PAOK Handball Club is the handball section of PAOK, the major multi-sports club based in Thessaloniki. PAOK has both men's and women's team. So far, PAOK men's team has won 3 Greek Championships and 3 Greek Cups and PAOK women's team has won 2 Greek Championship and 4 Greek cups. 2017-18 season marked the return of both Men's and Women's team to the European Competitions. Despite its relatively short history it is considered amongst the most successful departments of the Club.
Men's Department
History
PAOK Handball CLub was founded in 1999 after it merged with another club from Thessaloniki, Triton. Stelios Seikeridis, former coach, has connected his name with the whole history of the club. As the years passed the team became stronger and stronger until it reached two consecutive Greek Handball Championships in 2009 and 2010. In the end of the 2008–09 season they defeated Panellinios in the last game of the play-offs and in 2009–2010 Doukas, also in the last game. In 2011 even though PAOK had the advantage and needed only a draw in the last game in Mikra, they lost the championship to AEK. In 2012 they beat AEK 25–24 in Patras and won the Greek Cup. In 2015 they beat AEK again 27–29 in Thessaloniki P.A.O.K. Sports Arena and won the Greek Cup. PAOK also won the Greek Championship the same year making it a double for the first time. In 2017 PAOK beat Panellinios 25-23 winning the Greek Cup for the third time.
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.
The indoor arenas which plays PAOK at the games of the regular season of the domestic league are Arena Mikra 3 which holds 1,800 seats and Evosmos Sports Hall which holds 3,000 seats. In former years PAOK has used PAOK Sports Arena for European Competitions and the Play-Offs of the domestic league which holds 8,500 seats.
