Panathinaikos owner considers stepping down, criticizes rival Olympiakos

Dimitris Giannakopoulos, the owner of Greek basketball club Panathinaikos, revealed he is contemplating stepping away from his position. In an interview with the "Euro Insiders" podcast, Giannakopoulos stated that his commitment to the club, which he took over in 2012 at his father's request, might be nearing its end. "Nobody can be here forever," he remarked, suggesting that his departure is a natural progression.

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Dimitri, please, don't do this to me. This is my legacy.

Giannakopoulos highlighted the immense pressure and responsibility that comes with owning Panathinaikos, noting that 3 to 4 million fans eagerly anticipate the team's results. He also pointed to the club's substantial growth in financial value, estimating it at half a billion euros, up from tens of millions just a few years prior. This financial success, coupled with the constant demands, has led him to feel "one and a half feet in the club, and half outside."

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Nobody can be here forever.

He clarified that he does not intend to force his children into taking over the club, emphasizing that any future involvement would be their own decision. Looking ahead, Giannakopoulos humorously envisioned himself watching games from his yard as a regular fan, shouting instructions to the team. He stressed that a final decision to leave would be irreversible, given his family's nearly four-decade association with Panathinaikos.

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Basketball is changing. A few years ago, Panathinaikos was worth tens of millions, and now it might be half a billion euros.

During the interview, Giannakopoulos also took aim at rival club Olympiakos. He dismissed the notion of a true rivalry, stating that Panathinaikos and Olympiakos are clubs of "completely different size, dynamics, and morals." He emphasized Panathinaikos's dominance in titles, boasting 44 championships compared to Olympiakos's 21, and asserted that there is "no competition" in basketball between the two.

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Who is Olympiakos's rival? I think their competition is with themselves. I cannot put Panathinaikos and Olympiakos in the same sentence because they are two clubs of completely different size, dynamics, and morals.