Greek Men's Handball Championship Explained

Sport:Handball
Founded:1979
Teams:14
Country:Greece
Confed:EHF
Champions:Olympiacos (4th)
Champ Season:2023–24
Most Champs:Ionikos Nea Filadelfeia (10 titles)
Prem Season:2022–23
Tv:ERT
Relegation:A2 Ethniki Handball
Confed Cup:EHF European League
EHF European Cup
Website:handball.org.gr
Current Season:2023–24 Greek Handball Premier

The Greek Men's Handball Championship, or Handball Premier, is the most important competition of Greek handball. The competition which is organised by Hellenic Handball Federation (Greek: ΟΧΕ) started in the 1979–80 season. The most successful team is Ionikos Nea Filadelfeia who has won ten titles. The last title was won by Olympiacos.

Evangelos Kalfarentzos, fitness director of the Panhellenic Gymnastics Association of Athens (Panellinios), physical education teacher, and author, recognized as rapporteur of the sport in Greece.

Competition format

The season begins with a tournament between the twelve teams. The first six teams qualify for a play-off round, while the last three play play-out.The top two teams of the play-off round qualify directly to the semifinals, while the other four play the top two teams of the play-out round in the quarterfinals.

2023/24 Season participants

The following 12 clubs compete in the Handball Premier during the 2023–24 season.

TeamCityArena
AEKAthensG. Kassimatis Indoor Hall
Aeropos EdessaEdessaEdessa Indoor Hall
AESH PylaiaThessalonikiMikra Indoor Arena III
ASE DoukaAthensDais Indoor Hall
Diomidis ArgousArgosNea Kios Indoor Hall
Drama 86DramaDimitris Krachtidis Indoor Hall
GAS KilkisKilkisKilkis Indoor Arena
Ionikos Nea FiladelfeiaAthensZacharias Alexandrou Indoor Hall
OlympiacosPiraeusIlioupoli Indoor Hall
PanelliniosAthensPanellinios Indoor Hall
PAOKThessalonikiMikra Indoor Arena III
Zafeirakis NaousaNaousaNaousa Indoor Hall

Previous champions

Panhellenic Championship (1979–80 to 1981–82)

Alpha Ethniki (1982–83 to 1988–89)

A1 Ethniki (1989–90 to 2014–15)

Handball Premier (2015–16 to present)

Performances

By club

ClubTitlesSeasons
Ionikos Nea Filadelfeia101980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1992, 1993, 1999
Filippos Veria91986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1995, 2003, 2016
Panellinios52000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007
AEK52011, 2013, 2020, 2021, 2023
Olympiacos42018, 2019, 2022, 2024
ASE Douka31998, 2001, 2008
PAOK2009, 2010, 2015
Diomidis Argous22012, 2014
ESN Vrilissia11996
GE Veria1997
Athinaikos2005
DIKEAS Nea Ionia2017

By city

Twelve clubs from five cities have won the championship.

CityNumber of TitlesClubs
Athens (7)26 Ionikos Nea Filadelfeia (10)
Panellinios (5)
AEK (5)
ASE Douka (3)
ESN Vrilissia (1)
Athinaikos (1)
DIKEAS Nea Ionia (1)
Veria (2)10 Filippos Veria (9)
GE Veria (1)
Piraeus (1)4 Olympiacos (4)
Thessaloniki (1)3 PAOK (3)
Argos (1)2 Diomidis Argous (2)

Greek handball clubs in European competitions

EHF Cup Winners' Cup

EHF European Cup

TeamWinnerRunner-upSemifinals
AEKalign=center 2021align=center 2018align=center 2019
2012
Filippos Veriaalign=center 2003
Olympiacosalign=center 2024

Sources

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: EHF ANNOUNCES PLACE DISTRIBUTION FOR 2022/23 EUROPEAN CLUB COMPETITIONS . eurohandball.com . 30 April 2022 . Online.
  2. Web site: Europeam handball team ranking . eurotopteam.com . 1 June 2023 . Online.