Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium, Athens, Greece
The Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium (Γήπεδο Απόστολος Νικολαΐδης) is the home ground of Panathinaikos, a large, successful club in Greek football.
The 16,000 capacity soccer-specific stadium is the oldest soccer stadium currently active in Greece. However, the capacity is less than that of rivals Olympiacos at their Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus and AEK Athens at the recent OPAP Arena. As a result Panathinaikos are seeking to move to a new ground in the Votanikos district but, as is often the case in Greece, things have moved slowly. The latest timetable is for the new 40,000 capacity arena to open for the 2027/28 season.
The venerable stadium is also known as the Leoforos Alexandras Stadium or Leoforos Stadium. The ground has also been used by Super League 2 club Athens Kallithea.
History
The stadium opened in 1922. The first stand was constructed in 1928 and, for nearly five decades, it hosted most of the major matches in both domestic and international competitions within Greece. It was the first to install floodlights in 1938 and the first to feature a grass pitch in 1958. For many years, it served as the home of Greece's national team.
The stadium also includes the so-called 'Indian Tomb' - a basketball court beneath Gates 6 and 7.
Gate 13 - often referenced in Athens graffiti - is the section of the stadium where Panathinaikos FC's most passionate supporters gather.
Panathinaikos
Panathinaikos FC, founded in 1908 by Giorgos Kalafatis, is one of Greece's most historic and successful football clubs. Recognized by its iconic green shamrock, the club has claimed numerous domestic league titles and Greek Cups, and it holds a distinguished place in European football history as the first - and so far only - Greek team to reach a European Cup final in 1971 at Wembley under the management of Ferenc Puskás, head coach from 1970-1974. Panathinaikos also reached the semis in both 1985 and 1996.
The club's nicknames include 'The Greens,' 'The Trefoil' and modestly 'The Great Club.'
The team has won the Greek title 20 times, the latest in the 2009-2010 season and the Greek Cup 20 times, the last time in the 2023-2024 season. The club participated in the Europa Conference League in the 2024-2025 season and this season (2025-2026) the team are in the Europa League.
Players & Coaches
Polish striker Krzysztof Warzycha is Panathinaikos' all-time leading goalscorer with 244 goals in 390 appearances between 1989 and 2004.
Greek clubs were only allowed to sign foreign players from 1971. After Warzycha other prominent goalscorers include Josef Wandzik with 249, Argentine Juan Ramon Rocha with 226 in a decade at the club followed by Antonis Antoniadis with 177 and Dimitris Saravakos with 128. Foreign goalscorers include Marcus Berg with 77, Oscar Alvarez another Argentinian forward with 55 goals and French marksman Djibril Cissé with 47.
The all-Greek team at the European Cup final in 1971 included captain Dimitrios Domazos, who made over 500 appearances for the club and is the record appearance holder.
Some of the nearly 250 foreign players who have donned the iconic green and white include Swedish defender Marcus Berg, Brazilian Gilberto Silva and Juan Ramón Verón, father of Juan Sebastián Verón.
Besides legend Dimitrios Domazos, other famous Greek players at the club include Giorgos Karagounis, Angelos Basinas (part of the Euro 2004 winning Greek team) and Kostas Katsouranis.
The present coach is former Liverpool, Inter, Napoli and Real Madrid manager Rafa Benitez.
Access - Getting There
The stadium is located in downtown Athens.
The closest metro station is Ambelokipi on Line 3. Line 3 connects Doukissis Plakentias and the airport to both Monastiraki and Syntagma stations in the city center.
Nearby Hotels
Recommended lodgings in the Greek capital of Athens include the Green Suites Boutique Hotel. Other options in the city include the Urban Suites Athens - Chalandri and the Novotel Athenes.
See a listing of hotels in Athens
All photos by Ross Clegg
World Stadiums
Tosu Stadium (Ekimae Real Estate Stadium)
Estadio Nuevo Colombino Huelva
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