manchester United this summer, while George Baldock made the move from Sheffield United and is a Greek international.
Notable former players
Five Panathinaikos players were part of Greece’s victorious squad at Euro 2004, notably defensive midfielder Angelos Basinas and right-back Giourkas Seitaridis. The latter was part of a formidable defence and was named in the team of the tournament.
Michael Essien spent the 2015/16 campaign at Panathinaikos, scoring once in 16 appearances, following his season at AC Milan having departed Chelsea in 2014. Other names familiar to Premier League fans include Gilberto Silva, Chris Samba, Djibril Cisseand Giorgos Karagounis.
