.

AEK Athens Football Club (Greek: ΠΑΕ AEK [ˈaek]; Αθλητική Ένωσις Κωνσταντινουπόλεως; Athlitikί Énosis Konstantinoupόleos, "Athletic Union of Constantinople"), also known as AEK FC, is a Greek football club based in Nea Filadelfeia, a suburb of Athens, Greece. The club is commonly known in European competitions as AEK Athens FC.[4]

Established in Athens in 1924 by Greek refugees from Constantinople in the wake of the Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922), AEK has become one of the three most popular clubs in Greece and the Greek diaspora, and one of the three most successful teams in Greek football (including Olympiacos and Panathinaikos), winning 31 national titles and the only one to have won all the competitions organised by the Hellenic Football Federation (including 12 Championships, 15 Greek Cups, 1 League Cup and 3 Super Cups).[5]

The club has appeared several times in European competitions (UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and the defunct UEFA Cup Winners' Cup), in which they are the most successful Greek football club in terms of achievements. They were the first Greek team to compete in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League (1994–95) and they are the only Greek team to have reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup (1976–77). They have also reached the quarter-finals of the European Cup once (1968–69) and the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup twice (1996–97 and 1997–98).

History
Main article: History of AEK F.C.
Creation and early years (1924–1944)
Konstantinos Spanoudis, first president of AEK.

The large Greek population of Constantinople, not unlike those of the other Ottoman urban centres, continued its athletic traditions in the form of numerous athletic clubs. Clubs such as Énosis Tatávlon (Ένωσις Ταταύλων) and Iraklís (Ηρακλής) from the Tatavla district, Mégas Aléxandros (Μέγας Αλέξανδρος) and Ermís (Ερμής) of Galata, and Olympiás (Ολυμπιάς) of Therapia existed to promote Hellenic athletic and cultural ideals. These were amongst a dozen Greek-backed clubs that dominated the sporting landscape of the city in the years preceding World War I. After the war, with the influx of mainly French and British soldiers to Constantinople, many of the city's clubs participated in regular competition with teams formed by the foreign troops. Taxim, Pera, and Tatavla became the scene of weekly competitions in not only football, but also athletics, cycling, boxing, and tennis.
Players of Pera Club. Kostas Negrepontis is on the left.

Of the clubs in the city, football was dominated by Énosis Tatávlon and Ermís. Ermís, one of the most popular sports clubs, was formed in 1875 by the Greek community of Pera (Galata). Known as "Pera" since the mid 1880s, and "The Greek Football Team" when its football department was formed in 1914, it was forced to change its name to "Pera Sports Club", and then "Beyoğluspor Kulübü" in 1923. Many of its athletes, and those of most other sporting clubs, fled during the population exchanges at the end of the Greco-Turkish War, and settled in Athens and Thessaloniki.[6]

In 1924, the founders of AEK – a group of Constantinopolitan refugees (among them former athletes from the Pera Sports Club and the other Constantinopolitan clubs) – met at the athletic shop "Lux" of Emilios Ionas and Konstantinos Dimopoulos on Veranzerou Street, in the center of Athens, and created AEK.[7] Their intention was to create a club that provided athletic and cultural diversions for the thousands of predominantly Constantinopolitan and Anatolian refugees who had settled in the new suburbs of Athens (including Nea Filadelfeia, Nea Ionia, Nea Chalkidona, Nea Smyrni).
AEK FC's first team

GK: Kitsos, DF: Ieremiades, DF: Asderis, MF: Kechagias, MF: Paraskevas, MF: Dimopoulos, MF: Karagiannides, FW: Baltas, FW: Milas, FW: Iliades, and FW: Georgiades. AEK played its first match against Aias Athinon in November 1924, winning 2–0.

AEK's football team grew rapidly in popularity during the 1920s, eclipsing the already-established Athens-based refugee clubs (Panionios, Apollon Smyrnis etc.), thanks mainly to the large pool of immigrants that were drawn to the club, the significance of the name "Constantinople" for many refugees and Greeks, plus, in no small part, to the political connections and wealth of several of the club's board members. Not possessing a football ground, AEK played most of its early matches at various locations around Athens, including the grounds of the Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Leoforos Alexandras Stadium.
Tryfon Tzanetis
Kleanthis Maropoulos

AEK's first president, Konstantinos Spanoudis (1871–1941),[8] a journalist and associate of the Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos, petitioned the government to set aside land for the establishment of a sports ground. In 1926, land in Nea Filadelfeia that was originally set aside for refugee housing, was donated as a training ground for the refugees' sports activities. AEK began using the ground for training, albeit unofficially.[9]

In 1928, Panathinaikos, Olympiacos and AEK began a dispute with the fledgling Hellenic Football Federation (EPO), decided to break away from the Athens regional league, and formed an alliance called POK (from their initial letters, K was for AEK: Konstantinoupόleos). During the dispute, POK organised friendly matches against each other and several continental European clubs. In 1929, though, the dispute ended and AEK, along with the other POK clubs, entered the EPO fold once again.

In 1930, the property where AEK trained was officially signed over to the club. Venizelos soon approved the plans to build what was to become AEK's home ground for the next 70 years, the Nikos Goumas Stadium. The first home game, in November 1930, was an exhibition match against Olympiacos that ended in a 2–2 draw.[10]

In 1932, AEK won their first Greek Cup title, beating Aris Thessaloniki 5–3 in the final.[11][12] The team boasted a number of star football players like Kostas Negrepontis (a veteran of the original Pera Club of Constantinople), Kleanthis Maropoulos, Tryfon Tzanetis, Michalis Delavinias, Giorgos Mageiras, and Spyros Sklavounos.

The club's mixed success during the 1930s was highlighted by the first Greek Championship and Greek Cup (making the Double) in 1939.[13][14] Under former player Kostas Negrepontis as head coach, AEK also won the Greek Championship of 1940.[15]
After WWII (1944–1959)

With English coach Jack Beby at the reins of AEK, veteran players Maropoulos, Tzanetis, Delavinias and Mageiras, along with new blood Kostas Poulis, Giorgos Goulios, and Pavlos Emmanouilidis, won the Greek Cup competitions of 1949 and 1950, beating Panathinaikos 2–1[16] and Aris Thessaloniki 4–0.[17]

AEK won also the Athens regional championship of 1950, but the playoff games for the Pan-Hellenic title were not played, due to many players being called up for a prolonged training camp for the national team.

The early 1950s saw the addition of the next generation of star footballers in Giannis Kanakis, Andreas Stamatiadis, and goalkeeper Stelios Serafidis. Along with Kostas Poulis and Pavlos Emmanouilidis, AEK won the Greek Cup title again in 1956. In the final, they beat Olympiacos 2–1 at Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium to win their fifth cup.[18] The year 1957 saw the debut of one of the greatest forwards of the era and one of the most notable players in the club's history, Kostas Nestoridis.[19] Having joined AEK from Panionios in 1956, Nestoridis was forced to sit out the 1956 season because of a dispute between the two clubs over his transfer. In 1958 and 1959, he finished as top goal scorer in the league, but it wasn't enough for AEK to win any titles. On both occasions they finished second in the league behind Olympiacos.
New successes (1960–1974): Nestoridis-Papaioannou era

With Kostas Nestoridis scoring goals in the early 1960s (top goalscorer for 5 seasons in row, from 1958 to 1963), and the timely signing of attacker Mimis Papaioannou (all-time top goalscorer and appearances recordman of the club) in 1962, AEK went on to win the 1962–63 championship.[20] Known affectionately as "Mimis" by the AEK supporters, Papaioannou scored twice in the 1963 playoff against Panathinaikos, levelling the scores at 3–3 and giving AEK its first post-war championship on goal aggregate. Coached by Hungarian-German Jenő Csaknády, the championship team also consisted of Stelios Serafeidis, Miltos Papapostolou, and Andreas Stamatiadis. Youngsters like Alekos Sofianidis, Stelios Skevofilakas, Giorgos Petridis, and Manolis Kanellopoulos also played a significant role in the victorious 1963 campaign.

The club followed up with Cup victories in 1964 and 1966. With the return of Csaknády to the coach's position in 1968 and with the addition of some great players like Kostas Nikolaidis, Giorgos Karafeskos, Panagiotis Ventouris, Fotis Balopoulos, Spyros Pomonis, Alekos Iordanou, Nikos Stathopoulos and Andreas Papaemmanouil, AEK easily won the championship of 1967–68.[21]
European Champions Cup quarter-finals

In the 1968–69 season AEK, with new Serbian coach Branko Stanković, became the first Greek football club to reach the quarter-finals of the European Champions Cup, but was eliminated by the Czechoslovakian Spartak Trnava.[22]

The addition of goalkeeper Stelios Konstantinidis and Apostolos Toskas reinforced the team, and allowed AEK to take its fifth championship title in 1971.[23]

AEK also won the unofficial Greek Super Cup of 1971, beating Olympiacos 4–2 on penalty kicks after 2 draws (2–2 at Piraeus and 1–1 at Nea Filadelfeia).[24] Mavros, Eleutherakis, and Ardizoglou were part of the AEK outfit that dominated the Greek league in the late 1970s.
1974–81: The great AEK of Barlos
Dušan Bajević

Loukas Barlos, a successful industrialist, took over the presidency and financial support of AEK in 1974, and with the help of coach František Fadrhonc built one of the finest teams in the club's history.[25] The Barlos "Golden Era" saw some of the greatest players ever to have played for AEK: Christos Ardizoglou, Giorgos Dedes, Giorgos Skrekis, the Germans Walter Wagner and Timo Zahnleiter, Dionysis Tsamis, Pantelis Nikolaou, Petros Ravousis, Dušan Bajević, Takis Nikoloudis, Stefanos Theodoridis, Christos Itzoglou and Nikos Christidis.
UEFA Cup semi-finalists

Captained by Papaioannou in the 1976–1977 season, AEK reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup competition, the first Greek football club to do so. Beating Dynamo Moscow (Russia) 2–0, Derby County (U.K.) 2–0 and 3–2, Red Star Belgrade (Yugoslavia) 2–0, and QPR (U.K.) 3–0 and 7–6 on penalties, AEK were eventually eliminated by Gianni Agnelli’s Juventus. Juventus went on to win their first European title.[26]
Thomas Mavros: a goal-machine

It was during this period that AEK signed one of Greece's finest strikers, Thomas Mavros, the all-time top goalscorer in the Greek Championship. In following years, he and Dušan Bajević formed a formidable attacking duo for AEK. Mavros was an integral part of the team that reached the UEFA Cup semi final in 1976, but it was his devastating form (top goal scorer of 1978 and 1979 – 22 and 31 goals, respectively) that helped AEK to win the 1977–78 Championship-Cup double. The addition of former Panathinaikos stars Domazos and Eleutherakis to the AEK roster, the following year, saw the club cap off their most successful decade to-date by winning the 1979 Championship.[27]

Under the leadership of Loukas Barlos, the Nikos Goumas Stadium was finally completed with the addition of the iconic covered stand, or Skepasti (Σκεπαστή), which eventually became home to the most fanatic of AEK supporter groups, "Original 21".[28] The next generation of star players, fresh out of AEK's Academy, made their debut during this period: Stelios Manolas, Spyros Ekonomopoulos, Vangelis Vlachos, and Lysandros Georgamlis.
1981–1999

With new president Michalis Arkadis and Austrian head coach Helmut Senekowitsch, AEK won the 1983 Greek Cup, beating PAOK 2–0 in the newly built Athens Olympic Stadium.[29] Thomas Mavros and Vangelis Vlachos were the goalscorers.[30]

AEK also chased the elusive Championship title and it finally came in 1989. Coached by former player Dušan Bajević, AEK clinched the title after a winning a crucial match 1–0 against Olympiacos at the Athens Olympic Stadium. Takis Karagiozopoulos scored the goal that gave AEK its first Championship after ten years.[31] AEK won also the Greek Super Cup of 1989, beating Panathinaikos on penalties after the match ended in a 1–1 draw.[32]
The "Golden Team" of Bajević: 3 consecutive Championships
Vasilis Tsiartas, a classy number 10 and one of the best players in the Union's history.

After the 1989 triumphs, under Bajević, AEK built what was to become one of the most successful teams in its history. Captained by Stelios Manolas, the team, which included Toni Savevski, Daniel Batista, Vaios Karagiannis, Vasilis Dimitriadis, Giorgos Savvidis, Alexis Alexandris, Vasilis Tsiartas, Michalis Kasapis, Refik Šabanadžović and Vasilis Borbokis dominated the Greek league through the 1990s with three successive Championship titles (1992, 1993, and 1994). AEK won the only Greek League Cup ever organised in 1990 (beating Olympiacos 3–2).[33]
First Greek presence in the UEFA Champions League group stage
Demis Nikolaidis

In 1994–95, AEK was the first Greek football club that participated in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League after defeating Scottish champions Rangers;[34] AEK was eliminated by Ajax Amsterdam and AC Milan, who made it to the final. With Michalis Trochanas as president and Dušan Bajević as coach, the club won the Greek Cup in 1996.[35]

Former player Petros Ravousis took over the coaching position when Dušan Bajević defected to Olympiacos at the end of 1996. Ravousis led the team to its second Super Cup in 1996,[36] and its eleventh Cup title in 1997, beating Panathinaikos in both finals.[37]

By far AEK's most successful run with titles, the period also saw the club sign Temur Ketsbaia and several young, talented players like Demis Nikolaidis,[38] Christos Kostis, Christos Maladenis and Akis Zikos. Nikolaidis, in particular, an AEK fan since childhood, declined more lucrative offers from Olympiacos and Panathinaikos to sign for his beloved club.[39] During the 1996–97 and 1997–98 seasons, AEK progressed to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, where they were eliminated by Paris Saint-Germain[40] and Lokomotiv Moscow.[41]

In 1999, ex-president Dimitris Melissanidis organised a friendly match against FK Partizan in Belgrade, during the height of the NATO bombing of Serbia. As a gesture of compassion and solidarity towards the embattled Serbs, the AEK players and management staff defied the international embargo and traveled to Belgrade for the match.[42][43] The game ended 1–1, when after 60 minutes thousands of Serbian football fans invaded the pitch to embrace the footballers.[44][45]
21st century

AEK won its twelfth Cup title in 2000 under coach Giannis Pathiakakis, defeating Ionikos 3–0 in the final.[46] The club continued its consistency in the Championship of 2001–02, finishing second by goal aggregate to Olympiacos,[47] and beating Olympiacos in the Greek Cup final.[48]
2002–03 UEFA Champions League unbeaten run
Dionisis Chiotis
Kostas Katsouranis

Dušan Bajević returned as coach in the summer of 2002, a move that sparked open hostility towards Bajević from a section of AEK supporters.[citation needed] A strong team, called Dream Team by the fans, was created with players like Kostas Katsouranis, Ilija Ivić, Dionisis Chiotis, Vassilis Borbokis, Grigorios Georgatos, Theodoros Zagorakis, Walter Centeno, Michalis Kapsis, Michel Kreek, Vassilis Lakis, Vassilis Tsiartas (who returned from Sevilla), Ioannis Okkas, Nikos Liberopoulos and Demis Nikolaidis.

Under Bajević, AEK progressed through the qualifying rounds in the 2002 UEFA Champions League by eliminating APOEL. Drawn in Group A with AS Roma, Real Madrid, and Racing Genk, AEK with good performances drew all their games and were knocked out of the competition. They continued to UEFA Cup, eliminating Maccabi Haifa (4–0, 4–1) before being knocked out by Málaga CF.

Off the field, president Makis Psomiadis (died 06/01/2016) caused many problems for AEK and with his mismanagement overcharged the club. Also, with the assistance of his bodyguards, he allegedly assaulted captain Demis Nikolaidis and other players.[49]

After the altercation, and partly due to the club's growing financial problems, Nikolaidis was let on free transfer by mutual consent to Atlético Madrid.[50] Unable to cope with the negativity from a large section of AEK fans,[51] Bajević resigned in 2004 after a match against Iraklis.[52]
Demis Nikolaidis period

In 2004, Demis Nikolaidis and other significant AEK followers formed a supporters' club Enosis 1924 (Union 1924) in order to motivate all AEK supporters into taking up the club's shares and governance.[53] The project was not fully realised because, in the meantime, various businessmen decided to buy shares and invest money in the club. However, to this date, Enosis 1924's chairman is member of the AEK FC board.[54] The same year, Nikos Goumas Stadium, AEK's home stadium for over 70 years was demolished, because a big part of it was beaten from 1999 Athens earthquake.[55]
Sokratis Papastathopoulos

In 2004, on the back of strong AEK fan support, Nikolaidis, at the head of a consortium of businessmen, bought out the beleaguered club and became the new president. His primary task was to lead AEK out of its precarious financial position. The first success was an arrangement through the Greek judicial system to write off most of the massive debt that previous club administrators had amassed, and to repay any remaining public debts in manageable installments.

Securing the club's existence in the Alpha Ethniki, Nikolaidis then began a program to rebuild AEK to its former glory. He appointed experienced former player Ilija Ivić as technical director and brought back Fernando Santos as coach. The AEK fans, emboldened by Nikolaidis' efforts, followed suit by buying season ticket packages in record numbers (over 17,000).

AEK recruited promising young players to strengthen a depleted team. Led by the experienced Katsouranis and Liberopoulos, and featuring Brazilian Júlio César, the club made it to the Greek Cup final for the seventh time in 13 years, but finished second in the Championship, and in the process, secured a place in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League. For the 2006–07 season, former Real Betis coach Lorenzo Serra Ferrer was appointed to the coaching position after Fernando Santos' contract was not renewed.[56]

By beating Hearts over both legs (2–1 in Scotland and 3–0 in Greece), AEK progressed to the group stage of the Champions League.[57] The club obtained a total of 8 points, having beaten AC Milan 1–0, Lille 1–0, and managing two draws with Anderlecht (1–1 in Greece and 2–2 in Belgium). AEK finished second in the Greek Super League, qualifying again for the third round in the UEFA Champions League.[58]
2007–08 Championship

For the 2007–08 season AEK changed kit sponsors from Adidas to Puma.[59] They played with Sevilla FC in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round. The first leg was played on 15 August, away at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, where AEK was defeated by 2 goals,[60] and the second leg played on 3 September, at the Athens Olympic Stadium where AEK lost again by 1–4.[61]
Rivaldo

AEK completed the signings of Brazilian legend Rivaldo, after he was let free from Olympiacos, Rodolfo Arruabarrena, Charis Pappas, and Argentine striker Ismael Blanco. Traianos Dellas was rewarded with a new contract, keeping him at the club until summer 2009.[62] On 25 August, the Super League and EPO decided to postpone the opening season's games due to the fire disaster in the Peloponnese.[63][64]

After being eliminated from the UEFA Champions League, AEK were drawn to play against FC Salzburg for the UEFA Cup. On 20 September, in Athens, AEK defeated FC Salzburg 3–0.[65] In the second leg, played in Salzburg on 4 October, AEK lost the match but still went through 3–1 on aggregate.[66] On 9 October, AEK were drawn in Group C in the UEFA Cup group stage along with Villarreal, Fiorentina, Mladá Boleslav, and Elfsborg.[67] On 25 October, AEK kicked off the group stage with a 1–1 draw away to Elfsborg.[68] On 29 November, AEK again drew 1–1, this time at home to Fiorentina.[69] On 5 December, AEK won Mladá Boleslav 1–0 away[70] and on 20 December, AEK was home defeated 1–2[71] by Villarreal CF, but finally booked a place in the knockout stage of the UEFA Cup by finishing third in the group. They were then drawn against Getafe CF in the third round (phase of 32). AEK advanced to the third round of UEFA Cup for the second consecutive season.
Ismael Blanco

On 12 February, AEK parted company with Llorenç Serra Ferrer after a poor run of form and unsuccessful signings[72] and replaced him with former player Nikos Kostenoglou, on a caretaker basis. The team initially finished in first place in the league, but after the court case between Apollon Kalamarias and Olympiacos for the illegal usage of a player in the 1–0 Apollon Kalamarias win earlier in the season, Olympiacos was awarded 3 points, thus finishing 2 points ahead of AEK.[73]

President Demis Nikolaidis and several other managers and chairmen were angered with the court's decision, stating that the Hellenic Football Federation knew about the usage of the illegal player prior to the game and had indeed issued a registration (blue card), but didn't do anything about it. Panathinaikos also challenged the result at the Court of Arbitration in Sport (CAS) with no success, as the Hellenic Federation did not support the claim. Rivaldo had stated his intention to leave Greece if the ruling went in favour of Olympiacos and AEK were not declared champions. He stated, "a team that was not good enough to win the title on the pitch does not deserve the trophy."[74]

Giorgos Donis was appointed head coach of AEK on 14 May.[75] His reign at the club did not go well. It all began when AEK failed to surpass AC Omonia in the UEFA Cup second qualifying round, which meant their elimination from European competitions for the season.[76] Rivaldo asked to leave the club to sign for Bunyodkor on 27 August.[77]

The league campaign started very well after a win over rivals Panathinaikos in the opening game of the season,[78] but poor performances and results from then on left AEK in a difficult situation. Head coach Donis was eager to leave the club, but president Nikolaidis did not allow him to leave. Nevertheless, Nikolaidis left due to disappointing results and after a controversy with the club's supporters, Original 21,[79] leaving the presidency temporarily to the members of the board of directors, Nikos Koulis, and Takis Kanellopoulos.[80]
Financial problems and relegation

However, the series of disappointing results continued, bringing anger and insecure situations for everyone on the team. The first to be hit by this wave of disappointment and upset with the team council was coach Donis, who was asked to leave the team.[81] On 21 November 2008, AEK hired Dušan Bajević as head coach for third time.[82] However, after a while, Takis Kanellopoulos left the club, as he sparked a rivalry with Bajević.

On 4 February 2009, Nikos Thanopoulos was elected as the 41st president of AEK FC.[83] Bajević brought some much-needed stability to the club, and performances on the pitch improved vastly towards the end of the season, culminating in AEK's progression to the Greek Cup final against Olympiakos which was played on 2 May 2009, at Athens Olympic Stadium.[84] AEK lost in the final 14–15 on penalties.[85] AEK finished the regular season in fourth position, thus qualifying for the season's playoffs, in which they eventually finished second, just missing out on UEFA Champions League qualification.

In the summer transfer period of 2010, AEK, despite being low on budget, managed to reinforce its ranks with many notable players. Club idols Nikos Liberopoulos and Traianos Dellas signed the last one-year contracts of their careers, and many new and experienced players signed to AEK, the most notable of whom were Papa Bouba Diop, Cristian Nasuti, and Christos Patsatzoglou. AEK qualified for the 2010–11 Europa League group stage after defeating Dundee United 2–1 on aggregate.

On 7 October 2010, Manolo Jiménez agreed to a two-year deal and took over for Bajević.[86]

On 30 April 2011, AEK won the Greek Cup for the 14th time, defeating 3–0 Atromitos at the final.[87]

To compensate for the departures of Nacho Scocco, Papa Bouba Diop, Sebastián Saja, and Ismael Blanco in the summer of 2011, AEK signed the captain of Iceland Eiður Guðjohnsen,[88] and Colombian international Fabián Vargas. Due to financial problems, on 25 June 2012, AEK's legend Thomas Mavros took the club's management and on 1 August 2012, became president in an effort to save the club from financial disaster. Many other former AEK players like Vassilis Tsiartas, Mimis Papaioannou, Kostas Nestoridis, Christos Kostis, Vangelis Vlachos, Christos Arvanitis, and Giorgos Karafeskos were hired to help the club return to its previous glory days. Due to bad results, on 30 September 2012, Vangelis Vlachos was fired and Ewald Lienen hired as AEK's head coach. On 9 April 2013, Lienen was fired after disappointing results and AEK hired Traianos Dellas as head coach with Vassilis Borbokis and Akis Zikos for assistants.[89]

On 19 April 2013, a Super League disciplinary committee voted to remove 3 points from AEK and award Panthrakikos a 3–0 win, after fans stormed the pitch and chased players from the field during the AEK–Panthrakikos match on 14 April 2013.[90] As a result, AEK were relegated from the Super League to the second-tier Football League for the first time in their history.[91] In addition, AEK were to start their Football League campaign with minus 2 points.[92]
Re-generation: The second Melissanidis era
Petros Mantalos, current captain

On June 7, 2013, during an AEK council, it was decided that AEK FC would become an amateur football club and would not participate in the Football League division for the 2013–14 season, preferring instead, to self-relegate and participate in the Football League 2 division and start from scratch. On the same day Dimitris Melissanidis, the former-president of the club, became administrative leader of the club, under the supervision of Amateur AEK, with the aim of saving the club. Along with other notable AEK fans and old players, they went on to create the non-profit association Independent Union of Friends of AEK (Greek: Ανεξάρτητη Ένωση Φίλων ΑΕΚ; Anexártiti Énosi Fίlon AEK) which took the majority stake of the football club.[93][94]

AEK began its revival by finishing top of their group in the third division of the amateur Football League 2 division with a record of 23 wins, 3 draws, and only one defeat.[95] Thus, AEK participated in the Football League division for the 2014–15 season, where they again finished in first place, having only 2 draws and no defeats in the regular season. AEK successfully finished first in the playoffs and gained promotion back to the top tier, the Greek Super League.[96]

On 20 October 2015, Traianos Dellas was forced to resign as a result of a dispute with the board, and a heavy 4–0 away loss to Olympiacos. Stelios Manolas was named interim coach and later Gus Poyet was appointed as new head coach. On 19 April, Poyet resigned, leaving Stelios Manolas as interim coach again. Manolas managed to guide AEK to a 3rd-place finish in the league qualifying for the playoff round and also to their first piece of silverware since the 2010–11 season by lifting the Greek Cup, defeating Olympiacos in the final 2–1.[97] With the postponement of the final on two separate occasions and the congested fixture list of the playoff round, it meant AEK were to play a fixture every three days, which evidently took its toll on the players, but they finished third in the play-offs and qualified for the 2016–17 UEFA Europa League Third Qualifying Round. The first season back in the top flight was considered a success with a trophy and qualification for European football next season, a return after a five-year hiatus.

The second season started well apart from the 0–1 aggregate loss to AS Saint-Étienne in the Europa League qualifiers. In the first match of the season AEK defeated Xanthi 4–1.[98] However, the decision was made to replace Temur Ketsbaia with José Morais;[99] the decision was based on the team's stuttering start to the season, 3 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses, and poor displays. José's arrival, however, did not improve the team's results or performances, winning only three of his fourteen matches as manager. On 19 January 2017 former manager Manolo Jiménez was appointed as manager for the second time following José's resignation.[100] Upon his appointment he got the team from 7th place up to a 4th-place finish, and first place in the European Playoffs, claiming second place in the league overall and qualifying for the UEFA Champions League Third qualifying round. Jiménez also guided the team to a second consecutive Greek Cup final where they faced PAOK in a controversial game marred by pre-match violence between the two sets of fans and a winning goal from an offside position.[101]
UEFA Europa League unbeaten run and Greek Champions
Georgios Kamaras Stadium during Apollon Smyrnis vs AEK game (0-1) in matchday 30 of the 2017–18 Superleague Greece. After the game AEK were crowned Champions after 24 years. The coach Manolo Jiménez is the person with the light blue shirt on the bottom of the picture.

The third season back in the top flight began with a tough draw in the Champions League Third qualifying round versus CSKA Moscow losing 3–0 on aggregate. The loss meant AEK were demoted to the Europa League play-off round where they were pitted versus Belgians Club Brugge. A 0–0 draw in Brugge in the first leg and a 3–0 win in the return in Athens meant that AEK qualified for the group stages of a major European competition for the first time in 6 years.[102] They were seeded in pot 4 and were drawn along with AC Milan, HNK Rijeka and Austria Wien. AEK would go on to qualify for the round of 32 undefeated, a statement that solidified their return as one of Europe's elite teams, with a record of 1 win and 5 draws, the most notable being the two back to back 0–0 draws versus AC Milan.[103] In the Round of 32 AEK were drawn against Ukrainian giants Dynamo Kyiv. AEK were better than their opponents, but also were unlucky and lost after two draws and on away goal rule. The first match took place in Athens, with an 1–1 draw and the second game in Kiev, finished 0–0.[104][105] In April, AEK won their 12th Greek championship, by recording a 2–0 home win against Levadiakos in front of 60,000 fans. This was their first championship after 24 years.[106][107] AEK were crowned champions in front of 12,000 of their fans in the last matchday against Apollon Smyrnis in Georgios Kamaras Stadium.[108][109]

Source: AEK Athens F.C.
Crest
Emblem of the Palaiologos dynasty and the Byzantine Empire

In 1924, AEK adopted the image of a double-headed eagle (Δικέφαλος Αετός; Dikéfalos Aetós) as their emblem. Created by Greek refugees from Constantinople in the years following the Greco-Turkish War and subsequent population exchange, the emblem and colours (yellow and black) of AEK were chosen as a reminder of lost homelands; they represent the club's historical ties to Constantinople. The double-headed eagle is featured in the flag of the Greek Orthodox Church, whose headquarters are in Constantinople, and served as Imperial emblem under the Palaiologos dynasty, which was the last one to rule the Byzantine Empire.

AEK's main emblem underwent numerous minor changes between 1924 and 1982. The design of the eagle on the shirt badge was often not identical to the design of the eagle depicted on official club correspondence, merchandise, and promotional material. All designs were considered "official" (in the broadest sense of the word), however, it was not until 1982 that an identifiable, copyrighted design was established as the club's official, and shirt badge. The emblem design was changed in 1989, again in 1993, and again in 2013 to the current design.[110]
Kit and colours

The colours of yellow/gold and black were adopted from AEK's connections with Constantinople and the Byzantine Empire.[111]

AEK have always worn predominantly gold or yellow shirts and black shorts.[112] An exception has been the unusual, but notable and popular among the fans, Kappa kits of the '90s which featured a big two-headed eagle motif across the kit.[113]

AEK's traditional away colours are all-black or all-white; on a few occasions, the club has introduced as a third kit a light blue, a silver, and even a dark red, or a tyrian purple (porphyra), a type of reddish purple, inspired by the war Byzantine flag[114] and used also by the imperial dynasties of the Byzantine empire (Eastern Roman empire).
Shirt sponsors and manufacturers

Since 2018, AEK's kit has been manufactured by Capelli. Previous manufacturers have been Adidas (1974–75, 1977–83 and 2005–07), Zita Hellas (1983–89), Diadora (1989–93), Basic (1993–95), Kappa (1995–2000), Nike (2000–04 and 2015–18) and Puma (1975–77 and 2007–15).

Starting in 2015, the club's main shirt sponsors are OPAP, which also sponsored them in 2010–14. Previous shirt sponsors have been Citizen (1982–83), Nissan (1983–85), Ethniki Asfalistiki (1985–93 and 1995–96), Phoenix Asfaleies (1993–95), Geniki Bank (1996–98), Firestone (1999), Marfin Investment Group (1999–2001), Alpha Digital (2001–02), Piraeus Bank (2002–04), TIM (2004–06), LG (2006–08), Diners Club (2009–10), and Jeep (2014–15).
AEK's shirt history
Alternative AEK shirts (2008–09)

Period	Kit manufacturer	Shirt sponsor
1974–1975	Adidas	—
1975–1976	Puma
1976–1982	Adidas^[115]
1982–1983	Adidas^[115]	Citizen
1983–1985	Zita Hellas	Nissan
1985–1989	Zita Hellas	Ethniki Asfalistiki
1989–1993	Diadora	Ethniki Asfalistiki
1993–1995	Basic	Phoenix Asfaleies
1995	Kappa	Ethniki Asfalistiki
1995	Diadora^[116]	—
1995–1996	Kappa	Ethniki Asfalistiki
1996–1998		General Bank of Greece
1999		Firestone
1999–2000		Marfin Investment Group
2000–2001	Nike	Marfin Investment Group
2001–2002		Alpha Digital
2002–2004		Piraeus Bank
2004		TIM
2005–2006	Adidas	TIM
2006–2007	Adidas	LG
2007–2009	Puma	LG
2009–2010		Diners Club
2010–2013		Kino
2013–2014		Tzoker
2014–2015		Jeep
2015–2018	Nike	Pame Stoixima
2018–	Capelli^[117]	Pame Stoixima

Financial information

Loukas Barlos, a successful bauxite Mine Owner, was also owner and president since 1974, and was in charge when Greek football turned professional in 1979. In 1981, due to health problems, he passed his shares to Andreas Zafeiropoulos.[118] In 1982 the business shipping magnate Michalis Arkadis became president, aiming to reinforce financial support, with Zafeiropoulos holding the majority stake. In 1988, Zafeiropoulos placed Efstratios Gidopoulos in the presidency, and AEK managed to win their first championship in ten years.[119]

On June 17, 1992, the club passed to new owners. The business shipping magnate and oil tycoon Dimitris Melissanidis, together with Giannis Karras, took the majority stake and continued the successful and champion seasons.[120]

After an unsuccessful season, in 1995, they passed their shares to Michalis Trochanas, and with his turn a percentage to ENIC Group investment company. In 1999, NETMED, a Dutch media company, took over management of the club. A crisis period followed with mismanagement and many changes in the presidency. In 2004, ex-AEK player Demis Nikolaidis made a plan in order to progress with the reorganization and financial consolidation, and together with other investors (such as Nicholas X. Notias, Gikas Goumas, Takis Kanellopoulos, a shareholder of Titan Cement, and others) took the majority stake.[121]

The plan initially seemed to work, but the downfall continued. The team was relegated after the 2012–13 season for the first time in its history. In an effort to discharge the immense debt created by years of mismanagement, its directors chose for the team to compete in the third tier. On the same day Dimitris Melissanidis, the old president of the club, became administrative leader of AEK, under the supervision of the amateur AEK Later, together with other notable AEK fans and old players, they created the non-profit association "Union Friends of AEK" (Enosi Filon AEK) which took the majority stake of the football club.[94]

In March 2015, AEK FC became the first Greek company that was listed in the Elite programme of the London Stock Exchange, a pan-European programme for ambitious high-growth businesses that was launched in 2012 at Borsa Italiana and following its success was rolled out in the UK in 2014, and the first Greek football club quoted on a stock exchange. Raffaele Jerusalmi, executive director of the board of directors of LSEG, stated: "We are delighted to welcome AEK to Elite programme".[122][123] On 27 April 2015, AEK FC was selected for the honor of opening a session of the London Stock Exchange.[124][125]

Current sponsorships:

Home Shirt Sponsor: Pame Stoixima
Official Sport Clothing Manufacturer: Capelli
Official Sponsor: Cosmote, Piraeus Bank, Nova Sports

Stadium
Main articles: Nikos Goumas Stadium, Olympic Stadium (Athens), and Agia Sophia Stadium

The entrance of the historic Nikos Goumas Stadium

Olympic Stadium of Athens

Nikos Goumas Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium in Nea Filadelfeia ("New Philadelphia"), a northwestern suburb of Athens, Greece. It was used mostly for football matches and was the home stadium of AEK Athens FC. It was named after one-time club president, Nicholas Goumas, who contributed to its building and later upgrading. It served as AEK's home ground since 1930.[126] The Nikos Goumas Stadium had severe damages from 1999's earthquake and in 2003 was demolished with the prospect to build a new stadium for AEK Athens FC. Unfortunately, prolonged obstruction, legal issues and tight deadlines lapsed this prospect until recently. The club now plays its home games in the 70,000-capacity "Spyros Louis" (Athens Olympic Stadium) in Athens and currently builds its new stadium in the same place where Nikos Goumas Stadium used to stand.[127] The Olympic Athletic Center of Athens, also known as OAKA, is one of the most complete European athletic complexes.[128]

The Olympic Athletic Center of Athens hosted the Mediterranean Games in 1991, the World Championship in Athletics in 1997, the 1994 and 2007 UEFA Champions League Finals, as well as other important athletic and cultural events, the most significant of which remains the Summer Olympics in 2004.[129]

Stadium	Capacity	Years
Nikos Goumas Stadium	27,729	1928–1985 and 1987–2003
Athens Olympic Stadium	69,618	1985–1987 and 2004–2020
Agia Sophia Stadium	30,528	2020–

Attendance records

Year	Attendance	Stadium	Competition	Opponent
23/05/1986	74,473	Olympic Stadium	Super League	Panathinaikos
07/11/2004	63,129	Olympic Stadium	Super League	Olympiacos
21/11/2006	56,203	Olympic Stadium	Champions League	AC Milan
11/03/2015	64,256^[130]	Olympic Stadium	Greek Cup	Olympiacos
22/04/2018	60,141	Olympic Stadium	Super League	Levadiakos

Training facility
Karalis, Rikka, Backhaus, Moschonas and Stamatis in Spata (2013-03-05)

Since December 2010, AEK has been using state-of-the-art facilities in an area of 144 acres in the Mazareko area in Spata.[131] Previously owned by Nicholas X. Notias, it is the most expensive (with a total cost around €25m)[132] and one of the biggest training centers in Greece. These facilities include two lawns with natural turf and one with plastic for the needs of the Academies (which was created in 2013 with a viewing platform for spectators) and all the necessary and well-equipped areas for the preparation of a team with modern instruments . A standard football studio, one of the most complete in Greece. The main building of the center hosts offices of the club, a press room, and the players' rooms. The training ground is used by the first team and youth teams. The Sports Center includes state-of-the-art facilities, a fitness and health center with weight-training and fitness rooms, a cryotherapy center and more. There are also plans for an AEK Museum, hotel, aquatic center and two more soccer fields. From 2013 and on, AEK training center services have been upgraded dramatically. The players of the team work daily in an environment with all the necessary infrastructure, while in the last few months they have at their disposal in the basement of the building a treatment center with the most modern means. Even the young athletes of the Academies work in facilities that very few Academies have in Greece. But the outlook is even more impressive. Since 2014, the official name of the ground is "OPAP Sports Center".[133] On 4 July 2018 the Sports Center came to auction which was bought by Dimitrios Melissanidis for a price of €3.5m and then donated it to AEK. Alongside the Sports Center, Melissanidis also bought 70 hectares for an extra €5.5m [134] which were added to the wider area of the existing training center and there will be additional stadiums along with the necessary additional facilities for the preparation of the team and for the hospitality of the players.[135]

Supporters and rivalries
Supporters friendships

A so-called "triangle of brotherhood" has developed between the most heavily supported left-wing fan clubs of AEK, Marseille and Livorno.[136][137] The connection is mostly an ideological one.[138][139] On 25 April 2013, Fenerbahçe S.K. fans lifted a banner supporting AEK Athens, saying "AEK, ΚΡΑΤΑ ΓΕΡΑ", meaning "AEK, hold on tightly".[140] The clubs are also connected by Lefter Küçükandonyadis, who played for both teams. However, it is not confirmed whether the clubs have a brotherhood. Also AEK's and St. Pauli's left-wing fans, have a strong friendship and their connection is mostly for ideological reasons.[141]
Club anthem

AEK's club anthem, Embrós tis AEK Palikária (Advance AEK's Lads), was composed by Stelios Kazantzidis.[142] The lyrics were written by Christos Kolokotronis. The most-popular version of the anthem is sung by ex-football player Mimis Papaioannou.[143]
Rivalries
Main articles: AEK–Panathinaikos rivalry, Olympiacos–AEK rivalry, and Double-headed eagles derby

AEK FC's biggest rivalries are with Panathinaikos and Olympiacos. Against their city neighbours Panathinaikos, they contest the Athens local football derby.[144] The rivalry started not only because of both competing for the major titles, but also because of the refugee ancestry of a big part of AEK fans and, by contrast, that Panathinaikos was considered in general the representative of the Athenian high class society. The rivalry with Piraeus based club Olympiacos stems from the rivalry between two of the most successful Greek football clubs. The rivalry was particularly inflamed after 1996, when AEK former star player and then-manager Dušan Bajević moved to Olympiacos,[145][146] and most recently after the controversial 2007–08 Super League which was awarded to Olympiacos.[147]
Honours
Domestic competitions

Leagues:

Super League
Winners (12): 1938–39, 1939–40, 1962–63, 1967–68, 1970–71, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1988–89, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 2017–18
Football League (Second Division)
Winners (1): 2014–15
Football League 2 (Third Division)
Winners (1): 2013–14 (Group 6)

Cups:

Greek Cup
Winners (15): 1931–32, 1938–39, 1948–49, 1949–50, 1955–56, 1963–64, 1965–66, 1977–78, 1982–83, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1999–2000, 2001–02, 2010–11, 2015–16
Greek Super Cup[148]
Winners (3): 1971, 1989, 1996
Greek League Cup
Winners (1) (record): 1990

International competitions

UEFA Europa League
Semi-finals (1): 1976–77
UEFA Champions League
Quarter-finals (1): 1968–69
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
Quarter-Finals (2): 1996–97, 1997–98
Balkans Cup
Runners-up (1): 1966–67

Regional

Athens F.C.A. Regional Championship
Winners (5): 1940, 1943, 1946, 1947, 1950

Doubles

Winners (2): 1938–39, 1977–78

Source: AEK Athens F.C.
International record
Main article: AEK Athens F.C. in European football

Best seasons

Season	Manager	Round	Notes
Champions League / European Cup
1968–69	Branko Stanković	Quarterfinal	eliminated by Spartak Trnava (1–2 in Trnava, 1–1 in Athens)
1978–79	Ferenc Puskás	Last 16	eliminated by Nottingham Forest (1–2 in Athens, 1–5 in West Bridgford)^[149]
1989–90	Dušan Bajević	Last 16	eliminated by Marseille (0–2 in Marseille, 1–1 in Athens)
1992–93	Dušan Bajević	Last 16	eliminated by PSV (1–0 in Athens, 0–3 in Eindhoven)
1994–95	Dušan Bajević	Last 16	eliminated by Ajax and Milan^[150]
Cup Winners' Cup
1995–96	Dušan Bajević	Last 16	eliminated by Borussia M'gladbach (1–4 in Mönchengladbach, 0–1 in Athens)
1996–97	Petros Ravousis	Quarterfinal	eliminated by Paris Saint-Germain (0–0 in Paris, 0–3 in Athens)
1997–98	Dumitru Dumitriu	Quarterfinal	eliminated by Lokomotiv Moscow (0–0 in Athens, 1–2 in Moscow)
Europa League / UEFA Cup
1976–77	František Fadrhonc	Semi-final	eliminated by Juventus (1–4 in Turin, 0–1 in Athens)
1991–92	Dušan Bajević	Last 16	eliminated by Torino (2–2 in Athens, 0–1 in Turin)^[151]
2000–01	Toni Savevski	Last 16	eliminated by Barcelona (0–1 in Athens, 0–5 in Barcelona)^[152]
2001–02	Fernando Santos	Last 16	eliminated by Inter (1–3 in Milan, 2–2 in Athens)
2002–03	Dušan Bajević	Last 16	eliminated by Málaga (0–0 in Málaga, 0–1 in Athens)

Notable wins

Notable wins

Season	Match	Score
Champions League / European Cup
1971–72	AEK – Inter	3 – 2 ^[a]
1978–79	AEK – Porto	6 – 1
1989–90	AEK – Dynamo Dresden	5 – 3
1992–93	AEK – PSV Eindhoven	1 – 0
1994–95	Rangers – AEK	0 – 1
1994–95	AEK – Rangers	2 – 0
2006–07	AEK – Milan	1 – 0 ^[b]
2006–07	AEK – Lille	1 – 0
2018–19	AEK – Celtic	2 – 1
Cup Winners' Cup
1964–65	AEK – Dinamo Zagreb	2 – 0
Europa League / UEFA Cup
1976–77	AEK – Dynamo Moscow	2 – 0
1976–77	Derby County – AEK	2 – 3
1976–77	AEK – Derby County	2 – 0
1976–77	AEK – Red Star Belgrade	2 – 0
1976–77	AEK – QPR	3 – 0
1985–86	AEK – Real Madrid	1 – 0 ^[c]
1988–89	AEK – Athletic Bilbao	1 – 0
1991–92	AEK – Spartak Moscow	2 – 1
2000–01	AEK – Bayer Leverkusen	2 – 0
2009–10	AEK – Benfica	1 – 0

Biggest wins

Season	Match	Score
Champions League / European Cup
1968–69	AEK – Jeunesse Esch	3 – 0
1978–79	AEK – Porto	6 – 1
2006–07	AEK – Hearts	3 – 0
Cup Winners' Cup
1996–97	AEK – Olimpija Ljubljana	4 – 0
1997–98	AEK – Dinaburg	5 – 0
Europa League / UEFA Cup
1976–77	AEK – QPR	3 – 0
1977–78	AEK – ASA Târgu Mureș	3 – 0
1998–99	AEK – Ferencváros	4 – 0
1999-00	AEK – Torpedo Kutaisi	6 – 1
2000–01	AEK – Herfølge	5 – 0
2001–02	AEK – Grevenmacher	6 – 0
2002–03	AEK – Maccabi Haifa	4 – 0
2002–03	Maccabi Haifa – AEK	1 – 4
2007–08	AEK – Red Bull Salzburg	3 – 0
2009–10	AEK – Vaslui	3 – 0
2017–18	AEK – Club Brugge	3 – 0

Notes

a. ^ Inter Milan were the eventual runners-up.
b. ^ A.C. Milan were the eventual winners.
c. ^ Real Madrid C.F. were the defending winners and the eventual winners again.

UEFA ranking
See also: UEFA coefficient

As of 25 October 2018[153]

Rank	Team	Points
84	Red Star Belgrade	14.750
85	Standard Liège	14.500
86	AEK Athens	14.000
87	Midtjylland	14.000
88	Burnley	13.806

Source:UEFA
Players
Current squad

As of 29 August 2018[154]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.	Position	Player
1	GK	Vasilis Barkas
2	DF	Michalis Bakakis (3rd captain)
3	DF	Hélder Lopes
4	DF	Marios Oikonomou (on loan from Bologna)
5	DF	Vasilis Lampropoulos (4th captain)
6	MF	Astrit Ajdarević
7	FW	Christos Albanis
8	MF	André Simões (vice-captain)
9	FW	Giorgos Giakoumakis
10	FW	Marko Livaja
11	FW	Giannis Gianniotas
12	DF	Rodrigo Galo
14	FW	Tasos Bakasetas
15	DF	Uroš Ćosić

No.	Position	Player
16	GK	Panagiotis Tsintotas
17	FW	Viktor Klonaridis
19	DF	Dmytro Chygrynskiy
20	MF	Petros Mantalos (captain)
22	FW	Ezequiel Ponce (on loan from Roma)
23	DF	Niklas Hult
24	DF	Stratos Svarnas
25	MF	Kostas Galanopoulos
31	FW	Lucas Boyé (on loan from Torino)
33	DF	Giorgos Giannoutsos
39	MF	Erik Morán
40	GK	Makis Giannikoglou
77	MF	Christos Giousis
95	MF	Alef (on loan from Braga)

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.	Position	Player
—	DF	Stavros Vasilantonopoulos (at Lamia until 30 June 2019)
—	MF	Ilias Tselios (at Ergotelis until 30 June 2019)
—	MF	Konstantinos Malai (at Trikala until 30 June 2019)

No.		Position	Player
—		FW	Andreas Vlachomitros (at Sparta until 30 June 2019)
—		FW	Christos Antoniou (at Ergotelis until 30 June 2019)

AEK U19 squad
Main article: AEK F.C. Academy

AEK U19 is the youth team of AEK. They participate in the Super League U19 Championship. They play their home games at the OPAP Sports Center in Spata.
Statistics and records
Main article: List of AEK Athens F.C. records and statistics
One-club men

Player	Position	Debut	Last match
Kleanthis Maropoulos	FW	1934	1952
Andreas Stamatiadis	MF	1950	1969
Stelios Manolas	DF	1979	1998

Super League top scorers

AEK has a remarkable tradition in strikers ang goal-scoring players. 14 different teams' players, 24 times overall, have finished the season as the top scorer in the Super League.

Rank	Player	Times	Season(s)
1	Kostas Nestoridis	5 (national record)	1959–1963
2	Thomas Mavros	3	1978, 1979, 1985
3	Vasilis Dimitriadis	2	1992, 1993
4	Mimis Papaioannou	2	1964, 1966
5	Ismael Blanco	2	2008, 2009
6	Kleanthis Maropoulos	2	1939, 1940
7	Alexis Alexandris	1	1994
8	Nikos Liberopoulos	1	2007
9	Kostas Vasiliou	1	1939
10	Giorgos Dedes	1	1976
11	Demis Nikolaidis	1	1999
12	Vasilis Tsiartas	1	1996
13	Dušan Bajević	1	1980
14	Henrik Nielsen	1	1988

Player records

Most Super League appearances: 480–Mimis Papaioannou
Most Super League goals: 234–Mimis Papaioannou

Domestic records
Outline Record
Biggest win in a Greek Cup final 7–1 (vs Apollon Smyrnis, 1995–96)
Contribution to the Greek national team

AEK, through its history, has highlighted some of the greatest Greek players in the history of Greek football, who contributed also to the Greek national team (Papaioannou, Nestoridis, Mavros, Tsiartas, Nikolaidis, etc.).

Five players of the club were part of the golden team of 2004 that won the UEFA Euro 2004:

UEFA Euro 2004 (6): Thodoris Zagorakis (player of the tournament), Vasilis Tsiartas, Michalis Kapsis, Kostas Katsouranis, Demis Nikolaidis and Vasilis Lakis.

A total of 109 players of AEK had played for the Greek national team up to the 15th of October 2018.
Player list
N. Name Pos. Years Apps Goals
Notable former players
Further information: Category:AEK Athens F.C. players
Personnel
Ownership and current board

Position	Staff
Owner	Dimitris Melissanidis
President	Evangelos Aslanidis
CEO	Minas Lysandrou
CFO	Dimitris Patkas
Legal Department	Charis Grigoriou
Legal Department	Petros Kaimakamis
Communications Director	Andreas Dimatos
Commercial Director	Nikos Karaouzas
Deputy general manager	Angeliki Arkadi
Public relations	Anthi Papakosta
Chief Scouting	Dimitris Barbalias
Scouting	Andreas Lagonikakis
Technical Director	Nikos Liberopoulos
Sports Director	Vladimir Matijašević
Football Manager Operation Department	Vasilis Dimitriadis
Board members	Andreas Anatoliotakis Konstantinos Marinakis Stergios Gantzoulas

Source:AEK Athens F.C.
Presidents

AEK Athens F.C. presidential history from 1924 to present
Konstantinos Spanoudis (1924–32) Alexandros Strogilos (1932–33) Konstantinos Sarifis (1933–35) Konstantinos Theofanidis (1935–37) Konstantinos Chrisopoulos (1937–38) Vassilios Fridas (1938–40) Emilios Ionas (1945–49) Spiridon Skouras (1949–50 ) Georgios Melas (1950–52) Eleftherios Venizelos (1952) Georgios Chrisafidis (1952–57) Nikolaos Goumas (1957–63) Alexandros Makridis (1963–66) Michail Trikoglou (1966–67) Emmanuil Calitsounakis (1967) Kosmas Kiriakidis (1967–68)	Ilias Georgopoulos (1968–69) Georgios Chrisafidis (1969–70) Kosmas Chatzicharalabous (1970–73) Dimitrios Avramidis (1973) Ioannis Theodorakopoulos (1973–74) Loukas Barlos (1974–81) Andreas Zafiropoulos (1981–82) Michalis Arkadis (1982–83) Eleftherios Panagidis (1983–84) Andreas Zafiropoulos (1984–88) Efstratios Gidopoulos (1988–91) Konstantinos Generakis (1991–92) Dimitris Melissanidis (1992–93) Ioannis Karras (1993–94) Dimitris Melissanidis (1994–95) Michalis Trochanas (1995–97) Georgios Kiriopoulos (1997)	Alexis Kougias (1997) Lakis Nikolaou (1997–98) Dimitris Melissanidis (1998–99) Stefanos Mamatzis (1999–2000) Cornelius Sierhuis (2000–01) Filonas Antonopoulos (2001) Petros Stathis (2001) Chrysostomos Psomiadis (2001–03) Giannis Granitsas (2003–04) Demis Nikolaidis (2004–08) Georgios Kintis (2008–09) Nikolaos Thanopoulos (2009–10) Stavros Adamidis (2010–12) Thomas Mavros (2012) Andreas Dimitrelos (2012–13) Evangelos Aslanidis (2014–)

Coaching, medical and academies staff

Coaching staff

Position	Staff
Manager	Marinos Ouzounidis
Assistant managers	Bledar Kola Nikos Panagiotaras
Analyst	Vasilis Armatas
Fitness coaches	Nikos Giagkou Nikos Panourgias
Goalkeeping coach	Chrisostomos Michailidis
Head of scouting	Michalis Kasapis
Statistician	Nikos Papathanasiou

Source:AEK Athens F.C.

Medical staff

Position	Staff
Medical Director	Dr. Lakis Nikolaou
Doctors	Alkis Kalliakmanis Panagiotis Alexandropoulos
Head of rehabilitation	Christos Karvounidis
Physiotherapists	Yiannis Stathas Giannis Bouroutzikas Dionisis Engarchos
Nutritionist	Giannis Kotsis
Dietician	Dionisis Panos

Source:AEK Athens F.C.

Academies staff

Position	Staff
Management	Gregory Sarantis
General Director	Akis Zikos
Administrative Directors	Stavros Letsas Nikos Georgeas
Secretary	Nadia Kousaksidou
U19 Head coach	Georgios Simos
U19 Assistant coach	Michalis Vlachos
U17 Head coach	Georgios Alexopoulos
U16 Head coach	Ivan Nedeljković
U15 Head coach	Vasilis Papadakis
U14 Head coach	Petros Tasounidis
U13 Head coach	Stavros Tziortziopoulos
U12 Head coach	Michalis Pavlis
U11 Head coach	Stelios Orfanidis
U10 Head coach	Katerina Falida
Performance analysts	Tasos Pritsas Katerina Falida
Fitness coaches	Giannis Kesoglou Vaggelis Bekas Dimitris Stergiopoulos
Goalkeeping coaches	Elias Atmatsidis Giorgos Kioupis Panagiotis Bartzokas
Head of scouting	Stavros Letsas
Scouts	Giorgos Karafeskos Charis Kopitsis Panagiotis Stylianopoulos Vaggelis Gavrilis
Doctors	Panagiotis Alexandropoulos Giakoumis Diakoumis Charis Lalos
Physiotherapists	Nikos Kalampokas Kostas Pavlidis Thodoris Serafidis Lefteris Tamvakis
Ergophysiologist	Dimitris Stergiopoulos
Nutritionist	Athanasios Zavos
Psychologist	Froso Patsou
Caregivers	Dimitris Manitsas Dimitris Vamvakidis
Travel guides	Dimitris Paschalidis
Hostel man	Vaios Toursoun

Name	From	To	Championships
Name	From	To	Cups
Kostas Negrepontis	1933 1937 1944 1955 1958	1936 1940 1948 1956 1959	2 Greek Leagues 1 Greek Cup
Jack Beby	1948	1951	2 Greek Cups
Mario Magnozzi	1951	1953	—
Tryfon Tzanetis [A]	1954 1956 1960 1965	1955 1957 1962 1966	—
Heinrich Müller	1963	1964	1 Greek Cup
Jenő Csaknády^[A]	1962 1967	1963 1968	2 Greek Leagues
Branko Stanković [A]	1968	1973	1 Greek League
Stan Anderson [A]	1973	1974	—
František Fadrhonc	1974	1977	—
Zlatko Čajkovski	1977 1982	1978 1982	1 Greek League 1 Greek Cup
Ferenc Puskás	1978	1979	—
Helmut Senekowitsch	1983	1983	1 Greek Cup
Giannis Pathiakakis	09/01/2000	24/01/2001	1 Greek Cup
Fernando Santos	2001 2004	2002 2006	1 Greek Cup
Lorenzo Serra Ferrer	2006	2008	—
Dušan Bajević	1988 20/05/2002 21/11/2008	1996 25/01/2004 27/09/2010	4 Greek Leagues 1 Greek Cup 2 Greek League Cups 1 Greek Super Cup
Manolo Jiménez	06/10/2010 19/01/2017	06/10/2011 25/05/2018	1 Greek Cup 1 Greek League
Traianos Dellas	09/04/2013	20/10/2015	1 Football League 2 1 Football League
Stelios Manolas*	20/10/2015 20/04/2016	29/10/2015 31/05/2016	1 Greek Cup

Further information: List of AEK Athens F.C. managers

Key
* Served as Caretaker-manager.
† Served as caretaker manager before being appointed permanently.

Only competitive matches are counted. Wins, losses and draws are results at the final whistle; the results of penalty shootouts are not counted.
See also

AEK (sports club)
History of AEK Athens FC
List of AEK Athens FC records and statistics
List of AEK Athens FC managers
AEK Athens FC in Europe

References

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"Current Roster". aekfc.gr. Retrieved 29 August 2018.