AEK Athens F.C.: Difference between revisions
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{{Fs player|no=99|name=[[Júlio César da Silva e Souza|Júlio César]]|nat=Brazil|pos=FW}} |
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*{{flagicon|Serbia}} [[Nikola Malbaša]] |
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*{{flagicon|Ukraine}} [[Oleg Venglinskyi]] - Signed to ''[[Chernomorets Odessa]]'' |
*{{flagicon|Ukraine}} [[Oleg Venglinskyi]] - Signed to ''[[Chernomorets Odessa]]'' |
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*{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Loubo Siois]] - Signed to ''[[CSKA Sofia]]'' |
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==Historic players== |
==Historic players== |
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Revision as of 14:02, 30 July 2006
| AEK Athens FC emblem | |||
| Full name | Athlitiki Enosis Konstantinoupoleos | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Dikefalos, Vassilissa, Enosis | ||
| Founded | 1924 | ||
| Ground | Olympic Stadium (Athens), Athens, Greece | ||
| Capacity | 75,000 | ||
| Chairman |  Demis Nikolaidis | ||
| Manager |  Lorenzo Serra Ferrer | ||
| League | Alpha Ethniki | ||
| 2005-06 | Alpha Ethniki, 2nd | ||
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The emblem of AEK Athens Football Club is a two-headed black eagle on a yellow background, one head looking east (to Constantinople or New Rome), the other looking west (to Rome). This symbol was initially used by the Byzantine Empire, and is still in use by the Greek Orthodox Church today. AEK F.C's colours also stem from its historic roots in Constantinople with the yellow and black being the colours of the Orthodox Church.
The football section of AEK Athens is one of the leading football clubs in Greece, having won 27 national titles (11 Championships, 13 Cups, 2 Super Cups, 1 League Cup) with some good performances in European competitions. (UEFA Cup semifinalists in the 1976-77 season).
AEK's stadium was Nikos Goumas. It was first opened in 1930. Between 1985 and 1987, the capacity reached as high as 36,766 spectators. The last capacity of the stadium was 24,729 (all seated). Nikos Goumas Stadium was demolished in 2003 and a new stadium although in the planning stages is yet to be built.
Throughout its history, the club has produced many of Greece's footballing stars, including Kostas Nestoridis, Mimis Papaioannou, Thomas Mavros, and Stelios Manolas. Many of its players also helped Greece win Euro 2004: Demis Nikolaidis, Michalis Kapsis, Vasilis Lakis, Vassilis Tsiartas, Kostas Katsouranis, Theodoros Zagorakis and Traianos Dellas.
The club has lately survived serious financial problems; at one point, relegation to the third division was threatened.
Recently, former AEK striker Demis Nikolaidis took over the presidency, and has put the club back on the right track financially and also on the field, culminating in qualification for the 3rd round qualifiers of the Champions League.
AEK now has 6 international players with European Champion Greece (Trainos Dellas, Nikos Lyberopoulos, Vangelis Moras, Giorgios Alexopoulos, Vasilis Lakis and new signing Panagiotis Lagos).
History
General
When the Constantinople refugees left the city in 1924, two years after the Asia Minor disaster, and decided to create a club with the name Athletic Union of Constantinople their aim was to generally change Greek sports and especially football forever. Today, more than 80 years later, they can look down from heaven and feel proud about completing their goal. The Athletic Union of Constantinople (Athlitiki Enosis Konstantinoupoleos - AEK in Greek), as the Ecumenical Patriarch said, is more than a club of and for the refugees. AEK Athens is an ideal. AEK Athens represents human values, culture, history, success and fallen lands. Besides that AEK Athens is one of the largest and most important athletic unions in Greece, with a plethora of domestic and international victories in several sports, particularly in football, AEK F.C. has 27 national titles in its record (11Championships, 13 Cups, 2 Super Cups, 1 League Cup) and it has fittingly represented Greece in European competitions, considering its course to the semi-finals of UEFA Cup (1976-77) as its top moment. AEK F.C. was also the first Greek club to have brought to Greece a European title in basketball, the Cup Winners Cup in 1968, in front of a then World Record crowd of over 60,000 at the Panathinaiko (Kalimarmaro) Stadium in Athens. More than its victories on the field, AEK F.C. takes pride in its origins and what its emblem stands for - The double-headed eagle, its colours - yellow and black all of which are inspired by the Byzantine Empire which from East (Asia) to West (Europe), where the two heads of the eagle were looking.
Birth through the ashes
AEK was established in 1924 by refugees from Constantinople who came to Greece after the elimination of their nation on the West coast of Asia Minor (now Turkey) in 1922. Asia Minor had been dominated by the Greeks for thousands of years. The Greeks of Constantinople, Smyrni and every other spot of the coast who had achieved great things for centuries were forced to move towards mother Greece. The Greek refugees settled throughout the country and helped with its development in every sector. Kostas Spanoudis, reporter and later minister in Venizelos’ government was AEK F.C's first president, professor Nikos Eleopoulos, was the Vice-President while Timoleon Tagaris, Menelaos Karotsieris, Miltos Jeremiadis, Ionas (later president) and Dimopoulos were the members of the first managing council. Furthermore, AEK F.C can be seen as the natural progression of the historic Pera Club from Constantinople.
The first achievements
In 1929, Prime Minister of Greece Eleftherios Venizelos gave permission for the place where the AEK Stadium would have been standing for 79 years, to be granted to AEK F.C. in the suburb of Nea Filadelphia (named after the historic Greek city in Asia Minor - Filadelfia). Three years later, the period from 1931-1932, AEK F.C. gained its first Cup beating Aris F.C. with a 5-3 win in the final. Kostas Negrepontis (a veteran) who was the club’s star, had also played in the Greek club of Constantinople Pera Club (which was actually the ancestor of AEK) during the 1st and 2nd decades of the century. Maropoulos, Delavinias, Ribas, Sklavounos, Manetas, Janetis, Magiras, Hatzistavridis and other exceptional footballers seemed capable enough of prevailing in Greek football area.
They made their way to the historic “double” in 1939 (the first one in Greece) and they were again champions in 1940 with Kostas Negrepontis to guide them as their coach this time. That team’s route unfortunately ended due to the World War II.
The first post-War titles
In 1949 and 1950 with the English Jack Bibie as their coach, AEK F.C. won back to back Greek Cups beating Panathinaikos F.C. 2-1 and Aris F.C. 4-0.
Delavinias, Maropoulos, Magiras, Janetis were again present surrounded by the "new blood", Goulios, Patakas, Koudouris, Poulis and Emmanouilidis. The two latter as well as Kanakis, Chaniotis, Serafidis, Stamatiadis and other great players, won the Greek Cup in 1956 against Olympiakos F.C 2-1 at Leoforos Alexandras Stadium.
Champions of First Division
The Greek A Ethniki (First National Division) was begun in 1959 but AEK had to wait until the play off of 1963 in Nea Filadelphia (ending 3-3 but with the better difference in goals in favour, AEK F.C)to become Champions. Mimis Papaioannou had joined the club the previous year and together with Nestoridis, Petridis, Serafidis, Sofianidis, Stamatiadis, Tsachouridis, Kanelopoulos, Papapostolou and Skevofilakas, led AEK F.C. to the top. The Hungarian-German Geneh Tsaknady, was their coach.
Following, there was the Cup of 1966 (2-0) with no match against Olympiakos F.C who refused to play in the final. In spring 1967 Tsaknady returned to the team and the title of 1968 was easily won. Nestoridis had left the team (to join Greek-Australian club South Melbourne) but AEK F.C with its old stars (Stamatiadis, Sofianidis, Skevofilakas, Papaioannou, Serafidis) as well as many new great players (Nikolaidis, Karafeskos, Balopoulos, Pomonis, Vasiliou, Kefalidis, Stathopoulos, Vedouris, Papageorgiou) reached the pinnacle once again.
Without Stamatiadis, Sofianidis, Balopoulos but enforced with the really tall goalkeeper Stelios Konstantinidis, Apostolis Toskas and the former Panathinaikos player Andreas Papaemmanouel, AEK F.C was champion for the third time in the First Division and for the fifth time in its overall history.
Loukas Barlos Golden Era
Loukas Barlos took over as a president in AEK F.C and together with the Dutch-Czech coach Frandicheck Fadrock "built" one of the best teams in the club’s history. Great players arrived in Nea Filadelphia: Ardizoglou, Dedes, Skrekis and the Germans Wagner, Chanlinder in 1974, Mavros in 1975 (who played from 1976) and Nikoloudis, Intzoglou and Christidis in 1976.
Papaioannou, Tsamis, Stergioudas, Nikolaou, Ravousis and Tasos had already been in the picture and all together they led AEK F.C to its greatest European course thus far the 1976-77 semi-finals of the UEFA Cup. AEK was eliminated by Juventus F.C. which under the presidency of Gianni Anieli won its first European title.
With Zlatko Tschaikovsky as a coach and Bajevic (Jugoslavia 1974) and Viera (Uruguay 1966) who had participated in a World Cup, instead of Wagner and Tsanlaiter, AEK F.C became stronger and once again were crowned Champions. For the Greek Cup they beat their three greatest rivals, Panathinaikos FC (1-0), Olympiakos FC (6-1) and dominated the final by beating PAOK FC(2-0), gaining the “double” once again. During period 1978-79 with Ferencs Puskas as head coach and with a new transfer Mimis Domazos, AEK F.C managed to again win the championship, with Andreas Stamatiadis as head coach at the second half of the season. That year AEK F.C. had collected the same points with Olympiakos FC but they did not appear in the play off match to claim the title.
Under the presidency of Loukas Barlos, the construction of the AEK Stadium was completed and the famous and beloved by the fans, “Skepasti” (literally covered) stand was built. This is the stand where the most fanatical and 'crazy' fans of AEK, Original 21, congregated. At the time a lot of talent came out from the team’s Academy. Players who would be in the starting line up the following years, such as Stelios Manolas, Spyros Economopoulos, Vangelis Vlachos, Lysandros Georgamlis and others.
Back to the top
In 1983 AEK F.C won the Greek cup with the Austrian Helmut Senekovic as head coach and Mihalis Arkadis as president. It was the first final of the Cup which took place at the new-born at the time Olympic Stadium of Athens (O.A.K.A) and AEK F.C's "victim" was PAOK just like five years earlier and the score was the same as well, 2-0. The first to have scored was Mavros while the 21-year-old captain Vangelis Vlachos scored for the second time.
The first professional title appeared in 1988-89 with Stratos Gidopoulos as president and Dusan Bajevic as head coach. In the crucial match against rivals, Olympiakos FC, at the Olympic Stadium of Athens, AEK F.C. prevailed with a Takis Karagiozopoulos’ goal and duly won the championship.
A decade full of titles
The 90’s was a decade full of titles. The beginning was made in 1992 when AEK FC was crowned champion under the presidency of Kostas Generakis. After that AEK FC with Dusan Bajevic as a head coach created a team that in many people’s opinion played the best football in club’s history. With players like Toni Savevski, Stelios Manolas, Daniel Batista, Vaios Karagiannis, Giorgos Savvidis, Vasilis Dimitriadis, AEK FC dominated in Greece and easily won 1993 and 1994 league titles. At that time the leaders of the club were Giannis Karras and Dimitris Melissanidis. That was the first time in the clubs history that it won 3 titles in a row.
In season 1994-95 the two victories against the champions of Scotland, Glasgow Rangers, was the ticket to the first appearance in UEFA Champions League competition. In the group phase, AEK F.C. was eliminated by AFC Ajax and AC Milan who contested the final that year. With the president Mihalis Trohanas and the coach Dusan Bajevic, AEK F.C. won the Greek Cup of 1996. One year later (1997) the success came again but this time coach of the team was Petros Ravousis after the acrimonius departure of the former favourite son of the club.
Peace Mission
AEK F.C had another distinctive moment which was probably more important than Cups or championships. Their trip to Belgrade (which was being bombarded by NATO at the time) and the friendly match against Partizan (1-1) was a brave token of compassion towards the Serbians. It was the ex-president Dimitris Melissanidis iniative which almost the whole team and lots of fans responding to AEK F.C, a club born through the ashes and the pain of a destruction could not have not been the pioneer in such actions.
The following season(2000), AEK F.C won the Greek Cup with the late Ioannis Pathiakakis as head coach. They overcame Ionikos in the final (3-0) with goals from Nikolaidis, Petkov and Maladenis.
The 13th Greek Cup and the unbeaten record
AEK F.C. gained the Greek Cup again in 2001-02 with Fernando Santos as head coach. In the final at the Olympic Stadium of Athens beat rivals Olympiakos FC, 2-1 (Konstadinidis and Ivic the scorers).
At the same time the two teams had equal points at the first place of the championship but AEK F.C. didn’t win the title due to the results of the matches between them. Being second, allowed AEK F.C to return to the UEFA Champions League competition, taking part in the third qualifing phase of the top European competition among all clubs. AEK FC eliminated Grasshoppers and made it to group A along with AS Roma, Real Madrid and RKC Gent however they didn’t qualify for the next stage despite being undefeated, with a record 6 draws in six matches.
Nikos Goumas Stadium demolition
Season 2003-04 can be easily erased from memory. Due to Nikos Goumas stadium demolition AEK FC was forced to play at Apostolos Nikolaidis, Nea Smirni, Tavros and Ano Liosia stadiums. In Europe AEK was eliminated from the Champions League group C, finishing behind AS Monaco, Deportivo La Coruna and PSV Eindhoven. In March Dusan Bajevic resigned from his position,and former Romanian international, Ilie Dumitrescu took over and AEK FC finished in 4th place in the championship and gained the right to play in UEFA cup in season 2004-05.
Life starts again at 80...
Throughout season 2003-04 economical problems made AEK FC struggling for its very survival. The club was ready to declare bankruptcy when Demis Nikolaidis and a group of investors took over and started paying the debts of the club. Due to a court decision (based on Law) AEK FC's debts were reduced as money owed to most former creditors was written off.
The team moved to the newly renovated Olympic Stadium, and whilst many players left following Greece's Euro 2004 Win (Zagorakis, Lakis, Tsiartas, Kapsis, Kasapis, Okkas, Borbokis, Kreek) former coach, Fernando Santos returned with the goal to build the team from the beginning based on young players and lead again AEK FC to the road of victories. AEK FC had a very good season and was one of the three challengers for the championship title. Finally AEK FC finished 3rd behind Olympiakos and Panathinaikos. A key factor to AEK FC revival was that the fans returned to hellp the team. AEK F.C had an average of 27.500 spectators at the club’s home games, which was the highest of any team in the Greek First Division in that season. AEK also signed up a record number of season ticket holders as well.
Upcoming Season
Finishing second in last year's championship, AEK F.C now has the chance to qualify for another UEFA Champion's League appearance. A new coach to replace Fernando Santos and some exciting new players (Lagos, Pautaso, Toszer, Hetemaij)have the AEK fans optimistic about the upcoming season. With the final of the Champions League being scheduled to take place at its current home stadium (Athens Olympic Stadium) in May 2007, AEK F.C is looking forward to a great season, with a possibility of a dream come true although they are likely to be eliminated from Europe as...
Hearts play AEK in the champions league.
Current roster
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Squad Changes for 2006/07 season
In:
Panagiotis Lagos - Signed from Iraklis FC
Martin Pautaso
Daniel Tozser
Perparim Hetemaij
Out:
- Kostas Katsouranis - Signed to SL Benfica
Alessandro Soares
Louay Chanko- Miltiadis Sapanis
Nikola Malbaša
Oleg Venglinskyi - Signed to Chernomorets Odessa- Loubo Siois - Signed to CSKA Sofia
Historic players
- Hristos Ardizoglou
- Thomas Mavros
- Mimis Papaioannou
- Dusan Bajevic
- Temuri Ketsbaia
- Kostas Nestoridis
- Demis Nikolaidis
- Toni Savevski
- Vassilis Tsiartas
- Stelios Manolas
- Toni Savevski
- Dimitris Saravakos
National titles
Championships (11)
1939, 1940, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1978, 1979, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994,
Cups (13)
1932, 1939, 1949, 1950, 1956, 1964, 1966, 1978, 1983, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2002]
Super Cups (2)
1989, 1996,
League Cup (1)
1990
Internal link
See also
- AIFC - AEK Athens fan club
External links
- Original 21
- Official sports club website
- Official football club website
- Official basketball club website
- Official Volleyball club website
- AEK TV fans media portal
- AEK Internet Fan Club
| Overview | |
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| National teams | |
| League competitions |
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| Cup competitions | |
| Miscellaneous | |