Times when PAOK youth sides travelled abroad just to participate and collect valuable experience in renowned tournaments, without any hope of distinguishing themselves, are long gone. The academies of the “Double-Headed Eagle” have managed to combine impeccable teaching of football with high competitiveness, contending and winning titles.

Last summer, when PAOK U11s boarded the airplane to Moscow to participate in the Lokoball international tournament, only a few people believed they would return from Russia holding the trophy. The organizers hadn’t even considered the possibility that a team from abroad would prevail in the biggest youth tournament held in their country. That’s why they gave the winners’ prize to losing finalists Baltika Kaliningrad.

Twelve months later, PAOK returned to Moscow as one of the tournament’s favourites and managed to revalidate their title. The troops of Vasilis Kanaras, Alexis Alexiadis and Dimitris Taxidis thrashed Baltika Kaliningrad 5-3 in the 30-minute final of Lokoball. PAOK’s youngsters avoided last season’s penalty shoot-out drama, as they stormed into action determined to finish off their opponents in regulation time. They took an early lead and never looked back. By half-time they were already 4-0 up, Baltika reduced distances but PAOK scored their fifth goal and then took the foot off the throttle. The Russians scored twice more, but to no avail. Mantikas, Konstantelias and Stojnovic scored a goal each, with Stellakis adding a brace for the Greek side.

The little “eagles” return to Thessaloniki triumphant, having prevailed in a famous international tournament for a second consecutive season .