Iraklis Larissa (Greek: Ηρακλής Λάρισας), also known by its full name Athlitiki Enosi Iraklis Larissa (Greek: Αθλητική Ένωση Ηρακλής Λάρισας), simply called Iraklis, is a Greek football club based in the city of Larissa. The team currently competes in Gamma Ethniki, the third tier of the Greek football league system.
History
Early years
Iraklis Larissa was founded in 1930 in the district of Neapoli in Larissa. Its first president was Petros Papakonstantinou. Iraklis was the fifth team of the city to be recognized by the Union Football Association of Thessaly after Pelasgiotida, the Excursion Club, Aris Larissa and Dimitra Larissa (known today as Apollon). They also participated in the first championship of 1930–31. In 1960, Iraklis also became one of the founding members of Union Football Association of Larissa.[1]
On 7 December 1947, Iraklis won 2–1 against Niki Volos and won the Thessalian Cup, thus qualifying for the Greek Cup. They made it to the quarterfinals in which they eventually lost 0–6 against Olympiacos. Iraklis were the first team from Larissa to make it to the round of eight.[1]
In the seasons 1962–63 and 1963–64, Iraklis played in the Beta Ethniki.[1]
Founding of AEL
After the idea was in the planning since 1958, Iraklis alongside Toxotis Larissa, Aris Larissa and Larisaikos merged in 1964 to form AEL. The newly formed team eventually went on to write Greek football history for being the only team outside the two major cities, Athens and Thessaloniki, to win the championship, as well as winning two Greek cups. Iraklis' president Kostas Tzovaridis became the first president of the newly founded AEL.[1]
Nowadays
For the next 18 years there was no presence of Iraklis in football. But, Iraklis was re-founded in 1982, after the merge of two neighbouring clubs in: Livadaki A.O. (founded in 1976) and Neapoli A.O.. In 1996, the team made it to the finals of the Greek Football Amateur Cup which they lost 1–2 against Ethnikos Katerini.
After several years of struggle, Lampros Ioakim took over the reigns of Iraklis as president and with his vision led the team to win the 2016–17 Larissa FCA A1 (sixth tier) season. Ioakim put a lot of importance and focus into the development of a youth center in order to develop players that will lead the team in the upcoming years.[1] Having won the 2018–19 Larissa FCA (fifth tier) season, Iraklis returned to the Gamma Ethniki after several decades. The conditions now seem ripe for the return of Iraklis towards professional leagues. The staffing of the sports department with an alloy of experienced and very young and talented football players of the prefecture, are strategic moves that outline the basic principles of the philosophy followed by the young Iraklis. Back to the roots, investing into the local potential and a productive process of highlighting talents through its academies.[1]
