Who are Asteras Tripolis FC?

In ten years, Asteras Tripolis FC have risen from the Greek fourth tier to the UEFA Europa League group stage. UEFA.com meets the one-time 'Team of Trains'.

   It took Asteras Tripolis FC three seasons to win their first European game, but three home victories by two-goal margins this summer paved the way to them becoming the ninth Greek side to reach the UEFA Europa League group stage.

History

There was a time when Asteras were known as the 'Team of Trains' since their original home, following their foundation in 1930, was not too far from Tripolis' railway station. Their early existence was fairly marginal – they were dissolved, refounded and merged with other clubs on various occasions – before rising again in the local leagues of the Arcadia province in 1978.

Promoted to the national fourth division in 2003, they had a two years in the third tier before back-to-back promotions lifted them among the elite. Asteras (literally, Star) were losing Greek Cup finalists in 2013 – to Olympiacos FC – and in the last three seasons finished sixth, third and then fifth in the league.

(Source: UEFA.com)