Iraklis (Hercules in English) is a professional football club and one of the oldest athletic clubs in Greece. And the colors, blue and white, strongly reminiscent of the national colors of Greece. The story of Iraklis starts in 1899, when it was founded by the group of music lovers. The group was not an athletic club, but a club of literature and music. In 1903, the group members decided to include sports activities within the working of the club. They created and established physical fitness, swimming and cycling sections. However, it was football, the new sport of that era that ”stole the hearts” of athletes. On 22 November 1975, the club acquired Vassilis Hatzipanagis, a USSR national of Greek descent, who was late voted a Greece's Golden player for UEFA Jubilee Awards. 1976 was the year that will be engraved in the memories of all the fans of the club. On June 9, 1976, in Athens, Iraklis won against Olympiakos and won the Cup. The next day, when the players returned to Thessaloniki, over one hundred thousand fans have reserved their slot in the vast celebrations. In 1976 Iraklis participates in the European Cup Winners Cup. Iraklis has participated a total in the UEFA cup (1962, 1964, 1989, 1990, 1996, 2000). In 1985 Iraklis won the Balkan Cup, beating in the final of the Romanian team ‘Arges Pitesti’. In 2000-2001, Iraklis managed to qualify for the first time in the second round of the tournament. After the greatest injustice Greek football has committed, Iraklis was relegated twice from the Super League (2011, 2017) and today is playing in Football Leage. In September 2018 ownership changed and Tom Papadopoulos is chairman and owner of the club.