Retro PAOK Shirt – The Double-Headed Eagle's Timeless Colours

PAOK's story begins in the upheaval of the early 20th century. After the Greco-Turkish War and the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne forced mass population transfers, Greek refugees from Constantinople settled in Thessaloniki and brought their sporting culture with them. PAOK was established in 1926 as a direct expression of that community's determination to rebuild and thrive.

Their early decades were spent establishing themselves in the competitive landscape of Greek football, challenging the dominance of Athens-based clubs. The 1970s marked a turning point as PAOK emerged as genuine title contenders, claiming their first national championship in 1976-77 – a watershed moment that announced them as a major force. The league title of 1984-85 cemented their status as a true Greek football heavyweight, even as Olympiacos and Panathinaikos typically monopolised the silverware.

European competition brought mixed fortunes but unforgettable nights at Toumba. PAOK competed regularly in the UEFA Cup and later the Europa League, earning respect across the continent and occasionally pulling off shock results against established European sides. These continental adventures only deepened the club's legend and expanded their following beyond Greece's borders.

The modern era brought the most turbulent and triumphant chapters. After years of near-misses, PAOK dramatically claimed the Super League title in 2018-19 under manager Abel Ferreira, ending a 34-year wait that had tested the patience of even the most devoted fans. The title race was extraordinarily contentious – marked by the infamous pitch invasion incident in a crucial match – but PAOK ultimately prevailed. They followed it up with another championship in 2021-22, confirming their renewed dominance. The Thessaloniki derby against city rivals Aris remains one of Greek football's most ferocious fixtures, a clash that divides the city and ignites passions on a scale rarely seen elsewhere in the game.

PAOK has been home to players who have defined Greek football and earned recognition far beyond their homeland. Theodoros Zagorakis, who captained Greece to their extraordinary Euro 2004 triumph, developed his qualities partly through his association with Greek football's northern tradition. Giorgos Georgiadis was a technically gifted midfielder whose creative play epitomised PAOK's attacking ambitions during the 1990s, earning him a move to Bundesliga side Nuremberg and establishing him as one of the finest Greek players of his generation.

Kostas Katsouranis, another key figure in Greece's Euro 2004 squad, represented the tenacious, combative spirit that PAOK demands from its midfielders. Dimitris Salpingidis provided moments of real quality and delivered vital goals during important seasons, becoming a fan favourite whose direct running and clinical finishing made him one of the more exciting attackers to wear the black and white stripes.

In the managerial seat, the club has attracted ambitious coaches willing to challenge Greece's established hierarchy. Luciano Spalletti had a stint in Thessaloniki before his career trajectory took him to the very top of European management. Razvan Lucescu brought tactical discipline and a deep understanding of Balkan football culture. Abel Ferreira's title-winning spell left an indelible mark before he departed for Palmeiras in Brazil, where he went on to conquer South American football – a testament to the calibre of coach PAOK was capable of attracting.

The PAOK shirt's enduring appeal lies in its simplicity and power. The vertical black and white stripes have remained the club's defining visual identity since their earliest years, a deliberate echo of the Byzantine double-headed eagle motif and a clear statement of difference from the red-and-white or blue palette of their Athens rivals.

Collectors prize the retro PAOK shirt designs from the late 1970s and 1980s, when the cuts were boxy, the badge embroidered with bold craftsmanship, and sponsors began to appear on Greek kits for the first time. The 1984-85 title-winning kit holds particular nostalgic value, representing the pinnacle of that golden era in simple, uncluttered design.

The 1990s brought more adventurous template choices – manufacturers experimented with shadow patterns woven into the black sections and subtle graphic detailing on the white stripes, giving those kits a distinctly period feel that now reads as wonderfully nostalgic. The home kits of the late 1990s and early 2000s are particularly sought after by collectors who remember PAOK's European campaigns of that era.

More recent retro releases have celebrated the club's centenary heritage with deliberately classic designs, returning to clean stripes and bold badge presentation. With 11 retro PAOK shirts available in our shop, there are options spanning multiple eras of this iconic club's visual history.