P.A.O.K. H.C.
PAOK Handball Club is the handball section of PAOK, the major multi-sports club based in Thessaloniki, Greece. PAOK has both men's and women's team. So far, men's team has won 3 Greek Championships and 3 Greek Cups and women's team has won 5 Greek Championships and 6 Greek Cups. Despite its relatively short history, it is considered amongst the most successful departments of the club. History. PAOK Handball Club was founded in 1999 after it merged with another club from Thessaloniki, Triton. Stelios Seikeridis, former club's coach, has connected his name with  the whole club's history. PAOK promoted to A1 Ethniki for first time at the season 2000–01. Three years later, they relegated to A2 Ethniki, but they promoted back to the top-tier level the next season. As the years passed, the team became stronger and stronger and they won two consecutive Greek Handball Championships in 2009 and 2010. At the end of the 2008–09 season PAOK defeated Panellinios in the last game of the play-offs and in 2009–10 PAOK defeated Doukas, also in the last game. At the season 2009–10, PAOK became the second Greek team after Filippos  Veria, who reach the groups of EHF Champions League. In 2011, even though PAOK had the advantage and needed only a draw in the last game in Thessaloniki, they lost the championship to AEK. In 2012 PAOK won the Greek Cup by beating AEK with 25–24 score in Patras. The next year, they lost with 27–23 score by AEK at the Cup final in Kerkyra. In 2015 PAOK beats AEK again with 27–29 score at P.A.O.K. Sports Arena in Thessaloniki and won the Greek Cup. PAOK also won the Greek Championship the same year making it a double for the  first time. They faced Diomidis at the play-off finals. In 2017 PAOK beats Panellinios with 25–23 score in Kozani winning the Greek Cup for the third time. European record. European Distinctions. PAOK has been competing since 2006–2007 in European competitions, and has taken part in all EHF competitions up to the 2013-2014 season. PAOK returned to the European competition by taking part in the 2017–18 EHF Challenge Cup. In 2009–2010 season the team reached at the group phase of the EHF Champions League, which is its biggest achievement up to date. Women's Department. PAOK's women handball  club is also competing in the first Greek division. On season 2012–13 they beat Ormi Patras in playoff finals with 2–1 series and won the Greek Women's Handball Championship. In the 2013–14 season, PAOK won its first cup, beating Anagennisi Arta in the final with score 22–20. Arenas. The home ground which PAOK use for the regular season games of the domestic league is Mikra Indoor Arena III, which holds 1,380 seats. In previous years, the team had also used Mikra Indoor Arena II, which holds 650 seats, Neapoli Indoor Hall, which holds 800 seats, and Evosmos Sports Hall , which holds 2,000 seats. Additionally, PAOK often use PAOK Sports Arena, which holds 8,500 seats, for European competitions and for the play-offs of the domestic league.