1966–67 AEK Athens F.C. season explained

Club:AEK Athens
Season:1966–67
Manager:Tryfon Tzanetis
(until 27 January)
Jenő Csaknády
Mgrtitle:Manager
Chairman:Michail Trikoglou
Emmanouil Kalitsounakis
Chrtitle:Chairman
League:Alpha Ethniki
League Result:2nd
Cup1:Greek Cup
Cup1 Result:Quarter-finals
Cup2:European Cup Winners' Cup
Cup2 Result:First round
Cup3:Balkans Cup
Cup3 Result:Runners-up
League Topscorer:
Panagiotis Ventouris (13)
Season Topscorer:
Mimis Papaioannou (22)
Highest Attendance:35,000 vs Panathinaikos
(25 June 1967)
Lowest Attendance:3,000 vs Athinaikos
(14 May 1967)
Average Attendance:14,870
Largest Win:


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Prevseason:1965–66
Nextseason:1967–68

The 1966–67 season was the 43rd season in the existence of AEK Athens F.C. and the eighth consecutive season in the top flight of Greek football. They competed in the Alpha Ethniki, the Greek Cup, the European Cup Winners' Cup and the Balkans Cup. The season began on 1 March 1966 and finished on 30 May 1968.

Overview

The presence of AEK Athens in the championship of the previous season may have left them with the bitterness for not winning it, but taking into account the injustice and punishments they suffered, combined with the serious issue of the abstention of Mimis Papaioannou, gave the impression that the club was ready for the new championship race without significant transfer additions. The departures of Giorgos Petridis, Fanis Tasinos and, above all, the legendary Kostas Nestoridis, after nine active seasons at the club, did not disturb the manager, Tryfon Tzanetis, who did not proceed in any particular transfer move. Considering that the already existing roster that had been gradually acquired in the early 60's was sufficient to cope with the club's needs, proceeding only in the acquisition of the forward of Apollon Athens, Vasilis Mastrakoulis as a backup choice to Papaioannou and Papageorgiou who had formed an irreplaceable attacking duo. As far as covering the gap in the midfield was concerned, this was filled with the definitive return to the team of the versatile Panagiotis Ventouris, after the end of his spell in South Africa during the previous season.

AEK started the season in the first round of the European Cup Winners' Cup. Their opponent was the Braga, who in the previous season had won their first title and made their maiden appearance in European competitions. The club's performance in both legs was not enough as they were eliminated by 2 defeats. The championship race started with Olympiacos, having found in the person of Márton Bukovi their own reformer, seemed unstoppable, as they achieved 11 straight victories in the same number of games. Additionally, the unexpected draw in Serres from Panserraikos, shook the management of AEK and playing their last card in the race for the league, removed Tzanetis from the team's bench and brought back after three and a half years the emblematic 1963 league winner, Jenő Csaknády.[1] The Hungarian-German coach made his mark from the start, when in the first two matches he achieved as many victories, including a home win against Olympiacos, reducing the distance from the top to 4 points. The imposing 5–1 victory over Panserraikos on 16 April reduced the distance even more to 3 points from Olympiacos.

However, five days later, the championship was interrupted for over a month, as the football stadiums were used by the rulers of the military dictatorship, that had meanwhile been imposed on the country as gathering places for arrested dissidents. Sports matches were some of the first social events that the dictatorial regime restored to their regular conduction.

AEK returned to action on 21 May, winning Egaleo by 0–2, which combined with the draw of the red and whites, brought them within a breathing distance of 2 points from the top. However, a goalless draw against Ethnikos at home, as well as the 1–1 at Karaiskakis Stadium against Olympiacos marked the end of the league race, as they finished second with a difference of 3 points from the red and whites.

In the cup, AEK, like the other teams that reached the round of 16 of the previous season, entered directly into the second round where they defeated with ease Athinaikos and Aspida Xanthi, respectively. In the quarter-finals they faced the eventual winners, Panathinaikos and were eliminated by a 2–1 defeat at home.

AEK also competed in the Balkans Cup of the season, placed in the 2nd group alongside FK Vardar, Lokomotiv Sofia and Farul Constanța. They managed to finish first undefeated as they achieved 3 wins and 3 draws and qualified for the 2-legged final, facing Fenerbahçe. In the first game at Nea Filadelfeia, AEK won by 2–1 and went to Istanbul to defend their slight lead. The Turks managed to equalize the lead of the first leg, winning by 1–0 and since the away goals rule was not applied in the tournament, a third match was set. In order for a free date for the match to be found, 7 months had to pass, and on 30 May 1968 at Mithat Paşa, AEK were defeated by 3–1 and a lost a great opportunity to win an international trophy, that in those years had not yet lost its glory.[2]

Players

Squad information

NOTE: The players are the ones that have been announced by the AEK Athens' press release. No edits should be made unless a player arrival or exit is announced. Updated 31 December 1967, 23:59 UTC+2.

PlayerNat.Position(s)Date of birth (Age)SignedPrevious clubTransfer feeContract until
Goalkeepers
Stelios SerafidisGKDecember 31, 19671953 AEK Athens U201972
Vangelis PetrakisGKDecember 31, 19671962 ArisFree1967
Theodoros ManiateasGKDecember 31, 19671964 PanthisiakosFree1969
Defenders
Alekos SofianidisLB / LM / LWDecember 31, 19671959 BeşiktaşFree1969
Aleko YordanCBDecember 31, 19671962 BeykozFree1969
Tasos VasiliouCBDecember 31, 19671965 Apollon Athens₯1,500,0001970
Giorgos KefalidisRB / CBDecember 31, 19671964 PierikosFree1972
Fotis BalopoulosCB / DM / CM / STDecember 31, 19671964 Proodeftiki₯450,0001970
Lakis FragoudakisCB / DM1964Free agentFree1970
Midfielders
Stelios SkevofilakasLM / RM / AMDecember 31, 19671960 EleftheroupoliFree1972
Panagiotis VentourisAM / SSDecember 31, 19671965 Fostiras₯435,0001972
Nikos StathopoulosLM / LBDecember 31, 19671965 AEK Athens U201974
Michalis SimigdalasCMDecember 31, 19671963 AEK Athens U201969
Giorgos KarafeskosCM / DM / RM / RWDecember 31, 19671963 AEK Athens U201974
Forwards
Andreas Stamatiadis (Captain)RW / LW / SS / STDecember 31, 19671952 AEK Athens U201969
Vasilis MastrakoulisRW / ST / SS1966 HellenicFree1968
Kostas PapageorgiouSTDecember 31, 19671963 Atromitos₯200,0001969
Mimis PapaioannouSS / ST / AMDecember 31, 19671962 Veria₯175,0001979
Spyros PomonisLW / LMDecember 31, 19671960 AEK Athens U201973
Kostas NikolaidisRW / LW / SS / STDecember 31, 19671965 PAO SafrabolisFree1973
Left during season
Giorgos PetridisAM / SS / STDecember 31, 19671957 Pera ClubFree1966
Nikos SevastopoulosRW / SS / AM / STDecember 31, 19671963 AEK Athens U201971

Transfers

In

width=200 style="background:#FFDE00Playerwidth=200 style="background:#FFDE00Fromwidth=150 style="background:#FFDE00Feewidth=150 style="background:#FFDE00Datewidth=150 style="background:#FFDE00Contract UntilSource
HellenicLoan return30 June 1972
HellenicFree transfer30 June 1968

Out

width=200 style="background:#FFDE00Playerwidth=200 style="background:#FFDE00Towidth=150 style="background:#FFDE00Feewidth=150 style="background:#FFDE00DateSource
Free agentEnd of contract
Vyzas MegaraEnd of contract
Apollon LimassolFree transfer

Loan out

width=200 style="background:#FFDE00Playerwidth=200 style="background:#FFDE00Towidth=150 style="background:#FFDE00Feewidth=150 style="background:#FFDE00Datewidth=120 style="background:#FFDE00UntilOption to buySource
HellenicFree30 June 1968

Overall transfer activity

Expenditure: ₯0

Income: ₯0

Net Total: ₯0

Competitions

Alpha Ethniki

See main article: 1966–67 Alpha Ethniki.

Fixtures

Greek Cup

See main article: 1966–67 Greek Football Cup.

AEK entered the Greek Cup at the round of 32.

Matches

European Cup Winners' Cup

See main article: 1966–67 European Cup Winners' Cup.

First round

Balkans Cup

See main article: 1966–67 Balkans Cup.

Matches

Finals

Statistics

Squad statistics

! colspan="13" style="background:#FFDE00; text-align:center" | Goalkeepers|-! colspan="13" style="background:#FFDE00; color:black; text-align:center;"| Defenders|-! colspan="13" style="background:#FFDE00; color:black; text-align:center;"| Midfielders|-! colspan="13" style="background:#FFDE00; color:black; text-align:center;"| Forwards|-! colspan="13" style="background:#FFDE00; color:black; text-align:center;"| Left during season|-|}

Goalscorers

Rankwidth=200 style="background:#FFDE00Playerwidth=120 style="background:#FFDE00Alpha Ethnikiwidth=120 style="background:#FFDE00Greek Cupwidth=120 style="background:#FFDE00European Cup Winners' Cupwidth=120 style="background:#FFDE00Balkans Cupwidth=120 style="background:#FFDE00Total
11031822
21140116
31310014
4900110
521003
11013
720002
20002
10012
1010001
00011
Own goals00101
Totals5210 21377

Hat-tricks

Numbers in superscript represent the goals that the player scored.

width=200 style="background:#FFDE00Playerwidth=200 style="background:#FFDE00Against width=70 style="background:#FFDE00Result width=150 style="background:#FFDE00Date width=150 style="background:#FFDE00Competition Source
Kostas Nikolaidis5–1 (H)16 April 1967Alpha Ethniki
Kostas Nikolaidis5–1 (A)14 June 1967Greek Cup

Clean sheets

The list is sorted by competition order when total clean sheets are equal and then alphabetically by surname. Clean sheets in games where both goalkeepers participated are awarded to the goalkeeper who started the game. Goalkeepers with no appearances are not included.

Rankwidth=200 style="background:#FFDE00Playerwidth=120 style="background:#FFDE00Alpha Ethnikiwidth=120 style="background:#FFDE00Greek Cupwidth=120 style="background:#FFDE00European Cup Winners' Cupwidth=120 style="background:#FFDE00Balkans Cupwidth=120 style="background:#FFDE00Total
11210215
230003
300011
Totals15 1 0 319

Disciplinary record

|-! colspan="20" style="background:#FFDE00; text-align:center" | Goalkeepers|-! colspan="20" style="background:#FFDE00; color:black; text-align:center;"| Defenders|-! colspan="20" style="background:#FFDE00; color:black; text-align:center;"| Midfielders|-! colspan="20" style="background:#FFDE00; color:black; text-align:center;"| Forwards|-! colspan="20" style="background:#FFDE00; color:black; text-align:center;"| Left during season|}

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Η μέρα που «έφυγε» ο μεγάλος Τσάκναντι. Σταύρος. Καζαντζόγλου. 7 January 2020. enwsi.gr.
  2. Web site: Περίοδος 1966-1967. 20 May 2015. aekpedia.com. el.