Foundation OFI was founded in 25 of November 1925 by a group of Cretan athletes who trained together in Heraklion. They formed a new club named
Omilos Filathlon Irakliou (acronym
OFI), which translates as "Heraklion Sportsmen Club". The club aimed to compete in various athletic events and exhibitions. In its early years, most members were among its own founders.
The years before World War II (1925–1940) The pre-war years posed significant challenges for Crete and Greece as a whole, making travel and participation in national tournaments difficult for OFI. As a result, the club primarily competed in local matches on the island, often facing other Heraklion-based teams. Although no official records survive, older supporters estimate that OFI played roughly 400 matches before the German occupation of Crete.
First participation in the National League (1945–1962) Football competitions in Crete were suspended during World War II, with many OFI players joining the war effort; some lost their lives. After the war, Greece's “First Division” resumed but was dominated by Athens and Thessaloniki clubs, leaving little room for provincial teams like OFI. Because teams outside these major cities were required to progress through multiple preliminary stages, OFI—despite being Crete's leading side—initially failed to qualify for the national championship. In 1957–58, OFI finally succeeded by winning its preliminary group, but the club finished last in the National Championship. A more stable footing emerged in 1962 with the creation of the official Second Division, where OFI established a firmer presence in Greek football.
Attempts in the 2nd League (1962–1968) In 1962–63 the official Greek 2nd division league was set up for first time. OFI was one of the teams that participated in the league and completed the season in 9th position. In 1963–64 and 1964–65, OFI finished in 3rd and 5th position respectively. In 1965–66, OFI were the champions of the 2nd Division of Greek football and only one step away from promotion to the official 1st National Division of Greek football. Yet, the Hellenic Football Federation decided that even the champions of the 2nd Division had to play preliminary games in order to be promoted. OFI lost in the play-off matches and remained in the 2nd Division. In 1966–67 the disappointment was huge, even though OFI ended in 3rd position. Everyone on the island of Crete was feeling that the moment where they could see the pride of their island in the top league was very close. In 1967–68, OFI finished in 2nd position and went into play-off games with the bottom team of the 1st division. The final match of the play-offs was to take place in the city of
Chania, on 26 June 1968. OFI, with the help of 10,000 Cretans thrashed the team from the 1st division with a 3–0 win and made the dreams of thousands of supporters come true. OFI was an official member of the 1st National Division.
Debut in the 1st League (1968–1971) OFI's debut in the national 1st division was very difficult. "Omilos" ended the first round in 15th position. It was a very difficult task to remain in the league. However, in the 2nd round the Cretans played magnificently and finally finished in 12th place. In the next season OFI had already gained the experience of playing in the top league of Greek football. The "Snakes" finished in 13th place, but the strange thing was that OFI remained unbeaten in almost all of their home games in Heraklion. Only two teams managed to survive and leave Crete with an away win. Thus, even if OFI was not a feared opponent, all the other teams were anxious when taking the trip to the island of Crete. 1970–71 was the worst season the team from Heraklion ever had in the 1st Division. OFI ended in 17th position and was relegated for the last time in their history to the 2nd division. The whole season was a tragedy for the Cretans. OFI had to meet "old friends" from the 2nd division again and start battling again in order to be promoted for a second time.
Back to the 2nd League (1971–1976) OFI had been relegated again, but this time the 2nd division had changed entirely. After all, the championship had been more officially organized and opponents were tougher than before. OFI spent another 5 seasons in the 2nd division, from 1971–72 to 1975–76. During the first season, the team was continually in 1st place. However, at the end of the season, OFI's good performances deteriorated and they finally finished 4th. In 1972–73 the management decided on a complete overhaul of the squad. In these circumstances, the 13th position OFI achieved was predictable, yet a new era of the stars of OFI had just begun. In the next season OFI finished 6th and in 1974–75 they finished 5th. In the next season the league was divided again into two groups, each of 20 teams. The champions of each group would be promoted directly to the First National Division. OFI couldn't afford to miss this chance. Everything started perfectly for "Omilos" in 1975–76. They finished 1st at the end of the first round with a huge lead over the runners-up and then finished the season as champions. The whole island of Crete was celebrating the promotion of OFI to the 1st division. Up to the present, (2007), OFI have never been relegated again.
Vardinoyiannis Era (1980s) During the late 1970s,
OFI Crete established itself as a competitive team in the Greek 1st Division. In the
1976–77 season, despite being new to the top flight, OFI finished in 6th place, gaining national attention.
Dimitris Papadopoulos emerged as the league's top scorer that year. The club continued to perform respectably over the next two seasons, finishing 8th and 7th respectively. During this period, OFI remained unbeaten at home, including against league heavyweights like
Panathinaikos,
Olympiacos,
AEK, and
PAOK, who found it challenging to secure points when visiting Crete. The transformation of Greek football into a professional competition in the
1979–80 season coincided with the arrival of the
Vardinoyiannis family as majority shareholders of OFI. Under the leadership of
Theodoros Vardinoyiannis, the club entered a new era. In their first professional season, OFI finished 11th, with their only home loss being to Panathinaikos. From the early 1980s, Panathinaikos began to send young players to OFI as part of a strategic collaboration. This led to mixed results, as the influx of inexperienced players contributed to OFI's struggles in the
1980–81 season, where they finished in 13th place. The subsequent seasons saw gradual improvement, with the team finishing 9th in
1981–82 and 7th in
1982–83. Thus, in
1983–84, three goalkeepers, one midfielder, and one defender came from Panathinaikos to OFI. Among these players were
Nikos Nioplias and
Vangelis Chosadas, who became key contributors to the team. However, the strategy of relying on young, untested players continued to yield inconsistent results, and OFI finished in 8th place that season. Despite these challenges, the team began to develop a more cohesive unit, laying the groundwork for future success. The following season, OFI's fortunes improved under a new coach, who managed to harness the potential of the team, turning them into a more competitive force in the Greek league.
Gerards' years (1985–2000) In 1985, OFI appointed Dutch coach
Eugène Gerards, marking the beginning of a 15-year tenure. This remains the longest coaching stint in the history of the Greek League. In 1985–86, OFI finished 2nd in the league, missing out on the championship by five points. The team followed this up with a 3rd-place finish in 1986–87 and 4th in 1987–88. On 21 June 1987, Gerards led OFI to the Greek Cup by defeating
Iraklis 3–1 on penalties at the Olympic Stadium in Athens. In the 1987–88 season, OFI finished above
Panathinaikos for the first time, including a 2–1 win over them in Heraklion, with a last-minute goal by Stefanos Vavoulas. During this era, OFI also participated in European competitions such as the
UEFA Cup in 1986 and the
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1987. On 7 June 1989, OFI won the
Balkans Cup after defeating
FK Radnički Niš 3–1 in Serres. In the following seasons (1989–1992), OFI finished 6th, 7th, and 6th. On 27 May 1990, OFI overturned a 4–0 deficit against
Olympiacos at Karaiskakis Stadium to win 4–5. In 1992–93, OFI finished 4th in the league and qualified for the UEFA Cup, where they eliminated
Slavia Prague and
Atlético Madrid before being knocked out by
Boavista. Despite this European run, OFI finished 7th in the 1993–94 Championship. In 1996–97, OFI finished 3rd and qualified for the UEFA Cup again, with four of its players called up to the Greek national team. The season ended with a 2–1 victory over Panathinaikos, leaving them outside the European qualification spots. In 2000, after 15 years, Gerards announced his retirement from the OFI bench, capping an era that saw the club consistently rank among Greece's elite teams. This would be the last time OFI qualified for European competition for the next 20 years, until their return in the 2019–20 season.
A Period of Transition and Resilience (2000–2009) The early 21st century was a time of transition for OFI, as the club navigated a series of challenges while maintaining its position in the Greek Super League. The retirement of key players such as Nioplias and Machlas led to a period of rebuilding, with the team making adjustments to its roster and management. Although 2001 proved to be a difficult year, with OFI fighting to remain in the 1st League, the following seasons saw gradual improvement, as the club managed to secure safety from relegation with increasing consistency. President Fanouris Vatsinas appointed German
Reiner Maurer as coach in the summer of 2006. Maurer revitalized the team's style of play, and for the first time since the Gerards era, OFI was in contention for a European spot. The club even participated in the Intertoto Cup in the summer of 2007. Although they did not advance far, this marked an important achievement for the club. However, the 2007–08 season proved to be another test, and after a difficult campaign, Maurer was replaced by
Georgios Paraschos, and later by Czech coach
František Straka. In 2009, OFI faced further challenges, including leadership changes and financial difficulties. The fans called for President Vatsinas to step down, and former player Machlas expressed his interest in purchasing the club, offering significant financial support. Despite efforts to turn the season around, Straka was dismissed, and
Ioannis Matzourakis was brought in. However, OFI was ultimately relegated to the second division after finishing 16th in the 2008–09 season. Despite these setbacks, OFI has shown resilience. Following the season, some senior players filed claims over unpaid wages, leading to their departure, but the club remained determined to rebuild and return to its former standing.
Rebuilding and Revival (2009−2018) After a challenging period, OFI returned to the
Super League in 2011 under a new administration led by former OFI legend
Nikos Machlas. The club achieved an impressive 6th-place finish in
the 2013−14 season, showcasing the team's potential. However, significant financial difficulties, with debts amounting to around €12 million, hindered further success. During the
2014–15 season, the club fell behind in the league standings, and on 21 March 2015, OFI withdrew from professional competitions due to the administration's inability to meet financial obligations. In a touching moment, the 15 remaining players took to the pitch at
Theodoros Vardinogiannis Stadium to bid farewell to OFI's loyal fans. After 47 consecutive years in professional competitions, OFI was relegated to amateur status. In response, the professional football department merged with
its parent sports club, and a new leadership took over, initiating a fresh start. This allowed OFI to compete in the amateur
Gamma Ethniki (third tier) under a new administration, free from the financial burdens of the past. OFI quickly bounced back, securing promotion after winning the
2015−16 Gamma Ethniki title. After two successful seasons in the
Football League, OFI reclaimed its place in the
Super League as
2017−18 Second Division champions, alongside historic rivals
Aris Thessaloniki.
The Bousis era, cup triumph and return to Europe (2018–present) On 4 October 2018, the Professional Sports Committee of Greece approved Michael Bousis as the new major shareholder of OFI. On 10 October, he formally assumed control of the club's administration during a press conference in Heraklion. In April 2019, Angelo P. Palivos, his brother Gregory Palivos, and their mother Vassiliki Tyrvolis Palivos acquired ownership and control of 36.4% of the club's shares. Angelo and Gregory Palivos also served on the club's Board of Directors on behalf of the Palivos family of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Chicago, Illinois. On 22 June 2020, Bousis bought out the Palivos family's shares and again became the club's majority owner. On the same day, Angelo and Gregory Palivos resigned from the Board of Directors. The Bousis administration also sought to modernise OFI's institutional and commercial identity. In August 2020, the club presented a new crest, replacing the traditional shield-based design with a circular emblem centred on the Greek letters ΟΦΗ. The redesign retained the club's black-and-white colour identity while introducing a more distinctive visual mark associated with the club's new era. On 17 May 2021, Bousis announced Minas Lysandrou as the club's new CEO. Lysandrou had previously served as CEO of
AEK Athens F.C. until 31 March 2021. His collaboration with OFI ended in May 2025, after four years at the club, and later that month AEK announced his return as A Vice President and CEO. Under Bousis's ownership, OFI initially avoided relegation in the 2018-19 season through the play-offs. The following season, the club improved significantly, entering the championship play-offs and qualifying for European competition for the first time in 20 years. OFI competed in the
2020-21 UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds, where it was eliminated by
Apollon Limassol. The club's league results in the following seasons were mixed, but OFI remained in the Super League. It finished 12th in 2020-21, 8th in 2021-22, 7th in 2022-23 after topping the playout group, 10th in 2023-24, and 8th in 2024-25. The most significant sporting achievement of the Bousis era came in the 2025–26 season, when
OFI won the Greek Cup for the second time in its history, defeating
PAOK 3–2 after extra time in the final at the
Panthessaliko Stadium in
Volos. The victory was the club's first major trophy since its
1986–87 Greek Cup triumph and secured OFI entry into the
2026–27 UEFA Europa League play-off round. It also guaranteed the club a place in the league phase of a UEFA competition, either in the Europa League or, if eliminated from the Europa League play-off round, in the UEFA Conference League. == Crest and colours ==