2002–03 AEK Athens F.C. season explained

Club:AEK Athens
Season:2002–03
Manager:Dušan Bajević
Mgrtitle:Manager
Chairman:Charilaos Psomiadis
(until 22 January)
Giannis Granitsas
Chrtitle:Chairman
League:Alpha Ethniki
League Result:3rd
Cup1:Greek Cup
Cup1 Result:Semi-finals
Cup2:UEFA Champions League
Cup2 Result:Group stage
Cup3:UEFA Cup
Cup3 Result:Round of 16
League Topscorer:
Demis Nikolaidis (12)
Season Topscorer:
Demis Nikolaidis (16)
Highest Attendance:19,775 vs Genk
(30 October 2002)
Lowest Attendance:69 vs Kassandra
(11 September 2002)
Average Attendance:6,296
Largest Loss:




Pattern La1:_aek0204
Pattern B1:_aek0204
Pattern Ra1:_aek0204
Pattern Sh1:_aek0204
Pattern So1:_nikeblack
Leftarm1:FFDE00
Body1:FFDE00
Rightarm1:FFDE00
Shorts1:FFDE00
Socks1:FFDE00
Pattern La2:_aek0204B
Pattern B2:_aek0204B
Pattern Ra2:_aek0204B
Pattern Sh2:_aek0204B
Pattern So2:_aek0204Β
Leftarm2:560319
Body2:560319
Rightarm2:560319
Shorts2:FFDE00
Socks2:560319
Pattern B3:_aekfc0203t
Leftarm3:84BEFF
Body3:84BEFF
Rightarm3:84BEFF
Shorts3:FFFFFF
Socks3:FFFFFF
Prevseason:2001–02
Nextseason:2003–04

The 2002–03 season was the 79th season in the existence of AEK Athens F.C. and the 44th consecutive season in the top flight of Greek football. They competed in the Alpha Ethniki, the Greek Cup, the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Cup. The season began on 8 August 2002 and finished on 25 May 2003.

Kits

||||}

Overview

For second season in a row with Makis Psomiadis at the wheel, who presented a very good team during the previous season. Despite the good performance in the last season, Fernando Santos resigned[1] due to the disrupted relationship with the administrative leader of the club. Psomiadis afterwards made a decision that no one could initially believe and brought Dušan Bajević back to the wheel of AEK. The Bosnian-Greek coach accepted Psomiadis' proposal (having also received guarantees from Psomiadis that he would be protected from a portion of the fans who did not want him back) and his big return became reality.[2] The return of Bajević received a divided reaction, as expected. Others did not want him at all in the club, others seemed to want him back due to his successful previous spell, while many seemed to viewed him strictly as a professional. Eventually, despite the problems he faced from time to time from a large portion of the crowd, in general, Bajević was able to work in the team during his first season without much trouble. Regarding the team's roster and the transfers of the summer of 2002, Carlos Gamarra left the team as his loan ended, while Akis Zikos, not having the best relations with Psomiadis, was also a thing of the past. On the other hand, Psomiadis made many impressive transfers such as Georgatos, Katsouranis, Borbokis, Wright, Centeno, Kreek, Nalitzis and Prieto.

AEK Athens presented a good and spectacular team with a very good performance and in the championship they had very good intervals. However, they were relatively behind in the title race, but eventually with an incredible streak of 12 wins in the last 12 games of the league, they re-entered the race finishing third, only 2 points behind Olympiacos and Panathinaikos, who were tied in first place, with the first winning the championship.

AEK once again had the opportunity to compete in the Champions League, but only if they passed the qualifying round. In the draw, where they were among the seeded clubs, AEK were drawn with APOEL. The first match took place in Cyprus, where APOEL took the lead from the beginning of the match, with AEK waking up and in one of the best matches of his career, Vasilios Borbokis took the team by the hand and with his two personal goals put AEK in front. The score was at 1–2, until the end of the game, but the finale was shocking. APOEL equalized with a penalty at the 90th minute, but AEK in the stoppage time with a goal by Nikolaidis got the 2–3 victory. In the rematch of Athens, AEK missed several chances but the half ended without a goal. Finally, AEK took the lead at the beginning of the second half and ceremoniously took the qualification to the Champions League group stage with a second victory by 1–0. AEK were drawn in Group C with the "galacticos" of the mighty Real Madrid, the historic Italian Roma and the Belgian Genk and achieved a historic record of drawing all six of the group stage games,[3] but failed to qualify to the next stage of the institution finishing 3rd and continued to the knock-out stage of the UEFA Cup.

AEK continued in the UEFA Cup and faced the Israeli Maccabi Haifa, an opponent that was certainly up to their standards. The first match in Athens, Maccabi came in stronger and won a penalty that hit the crossbar and then the ball didn't pass the line. From there on, AEK woke up and then the game became a monologue for the Greek team that reached the score 4–0 until the 35th minute, that remained until the final whistle. In the match, Michalis Kasapis became the top Greek footballer in appearances in European matches. Also, as it turned out afterwards, the last goal of the match, scored by Theodoros Zagorakis was the last European goal scored by AEK at the Nikos Goumas Stadium, before it was demolished. In the rematch that took place at GSP Stadium of Nicosia, the Israelis again entered the match better, winning an early penalty again and making the 1–0, but AEK took control of the match and scored 4 goals that gave not only the victory, but also a triumphant qualification. In the round of 16, AEK were against the Spanish Málaga, an opponent that was not at all easy, but was not beyond the capabilities of the Greek team. In the first match at La Rosaleda Stadium, the Spaniards came on strong and missed scoring chances, but yellow-black defense stood up well and the match ended at 0–0. AEK took a very important draw in view of the continuation. The rematch of Nea Filadelfeia proved to be of historical importance, since it was the last European game at Nikos Goumas Stadium. The match did not go well for AEK, who conceded a goal in the first half and without being able to do anything to turn the situation around and the 0–1 remained until the end, ending their European campaign.

In the Cup, AEK initially eliminated Kassandra and then easily passed through of Chalkidona. In the round of 16, they were drawn with Apollon Smyrnis, whom he also eliminated easily, and in the quarter-finals they played against Panionios, who they eliminated in a qualification that was decided in the rematch of Nikos Goumas Stadium. In the semi-finals they were placed against PAOK. First match in Nea Filadelfeia, AEK did not get a good performance and PAOK got the important victory with 0–1. In the rematch of Toumba Stadium, AEK took an early lead, bringing the aggregate score at even, but finally a goal at the end of the match gave PAOK the qualification.

A notable event of the season was the fight against Makis Psomiadis, who generally, towards the end of 2002, started to have more and more "enemies" within the club. In January, Demis Nikolaidis filed a lawsuit against Psomiadis, who had come by his house at 3 a.m. to check if the international striker was staying overnight and also for blackmail, insult and threatening his life and physical integrity, while stating that in the incident that took place outside Nikolaidis' and his wife's, Despina Vandi, house, apart from Psomiadis, some of his bodyguards were also present.[4] Psomiadis, having lost all of the support within the club, left and AEK Athens continued with the administration of the then president of Amateur AEK, Giannis Granitsas.[5] The season was also punctuated by the demolition of Nikos Goumas Stadium at 5 May 2003,[6] home to AEK Athens for 73 years.

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 25 May 2003, 23:59 UTC+3.

No.PlayerNat.Position(s)Date of birth (Age)SignedPrevious clubTransfer feeContract until
Goalkeepers
22Dionysis ChiotisGKJune 30, 20031994 AEK Athens U202005
33Chrysostomos MichailidisGKJune 30, 20031997 EordaikosFree2005
Giannis ArabatzisGKJune 30, 20032002 MakrochoriFree2011
Defenders
2Vasilios BorbokisRB / RMJune 30, 20032002 PAOKFree2003
5Nikos Kostenoglou (Vice-captain)CB / RBJune 30, 20031994 Skoda Xanthi€400,0002003
8Michel KreekLB / CB / LM / CM / DMJune 30, 20032002 Vitesse€500,0002004
16Nikolaos GeorgeasRB / LB / DMJune 30, 20032001 Kalamata€1,500,0002006
17Michalis Kasapis (Captain)LB / LMJune 30, 20031993 Levadiakos€200,0002007
19Mauricio WrightCB / RBJune 30, 20032002 HeredianoFree2005
25Stelios MaistrellisCBJune 30, 20032002 AiolikosFree2006
31Grigoris GeorgatosLB / LM / LW / CMJune 30, 20032002 Internazionale€3,000,0002005
32Michalis KapsisCBJune 30, 20031999 Ethnikos PiraeusFree2003
40Grigoris ToskasCBJune 30, 20032000 AEK Athens U202005
81Stathis KapposRBJune 30, 20032001 KalamataFree2005
Midfielders
6Theodoros Zagorakis (Vice-captain 2)CM / DM / AM / RM / CB / RBJune 30, 20032000 Leicester CityFree2003
7Christos MaladenisCM / RM / LM / AM / RW / LW / SSJune 30, 20031995 Skoda Xanthi€500,0002003
10Vasilios TsiartasAM / RM / LM / SSJune 30, 20032000 Sevilla€3,500,0002003
13Georgios PassiosDM / CM / CBJune 30, 20031997 AEK Athens U202003
14Ivan RusevAM / RM / LM / CMJune 30, 20032001 Spartak VarnaFree2005
18Walter CentenoAM / RM / LM / CMJune 30, 20032002 Saprissa€410,0002007
21Kostas KatsouranisCM / DM / RM / LM / AM / CB / RB / LBJune 30, 20032002 PanachaikiFree2005
23Vasilios LakisRM / RW / AM / CMJune 30, 20031998 Paniliakos€1,800,0002003
28Milen PetkovDM / CM / AM / RM / LMJune 30, 20032000 CSKA Sofia€800,0002003
34Nikos PourtoulidisCM / AMJune 30, 20032002 Nea KarvaliFree2006
Dimitris KaramerisCM / DMJune 30, 20032000 AEK Athens U202005
Forwards
9Ilias SolakisSTJune 30, 20032002 APOELFree2007
11Demis NikolaidisST / SSJune 30, 20031996 Apollon Athens€900,0002004
15Livio PrietoLW / LM / SS / AMJune 30, 20032002 IndependienteFree2004
20Sotiris KonstantinidisRW / LW / RM / LM / AMJune 30, 20031999 IraklisFree2003
24Christos KostisSS / ST / AM / RW / LWJune 30, 20032000 AnderlechtFree2005
30Ilija IvićST / LWJune 30, 20032002 ArisFree2005
37Dimitris NalitzisSTJune 30, 20032002 UdineseFree2003
Left during Winter Transfer Window
1Ilias AtmatsidisGKJune 30, 20031992 Pontioi VeriaFree2004
Emanuel RuizSS / ST / RWJune 30, 20032000 Boca JuniorsFree2005

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 PAOKFree transfer30 June 2003[7]
8 Vitesse€500,00030 June 2004[8]
9 APOELFree transfer30 June 2007[9]
14 AthinaikosLoan return30 June 2005
15 IndependienteFree transfer30 June 2004[10]
18 Saprissa€410,00030 June 2007[11]
19 HeredianoFree transfer30 June 2005[12]
21 PanachaikiFree transfer30 June 2005[13]
25 AiolikosFree transfer30 June 2006
31 Internazionale€3,000,00030 June 2005[14]
33 Ethnikos AsterasLoan return30 June 2005
34 Nea KarvaliFree transfer30 June 2006
MakrochoriFree transfer30 June 2011
Apollon SmyrnisLoan return30 June 2003
AthinaikosLoan return30 June 2003
Unión Santa FeLoan return30 June 2005

Winter

width=200 style="background:#FFDE00Playerwidth=200 style="background:#FFDE00Fromwidth=150 style="background:#FFDE00Feewidth=150 style="background:#FFDE00Datewidth=150 style="background:#FFDE00Contract UntilSource
9 PanioniosLoan return30 June 2007
14 Apollon SmyrnisLoan termination30 June 2005

Out

Summer

width=200 style="background:#FFDE00Playerwidth=200 style="background:#FFDE00Towidth=150 style="background:#FFDE00Feewidth=150 style="background:#FFDE00DateSource
3 Atlético MineiroContract termination
4 FlamengoLoan return
12 IraklisContract termination[15]
14 MonacoFree transfer
15 LB ChâteaurouxContract termination
19 KallitheaContract termination
21 Poseidon Neon PoronEnd of contract
26 PortoLoan return
KalamataFree transfer
Apollon SmyrnisFree transfer

Winter

width=200 style="background:#FFDE00Playerwidth=200 style="background:#FFDE00Towidth=150 style="background:#FFDE00Feewidth=150 style="background:#FFDE00DateSource
1 PAOKContract termination[16]
TalleresContract 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
88 UdineseFree30 June 2003[17]

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
9 PanioniosFree31 December 2002
12 La LouvièreFree30 June 2003
14 Apollon SmyrnisFree30 June 2003

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 200230 June 2004
2430 June 200230 June 2005

Overall transfer activity

Expenditure

Summer: €3,900,000

Winter: €0

Total: €3,900,000

Income

Summer: €0

Winter: €0

Total: €0

Net Totals

Summer: €3,900,000

Winter: €0

Total: €3,900,000

Competitions

Alpha Ethniki

See main article: 2002–03 Alpha Ethniki.

Fixtures

Greek Cup

See main article: 2002–03 Greek Football Cup.

Semi-finals

UEFA Champions League

See main article: 2002–03 UEFA Champions League.

Third qualifying round

The draw for the third qualifying round was held on 26 July 2002.

First group stage

The draw for the group stage was held on 29 August 2002.[18] [19]

UEFA Cup

See main article: 2002–03 UEFA Cup.

Knockout stage

See main article: 2002–03 UEFA Cup final phase.

Round of 32

The draw for the round of 32 was held on 15 November 2002.[20]

Round of 16

The draw for the round of 16 was held on 13 December 2002.[21]

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 Winter Transfer Window|-|}

Goalscorers

Rankwidth=200 style="background:#FFDE00Playerwidth=120 style="background:#FFDE00Alpha Ethnikiwidth=120 style="background:#FFDE00Greek Cupwidth=120 style="background:#FFDE00Champions Leaguewidth=120 style="background:#FFDE00UEFA Cupwidth=120 style="background:#FFDE00Total
1111212116
2231201215
881040115
4101101012
530910010
62161119
7743108
8230205
2023005
101811204
113120013
12902002
1801102
601012
2801012
Own goals20002
Totals 74 19 11 8112

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
Vasilios Lakis Panachaiki6–0 (H)12 January 2003Alpha Ethniki[22]
Dimitris Nalitzis Egaleo3–2 (H)26 January 2003Alpha Ethniki[23]
Vasilios Tsiartas Kallithea3–1 (A)23 February 2003Alpha Ethniki[24]

Assists

Rankwidth=200 style="background:#FFDE00Playerwidth=120 style="background:#FFDE00Alpha Ethnikiwidth=120 style="background:#FFDE00Greek Cupwidth=120 style="background:#FFDE00Champions Leaguewidth=120 style="background:#FFDE00UEFA Cupwidth=120 style="background:#FFDE00Total
1311700219
21060309
33050106
2340026
5250005
650005
1150005
7730003
1800123
92120002
2020002
111810001
1610001
1710001
2810001
8810001
Totals59 0 5 670

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:#FFDE00Champions Leaguewidth=120 style="background:#FFDE00UEFA Cupwidth=120 style="background:#FFDE00Total
1221113218
23302003
3102002
Totals11 5 3 222

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 Winter Transfer window|}

Starting 11

FormationMatchday(s)
434–2–3–11–30
94–4–2
25–4–1
Player
22Dionysis ChiotisGK
19Mauricio WrightRCB
32Michalis KapsisLCB
2Vasilios BorbokisRB
17Michalis Kasapis (C)LB
6Theodoros ZagorakisDM
21Kostas KatsouranisCM
23Vasilios LakisRM
31Grigoris GeorgatosLM
10Vasilios TsiartasAM
11Demis NikolaidisCF

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Santos quits AEK. 2002-05-09. UEFA.com. 6 July 2021.
  2. Web site: Bajevic back at AEK. 19 May 2002. UEFA.com. 6 July 2021.
  3. Web site: ΑΕΚ: Στα καλύτερα σερί-ρεκόρ του Champions League!. 22 July 2020. enwsi.gr.
  4. Web site: Μαφιόζικη… έφοδος. 16 January 2003. kathimerini.gr. 6 July 2021.
  5. Web site: Περίοδος 2002-2003. 22 May 2015. aekpedia.com. el.
  6. Web site: 5/5/2003 Κατεδάφιση γηπέδου "Νίκος Γκούμας". 2003-05-05. aektoday.com. 6 July 2021.
  7. Web site: Ο Βασίλης Μπορμπόκης ακολούθησε τον Μπάγεβιτς στην ΑΕΚ. 23 May 2002. live. 11 July 2021. in.gr. https://web.archive.org/web/20200721081513/https://www.in.gr/2002/05/23/sports/o-basilis-mpormpokis-akoloythise-ton-mpagebits-stin-aek/. 21 July 2020 .
  8. Web site: Kreek: Happy for AEK move. flash.gr.
  9. Web site: Στον Πανιώνιο μέσω… ΑΕΚ ο Σολάκης, που υπέγραψε 5ετές "κιτρινόμαυρο" συμβόλαιο. 5 August 2002. live. 11 July 2021. in.gr. https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183345/https://www.in.gr/2002/08/05/sports/ston-paniwnio-mesw-aek-o-solakis-poy-ypegrapse-5etes-kitrinomayro-symbolaio/. 9 July 2021 .
  10. Web site: Πήρε και Πριέτο. 8 July 2002. tanea.gr.
  11. Web site: 2002-07-09. Ανακοινώθηκε και επίσημα ο Σεντένο από την ΑΕΚ. 2021-07-11. in.gr. el.
  12. Web site: Ο Μαουρίτσιο Ράιτ στο έμψυχο δυναμικό της ΑΕΚ. 5 July 2002. in.gr.
  13. Web site: Κώστας Κατσουράνης: Ο αρχηγός που δίχασε. contra.gr.
  14. Web site: Δεσμοί... ΑΕΚ. contra.gr.
  15. Web site: Έμεινε μόλις έξι μήνες μακριά από τον Ηρακλή. 1 August 2002. ΤΑ ΝΕΑ.
  16. Web site: Ατματζίδης τέλος. 10 January 2003. rizospastis.gr.
  17. Web site: Έκλεισε στην ΑΕΚ. 5 August 2002. tanea.gr.
  18. News: Europe's big guns kept apart. BBC Sport. 29 August 2002.
  19. News: Champions League group guide. BBC Sport. 29 August 2002.
  20. Web site: UEFA Cup – Lazio and Liverpool top seeds. UEFA.com. 15 November 2002. https://web.archive.org/web/20130915234556/http://kassiesa.home.xs4all.nl/bert/uefa/news/021115a.html. 15 September 2013. dead.
  21. Web site: UEFA Cup – Sixteen await UEFA Cup fate. UEFA.com. 13 December 2002. https://web.archive.org/web/20130915234603/http://kassiesa.home.xs4all.nl/bert/uefa/news/021213a.html. 15 September 2013. dead.
  22. Web site: Γκολ κατά βούληση. 13 January 2003. tanea.gr. Online. el.
  23. Web site: Επιτέλους κάτι ευχάριστο. 26 January 2003. contra.gr. Online. el.
  24. Web site: Με χατ τρικ... ξέπλυνε τη λάσπη. 24 February 2003. tanea.gr. Online. el.
  25. Web site: Λάμψη αστέρων!. 10 November 2003. sport.gr. el. https://archive.today/20130702043131/http://archive.sport.gr/news/031110/psap.asp. 2 July 2013. dead.