| Yiorgos Vardinogiannis | |
| Birth Place: | Episkopi, Rethymno, Crete, Greece |
| Occupation: | Shipowner, businessman |
| Years Active: | 1963– |
| Boards: | SEKA Bunkering Stations |
| Yiorgos Vardinogiannis | |
| Office: | 35th president of Panathinaikos FC |
| Term Start: | 1979 |
| Term End: | 2000 |
| Predecessor: | Jack Nikolaidis |
| Birth Place: | Episkopi, Rethymno, Greece |
| Profession: | Businessman |
| Nationality: | Greek |
Yiorgos Vardinogiannis (Greek, Modern (1453-);: Γιώργος Βαρδινογιάννης) is a Greek businessman and a shipping magnate, former owner and president of the Panathinaikos football club. He was born in Episkopi, Rethymno in 1936.[1] He is the brother of oil and shipping tycoon Vardis Vardinogiannis.
He completed his maritime studies at Southampton before embarking on a seafaring career. He managed to be promoted to the rank of captain and then along with his brothers found the family ship and oil business.
Yiorgos Vardinoyannis was captain of the oil tanker MV Arietta Venezelos which in February 1966 was located in the Persian Gulf. The Greek government, reacting to concerns that oil it was taking on board was destined for Rhodesia gave instructions to the owners, Venezelos SA to divert the ship to Rotterdam rather than South Africa and forbade the delivery of oil to Rhodesia.[2] However, Vardinogiannis continued to sail for Beira in Mozambique, then a colony of Portugal. Here the pipeline would allow oil to be pumped to landlocked Rhodesia.[3]
On July 17, 1979 Vardinogiannis family acquired the majority stake of Greek football club Panathinaikos FC and Yiorgos Vardinogiannis was appointed president of Panathinaikos. He served in this position for 21 years (1979–2000) and had the nicknames Kapetanios (Captain) and Ringo.[4] The latter nickname was ginen to him due to his habit of carrying a gun.[5]
During his reign as club president, Panathinaikos won six greek championships (1983-84, 1985-86, 1989-90, 1990-91, 1994-95, 1995-96) and nine greek cups (1981-82, 1983-84, 1985-86, 1987-88, 1988-89, 1990-91, 1992-93, 1993-94, 1994-95).