1998–99 AEK Athens F.C. season explained

Club:AEK Athens
Season:1998–99
Manager:Dragoslav Stepanović
(until 28 October)
Oleg Blokhin
Mgrtitle:Manager
Chairman:Lakis Nikolaou
(until 5 December)
Dimitris Melissanidis
Chrtitle:Chairman
League:Alpha Ethniki
League Result:2nd
Cup1:Greek Cup
Cup1 Result:First round
Cup2:UEFA Cup
Cup2 Result:First round
League Topscorer:
Demis Nikolaidis (22)
Season Topscorer:
Demis Nikolaidis (28)
Highest Attendance:20,364 vs Vitesse
(29 September 1998)
Lowest Attendance:3,663 vs Ethnikos Piraeus
(16 May 1999)
Average Attendance:11,225
Pattern So1:_black_hoops_color
Leftarm1:FFEF00
Body1:FFEF00
Rightarm1:FFEF00
Shorts1:000000
Socks1:FFEF00
Prevseason:1997–98
Nextseason:1999–2000

The 1998–99 season was the 75th season in the existence of AEK Athens F.C. and the 40th consecutive season in the top flight of Greek football. They competed in the Alpha Ethniki, the Greek Cup and the UEFA Cup. The season began on 22 August 1998 and finished on 30 May 1999.

Overview

The summer started with great ambition for the team, since the owner multinational company ENIC had all the time in front of it to proceed with transfers and build a strong team. The management of Lakis Nikolaou negotiated with big name coaches and got close to sign Joachim Löw,[1] but eventually ended up with the experienced but controversial Dragoslav Stepanović. The important transfer was that of Vasilios Lakis, who was strongly claimed by Olympiacos, Panathinaikos and PAOK, while the good transfers such as Akis Zikos and Dimitris Markos took place, but the foreign players who came did not amuse and the gap in the defensive line after the retirement of the long-time regular and club's captain, Stelios Manolas, was not filled.

Stepanović started well, but it was obvious that he his presence was not convincing and he was finally sacked after the 7th game. Takis Karagiozopoulos took over as caretaker coach for a while and then Oleg Blokhin was hired. At the same time Dimitris Melissanidis took over the management of the team.[2] AEK eventually built a decent team, while in January they were strengthened a lot with the loan moves of Wreh and Méndez from Arsenal being the most important additions. Important victories were the derby against Olympiacos and Panathinaikos in Nikos Goumas Stadium both with a score of 2–0. The 6–0 over Aris and the 6–2 over Panelefsiniakos were the biggest victories. In the end, AEK could not claim the championship from Olympiacos, but they managed to beat Panathinaikos the race to the second place that led to the next season's Champions League qualifiers.

In the cup, AEK were prematurely knocked out after they suffered a shock defeat in their first game from third–tier club, Poseidon Michaniona, with a terrible performance by the team.

In the UEFA Cup AEK were drawn against Ferencváros for the second qualifying round. At Stadion Albert Flórián, the yellow-blacks got off to a very nervous start and were swept away by the Magyars' frenetic pace, trailing in the first quarter. The Hungarians score a second goal on the half hour, they go to the locker room with a hopeless 2–0 and everyone with the continuation was as equally bad, as by the 83rd minute the score became 4–0, turning the game into a real nightmare. AEK pulled off a reaction in the stoppage time and with two goals that allowed them to avoid humiliation, claimed the chances of qualifying in the rematch of Athens. Two weeks later in Nea Filadelfeia, AEK, led by their star, Demis Nikolaidis, went into the game determined and by the 26th minute he scored 3 goals, giving one of his best performances in the AEK shirt. The second half took on a procedural nature after the qualification has been decided and AEK simply put the "icing on the cake" with a fourth goal in the 65th minute. The first round of the UEFA Cup brought AEK against the Dutch Vitesse, who all Greeks know because of the successful presence of Nikos Machlas. AEK arrived at the GelreDome as the favorite and in the first half controlled the match. However, a very bad second half began with a missed penalty by Machlas in the 50th minute, which Laros converted into a goal on the rebound, while three minutes later the Dutch made it 2–0 and afterwards Kasapis was sent off with a second yellow. Machlas destroyed any hopes of qualification in stoppage time scoring Vitesse's third goal and AEK had their backs against the wall ahead of the rematch. Despite the heavy loss the rematch was fancied and the fans had faith in the comeback. The Nea Filadelfeia Stadium was almost full, but very quickly Machlas put an end to the qualification case. Nikolaidis responded with a goal almost immediately, but again Machlas three minutes later gave the Dutch the lead. AEK were again disjointed and after the 3 goals in the first twenty minutes, the game opened up, chances were missed on both sides and despite the dismissal of Westerfeld before the end of the half, Vitesse reached a third goal. AEK avoided defeat in a continuous chase for the score in the second half and tried to even get the win but failed to do so with the match ending in 3–3 draw. In an atmosphere of disappointment and protest for the AEK coach, the team's exit from the European obligations of the season and limited themselves to the domestic ones since too many things changed along the way, both at the competitive and administrative level. Top scorer of the season for the team in the league was Demis Nikolaidis with 22 goals.[3]

Journey to Beligrade

In April 1999 by the initiative of Dimitris Melissanidis, a friendly match was organised against 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.[4] [5] AEK's staff, alongside many political figures of the time such as Manolis Glezos, arrived in the Serbian capital amid moving events by Serbs offering Greeks bread and salt, a symbol of Serbian hospitality. After a stop at the Presidential Palace, where AEK conveyed the message of support of the Greek people, the team arrived at the Partizan stadium.

About 15,000 fans of both teams were present, despite the fact that all 40,000 tickets had been sold. The reason people were less than the sold tickets, was the fuel, as there was a shortage and transportation was very difficult. It was worth noting that this was the first time since the beginning of the war that no sirens were heard during the day. The players of both teams entered the stadium together, holding a banner that read "NATO stop the war, stop the bombing". The game ended 1–1, when at the 68th minute thousands of Serbian fans invaded the pitch to embrace the footballers.[6] [7] As was normal, this friendly game surpassed the geographical borders of Greece and Yugoslavia, being an object of admiration by the European Press.

Management team

|}

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 30 May 1999, 23:59 UTC+3.

No.PlayerNat.Position(s)Date of birth (Age)SignedPrevious clubTransfer feeContract until
Goalkeepers
1Ilias Atmatsidis (Vice-captain)GKJune 30, 19991992 Pontioi VeriaFree2002
15Chrysostomos MichailidisGKJune 30, 19991997 EordaikosFree2005
17Kostas DaditsosGKJune 30, 19991998 AEK Athens U202000
22Vasilis KaragiannisGKJune 30, 19991993 DiagorasFree2000
Defenders
4Boban BabunskiCBJune 30, 19991998 Gamba Osaka₯330,000,0002000
6Nikos KostenoglouCB / RBJune 30, 19991994 Skoda Xanthi₯100,000,0002003
12Charis KopitsisRB / RM / LB / LMJune 30, 19991992 PanioniosFree2002
13Vaios KaragiannisLB / CBJune 30, 19991990 A.O. KarditsaFree2000
21Michalis KasapisLB / LMJune 30, 19991993 Levadiakos₯50,000,0002002
24Alvin CeccoliLBJune 30, 19991999 WolvesFree1999
25Giannis KalitzakisCBJune 30, 19991997 PanathinaikosFree2000
32Michalis KapsisCBJune 30, 19991999 Ethnikos PiraeusFree2003
Anton DoboșCBJune 30, 19991996 Steaua BucureștiFree1999
Midfielders
2Vasilios LakisRM / RW / AM / CMJune 30, 19991998 Paniliakos₯600,000,0002003
3Dimitris MarkosCM / DM / LB / LMJune 30, 19991998 KalamataFree2001
7Christos MaladenisCM / RM / LM / AM / RW / LW / SSJune 30, 19991995 Skoda Xanthi₯120,000,0002000
8Toni SavevskiCM / LM / DMJune 30, 19991988 Vardar₯34,000,0002001
14Akis ZikosDM / CMJune 30, 19991998 Skoda Xanthi₯130,000,0002002
16Arnar GrétarssonCM / DMJune 30, 19991997 LeifturFree2000
18Evripidis KatsavosCM / DM / RMJune 30, 19991997 VeriaFree2001
19Kelvin SebweAM / SSJune 30, 19991997 Skoda Xanthi₯350,000,0002003
23Alberto MéndezAMJune 30, 19991999 ArsenalFree1999
27Branko MilovanovićAMJune 30, 19991999 Vitória de GuimarãesFree2002
28Georgios PassiosDM / CM / CBJune 30, 19991997 AEK Athens U202003
Forwards
9Paraschos ZouboulisSTJune 30, 19991998 PAOKFree1999
10Christopher WrehST / SSJune 30, 19991999 ArsenalFree1999
11Demis Nikolaidis (Captain)ST / SSJune 30, 19991996 Apollon Athens₯288,000,0002001
20Daniel Batista (Vice-captain 2)ST / SS / AMJune 30, 19991995 OlympiacosFree1999
Left during Winter Transfer Window
29Dionysis ChiotisGKJune 30, 19991994 AEK Athens U202005
Vangelis KefalasCB / DMJune 30, 19991997 Apollon AthensFree2000
Mattheos PlatakisAMJune 30, 19991996 AEK Athens U201999
Ilian IlievAMJune 30, 19991998 BursasporFree1999
Georgios DonisRW / RMJune 30, 19991997 Blackburn RoversFree2003
Ilias AnastasakosSTJune 30, 19991995 A.O. DafniouFree2002

Transfers

In

Summer

width=200 style="background:#FFDE00Playerwidth=200 style="background:#FFDE00Fromwidth=150 style="background:#FFDE00Feewidth=150 style="background:#FFDE00Datewidth=150 style="background:#FFDE00Contract UntilSource
2 Paniliakos₯600,000,000[8] 30 June 2003[9]
3 KalamataFree transfer30 June 2001[10]
5 Gamba Osaka₯330,000,00030 June 2000[11]
10 BursasporFree transfer30 June 1999
14 Skoda Xanthi₯130,000,00030 June 2002[12]
17 AEK Athens U20Promotion30 June 2000
23 Aris PetroupolisLoan return30 June 2002

Winter

width=200 style="background:#FFDE00Playerwidth=200 style="background:#FFDE00Fromwidth=150 style="background:#FFDE00Feewidth=150 style="background:#FFDE00Datewidth=150 style="background:#FFDE00Contract UntilSource
27 Vitória de GuimarãesFree transfer30 June 2002[13]
32 Ethnikos PiraeusFree transfer31 December 2003[14]
Niki VolosFree transfer31 December 2003[15]

Out

Summer

width=200 style="background:#FFDE00Playerwidth=200 style="background:#FFDE00Towidth=150 style="background:#FFDE00Feewidth=150 style="background:#FFDE00DateSource
9 PAS GianninaContract termination[16]
10 AnderlechtEnd of contract[17]
21 APOELEnd of contract
29align=center colspan=2Retired[18]
31 VicenzaLoan return

Winter

width=200 style="background:#FFDE00Playerwidth=200 style="background:#FFDE00Towidth=150 style="background:#FFDE00Feewidth=150 style="background:#FFDE00DateSource
10 Levski SofiaContract termination[19]
17 Sheffield UnitedContract termination[20]
24 KavalaContract termination

Loan in

Summer

width=200 style="background:#FFDE00Playerwidth=200 style="background:#FFDE00Fromwidth=150 style="background:#FFDE00Feewidth=150 style="background:#FFDE00Datewidth=120 style="background:#FFDE00UntilOption to buySource
9 PAOKFree30 June 1999[21]

Winter

width=200 style="background:#FFDE00Playerwidth=200 style="background:#FFDE00Fromwidth=150 style="background:#FFDE00Feewidth=150 style="background:#FFDE00Datewidth=120 style="background:#FFDE00UntilOption to buySource
10 ArsenalFree30 June 1999[22]
23 ArsenalFree30 June 1999
24 WolvesFree30 June 1999[23]

Loan out

Summer

width=200 style="background:#FFDE00Playerwidth=200 style="background:#FFDE00Towidth=150 style="background:#FFDE00Feewidth=150 style="background:#FFDE00Datewidth=120 style="background:#FFDE00UntilOption to buySource
2 PAOKFree30 June 1999

Winter

width=200 style="background:#FFDE00Playerwidth=200 style="background:#FFDE00Towidth=150 style="background:#FFDE00Feewidth=150 style="background:#FFDE00Datewidth=120 style="background:#FFDE00UntilOption to buySource
23 Apollon AthensFree31 December 2000
27 Ethnikos PiraeusFree30 June 1999[24]
29 Ethnikos PiraeusFree30 June 1999
PanelefsiniakosFree30 June 1999

Notes

a. plus Chiotis and Platakis as a free loan until the end of the season.

b. exchange of Zouboulis and Machairidis between AEK and PAOK.

Contract renewals

width=200 style="background:#FFDE00Playerwidth=150 style="background:#FFDE00Datewidth=150 style="background:#FFDE00Former Exp. Datewidth=150 style="background:#FFDE00New Exp. DateSource
130 June 199930 June 2002
830 June 199930 June 2001
1130 June 199930 June 2001[25]

Overall transfer activity

Expenditure

Summer: ₯1,060,000,000

Winter: ₯0

Total: ₯1,060,000,000

Income

Summer: ₯0

Winter: ₯0

Total: ₯0

Net Totals

Summer: ₯1,060,000,000

Winter: ₯0

Total: ₯1,060,000,000

Competitions

Alpha Ethniki

See main article: 1998–99 Alpha Ethniki.

Fixtures

Greek Cup

See main article: 1998–99 Greek Football Cup.

UEFA Cup

See main article: 1998–99 UEFA Cup.

First round

Statistics

Squad statistics

! colspan="11" style="background:#FFDE00; text-align:center" | Goalkeepers|-! colspan="11" style="background:#FFDE00; color:black; text-align:center;"| Defenders|-! colspan="11" style="background:#FFDE00; color:black; text-align:center;"| Midfielders|-! colspan="11" style="background:#FFDE00; color:black; text-align:center;"| Forwards|-! colspan="11" style="background:#FFDE00; color:black; text-align:center;"| Left during Winter Transfer Window|-|}

Goalscorers

Rankwidth=200 style="background:#FFDE00Playerwidth=120 style="background:#FFDE00Alpha Ethnikiwidth=120 style="background:#FFDE00Greek Cupwidth=120 style="background:#FFDE00UEFA Cupwidth=120 style="background:#FFDE00Total
111220628
27130013
386006
96006
5104004
204004
7302013
8142002
22002
272002
121012
1211001
61001
171001
31001
0011
Own goals2002
Totals70 0 979

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
Demis Nikolaidis Ferencváros4–0 (H)25 August 1998UEFA Cup[26]
Demis Nikolaidis Aris6–0 (H)29 November 1998Alpha Ethniki[27]
Christos Maladenis Iraklis3–2 (A)19 May 1999Alpha Ethniki[28]

Clean sheets

The list is sorted by competition order when total clean sheets are equal, then by shirt number 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:#FFDE00UEFA Cupwidth=120 style="background:#FFDE00Total
11130114
2153003
3220000
Totals16 0 117

Disciplinary record

|-! colspan="17" style="background:#FFDE00; text-align:center" | Goalkeepers|-! colspan="17" style="background:#FFDE00; color:black; text-align:center;"| Defenders|-! colspan="17" style="background:#FFDE00; color:black; text-align:center;"| Midfielders|-! colspan="17" style="background:#FFDE00; color:black; text-align:center;"| Forwards|-! colspan="17" style="background:#FFDE00; color:black; text-align:center;"| Left during Winter Transfer window|}

Starting 11

Player
1Ilias AtmatsidisGK
6Nikos KostenoglouRCB
25Giannis KalitzakisLCB
12Charis KopitsisRB
17Michalis KasapisLB
14Akis ZikosDM
3Dimitris MarkosCM
2Vasilios LakisRM
8Toni SavevskiLM
7Christos MaladenisSS
11Demis Nikolaidis (C)CF

Awards

PlayerAwardSource
Demis NikolaidisFWAlpha Ethiniki Top Scorer
Ilias AtmatsidisGKGoalkeeper of the Season[29]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ήρθε ο Λεβ, έλειπε η ΑΕΚ!. 23 May 1998. tanea.gr.
  2. Web site: Και εγένετο γάμος ENIC – Μελισσανίδη!. Νικόλας. Αγγελίδης. 11 October 2017. aek-live.gr.
  3. Web site: Περίοδος 1998-1999. 22 May 2015. aekpedia.com. el.
  4. Web site: AEK in the war. sport24.gr. el.
  5. Web site: Belgrade 1999: AEK's biggest trip!. aekfc.gr. el.
  6. Web site: The day AEK crossed the border, played with Partizan and defeated the war. 6 April 2017. sport-retro.gr. el.
  7. Web site: The anti-war... AEK's trip. oldfootball.gr. el.
  8. Web site: Επιστρέφει στην ΑΕΚ ο Τσάρτας. in.gr. 26 June 2000. Online. el.
  9. Web site: Στην ΑΕΚ ο Λάκης. 13 June 1998. tanea.gr.
  10. Web site: Πάει για τρεις 11άδες;. 27 May 1998. tanea.gr.
  11. Web site: Υπέγραψαν Μπαμπούνσκι και Ίλιεφ. 1 August 1998. tanea.gr.
  12. Web site: Σκοπός μου να καθιερωθώ. 15 May 1998. tanea.gr.
  13. Web site: Ξάφνιασε η ΑΕΚ. 30 January 1999. tanea.gr.
  14. Web site: Πήρε τον Καψή για πέντε χρόνια. 5 January 1999. tanea.gr.
  15. Web site: Ακόμα ένα κανόνι από την Άρσεναλ. 1 February 1999. tanea.gr.
  16. Web site: Θέλει έλεγχο στο κέντρο. 8 August 1998. tanea.gr.
  17. Web site: Ο Κωστής με 750 εκατ. υπέγραψε στην Άντερλεχτ. 12 June 1998. tanea.gr.
  18. Web site: 3η ΚΑΡΤΑ Ο Μανωλάς των τίτλων. 18 May 1998. tanea.gr.
  19. Web site: Σκοτάδι... στο τούνελ. 29 December 1998. tanea.gr.
  20. Web site: Ήταν μάνατζερ ο "Στέπι". 24 March 1999. tanea.gr.
  21. Web site: Έδωσε τον Μαχαιρίδη, πήρε τον Ζουμπούλη. 4 August 1998. tanea.gr.
  22. Web site: Είμαι πρωταθλητής. 3 February 1999. tanea.gr.
  23. Web site: Ήρθε τα ξημερώματα. 2 February 1999. tanea.gr.
  24. Web site: Παίρνει δύο. 11 January 1999. tanea.gr.
  25. Web site: ΑΕΚ για πάντα. 10 July 1998. tanea.gr.
  26. Web site: AEK Athens-Ferencváros UEFA Europa League 1998/99. UEFA.com. Online.
  27. Web site: ΑΕΚ-Άρης: Το χατ τρικ του Ντέμη. 6 February 2021. novasports.gr. Online. el.
  28. Web site: Ο Μαλαδένης τα έκανε όλα. 20 May 1999. rizospastis.gr. Online. el.
  29. Web site: Καλύτερος της χρονιάς ο Γεωργάτος. 1 December 1999. in.gr. el.