AEK Athens is historically the third most successful Greek team after Olympiacos and Panathinaikos. They’ve won 11 championships and 14 cups. In an attempt to clear all accumulated debt after years of corrupted ownership, the club was relegated to the third division. Similarly to the story of Glasgow Rangers in Scotland. A known fact that unfortunately can´t be proven, is the fraudulent activity met in Greek football. One of those acts took place when AEK was relegated. They were meant to be dropped in the fourth division thus turning the club into an amateur one and subsequently needing three years minimum to get back to the top division. However, rapid decisions were made, blending the third and fourth divisions into one, eliminating the latter one, which now meant, that AEK could return to the SuperLeague in just two years! A year and a few months since that decision, AEK’s plan has worked accordingly. They stormed through division three, winning the league by a margin of 18 points and crusaded up to division two and now, they’re already on top, with five wins in the same amount of games. They’re last win was against previously unbeaten Panachaiki in Patra 1-3. It goes to show that the Athenian club is levels above anyone else in the league. After all, Dimitrios Melissanidis, the club’s owner when achieving their last championship back in 1994, returned ambitious to conquer what’s been missing from AEK’s trophy room for over 20 years. In search of that moment, Petros Mandalos and Michalis Bakakis who are currently international with the Greek national team, and also Iberian midfielders Helder Barbosa and Miguel Cordero decided to be part of AEK’s building process, knowing that in a year from now they’ll be formulating a team ready to break Olympiaco’s regime. So far this season, AEK has played four games on the road and one at home having beaten all teams that sit right below her. Apollon Smirnis, Panachaiki, Chania and Panegialeos all left with their chins ducked in their necks. Trainos Dellas, head coach and previous captain for many years, has decided to lead AEK to its renaissance. So far he’s produced a team that refuses to underestimate its opponents even though the players are aware of their superior skills but at the same time eager to return as fast as possible to the holy land. The fans, last and most importantly, followed their beloved team to sorrow and now they’re ready to finally bring AEK of Athens back where she belongs. As a result, besides Olympiacos, PAOK and Panathinaikos, AEK’s attendance is higher than any other team.
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