The history of Iraklis FC from 1908 until 2009.
Featuring:
Kostis Bliatkas, Kostas Karapatis, Lolos Hasekidis, Kostas Aidiniou, Grigoris Fanaras, Takis Nikoloudis, Vassilis Hatzipanagis, Lakis Papaioannou and Christos Sotirakopoulos.
Cinematography:
Claudio Bolivar
Sound:
Dimitris Kanellopoulos
Associate producer:
Yannis Vikias
Archivist:
Akis Papadopoulos
Scripts/Narration:
Konstantinos Kamaras
Screenplay/Historical Documentation/Directed by
Elias Giannakakis
Iraklis is the third biggest, and perhaps the most unappreciated sports and football club in Thessaloniki.
It started out as a club of music lovers and gathered together the most intellectually stimulating crowd in the city. Given that it was founded in 1908, it is the oldest club in Thessaloniki, and it had in its ranks Turkish-speaking players and Jews, giving out a strong aroma of the old multicultural Thessaloniki.
Iraklis, from the viscera of which emerged Aris, has established itself as low-key team with a limited fan base.
The truth is that it is a team that inspires a great deal of passion and emotion.
Even as an artistic team, Iraklis had always played beautiful and offensive football.
In the film, we discuss the difficult post-war years, with brothers Hasekidis as the key figures; the changes coach Kostas Karapatis made in the mid 60s, which made it possible for the first major squad of Iraklis to be formed (between 1969 and 1973), having Kostas Aidiniou as the captain and being coached by Ljubomir Spajic;
Next is the era of the colossal Hatzipanagis and the only title he has ever won, the Greek Cup of 1976. That night, Vassias played a magical game. It was a memorable match, that ended in a draw of 4-4 and Iraklis won in the penalties.
After that, we discuss the painful and unjust relegation of the team in 1980.
Unjust, because never before had such harsh sanction been imposed on any other other club, in a similar situation.
And of course, great emphasis is put on the magnificent squad of the 80s, when Iraklis with Hatzipanagis, Papaioannou, Kofidis and Karaiskos had the best and the most spectacular centre line in the history of Greek football.
I will never forget three great moments in the documentary:
Lolos Hasekidis’ hilariously funny story about his visit to a doctor (around 2005), who remembered the two goals Hasekidis had scored with bicycle kicks in a friendly match against Barcelona, in the distant 1962.
Takis Nικoloudis’ sincerity, as he talks for the first time about the famous "Flowers Affair" which had stigmatized him since 1975.
And of course Karapatis’ bitterness over the 1980 relegation.
