The Greek capital of Athens is moving to the beat of its historic football team once again as AEK Athens bid to return to the top table of European football this season.
AEK prevailed in the Greek Super League in the 2017/18 campaign, taking the title after a 2-0 home win against Levadiakos in front of a staggering 65,000 supporters. It was AEK’s first league championship in 24 years and underlined the club’s impressive regeneration following years of financial insecurity and off-field problems.
Last season, AEK managed to qualify for the Europa League after overcoming Belgium outfit Club Brugge in the final qualifying stage. The team made their way out of a group containing AC Milan, Austria Vienna and HNK Rijeka, but were eventually edged out in the last 32 against Ukrainian side, Dinamo Kiev. Despite that disappointment, their performances helped to cement their return as one of Europe’s top outfits. This year, they are looking to go one further and reach the Champions League. There is no doubt that AEK are in pole position to reach the group stages of Europe’s elite competition. Following a brave 2-1 first leg win away in Hungary, AEK return to home soil as 4/7 favourites to win the second leg in the Champions League betting odds.
AEK keen to end a 15-year Champions League absence
You have to go back to the 2002/03 campaign for a season where AEK Athens last made an impression on the UEFA Champions League. This squad, which was labelled a ‘Dream Team’ by many AEK supporters, managed to go an entire group stage campaign undefeated. This was a particularly impressive feat when you consider that their group contained Real Madrid and AS Roma as well as Racing Genk. That AEK squad consisted of greats such as Demis Nikolaidis, Kostas Katsouranis and Theo Zagorakis, but financial mismanagement from former president, Makis Psomiadis resulted in the club losing many of its big stars. Nikolaidis was allowed to depart on a Bosman to Spanish giants, Atletico Madrid which was the beginning of the end for that era.
From Football League 2 to Super League title-winners
Caption: AEK means everything to the people of Athens
It was to get even worse the AEK faithful in 2012/13 when the supporters were forced to watch their team be relegated out of the Super League for the first time in the club’s history. In summer of 2013, a bold decision was taken by the AEK council to turn the club amateur, resulting in a further relegation to the Greek Football League 2. Former president, Dimitris Melissanidis returned to the helm as its administrative leader, while the Independent Union of Friends of AEK purchased a controlling stake in the club. This change of leadership has sparked an impressive revival, with back-to-back promotions to the Super League. The recovery was completed this summer when AEK clinched the title in front of an emotional Olympic Stadium crowd.
The club is now managed by Greek supremo, Marinos Ouzounidis, who enjoyed a somewhat nomadic playing career followed by a similar managerial career prior to arriving in Athens this year. Ouzounidis replaced Spaniard, Manolo Jimenez, who announced his departure from AEK due to his desire to return to Spain and take charge of Las Palmas. The 49-year-old will be desperate to carry on the good work of Jimenez and take some scalps in Europe along the way this campaign; providing they can get beyond the Hungarians of Videoton in the second leg of their final qualifying round.
Looking objectively at the current AEK squad, there is plenty of quality within the side. The club have utilised the loan market effectively, with Ezequiel Ponce arriving from Roma, while fellow Argentine, Lucas Boye has also made the switch from fellow Italians, Torino. Skipper, Petros Mantalos has been a constant in the AEK squad since the 2014-15 campaign and has been chipping in with goals from midfield. You can’t underestimate the fact that the squad has been used to winning games of football regularly for three seasons now. Back-to-back promotions and a Super League title mean that AEK really do mean business again. Providing the club’s hierarchy maintain a firm grip on their finances, the Champions League will certainly beckon more regularly for AEK in the years ahead.
Main image: dimitrisvetsikas1969
