Iraklis Volos F.C.

Iraklis Volos F.C. is a Greek football club, based in Nea Ionia, Magnesia.

The club was founded in 1932. Before its official establishment, it was active as an unofficial union, being an annex-subsidiary team of Niki Volos. It played its first match as an unofficial association on August 26, 1928, with A.E. Nikomideias in a friendly match and defeating it with a score of 1–0.

In the period 1963–1964, he experienced the climax of his historical course by participating in the Beta Ethniki.

In the 1990s he competed for 5 seasons in the 4th National Division (1990–1991, 1991–1992, 1992–1993, 1994–1995, 1999–2000).

Foundation – Pre-war Period
After the arrival of the Asia Minor refugees in Volos and the establishment of Niki Volos in 1924, football flourished in Volos. Niki Volos, as well as the other teams of Volos, in order to meet the interest of young people in sports, formed branches - subsidiary teams without legal recognition in which young footballers were tested. In the summer of 1928, Iraklis Volos made its appearance as an unofficial club - subsidiary team of Niki. Iraklis received its official status on January 29, 1932, when it was recognized by the Court of First Instance of Volos.

In the period 1932–33, he made his "maiden" appearance in official championships, participating in the 2nd division of the Thessaly FCA and occupying the third place behind PAOK Volos and Toxotis Volos. In the very next season 1933-34 he won his first title in a completely strange way. After many mergers of clubs and the inactivity of others, Iraklis remained the only club in the 2nd category and based on the notice issued by the Greek Sports Association won the 2nd division championship. In the period 1934-35 he participated in the 1st category of the Thessaly FCA in a championship that was interrupted without a champion team being declared and while Herakles had 4 defeats in 4 matches. Thessaly FCA after two years restarted the official football activity in the period 1937–38 by organizing a championship with the participation of 8 teams in a category (at that time there was no 2nd category). Iraklis Volos finished in 5th place and together with the teams: Kentavros Volos, Odysseas Volos and PAEK Volos who occupied the 6th, 7th and 8th places formed the 2nd category in the following season. In the seasons 1938-39 and 1939-40 he participated in the 2nd division, finishing in 2nd place both times.

Reactivation – Afterwar Period
After the end of the Second World War and the civil war, Iraklis Volos is reactivated and participates in the championship of the 2nd category of Thessaly FCA in the period 1951–52. The team's roster in the period 1951-52 consisted of: Kalaitzis, Vranas (goalkeepers), Bogdanos D., Zanderiou V., Matthaiou E., Stamatiou S., Lazarou S., Kesmetzis D., Karvouniaris E., Levithakis M., Migas A., Lefakis I., Savridis E., Ventouras, Korinthios, Fatsis, Karagiannis, Maskas, Kesmetzis.

Until the 1959–60 season, he competes in the B' and 3rd division championships. In the 1953–54 season, it was relegated to the 3rd division, in which it remained until the 1955–56 season, when it won the 3rd division championship and faced Pileas Volos in a double qualification match (7–2 away and 2–0 at home without match) thus gaining promotion to the 2nd division. It competes for three consecutive seasons in the 2nd division until the 1959–60 season when it wins the 2nd division championship, faces Sarakinos in a double qualification match (1–0 away and 2–1 at home) and wins promotion to the First division, 23 years after his first participation in the higher division of the Thessaly FCA.

Beta Ethniki – 1960s
After his promotion to the 1st category, he competes for three consecutive seasons in this category until the 1962–63 season, when for the first time in his history he is crowned the champion of the 1st category and wins his promotion to the Beta Ethniki. In the period 1963-64 he lived his greatest moments competing in the 2nd National Division. He finishes penultimate in 15th place and is relegated to the local championships of the Thessaly FCA. Unfortunately, decline follows as Iraklis Volou experiences relegation from the 1st Division in 1966-67 and relegation from the 2nd Division in 1968-69 and so the west of the 60s finds him struggling in the 1969–70 season in the 3rd category.

1970s – 1980s
In the 1970–71 season, he won the championship of the 3rd division and earned promotion to the 2nd division. In the 1973–74 season, after 3 consecutive appearances in the 2nd division, it won the 2nd division championship and won its return to the 1st division. It competes in the 1st category for 5 consecutive seasons until the 1979–80 season. In the period 1979-80 he manages to reach the final of the Thessaly FCA Cup. Thessalia, however, losing the trophy to Toxotis Volos while at the same time knowing relegation. In the next season, he returns to the top division of the E.P.S. Thessalia finishing in second place behind the champion team of A.O. Skiathos. It competes in the 1st division until the 1989–90 season, when it wins the 1st division championship for the second time in its history and rises to the Delta Ethniki.

Delta Ethniki – 1990s
The dawn of the 90s finds Iraklis Volos competing for 3 consecutive seasons in the 4th National Division (1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93). He returns for one year (1993–94) in the 1st division, wins the championship and his return to the Delta Ethniki, but at the same time wins the Thessaly FCA Cup for the first time in its history by defeating Toxotis Volos in the final. In the 1994–95 season, he participates again in the 4th National Division, but knowing the relegation, he returns to the local championships of the Thessaly FCA. In the 1995–96 season, Herakles won the Thessaly FCA Cup for the second time. Thessalia defeating in the final A.O. Skiathos. In the 1998–99 season, he was crowned champion for the fourth time in the 1st division. In the 1999–00 season, he competes in the Delta Ethniki, again knowing relegation, but at the same time he wins the Thessaly FCA cup, defeating Almyros F.C. in the final.

2000s, decline and renaissance
Iraklis Volou, after being relegated from the 4th national team, competed in the 1st division until the 2002–03 season, at the end of which they were relegated. He participates in two consecutive years in the 2nd division (2003–04, 2004–05) making bad appearances until 2005 when he goes into inactivity. The club were not relegated in 2005–06 and 2006–07. In the 2007-08 period, the effort to reorganize the blue and white teams began, participating in the 3rd division. In the next season 2008–09, it finished in 3rd place and earned promotion to the 2nd division.

Modern History
After two consecutive years in the 2nd division, it wins the championship in the 2010–11 season and at the same time wins promotion to the 1st division. In the 2011–12 season, he competes in the 1st division but without success and is relegated again. There are 2 consecutive years in the 2nd division until the 2013–14 season, so by finishing in third place, he earns his promotion to the 1st division. After a modest appearance in the 1st division in the 2014–15 season, he managed to win the championship in the 2015–16 season under the guidance of Yiannis Fasourakis. He participated in the play-offs for promotion to the Gamma Ethniki, but without success. From the 2016–17 season, he continuously participated in the 1st division until the 2019–20 season went into inactivity. It was reorganized in the 2022–23 season starting from the 3rd division in which it still competes today.

Domestic Titles and honors

 * Thessaly FCA First Division: 5
 * 1963–63, 1989–90, 1993–94, 1998–99, 2015–16
 * Thessaly FCA Second Division: 4
 * 1933–34, 1959–60, 1973–74, 2010–11
 * Thessaly FCA Third Division: 2
 * 1955–56, 1970–71
 * Thessaly FCA Cup: 3 
 * 1993–94, 1995–96, 1999–00