Giannis Vardinogiannis
Encyclopedia
Giannis Vardinogiannis (born April 7, 1962 in Athens
, Greece) is a Greek of Cretan
descent, the first-born son of oil tycoon Vardis Vardinogiannis
. He majored in economics at Vassar College
in the United States. He is a former car rally
champion who owns the private rally team Cyclon Rally Sport, with seven participations (from 1986 to 1992) in the international Acropolis Rally; he was first Greek driver in Acropolis Rally for five years from 1988 to 1992. He won six times (1987 to 1992) the Greek Rally title, driving Lancia Delta
with co-driver Kostas Stefanis. Since his retirement from the sport, in 1993, he works in the family business, which has interests in oil, television broadcasting, publishing, shipping, etc. The Vardinoyannis family own the independent oil refinery Motor Oil Hellas, in whose Board of Directors Yannis Vardinoyannis also serves and shipping company Avin International S.A.
In 2000, he assumed full ownership of Panathinaikos FC
after buying out his uncle Yiorgos Vardinogiannis
' share.
He maintains various business interests of his own, such as the Ferrari
dealership in Greece. On June 15, 2007 Giannis Vardinogiannis was elected president of the Greek Super League.
On April 13, 2008, more than 40,000 Panathinaikos supporters were gathered in the centre of Athens for a peaceful march, to protest against Giannis Vardinogiannis. The grand majority of Panathinaikos fans believe that Giannis Vardinogiannis's leadership is inadequate as Panathinaikos has won only twice the Greek Championship in the last 13 years. Some of the team's football legends such as Frangiskos Sourpis
took part in the protest. Many fans accuse him of lacking ambition and not being interest in the club's success. Since he took over Panathinaikos football club, the team suffered many injustices on and off the field of play. Many fans were angered that as president, Giannis did nothing to protect the team and some even suggested that he is a fan of Olympiacos. Overall his ownership of Panathinaikos was a failure.
On April 21, 2008, fans of Rapid Wien expressed their support for Panathinaikos supporters against Giannis Vardinogiannis by raising a banner citing "Vardinogianni sell and go to hell" http://sports.pathfinder.gr/football/a-national/pao/613220.html
In autumn 2011, Giannis Vardinnogianis announced that his family intend to give up the Panathinaikos business for ever and put up his 54% shares for interested parties to take for free. This decision came after the club was forced to sell its main assets in players such as Jibril Cisse and was dumped out of European competition in August for the first time in their history.
He is the principal shareholder of the Cairo-based Vegas Oil and Gas
.
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Greece) is a Greek of Cretan
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
descent, the first-born son of oil tycoon Vardis Vardinogiannis
Vardis Vardinogiannis
Vardis Vardinoyannis is a Greek oil tycoon. Born in 1933 in Episkopi, Rethymno, he is the chairman and controlling shareholder of Motor Oil Hellas and Vegas Oil and Gas. He is the brother of Yiorgos Vardinogiannis, husband of Marianna Vardinoyannis and father of Giannis Vardinogiannis.-References:...
. He majored in economics at Vassar College
Vassar College
Vassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
in the United States. He is a former car rally
Rallying
Rallying, also known as rally racing, is a form of auto racing that takes place on public or private roads with modified production or specially built road-legal cars...
champion who owns the private rally team Cyclon Rally Sport, with seven participations (from 1986 to 1992) in the international Acropolis Rally; he was first Greek driver in Acropolis Rally for five years from 1988 to 1992. He won six times (1987 to 1992) the Greek Rally title, driving Lancia Delta
Lancia Delta
The Lancia Delta is a small family car produced by Italian automaker Lancia with the first generation being produced between 1979 and 1994, the second generation running from 1993 until 1999, and the third generation Delta entering production in 2008. It was first shown inFrankfurt Motor Show in 1979...
with co-driver Kostas Stefanis. Since his retirement from the sport, in 1993, he works in the family business, which has interests in oil, television broadcasting, publishing, shipping, etc. The Vardinoyannis family own the independent oil refinery Motor Oil Hellas, in whose Board of Directors Yannis Vardinoyannis also serves and shipping company Avin International S.A.
In 2000, he assumed full ownership of Panathinaikos FC
Panathinaikos FC
Panathinaikos Football Club is a Greek professional football club based in Athens. Founded in 1908, they play in the Super League Greece and are one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Greek football history. They have won 20 Greek Championships and 17 Greek Cups.Panathinaikos is the most...
after buying out his uncle Yiorgos Vardinogiannis
Yiorgos Vardinogiannis
Yiorgos Vardinogiannis is a Greek shipowner and businessman, former owner and president of the Panathinaikos football club. He was born in Episkopi, Rethymno in 1936...
' share.
He maintains various business interests of his own, such as the Ferrari
Ferrari
Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles as Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947...
dealership in Greece. On June 15, 2007 Giannis Vardinogiannis was elected president of the Greek Super League.
On April 13, 2008, more than 40,000 Panathinaikos supporters were gathered in the centre of Athens for a peaceful march, to protest against Giannis Vardinogiannis. The grand majority of Panathinaikos fans believe that Giannis Vardinogiannis's leadership is inadequate as Panathinaikos has won only twice the Greek Championship in the last 13 years. Some of the team's football legends such as Frangiskos Sourpis
Frangiskos Sourpis
Frangiskos Sourpis is a former Greek footballer, centre-back for Panathinaikos from 1962 until 1973.Sourpis was born in 1943 and partnered Takis Papoulidis in the centre of defence in the 4-3-3 formation that coach Stjepan Bobek enforced at Panathinaikos...
took part in the protest. Many fans accuse him of lacking ambition and not being interest in the club's success. Since he took over Panathinaikos football club, the team suffered many injustices on and off the field of play. Many fans were angered that as president, Giannis did nothing to protect the team and some even suggested that he is a fan of Olympiacos. Overall his ownership of Panathinaikos was a failure.
On April 21, 2008, fans of Rapid Wien expressed their support for Panathinaikos supporters against Giannis Vardinogiannis by raising a banner citing "Vardinogianni sell and go to hell" http://sports.pathfinder.gr/football/a-national/pao/613220.html
In autumn 2011, Giannis Vardinnogianis announced that his family intend to give up the Panathinaikos business for ever and put up his 54% shares for interested parties to take for free. This decision came after the club was forced to sell its main assets in players such as Jibril Cisse and was dumped out of European competition in August for the first time in their history.
He is the principal shareholder of the Cairo-based Vegas Oil and Gas
Vegas Oil and Gas
Vegas Oil and Gas S.A. is a company based in Egypt focusing on petroleum exploration. Headquartered in Athens, but mainly operating from the Cairo suburb of Maadi.Vegas is owned by the Vardinogiannis family....
.
External links
- Panathinaikos FCPanathinaikos FCPanathinaikos Football Club is a Greek professional football club based in Athens. Founded in 1908, they play in the Super League Greece and are one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Greek football history. They have won 20 Greek Championships and 17 Greek Cups.Panathinaikos is the most...