Nikolaos Vezyrtzis

Nikolaos "Nikos" Vezyrtzis (; born 5 November 1946) is a Greek sports executive best known for his long association with P.A.O.K.. He has held senior administrative positions across the club's football, basketball and amateur departments and is particularly associated with the rise of PAOK's basketball team during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

During his first period leading PAOK's basketball department, the club won the 1990–91 FIBA European Cup Winners' Cup and the 1991–92 Greek Basket League, reached the European Cup Winners' Cup Final again in 1992 and qualified for the 1993 FIBA European League Final Four.

Vezyrtzis later held senior positions with PAOK FC, including during the late 1990s and as president during the club's financial crisis in 2006–07. He returned to PAOK FC as vice-president in 2015–16 and, more than three decades after the beginning of his first basketball presidency, returned as president of PAOK BC in December 2025. He remained in office until his departure from the board on 11 May 2026.

Administrative career

Early involvement with PAOK Vezyrtzis became involved with PAOK's administration during the 1970s. His first major role was with the football department, where he worked alongside long-time PAOK president Giorgos Pantelakis as a team official. Contemporary reports continued to identify him as the club's president during the spring of 1999. Later retrospective accounts have described his position during this period as deputy president.

The administration inherited a club facing major financial problems. At a shareholders' meeting in December 2006, Vezyrtzis stated that PAOK's liabilities amounted to approximately €39 million.

Vezyrtzis remained in charge through the end of the 2006–07 season. In June 2007, he announced that he would not continue as president, clearing the way for a new administration led by former PAOK captain Theodoros Zagorakis.

PAOK FC vice-presidency (2015–2016) Vezyrtzis returned to PAOK FC's administration in December 2015, serving as first vice-president with responsibility for the organisation and management of the football department.

Return to PAOK basketball (2025–2026) More than three decades after the end of his first period leading PAOK basketball, Vezyrtzis returned to the club's administration in late 2025.

On 3 December 2025, the Thessaloniki Court of First Instance appointed a temporary administration headed by Vezyrtzis in order to ensure the uninterrupted operation of PAOK BC during a period of administrative transition. The temporary board consisted of Vezyrtzis as president, Ioannis Petmezas as deputy president and chief executive officer, and Evangelos Tsakmakas as a member.

PAOK also reached the 2025–26 FIBA Europe Cup Final during his presidency, facing Bilbao Basket for a second consecutive season. PAOK won the first leg 79–73 in Thessaloniki before losing 89–74 in Bilbao and finishing as runners-up, 162–153 on aggregate.

On 11 May 2026, Vezyrtzis left PAOK's board. In explaining his decision, he referred to his role in the club's transition and identified the agreement with Trinchieri among the most important developments during his second tenure.

Political activity Vezyrtzis has also been involved in Greek politics. In 2010, he ran for mayor in the municipality of Thermi–Neo Rysio with the support of New Democracy. He subsequently stood as a New Democracy parliamentary candidate in the Thessaloniki B constituency in 2012 and again in 2015, but was not elected.

He was also among the figures honoured during events celebrating the history of Greek basketball and PAOK's achievements.