Blackhawk

Looks like we are very close to announcing Marino Pušić as the replacement for Razvan Lucescu in the coaching position.

If Kedziora leaves, we will need to sign 3 center backs. Not sure how it can be accomplished. In the past when we needed a CB we ended in the last minutes with over the hill Lovren. I think Kedziora is a decent CB, but like some other players on the team he has been overused by Lucescu. I would keep him as long as we acquire another starter in that position.

Draw for Qualifying Round 1 was made today. Here are the updated seedings: SEEDED TEAMS Benfica Lisbon (POR) 90.000 Viktoria Plzen (CZE) 50.500 FC Midtjylland (DEN) 48.250 PAOK Thessaloniki (GRE) 48.250 Maccabi Tel Aviv (ISR) 32.500 Anderlecht Brussels (BEL) 30.750 Pafos (CYP) 24.125 winner of Vojvodina Novi Sad (SRB) 5.500 - Ferencvaros Budapest (HUN) 51.250 winner of Qarabag FK (AZB) 42.750 - IF Vestri (ISL) 3.304 UNSEEDED TEAMS Besiktas Istanbul (TUR) 15.500 Twente Enschede (NED) 13.585 Tromso IL (NOR) 8.247 FC Sankt Gallen (SUI) 6.940 Hammarby IF (SWE) 6.000 winner of Dynamo Kiev UKR) 17.500 - Universitate Cluj (ROM) 5.050 winner of Hajduk Split (CRO) 10.000 - MSK Zilina (SVK) 5.500 winner of Sheriff Tiraspol (MOL) 20.000 - NK Aluminij (SLO) 4.893 winner of CSKA Sofia (BUL) 6.500 - Derry City (IRL) 4.000 Tomorrow the draw for Qualifying Round 2 will be made and PAOK will find out the first European opponent for the 2026-2027 season.

Apparently Kedziora wants to leave and sign with Dynamo Kiev.

I think this was the right move, but poorly executed. The coaching situation should have been resolved right after the game with Panathinaikos. This leads me to believe that they really had no concrete plan after the season ended. Once again we are scrambling get things together at the last possible moment. I am really curious if we will have a coach next Monday, when the training season starts.

The main pre-season training will take place at the Nino Sparta Training Center at Zaltbommel between June 29 - July 12. Four pre-season games will take place during that period: 01-July: tba 04-July: PAOK - Westerlo FC (Nino Sparta, Zaltbommel) 07-July: PAOK - AEK Larnaca (Nino Sparta, Zaltbommel) 11-July: tba

Sanchez did not get the start in the WC opener between Mexico and South Africa.

He keeps saying and repeating it that he has one more year in his contract. The question is if the Matos/Vieirinha duo want him to be the coach for the upcoming season. Rumors now are that PAOK is negotiating with some Qatari team to give them Lucescu if they pay the contract clause (4 mil). The sticking point appears to be that all this was done without Lucescu's knowledge. The worst thing is that we are week and a half from the start of training and the coaching position is questionable.

The U19 Greek NT defeated Kazakhstan 4:2 in the final qualifying game and finished in 2nd place in the group. This means they will continue in the qualifying competition. Berdos of PAOK scored 2 goals.

Latest reports are that we offered 4 mil to Augsburg, 3 mil + 1 mil in incentive bonuses. It remains to be seen if Augsburg will accept it. It also looks like the chances of Lucescu continuing as a coach of the team are 50/50. I think they need to resolve the coaching matter as soon as possible.

It was announced that the first training session of the new season will be on June 22, 2026. The following youngsters will be joining the rest of the players for this pre-season trainig: Dimitris Berdos, Dimitris Bataoulas, Giannis Sarris, Bedri Dounga, and Giannis Kosidis.

Looks like Giannoulis might be heading to Olympiakos. They are apparently offering 1.5 mil more to Augsburg than we are. I don't really think the player is worth the 5 mil that Olympiakos is willing to pay. Also, today Matos and Vierinha had a first meeting with father Savvidis and sons, so I would expect to start hearing solid transfer news from now on. What is interesting though is that there are no mentions of Lucescu's inputs on the transfer matters. It will be interesting to see Lucescu's coopderation with the new team directors.

I'll settle for 6 Greek players on the pitch at all times.

https://www.paokfc.gr/nea/20260606-anakoinosi-pae-paok/

Zafeiris played for 80 in the 2:2 tie with Sweden. Kedziora stayed on the bench in the Poland - Nigeria (2:2) game.

You are correct, the list did not include the players with only one appearance in the World Cup. Here is an updated list that includes everyone: Lovren (3 times), Ricardo Costa (3), Baba (2), Sanchez (2), Zivkovic (2), Kagawa (2), Valencia (2), Katsouranis (2), Salpiggidis (2), Tziolis (2), Udese (1), Glykos (1), Tzavelas (1), Vukic (1), Kozminski (1), Contreras (1), Esiti (1), Noboa (1), Warda (1), Prijovic (1)

In the opening game of the EURO qualifying, the U19 NT lost 1:0 to Serbia with tragic mistake by the goalie in the 94th minute of the game. The game was played at Toumba as will the other two U19 NT games.

And after the game the Ghana squad for the WC was announced and Baba is included. This will be Baba's 2nd participation in the World Cup. Here is a list of PAOK players that took part in the World Cup in the past: Lovren (3 times), Ricardo Costa (3), Baba (2), Sanchez (2), Zivkovic (2), Kagawa (2), Valencia (2), Katsouranis (2), Salpiggidis (2), Tziolis (2)

The EURO qualifying group is taking place in Greece and specifically in Thessaloniki. The Greek U19 NT will play all 3 games at Toumba Stadium. The remaining games will be played at Kaftanzoglio. Here is the schedule: 03-JUNE-2026, 18:00 EEST: GREECE - SERBIA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67wNhbUOMes 06-JUNE-2026, 18:00 EEST: GREECE - PORTUGAL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGhM0cRrhMI 09-JUNE-2026, 18:00 EEST: GREECE - KAZAKHSTAN https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIP0TWDn3NI In the first game Greece lost to Serbia 1:0 with a tragic mistake by our keeper in the 94th and last minute of the game. In the other game Kazakhstan drew 1:1 with Portugal.

Rumors are that we are negotiating with Augsburg for Gianoulis, but the Germans are asking for a lot of money to break the contract with the player. Apparently AEK and Olympiakos are also interested in the player.

The next season Superleague will continue to have 14 teams. There was a vote to expend it to 16 teams and eliminate the playoffs, but the vote failed. The two new teams in Superleague will be Kalamata and the fake Iraklis (PO Triglia Iraklis).

EPO decided that starting from next season each team is required to have 2 young Greek players (eligible to play on Greek national teams) on the pitch during a Greek Cup game. Last season it was only one player. Additionally, the Greek Cup will have the same format as last season , except that the League Phase will consist of 16 teams instead of 20 as it did in 2025-2026 season.

The three U19 Euro qualifiers that will be played at Toumba will be streamed on EPO's YouTube channel as follows: 03-JUNE-2026, 18:00 EEST: GREECE - SERBIA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67wNhbUOMes 06-JUNE-2026, 18:00 EEST: GREECE - PORTUGAL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGhM0cRrhMI 09-JUNE-2026, 18:00 EEST: GREECE - KAZAKHSTAN https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIP0TWDn3NI

I have updated the list of doped athletes in the first comment of this thread.

Apparently Baba also had a 1+1 clause in his contract so he is automatically signed for next season. Ozdoev wants a 2-year contract and we are offering only. If Ozdoev leaves we will supposedly try to keep Bianco. PAOK wants Taison back for one more season, but under reduced salary and as a backup. Haven't we heard that before.