View source for AEK Athens F.C.

{{Short description|Association football club}}
{{about|the football club|the sports club which it is a part of|A.E.K. (sports club)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname    = AEK Athens
| image       = AEK Athens FC logo.svg
| image_size  = 155px
| alt         = logo
| fullname    = Αθλητική Ένωσις Κωνσταντινουπόλεως<br>''Athlitiki Enosis Konstantinoupoleos''<br>(Athletic Club of Constantinople)
| short name  = AEK
| founded     = {{Start date and age|1924|04|13|df=y}}
| nickname    = Dikéfalos (Double-Headed Eagle)<br>Énosi (Union)<br>Kitrinómavri (Yellow-blacks)
| ground      = [[Agia Sophia Stadium]]
| capacity    = 32,500<ref>{{cite web|url=https://diavgeia.gov.gr/doc/%CE%A81567%CE%9B7-7%CE%98%CE%9F?inline=true|title=Θέμα: Άδεια Διεξαγωγής Αθλητικών Συναντήσεων Ποδοσφαίρισης|website=diavgeia.gov.gr|date=17 August 2023|language=el}}</ref>
| owntitle    = Owner
| owner       = [[Marios Iliopoulos (Greek businessman)|Marios Iliopoulos]]
| chrtitle    = President
| chairman    = Evangelos Aslanidis
| mgrtitle    = Head coach
| manager     = [[Marko Nikolić (football manager)|Marko Nikolić]]
| league      = [[Super League Greece]]
| season      = [[2024–25 Super League Greece|2024–25]]
| position    = [[Super League Greece]], 4th of 14
| website     = {{URL|https://www.aekfc.gr/|aekfc.gr}}
| current     = 2025–26 AEK Athens F.C. season
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{{AEK Athens sections}}

'''AEK Football Club''' ({{langx|el|Αθλητική Ένωσις Κωνσταντινουπόλεως|translit=Athlitiki Enosis Konstantinoupoleos|translation=Athletic Union of Constantinople}}), known simply as '''A.E.K.''' ({{langx|el|A.E.K.}}; {{IPA|el|aek|}}) in Greece and '''AEK Athens''' internationally, is a Greek professional [[Association football|football]] club based in [[Nea Filadelfeia]], [[Attica]], [[Greece]].

Established in Athens  by [[Greek refugees]] from [[Constantinople]] in the wake of the [[Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922)]], AEK is one of the three most successful teams in Greek football, by winning 32 national titles and it is the only club to have won all 
the competitions organised by the [[Hellenic Football Federation]] (13 [[Super League Greece|Greek Championships]], 
16 [[Greek Cup]]s, 1 [[Greek League Cup|League Cup]] and 2 [[Greek Super Cup|Super Cups]]).<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=History\\Honours 
|url=https://www.aekfc.gr/clp/oi-titloi-thc-a-e-k-45010.htm?lang=en&path=306773877 |website=aekfc.gr |access-date=3 October 2022 
|location=Online |language=el}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesg/grksupcuphist.html|title=Greece - List of Super Cup and League Cup Finals|website=[[RSSSF]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite 
web|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefa/keytopics/kind=4096/newsid=648350.html|title=Agreement heralds new era in football|website=
[[UEFA]]|url-status=dead|archive-
url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080127153016/http://www.uefa.com/uefa/keytopics/kind%3D4096/newsid%3D648350.html|archive-
date=27 January 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/winner/gre-supercup/|title=Supercup - Champions|website=worldfootball.com}}</ref>

The club has appeared several times in European competitions ([[UEFA Champions League]], [[UEFA Europa League]], and the defunct [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]]). It is the only Greek team to have advanced to the semi-finals of the [[UEFA Cup]] ([[1976–77 UEFA Cup|1976–77]]) and the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup twice ([[1996–97 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|1996–97]] and [[1997–98 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|1997–98]]).

AEK was also the first Greek team to reach the quarter-finals of the European Cup (1968–69) and to qualify for the group stage of the UEFA Champions League ([[1994–95 UEFA Champions League|1994–95]]).

AEK is considered the best Greek sports club, as it maintains more than 30 sports' departments.

==History==
{{Main|History of AEK Athens F.C.}}

===The early years (1924–1959)===
[[File:Konspanoudis.png|thumb|left|150px|[[Konstantinos Spanoudis]], first president of AEK.]]

The large Greek population of [[Istanbul|Constantinople]], not unlike that of the other Ottoman urban centres, continued its athletic traditions in the form of numerous athletic clubs. Clubs such as '''Énosis Tatávlon''' ({{lang|el|Ένωσις Ταταύλων}}) and '''[[Kurtuluş S.K.|Iraklís]]''' ({{lang|el|Ηρακλής}}) from the [[Kurtuluş|Tatavla]] district, '''Mégas Aléxandros''' ({{lang|el|Μέγας Αλέξανδρος}}) and '''Ermís''' ({{lang|el|Ερμής}}) of [[Galata]], and '''Olympiás''' ({{lang|el|Ολυμπιάς}}) of [[Tarabya|Therapia]] existed to promote [[Greeks|Hellenic]] athletic and cultural ideals. These were amongst a dozen Greek-backed clubs that dominated the sporting landscape of the city in the years preceding [[World War I]]. After the war, with the influx of mainly French and British soldiers to Constantinople, many of the city's clubs participated in regular competitions with teams formed by foreign troops. [[Taksim Square|Taxim]], [[Beyoğlu|Pera]], and Tatavla became the scene of weekly competitions in not only football, but also athletics, cycling, boxing, and tennis.

[[File:Pera Club.jpg|thumb|left|Players of Pera Club. [[Kostas Negrepontis]] is on the left.]]

Football in the city was dominated by Énosis Tatávlon and Ermís. Ermís, one of the most popular sports clubs, was formed in 1875 by the Greek community of Pera (Galata). Known as "Pera" since the mid-1880s, and "The Greek Football Team" when its football department was formed in 1914, it was forced to change its name to "[[Beyoğluspor|Pera Sports Club]]", and then "Beyoğluspor Kulübü" in 1923. Many of its athletes, and those of most other sporting clubs, fled during the population exchanges at the end of the [[Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922)|Greco-Turkish War]], settling in Athens and [[Thessaloniki]].<ref>[The history of AEK by Panos Makridis. Athletic Echo] Newspaper, 1953</ref>

The founders of AEK – a group of Constantinopolitan refugees (among them former athletes from the Pera Sports Club and the other Constantinopolitan clubs) – met at the athletic shop "Lux" owned by Emilios Ionas and Konstantinos Dimopoulos on Veranzerou Street, in the centre of Athens, and created [[A.E.K. (sports club)|AEK]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aekfc.gr/index.asp?a_id=3014|title=History of AEK: Born through the ashes|website=aekfc.gr|access-date=7 June 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120506182411/http://www.aekfc.gr/index.asp?a_id=3014|archive-date=6 May 2012}}</ref> Their intention was to create a club that provided athletic and cultural diversions for the thousands of predominantly Constantinopolitan and [[Anatolia]]n refugees who had settled in the new suburbs of Athens (including [[Nea Filadelfeia]], [[Nea Ionia]], [[Nea Chalkidona]], [[Nea Smyrni]]).

The first AEK team was: ''[[Goalkeeper (association football)|Goalkeeper]] Kitsos; [[Defender (association football)|Defenders]] Ieremiadis and [[Themos Asderis|Asderis]]; [[Midfielder|Midfielders]] Kechagias, Paraskevas, Dimopoulos, and Karagiannides; and [[Forward (association football)|Forwards]] Baltas, Milas, Iliades, and Georgiades''. AEK played their first match against ''Aias Athinon'' in November 1924, winning by 2–0.

AEK's football team grew rapidly in popularity during the 1920s, eclipsing the already-established Athens-based refugee clubs ([[Panionios F.C.|Panionios]], [[Apollon Smyrnis F.C.|Apollon Smyrnis]], etc.), thanks mainly to the large pool of immigrants that were drawn to the club, the significance of the name "Constantinople" for many refugees and Greeks, plus, in no small part, to the political connections and wealth of several of the club's board members. Not possessing a football ground, AEK played most of its early matches at various locations around Athens, including the grounds of the [[Temple of Olympian Zeus (Athens)|Temple of Olympian Zeus]] and the [[Leoforos Alexandras Stadium]].

AEK's first president, Konstantinos Spanoudis(1871–1941),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sansimera.gr/biographies/644|title=Konstantinos Spanoudis (1871–1941), biography|website=sansimera.gr|language=el}}</ref> a journalist and associate of the Prime Minister [[Eleftherios Venizelos]], petitioned the government to set aside land for the establishment of a sports ground. In 1926, land in Nea Filadelfeia, which was originally set aside for refugee housing, was donated as a training ground for the refugees' sports activities. AEK began using the ground for training, albeit unofficially.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kosmosnf.gr/2013/10/gipedo-aek-1926/|title=How did AEK build its stadium in Nea Filadelfeia|date=12 October 2013|website=kosmosnf.gr|language=el}}</ref>

[[File:Tryfon Tzanetis AEK.jpg|thumb|left|110px|[[Tryfon Tzanetis]]]]

In 1928, Panathinaikos, Olympiacos, and AEK began a dispute with the fledgling [[Hellenic Football Federation]] (EPO), decided to break away from the Athens regional league, and formed an alliance called [[P.O.K.|POK]]. During the dispute, POK organised friendly matches against each other and several continental European clubs. In 1929, though, the dispute ended and AEK, along with the other POK clubs, entered the EPO fold once again.

In 1930, the property where AEK trained was officially signed over to the club. Venizelos soon approved the plans to build what was to become AEK's home ground for the next 70 years, the [[Nikos Goumas Stadium|AEK Stadium]]. The first home game, in November 1930, was an exhibition match against Olympiacos that ended in a 2–2 draw.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aekfc.gr/index.asp?a_id=3015|title=History of AEK: The first achievements|website=aekfc.gr|access-date=7 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120506182416/http://www.aekfc.gr/index.asp?a_id=3015|archive-date=6 May 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1932, AEK won their first Greek Cup title, beating [[Aris Thessaloniki F.C.|Aris]] 5–3 in the final.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aek365.com/a-426477/kupello-1931-32-o-prwto-titlo-th-aek.htm|title=Greek Cup 1931–32: The first title of AEK!|date=8 November 2015 |website=aek365.com|lang=el}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aektoday.com/8-november/952-8-11-1931-aek-aris-5-3|title=8/11/1931 AEK – Aris 5–3|website=aektoday.com|lang=el|access-date=29 October 2018|archive-date=1 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201212745/https://www.aektoday.com/8-november/952-8-11-1931-aek-aris-5-3|url-status=dead}}</ref> The team boasted a number of star football players like [[Kostas Negrepontis]] (a veteran of the original Pera Club of Constantinople), [[Kleanthis Maropoulos]], [[Tryfon Tzanetis]], [[Michalis Delavinias]], [[Giorgos Mageiras]] and [[Spyros Sklavounos]].

The club's mixed success during the 1930s was highlighted by the first Greek Championship and Greek Cup (winning the double) in 1939.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aekfc.gr/cdp/protathlima-1939-45038.htm?lang=en&path=-926209379|title=The first Greek Championship of AEK in 1939|website=aekfc.gr}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aekfc.gr/cdp/kypello-1939-45037.htm?lang=en&path=1221274257|title=The first Greek Cup of AEK in 1939 and the first double|website=aekfc.gr}}</ref> Under former player Kostas Negrepontis as head coach, AEK also won the Greek Championship of 1940.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aekfc.gr/cdp/protathlima-1940-45036.htm?lang=en&path=147532458|title=The Greek Championship of 1940 under former player Kostas Negrepontis as head coach|website=aekfc.gr}}</ref>

On [[Ohi Day|28 October 1940]] all sports competitions were interrupted due to the [[Greco-Italian War]]. In a battle at [[Pogradec]], the player of AEK, Kostas Valvanis was badly injured by a [[Mortar (weapon)|mortar bomb]], while [[Alekos Chatzistavridis]] seriously injured his leg during a battle in [[Tepelenë]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.protothema.gr/stories/article/939701/oi-ellines-diasimoi-pou-ehasan-ti-zoi-tous-ston-polemo-1940-1944/|title=Οι Έλληνες "Διάσημοι" που έχασαν τη ζωή τους στον πόλεμο (1940-1944)|date=27 October 2019|website=protothema.gr}}</ref> After the [[Battle of Greece]] and during the [[Axis occupation of Greece]] sporting events were scarce. In the spring of 1942 Panathinaikos and AEK were to give a friendly match to raise money for a hospital but were asked to give part of the revenue to the occupation forces, which the captains of both clubs, [[Anastasios Kritikos (footballer, born 1914)|Kritikos]] and Maropoulos refused it turned into one of the largest protests of the time. The match became known as the ''"Resistance Derby"''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sport24.gr/longreads/to-gennaio-ochi-toy-athlitismoy-stin-katochi.8207272.html|title=Το γενναίο 'ΟΧΙ' του αθλητισμού στην Κατοχή|first=Νίκος|last=Συριώδης|date=28 October 2014|website=sport24.gr|lang=el}}</ref>

In June 1944 AEK player [[Spyros Kontoulis]] was killed by the [[Nazi Germany|Nazi]] forces during his attempt to escape while being transported to [[Kaisariani]] in order to be executed for being part of the resistance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dialectik-football.info/spiros-kontoulis-un-footballeur-de-laek-dans-la-resistance-antifasciste/|title=Spiros Kontoulis, un footballeur de l'AEK dans la résistance antifasciste|website=dialectik-football.info|last=Dey-Helle|first=Yann|date=8 February 2018}}</ref>

With the manager [[Jack Beby]] alongside with new players such as [[Kostas Poulis]], [[Youlielmos Arvanitis|Goulios]] and [[Pavlos Emmanouilidis]], AEK won the Cup of 1949 and 1950, beating Panathinaikos by 2–1 and Aris by 4–0. AEK won also the AFCA championship in 1950, but the Panhellenic Championship was not played, due obligations of the national team. The early 1950s saw the addition of star footballers such as [[Giannis Kanakis]], [[Andreas Stamatiadis]] and [[Stelios Serafidis]].

In 1955, AEK signed the best player of his era, [[Kostas Nestoridis]], but his former team [[Panionios F.C.|Panionios]] did not consent with the transfer, thus Nestoridis was banned for two seasons, due to the law of the time. In his first season at the club Nestoridis showing his class, finished as the top scorer of the league, while AEK won the Cup in 1956, defeating Olympiacos by 2–1 in the final.

===The early Alpha Ethniki years (1959–1974)===

With [[Kostas Nestoridis]] scoring goals in the early 1960s (top goalscorer for 5 seasons in row, from 1958 to 1963), and the timely signing of attacker [[Mimis Papaioannou]] (the club's all-time top goalscorer and record appearance maker) in 1962, AEK went on to win the 1962–63 championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.contra.gr/Soccer/Spain/Primera/realmadrid/otan-h-aek-arnhthhke-mythikh-protash-ths-real-gia-ton-papaiwannoy.4227669.html|title=When AEK refused a fabulous proposal by Real Madrid for Papaioannou|date=24 August 2016 |website=contra.gr|language=el}}</ref> Known affectionately as "Mimis" by the AEK supporters, Papaioannou scored twice in the 1963 playoff against Panathinaikos, leveling the score at 3–3 and giving AEK its first post-war championship on goal aggregate. Coached by Hungarian-German [[Jenő Csaknády]], the championship team also consisted of [[Stelios Serafidis]], [[Miltos Papapostolou]], and [[Andreas Stamatiadis]]. Youngsters like [[Alekos Sofianidis]], [[Stelios Skevofilakas]], [[Giorgos Petridis]], and [[Manolis Kanellopoulos]] played a significant role in the victorious 1963 campaign.

The club followed up with Cup victories in 1964 and 1966. With the return of Csaknády to the coach's position in 1968 and the addition of some great players like [[Kostas Nikolaidis]], [[Giorgos Karafeskos]], [[Panagiotis Ventouris]], [[Fotis Balopoulos]], [[Spyros Pomonis]], [[Aleko Yordan|Alekos Iordanou]], [[Nikos Stathopoulos]] and [[Andreas Papaemmanouil]], AEK easily won the 1967–68 championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aekfc.gr/cdp/protathlima-1968-45029.htm?lang=en&path=1222011544|title=The Championship of 1968|website=aekfc.gr}}</ref>

====European Cup quarter-finalists====
In the 1968–69 season AEK, under Yugoslav coach [[Branko Stanković]], became the first Greek football club to reach the quarter-finals of the [[UEFA Champions League|European Champions Cup]], but were eliminated by the Czechoslovakian [[FC Spartak Trnava|Spartak Trnava]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.enwsi.gr/retro-aek/i-aek-sta-salonia-tis-evropis-proti-elliniki-omada-sta-proimitelika/|title=AEK in the lounges of Europe, the first Greek team in the quarter-finals!|date=26 February 2020|website=enwsi.gr|language=el}}</ref>

The addition of goalkeeper [[Stelios Konstantinidis]] and [[Apostolos Toskas]] reinforced the team, and allowed AEK to take their fifth championship title in 1971.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.enwsi.gr/retro-aek/197071-i-aek-protathlitria-xana-video-foto/|title=1970/71: AEK is the champion again|date=27 June 2020|website=enwsi.gr|language=el}}</ref>

===The Barlos ownership years (1974–1981)===
[[File:Dusan Bajevic.jpg|thumb|160px|[[Dušan Bajević]]]]

[[Loukas Barlos]], a successful industrialist, took over the presidency and financing of AEK in 1974, and with the help of coach [[František Fadrhonc]] built one of the finest teams in the club's history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kitrinomavro.gr/aekpedia/2015/05/20/aek-1974-1975/|title=Period 1974–75, the first of Loukas Barlos|website=kitrinomavro.gr|language=el}}</ref> The Barlos "Golden Era" saw some of the greatest players ever to have played for AEK: [[Christos Ardizoglou]], [[Giorgos Dedes]], [[Giorgos Skrekis]], the Germans [[Walter Wagner (footballer)|Walter Wagner]] and [[Timo Zahnleiter]], [[Dionysis Tsamis]], [[Lakis Nikolaou]], [[Petros Ravousis]], [[Dušan Bajević]], [[Takis Nikoloudis]], [[Stefanos Theodoridis]], [[Babis Intzoglou]] and [[Nikos Christidis]].

====UEFA Cup semi-finalists====

Captained by Papaioannou in the 1976–1977 season, AEK reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup competition, the first Greek football club to do so. Beating [[FC Dynamo Moscow|Dynamo Moscow]] (Russia) 2–0, [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]] (England) 2–0 and 3–2, [[Red Star Belgrade]] ([[Yugoslavia]]) 2–0, and [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|QPR]] (England) 3–0 and 7–6 on penalties, AEK were eventually eliminated by [[Gianni Agnelli]]'s [[Juventus FC|Juventus]]. Juventus went on to win their first European title.<ref>[http://sport-retro.gr/otan-h-aek-htan-aekara-h-poreia-mexri-ta-hmitelika-toy-kypellou-uefa/ The course of AEK until UEFA Cup semi-finals]</ref>

====Thomas Mavros: a goal-machine====

It was during this period that AEK signed one of Greece's finest strikers, [[Thomas Mavros]], the all-time top goalscorer in the [[Super League Greece|Greek Championship]]. In the following years, he and [[Dušan Bajević]] formed a formidable attacking duo for AEK. Mavros was an integral part of the team that reached the UEFA Cup semi-final in 1976, but it was his devastating form (top goalscorer in 1978 and 1979&nbsp;– 22 and 31 goals, respectively) that helped AEK to win the 1977–78 Championship-Cup double. The addition of former Panathinaikos stars [[Mimis Domazos|Domazos]] and [[Kostas Eleftherakis|Eleftherakis]] to the AEK squad the following year saw the club cap off their most successful decade to date by winning the 1979 Championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aekfc.gr/cdp/protathlima-1979-45025.htm?lang=en&path=-925472081|title=The Championship of 1979 and its history|website=aekfc.gr}}</ref>

Under the leadership of Loukas Barlos, the [[Nikos Goumas Stadium|AEK Stadium]] was finally completed with the addition of the iconic ''covered stand'', or ''Skepasti'' ({{lang|el|Σκεπαστή}}), which eventually became home to the most fanatic of AEK supporter groups, "Original 21".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sport-retro.gr/otan-skepastike-h-nea-filadelfeia/|title=The day that Nea Philadelphia "covered"|date=6 October 2017|website=sport-retro.gr|language=el}}</ref> The next generation of star players, fresh out of AEK's Academy, made their debut during this period: [[Stelios Manolas]], [[Spyros Ikonomopoulos]], [[Vangelis Vlachos]], and [[Lysandros Georgamlis]].

===The post-Barlos sterile years (1981–1988)===
After the departure of Loukas Barlos in the ownership of the club was taken over by sports goods businessman, [[Andreas Zafiropoulos]]. The club went on for two season without claiming any titles and destinctions. In the summer of 1982, Zafiropoulos stepped out of the presidency, which was handed over to the shipowner, [[Michalis Arkadis]]. With the Austrian coach [[Helmut Senekowitsch]], who was hired in mid-season, AEK won the 1983 Cup, beating [[PAOK FC|PAOK]] 2–0 in the newly built [[Olympic Stadium|Athens Olympic Stadium]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aekfc.gr/cdp/kypello-1983-45024.htm?lang=en&path=1222011555|title=The Greek Cup of 1983 under Austrian head coach Helmut Senekowitsch|website=aekfc.gr}}</ref> Thomas Mavros and Vangelis Vlachos were the goalscorers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.enwsi.gr/retro-aek/to-kipello-tou-1983-me-60-000-enosites-sto-oaka-video/|title=The 1983 Cup with 60,000 AEK fans in Athens Olympic Stadium|date=29 June 2020|website=enwsi.gr|language=el}}</ref> After a destuctive season under the presicency of the Cypriot travel agency owner, Lefteris Panagidis, Andreas Zafiropoulos returned at the position of the president in 1984. Despite of the signing of players such as [[Håkan Sandberg (footballer)|Håkan Sandberg]], [[Nikos Pias]], [[Theologis Papadopoulos]],  [[Makis Chatzis]] and [[Márton Esterházy]] the club finished third. With the magical triplet of Mavros-Sandberg-Esterházy in the team's offense and under the new manager [[Jacek Gmoch]], AEK were able to defeat [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]] by 1–0 at home for the first round of the UEFA Cup. Nevertheless, they were eliminated by the Spanisg club in the rematch and in the league they barely finished third, winning Iraklis in a play-off match.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sdna.gr/podosfairo/691279_mia-tainia-palia-poy-telos-den-ehei|title=Μια ταινία παλιά που τέλος δεν έχει|date=16 February 2020|website=sdna.gr}}</ref> They following season was marked as one of the worst in the clubs history as the club finished seventh in the league with two managerial changes, in the faces of [[Ab Fafié]] and [[Nikos Alefantos]]. The latter spoke out against Mavros, considering him "finished" as a footballer,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n51WJ3ScL9E|title=AEK-KAΛΑΜΑΡΙΑ 2-0 1986 Αλεφαντος κατα Θωμα Μαυρου|date=3 March 2011 |via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> which led in the departure of Mavros, after 11 years in the club.

In the summer of 1987 [[Todor Veselinović]] was hired for the position of the coach while [[Giorgos Savvidis]], [[Henrik Nielsen (footballer, born 1965)|Henrik Nielsen]] and [[Georgios Koutoulas]] arrived. AEK were in the title race, with their only contenders being AEL. The footballer of AEL, Georgi Tsingov, was tested positive in a dopping test and the case was transferred to the courts becoming known as the "Tsingov case". There, AEL were initially punished with zeroing for the match, a 2-point deduction and punishment of the player, which brought AEK to the top of the table. AEL appealed with their fans rallied, resulting in the alteration of the regulation overnight and the return of the points, which led in their eventual conquest of the championship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.to10.gr/watch-me/watchmestories/1450353/ypothesi-tsigkof-mera-pou-kopike-ellada-sta-dyo/|title=Υπόθεση Τσίγκοφ: Η μέρα που κόπηκε η Ελλάδα στα δύο|date=17 March 2021|website=to10.gr}}</ref> In the last match of the season at Nea Filadelfeia, the tension between the ultras and Zafiropoulos peaked, when the riot police invaded the ultra's stand and resulted in heated encounters. That led in Zafiropoulos stepping out from the presidency.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aek365.org/a-458047/ntou-sth-skepasth-kai-zhta-telo-videos-fwto.htm|title="Ντου" στη Σκεπαστή και... "Ζήτα" τέλος!|date=15 May 2016|website=aek365.org}}</ref>

===Golden Years (1988–1997)===
In the summer of 1988 the new president [[Stratos Gidopoulos]] hired the former player Dušan Bajević and with signings such as [[Mirosław Okoński]] and [[Antonis Minou]] built a well-worked team. AEK clinched the title after winning a crucial match 1–0 against Olympiacos at the Athens Olympic Stadium. [[Takis Karagiozopoulos]] scored the goal that gave AEK its first Championship after ten years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Aek/7-5-1989-h-vradia-toy-karagkiozopoyloy-sto-oaka.5187606.html|title=7 May 1989: Karagiozopoulos' night at OAKA|website=sport24.gr|language=el}}</ref> The following season with the addition of [[Daniel Batista Lima|Daniel Batista]] AEK won also the Greek Super Cup of 1989, beating Panathinaikos on penalties after the match ended in a 1–1 draw<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aekfc.gr/cdp/souper-kap-1989-45022.htm?lang=en&path=-1999213895|title=Super Cup 1989|website=aekfc.gr}}</ref> and the [[Greek League Cup|League Cup]] winning Olympiacos by 3–2, in an institution that took place only once.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gazzetta.gr/football/2002183/san-simera-i-aek-proti-kai-monadiki-katohos-ligk-kap-stin-ellada-vid|title=Σαν σήμερα: Η ΑΕΚ πρώτη και μοναδική κάτοχος Λιγκ Καπ στην Ελλάδα!|website=gazzetta.gr |date=2 June 2021 }}</ref>

In 1991 AEK faced administrative problems and which led Gidopoulos to resign and a temporary administration led by Kostas Generakis took over. The new management of the club put the club's finances of in order and at the same time proceeded in the transfers of [[Refik Šabanadžović]], [[Vasilis Dimitriadis]] and [[Alexis Alexandris]]. AEK Stadium was renamed to ''"Nikos Goumas Stadium"''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aekfc.gr/fp/to-palio-mas-spiti-nikos-gkoumas-42944.htm?lang=en&path=-396066291|title=Our Old Home|website=aekfc.gr}}</ref> Under Bajević the team presented a solid performance and won the title, with Dimitriadis f8inishing as the top scorer of the league. After the season was over, [[Dimitris Melissanidis]] and Giannis Karras purchased the shares of Zafiropoulos.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aek-live.gr/otan-melissanidis-karras-agorasan-ti/|title=Μελισσανίδης-Καρράς αγοράζουν... την ΑΕΚ|date=17 June 2019|website=aek-live.gr}}</ref> In the summer of 1992, the new owners of the club, helped the club recover financially and supporte Bdajević. with siginings such as [[Zoran Slišković]], [[Tasos Mitropoulos]], and [[Ilias Atmatsidis]], while in December [[Vasilios Tsiartas]] and [[Charis Kopitsis]] also arrived. AEK won the title for the second consecutive season with a 1-point difference from Panathinaikos. Dimitriadis emerged again top scorer as the league's top with 33 goals, winning the European Silver Shoe.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.onsports.gr/afieromata/story/116551/psilos-apo-asimi|title="Ψηλός" από ασήμι…|first=Χρήστος|last=Γιαννούλης|date=21 September 2011|website=onsports.gr}}</ref> The following season Bajević, decided to make a renewal in the roster, signing the youngsters [[Vasilios Borbokis]] and [[Michalis Kasapis]]. AEK won the championship and with three successive championship wins, established themselves as one of the most successful periods in their history. Alexis Alexandris alongside [[Krzysztof Warzycha]] of Panathinaikos were the top scorers of the league.

====First Greek presence in the UEFA Champions League group stage====
In 1994–95, AEK became the first Greek football club to participate in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League after defeating Scottish champions, [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]];<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sport-retro.gr/aek-champions-league-salzburg/|title=Salzburg-AEK: The first match of a Greek team in the Champions League|date=14 September 2018|website=sport-retro.gr|language=el}}</ref> AEK were eliminated by [[Ajax Amsterdam|Ajax]] and [[AC Milan]], who made it to the final. With [[Michalis Trochanas]] as president and Dušan Bajević as coach, the club won the Greek Cup in 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aekfc.gr/cdp/kypello-1996-45017.htm?lang=en&path=1221782161|title=Greek Cup 1996|website=aekfc.gr}}</ref>

Former player Petros Ravousis took over the coaching position when Dušan Bajević left for Olympiacos at the end of 1996. By far AEK's most successful run with titles, the period also saw the club sign [[Temur Ketsbaia]] and several young, talented players like [[Demis Nikolaidis]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oldfootball.gr/sansimera/item/250-%CE%BF-%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%AD%CE%BC%CE%B7%CF%82-%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B7%CE%BD-%CE%B1%CE%B5%CE%BA.html|title=The transfer of Demis Nikolaidis from Apollon Smyrnis to AEK Athens in 1996|website=oldfootball.gr|language=el|access-date=29 October 2018|archive-date=29 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181029152450/http://www.oldfootball.gr/sansimera/item/250-%CE%BF-%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%AD%CE%BC%CE%B7%CF%82-%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B7%CE%BD-%CE%B1%CE%B5%CE%BA.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Christos Kostis]], [[Christos Maladenis]] and [[Akis Zikos]]. Nikolaidis, in particular, an AEK fan since childhood, declined more lucrative offers from Olympiacos and Panathinaikos to sign for his beloved club.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.contra.gr/Longread/ntemhs-nikolaidhs-o-apolytos.4849822.html|title=Demis Nikolaidis: The Absolute|date=17 September 2017 |website=contra.gr|language=el}}</ref> During the 1996–97 and 1997–98 seasons, AEK progressed to the quarter-finals of the [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]], where they were eliminated by [[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.|Paris Saint-Germain]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gazzetta.gr/stili/h-mixani-tou-xronou/article/711391/pari-aek-0-0-1997-vids|title=Paris Saint-Germain v AEK 0–0 in 1997|date=6 March 2015 |website=aekfc.gr|language=el}}</ref> and [[FC Lokomotiv Moscow|Lokomotiv Moscow]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.enwsi.gr/retro-aek/i-istoriki-chameni-efkeria-tis-aek-stin-moscha-videofoto/|title=AEK's historic missed opportunity in Moscow|date=19 March 2020|website=enwsi.gr|language=el}}</ref> Ravousis led the team to its second Super Cup in 1996,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aekfc.gr/cdp/souper-kap-1996-45016.htm?lang=en&path=148040362|title=Super Cup 1996|website=aekfc.gr}}</ref> and its eleventh Cup title in 1997, beating Panathinaikos in both finals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aekfc.gr/cdp/kypello-1997-45015.htm?lang=en&path=-925701457|title=Greek Cup 1997|website=aekfc.gr}}</ref>

===ENIC ownership years (1997–2004)===
Trochanas no longer being support financially the club, was looking for a buyer, sold his shares to the financially powerful, English multinational [[ENIC Group|ENIC]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.contra.gr/gnomes/akhs-gewrgioy/otan-i-aek-synantise-tin-enic.7151677.html|title=Όταν η ΑΕΚ συνάντησε την ENIC|date=14 October 2014|website=contra.gr}}</ref>

In 1999, ex-president [[Dimitris Melissanidis]],  took over the management of the club, organised a friendly match against [[FK Partizan|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Aek/h-aek-ston-polemo.3400780.html|title=AEK in the war|website=sport24.gr|language=el}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aekfc.gr/newsdetails/veligradi-1999-to-pio-megalo-taxidi-tis-aek-45103.htm?lang=el&path=-502948783|title=Belgrade 1999: AEK's biggest trip!|website=aekfc.gr|language=el}}</ref> The game ended 1–1, when after 60 minutes thousands of Serbian football fans invaded the pitch to embrace the footballers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sport-retro.gr/h-mera-pou-h-aek-nikhse-ton-polemo-adhmosieftes-fwtografies-sto-elliniko-diadiktyo/|title=The day AEK crossed the border, played with Partizan and defeated the war|date=6 April 2017|website=sport-retro.gr|language=el}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oldfootball.gr/sansimera/item/138-to-antipolemiko-taksidi-tis-aek.html|title=The anti-war... AEK's trip|website=oldfootball.gr|language=el|access-date=29 October 2018|archive-date=8 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208025840/http://www.oldfootball.gr/sansimera/item/138-to-antipolemiko-taksidi-tis-aek.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

AEK won its twelfth Cup title in 2000 under coach [[Giannis Pathiakakis]], defeating [[Ionikos F.C.|Ionikos]] 3–0 in the final.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aekfc.gr/cdp/kypello-2000-45014.htm?lang=en&path=1221782179|title=Greek Cup 2000|website=aekfc.gr}}</ref> The club continued its consistency in the Championship of 2001–02, finishing second on goal difference behind Olympiacos,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.enwsi.gr/retro-aek/tis-glistrise-protathlima-mesa-apo-ta-cheria-video/|title=AEK... slipped the league through its hands|date=20 April 2016|website=enwsi.gr|lang=el}}</ref> and beating Olympiacos in the Greek Cup final.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sport24.gr/football/ellada/GreekCup/aek-olympiakos-14-xronia-apo-to-2-1-ston-teliko.4030433.html|title=AEK – Olympiacos 2–1|website=sport24.gr|lang=el}}</ref>

====2002–03 UEFA Champions League unbeaten run====
[[File:20130814 AT-GR Kostas Katsouranis 2377.jpg|thumb|left|140px|[[Kostas Katsouranis]]]]

Dušan Bajević returned as coach in the summer of 2002, a move that sparked open hostility towards Bajević from a section of AEK supporters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0185-0f843d345863-86d1a736645f-1000--bajevic-back-at-aek/|title=Bajevic back at AEK|website=[[UEFA]] |date=19 May 2002 |access-date=14 September 2022 |location=Online}}</ref> A strong team, called ''Dream Team'' by the fans, was created with players like [[Kostas Katsouranis]], [[Ilija Ivić]], [[Dionysis Chiotis]], [[Vasilios Borbokis]], [[Grigoris Georgatos]], [[Theodoros Zagorakis]], [[Walter Centeno]], [[Michalis Kapsis]], [[Michel Kreek]], [[Vasilios Lakis]], [[Vasilios Tsiartas]] (who returned from Sevilla), [[Ioannis Okkas]], [[Nikos Liberopoulos]] and [[Demis Nikolaidis]].

Under Bajević, AEK progressed through the qualifying rounds in the 2002 UEFA Champions League by eliminating [[APOEL FC|APOEL]]. Drawn in Group A with [[AS Roma]], [[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]], and [[Racing Genk]], AEK with good performances drew all their games and were knocked out of the competition. They continued to [[UEFA Cup]], eliminating [[Maccabi Haifa F.C.|Maccabi Haifa]] (4–0, 4–1) before being knocked out by [[Málaga CF]].

Off the pitch, the administration of Makis Psomiadis caused many problems for AEK, whose mismanagement put the club into debt. He was also accused of assaulting club captain, Demis Nikolaidis and other players with the assistance of his bodyguards.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/greece/1420859/Godfathers-of-Greek-football-face-crackdown.html|title='Godfathers' of Greek football face crackdown |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/greece/1420859/Godfathers-of-Greek-football-face-crackdown.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=2 February 2003|work=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

After the altercation, and partly due to the club's growing financial problems, Nikolaidis left on a free transfer by mutual consent to [[Atlético Madrid]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://atleticodemadridgreekfans.blogspot.com/2017/09/blog-post_20.html|title=Demis Nikolaidis: The biggest Greek rojiblanco|website=atleticodemadridgreekfans.blogspot.com|lang=el}}</ref> Unable to cope with the negativity from a large section of AEK fans,<ref>{{cite news|title=Bajevic, insulted by fans, abandons AEK |url=http://www.ekathimerini.com/20274/article/ekathimerini/sports/bajevic-insulted-by-fans-abandons-aek|access-date=26 January 2004|work=[[eKathimerini]]}}</ref> Bajević resigned in 2004 in the middle of a match against [[Iraklis F.C. (Thessaloniki)|Iraklis]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sdna.gr/monimes-stiles/san-simera/article/289673/san-simera-ta-synthimata-kai-i-2i-apoxorisi-toy-mpagevits|title=The slogans and the second departure of Bajević from AEK's bench|date=25 January 2017|website=sdna.gr|lang=el}}</ref>

===The Demis Nikolaidis era (2004–2008)===
In 2004, [[Demis Nikolaidis]] and other significant AEK followers formed a supporters' club Enosis 1924 (Union 1924) to motivate all AEK supporters into taking up the club's shares and governance.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sport-retro.gr/demis-nikolaidis-proedros-tis-aek-arthro-44-oaka-2004/|title=August 4, 2004: President of AEK, Demis Nikolaidis|date=4 August 2018|website=sport-retro.gr|language=el}}</ref> The project was not fully realised because, in the meantime, various businessmen decided to buy shares and invest money in the club. However, to this date, Enosis 1924's chairman is a member of the AEK FC board.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.in.gr/2003/02/17/sports/gegonos-apotelei-i-etaireia-laikis-basis-enwsi-aek-1924/|title=The folk-based company "Union 1924" it's officially done|date=17 February 2003|website=in.gr|language=el|access-date=17 February 2003}}</ref> The same year, [[Nikos Goumas Stadium]], AEK's home stadium for over 70 years, was demolished, large parts of it having been damaged by the [[1999 Athens earthquake]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sdna.gr/monimes-stiles/san-simera/article/197102/san-simera-otan-gkremistike-gipedo-tis-aek-pics-vids|title=When the stadium of AEK was demolished|date=5 May 2016|website=sdna.gr|language=el}}</ref>

[[File:1 Sokratis Papastathopoulos (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|150px|[[Sokratis Papastathopoulos]]]]
[[File:Fernando Santos 2018 (cropped).jpg|thumb|150px|[[Fernando Santos (footballer, born 1954)|Fernando Santos]]]]

In 2004, on the back of strong AEK fan support, Nikolaidis, at the head of a consortium of businessmen, bought out the beleaguered club and became the new president. His primary task was to lead AEK out of its precarious financial position. The first success was an arrangement through the [[Judicial system of Greece|Greek judicial system]] to write off most of the massive debt that previous club administrators had amassed and to repay any remaining public debts in manageable installments.

Securing the club's existence in the Alpha Ethniki, Nikolaidis then began a program to rebuild AEK to its former glory. He appointed experienced former player [[Ilija Ivić]] as technical director and brought back [[Fernando Santos (Portuguese footballer)|Fernando Santos]] as a coach. The AEK fans, emboldened by Nikolaidis' efforts, followed suit by buying season ticket packages in record numbers (over 17,000).

AEK recruited promising young players to strengthen a depleted team. Led by the experienced Katsouranis and Liberopoulos, and featuring Brazilian [[Júlio César da Silva e Souza|Júlio César]], the club made it to the Greek Cup final for the seventh time in 13 years but finished second in the Championship, and in the process, secured a place in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League. For the [[Super League Greece 2006-07|2006–07]] season, former [[Real Betis]] coach [[Llorenç Serra Ferrer|Lorenzo Serra Ferrer]] was appointed to the coaching position after Fernando Santos' contract was not renewed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.in.gr/2006/06/07/sports/football/o-ispanos-ferer-proponitis-tis-aek-gia-ta-epomena-dyo-xronia/|title=The Spanish Ferrer is the new head coach of AEK for the next two years|date=7 June 2006|website=in.gr|language=el|access-date=7 June 2006}}</ref>

By beating Hearts over both legs (2–1 in Scotland and 3–0 in Greece), AEK progressed to the group stage of the Champions League.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sport-fm.gr/article/podosfairo/55984|title=AEK beats Hearts 3–0 in Athens and progressed to the group stage of the Champions League|website=sport-fm.gr|language=el|access-date=23 August 2006}}</ref> The club obtained a total of 8 points, having beaten [[AC Milan]] 1–0, [[Lille OSC|Lille]] 1–0, and managing two draws with Anderlecht (1–1 in Greece and 2–2 in Belgium). AEK finished second in the Greek Super League, qualifying again for the third round in the UEFA Champions League.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kitrinomavro.gr/aekpedia/2015/05/22/aek-2006-2007/|title=Period 2006–07 and the course of AEK in the competitions|website=kitrinomavro.gr|language=el}}</ref>

====2007–08 Championship controversy====

For the [[2007–08 in Greek football|2007–08]] season AEK changed kit sponsors from [[Adidas]] to [[Puma AG|Puma]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aekfc.gr/index.asp?a_id=74&n_id=3234&cpage=2 |title=AEK switch to PUMA |website=Aekfc.gr |access-date=7 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140405093029/http://www.aekfc.gr/index.asp?a_id=74&n_id=3234&cpage=2 |archive-date=5 April 2014}}</ref> They played with [[Sevilla FC]] in the [[2007–08 UEFA Champions League|UEFA Champions League]] third qualifying round. The first leg was played on 15 August, away at the [[Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán]], where AEK were defeated by 2 goals,<ref>[http://www.scorespro.com/soccer/livescore/sevilla-vs-aek-athens/15-08-2007/ Sevilla FC&nbsp;– AEK FC: 2–0] Match report from Scorespro.com</ref> and the second leg played on 3 September, at the [[Athens Olympic Stadium]] where AEK lost again by 1–4.<ref>[http://www.scorespro.com/soccer/livescore/aek-athens-vs-sevilla/03-09-2007/ AEK FC&nbsp;– Sevilla FC : 1–4] Match report from Scorespro.com</ref>

[[File:Rivaldo.jpg|thumb|150px|[[Rivaldo]]]]

AEK completed the signings of Brazilian legend [[Rivaldo]], after he was let free from Olympiacos, [[Rodolfo Arruabarrena]], [[Charilaos Pappas|Charis Pappas]], and Argentine striker [[Ismael Blanco]]. [[Traianos Dellas]] was rewarded with a new contract, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aekfc.gr/index.asp?a_id=305&n_id=3188|title=Dellas signs new contract|website=aekfc.gr|access-date=7 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140405093405/http://www.aekfc.gr/index.asp?a_id=305&n_id=3188|archive-date=5 April 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 25 August, the [[Super League Greece|Super League]] and [[Greece football federation|EPO]] decided to postpone the opening season's games due to the [[2007 Greek fires|fire disaster]] in the [[Peloponnese]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/footballeurope/news/kind=2/newsid=574997.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011045833/http://www.uefa.com/footballeurope/news/kind=2/newsid=574997.html |url-status=dead|archive-date=11 October 2007|title=Greece postpone games|website=[[UEFA]]}}</ref><ref>[http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-1281450,00.html "National Tragedy"]</ref>

After being eliminated from the [[UEFA Champions League]], AEK were drawn to play against [[FC Red Bull Salzburg|FC Salzburg]] in the [[UEFA Cup]]. On 20 September, AEK claimed a home win over Salzburg by the scoreline of 3–0.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/uefacup/fixturesresults/round=15118/match=301417/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012225431/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/uefacup/fixturesresults/round=15118/match=301417/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 October 2007|title=AEK 3–0|website=[[UEFA]]}}</ref> In the second leg, played in [[Salzburg]] on 4 October, AEK lost the match but still went through 3–1 on aggregate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/uefacup/fixturesresults/round=15118/match=301457/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070919040501/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/uefacup/fixturesresults/round=15118/match=301457/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 September 2007|title=Salzburg – AEK|website=[[UEFA]]}}</ref> On 9 October, AEK were drawn in Group C in the UEFA Cup group stage along with [[Villarreal CF|Villarreal]], [[ACF Fiorentina|Fiorentina]], [[FK Mladá Boleslav|Mladá Boleslav]], and [[IF Elfsborg|Elfsborg]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/uefacup/news/kind=1/newsid=600044.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20071011020534/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/uefacup/news/kind%3D1/newsid%3D600044.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 October 2007|title=Past masters meet in group stage|website=[[UEFA]]}}</ref> On 25 October, AEK kicked off the group stage with a 1–1 draw away to Elfsborg.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/uefacup/fixturesresults/round=15119/match=301611/report=rp.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071027031846/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/uefacup/fixturesresults/round=15119/match=301611/report=rp.html|url-status=dead |archive-date=27 October 2007|title=AEK hold on to frustrate Elfsborg|website=[[UEFA]]}}</ref> On 29 November, AEK again drew 1–1, this time at home to Fiorentina.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/uefacup/fixturesresults/round=15119/match=301642/report=rp.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071130123849/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/uefacup/fixturesresults/round=15119/match=301642/report=rp.html|url-status=dead |archive-date=30 November 2007|title=Balzaretti own goal earns AEK a point|website=[[UEFA]]}}</ref> On 5 December, AEK won Mladá Boleslav 1–0 away<ref>[http://www.scorespro.com/soccer/livescore/mlada-boleslav-vs-aek-athens/05-12-2007/ M Boleslav– AEK Athens : 0–1] Match report from ScoresPro.com</ref> and on 20 December, AEK were defeated at home with 1–2<ref>[http://www.scorespro.com/soccer/livescore/aek-athens-vs-villarreal/20-12-2007/ AEK FC– Villareal : 1–2] Match report from Scorespro.com</ref> by Villarreal, but finally booked a place in the knockout stage of the [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]] by finishing third in the group. They were then drawn against [[Getafe CF|Getafe]] in the third round (phase of 32). AEK advanced to the third round of the UEFA Cup for the second consecutive season.

[[File:Ismael Blanco 2014.jpg|thumb|left|120px|[[Ismael Blanco]]]]

On 12 February, AEK parted company with [[Lorenzo Serra Ferrer]] after a poor run of form and unsuccessful signings<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/uefacup/news/kind=1/newsid=657089.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080213163015/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/uefacup/news/kind=1/newsid=657089.html |url-status=dead|archive-date=13 February 2008|title=AEK call time on coach Serra Ferrer|website=[[UEFA]]}}</ref> and replaced him with former player [[Nikos Kostenoglou]], on a [[Caretaker manager|caretaker basis]]. The team initially finished in first place in the league, but after the court case between [[Apollon Kalamarias F.C.|Apollon Kalamarias]] and [[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]] for the illegal usage of a player in the 1–0 Apollon Kalamarias win earlier in the season, Olympiacos was awarded 3 points, thus finishing 2 points ahead of AEK.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.uefa.com/footballeurope/news/kind=16/newsid=685259.html|title=Legal Dispute|date=20 April 2008|website=[[UEFA]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080526140338/http://www.uefa.com/footballeurope/news/kind%3D16/newsid%3D685259.html|archive-date=26 May 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

President [[Demis Nikolaidis]] and several other managers and chairmen were angered with the court's decision, stating that the [[Hellenic Football Federation]] knew about the usage of the illegal player prior to the game and had indeed issued a registration (blue card), but didn't do anything about it. Panathinaikos also challenged the result at the Court of Arbitration in Sport (CAS) with no success, as the Hellenic Federation did not support the claim. Rivaldo had stated his intention to leave Greece if the ruling went in favour of Olympiacos and AEK were not declared champions. He stated, "A team that was not good enough to win the title on the pitch does not deserve the trophy".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espnfc.com/story/527822/road-clear-for-olympiakos-to-be-named-champions|title=Road clear for Olympiakos to be named champions|work=espnfc.com|access-date=4 January 2017}}</ref>

[[Giorgos Donis]] was appointed head coach of AEK on 14 May.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aekfc.gr/index.asp?a_id=305&n_id=4184&cpage=1|title=Giorgos Donis&nbsp;– Head Coach of AEK FC |website=aekfc.gr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092324/http://www.aekfc.gr/index.asp?a_id=305&n_id=4184&cpage=1|archive-date=5 April 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> His reign at the club did not go well. It began when AEK failed to defeat [[AC Omonia]] in the UEFA Cup second qualifying round, which meant their elimination from European competitions for the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/uefacup/fixturesresults/round=15283/match=303886/report=rp.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080830012315/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/uefacup/fixturesresults/round=15283/match=303886/report=rp.html|url-status=dead |archive-date=30 August 2008|title=Omonia keep the party going in Nicosia|website=[[UEFA]]}}</ref> Rivaldo asked to leave the club to sign for [[Bunyodkor]] on 27 August.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aekfc.gr/index.asp?a_id=74&n_id=4383 |title=Rivaldo leaves club|website=aekfc.gr|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324210854/http://www.aekfc.gr/index.asp?a_id=74&n_id=4383 |archive-date=24 March 2012}}</ref>

The league campaign started very well after a win over rivals [[Panathinaikos F.C.|Panathinaikos]] in the opening game of the season,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Panathinaikos/article321416.ece|title=AEK-Panathinaikos 2–1, under the gaze of José Mourinho|website=sport24.gr|language=el|access-date=31 August 2008|archive-date=16 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516025325/http://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Panathinaikos/article321416.ece|url-status=dead}}</ref> but poor performances and results from then on left AEK in a difficult situation. Head coach Donis was eager to leave the club, but president Nikolaidis did not allow him to leave. Nevertheless, Nikolaidis left due to disappointing results and after a controversy with the club's supporters, Original 21,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aekfc.gr/index.asp?a_id=74&n_id=4584 |title=Nikolaidis Resigns|website=aekfc.gr|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324210841/http://www.aekfc.gr/index.asp?a_id=74&n_id=4584 |archive-date=24 March 2012}}</ref> leaving the presidency temporarily to the members of the board of directors, Nikos Koulis, and Takis Kanellopoulos.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aekfc.gr/index.asp?a_id=74&n_id=4584 |title=Kanellopoulos and Koulis take charge|website=aekfc.gr|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324210841/http://www.aekfc.gr/index.asp?a_id=74&n_id=4584 |archive-date=24 March 2012}}</ref>

===Financial struggle and relegation (2008–2013)===

However, the series of disappointing results continued, bringing anger and insecure situations for everyone on the team. The first to be hit by this wave of disappointment and upset with the team council was coach Donis, who was asked to leave the team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportingreece.com/kb/article.asp?fIndex=2557 |title=Donis's brief tenure at AEK is over |website=sportingreece.com |date=17 November 2008 |access-date=7 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217162426/http://www.sportingreece.com/kb/article.asp?fIndex=2557 |archive-date=17 February 2012 }}</ref> On 21 November 2008, AEK hired [[Dušan Bajević]] as head coach for third time.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aekfc.gr/index.asp?a_id=74&n_id=4638 |title=AEK FC sign Dušan Bajević|website=aekfc.gr|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214174700/http://www.aekfc.gr/index.asp?a_id=74&n_id=4638 |archive-date=14 February 2012}}</ref> However, after a while, Takis Kanellopoulos left the club, as he sparked a rivalry with Bajević.

On 4 February 2009, Nikos Thanopoulos was elected as the 41st president of AEK FC.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sportingreece.com/kb/article.asp?fIndex=2859 |title=Thanopoulos is new AEK president |website=sportingreece.com |date=4 February 2009 |access-date=7 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217162457/http://www.sportingreece.com/kb/article.asp?fIndex=2859 |archive-date=17 February 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Bajević brought some much-needed stability to the club, and performances on the pitch improved vastly towards the end of the season, culminating in AEK's progression to the [[Greek Cup]] final against Olympiacos which was played on 2 May 2009, at Athens Olympic Stadium.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sportingreece.com/kb/article.asp?fIndex=3102 |title=AEK qualify for final |website=sportingreece.com |date=8 April 2009 |access-date=7 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617000715/http://www.sportingreece.com/kb/article.asp?fIndex=3102 |archive-date=17 June 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> AEK lost in the [[Greek Cup 2008–09#Final|final]] 14–15 on penalties.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sportingreece.com/kb/article.asp?fIndex=3181 |title=Olympiakos win epic final 15–14 on pens |website=sportingreece.com |access-date=7 June 2012 |archive-date=26 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426072457/http://sportingreece.com/kb/article.asp?fIndex=3181 |url-status=dead }}</ref> AEK finished the regular season in fourth position, thus qualifying for the season's [[Super League Greece 2008–09#Play-offs|playoffs]], in which they eventually finished second, just missing out on [[UEFA Champions League]] qualification.

In the summer transfer period of 2010, AEK, despite being low on budget, managed to reinforce its ranks with many notable players. Club idols [[Nikos Liberopoulos]] and [[Traianos Dellas]] signed the last one-year contracts of their careers, and many new and experienced players signed to AEK, the most notable of whom were [[Papa Bouba Diop]], [[Cristian Nasuti]], and [[Christos Patsatzoglou]]. AEK qualified for the [[2010–11 UEFA Europa League#Group G|2010–11 Europa League group stage]] after defeating [[Dundee United F.C.|Dundee United]] 2–1 on aggregate.

[[File:Eidur Gudjohnsen.jpg|thumb|150px|[[Eidur Gudjohnsen]]]]

On 7 October 2010, [[Manuel Jimenez Jimenez|Manolo Jiménez]] agreed to a two-year deal and took over for Bajević.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=1314320.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101012025924/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=1314320.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 October 2010 |title=Jimenez to fill AEK Athens hotseat |website=FIFA.com |date=7 October 2010 |access-date=7 June 2012}}</ref>

On 30 April 2011, AEK won the Greek Cup for the 14th time, defeating 3–0 [[Atromitos F.C.|Atromitos]] at the final.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aekfc.gr/cdp/kypello-2011-45012.htm?lang=en&path=-1999443271|title=Greek Cup 2011|website=aekfc.gr}}</ref>

To compensate for the departures of [[Ignacio Scocco|Nacho Scocco]], Papa Bouba Diop, [[Sebastián Saja]], and [[Ismael Blanco]] in the summer of 2011, AEK signed the captain of [[Iceland national football team|Iceland]] [[Eiður Guðjohnsen]], and Colombian international [[Fabián Andrés Vargas|Fabián Vargas]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Gudjohnsen proud to sign for AEK Athens |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/01f3-0e78f2c30d56-224689923758-1000--gudjohnsen-proud-to-sign-for-aek-athens |website=[[UEFA]] |date=19 July 2011 |access-date=14 September 2022 |location=Online}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=AEK signs former Barcelona star Eidur Gudjohnsen |url=https://www.ekathimerini.com/sports/134859/aek-signs-former-barcelona-star-eidur-gudjohnsen |website=ekathimerini.com |access-date=14 September 2022 |location=Online}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Vargas excited to sign for AEK Athens |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/01f4-0e796420e58a-0595f3da48dd-1000--vargas-excited-to-sign-for-aek-athens |website=[[UEFA]] |date=27 August 2011 |access-date=14 September 2022 |location=Online}}</ref> Due to financial problems, on 25 June 2012, AEK legend [[Thomas Mavros]] took over the club's management and on 1 August 2012, became president in an effort to save the club from financial disaster.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iefimerida.gr/news/61774/%CE%BF-%CE%B8%CF%89%CE%BC%CE%AC%CF%82-%CE%BC%CE%B1%CF%8D%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%82-%CE%B5%CE%AF%CE%BD%CE%B1%CE%B9-%CE%BF-%CE%BD%CE%AD%CE%BF%CF%82-%CF%80%CF%81%CF%8C%CE%B5%CE%B4%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%82-%CF%84%CE%B7%CF%82-%CF%80%CE%B1%CE%B5-%CE%B1%CE%B5%CE%BA|title=Thomas Mavros is the new president of AEK|website=iefimerida.gr|language=el|access-date=1 August 2012}}</ref> Many other former AEK players like [[Vassilis Tsiartas|Vasilis Tsiartas]], [[Mimis Papaioannou]], [[Kostas Nestoridis]], [[Christos Kostis]], [[Vangelis Vlachos]], Christos Arvanitis, and Giorgos Karafeskos were hired to help the club return to its previous glory days. Due to bad results, on 30 September 2012, Vangelis Vlachos was fired and [[Ewald Lienen]] hired as AEK's head coach. On 9 April 2013, Lienen was fired after disappointing results and AEK hired Traianos Dellas as head coach with [[Vasilios Borbokis]] and [[Akis Zikos]] as assistants.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tanea.gr/2013/04/09/sports/o-dellas-neos-proponitis-tis-aek/|title=Dellas is the new coach of AEK|date=9 April 2013|website=tanea.gr|language=el|access-date=9 April 2013}}</ref>

On 19 April 2013, a Super League disciplinary committee voted to remove 3 points from AEK and award Panthrakikos a 3–0 win, after fans stormed the pitch and chased players from the field during the AEK–Panthrakikos match on 14 April 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zougla.gr/sports/article/diakopi-sto-mats-aek-pan8rakikos|title=A black page in the history of AEK|date=14 April 2013 |website=zougla.gr|language=el|access-date=14 April 2013}}</ref> As a result, AEK were relegated from the Super League to the second-tier Football League for the first time in their history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gazzetta.gr/podosfairo/article/393711-aporrifthike-i-efesi-tis-aek|title=AEK relegated!|date=25 April 2013 |website=gazzetta.gr|language=el|access-date=25 April 2013}}</ref> In addition, AEK were to start their Football League campaign with minus 2 points.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1417910/aek-athens-penalized,-relegated-for-1st-time|title=AEK Athens relegated for 1st time |website=espnfc.com |date=19 April 2013}}</ref>

===Rebirth and return to titles (2013–2018)===
[[File:Petros Mantalos.jpg|thumb|right|120px|[[Petros Mantalos]]]]

On 7 June 2013, during an AEK council, it was decided that AEK FC would become an amateur football club and would not participate in the Football League division for the 2013–14 season, preferring instead, to self-relegate and participate in the [[Football League 2 (Greece)|Football League 2]] division and start from scratch. On the same day [[Dimitris Melissanidis]], the former president of the club, became administrative leader of the club, under the supervision of [[A.E.K. (sports club)|Amateur AEK]], with the aim of saving the club. Along with other notable AEK fans and old players, they went on to create the non-profit association '''Independent Union of Friends of AEK''' ({{langx|el|Ανεξάρτητη Ένωση Φίλων ΑΕΚ}}; ''Anexártiti Énosi Fίlon AEK'') which took the majority stake of the football club.<ref>[https://www.chicagotribune.com/2013/07/10/soccer-aek-athens-prepare-to-start-from-scratch-after-bankruptcy/ Soccer-AEK Athens prepare to start from scratch after bankruptcy]</ref><ref name="contra.gr">{{cite web|url=http://www.contra.gr/Soccer/Hellas/BEth/aek/megalometoxos-ths-pae-h-enwsh-filwn-aek.3296244.html|title=Mεγαλομέτοχος της ΠΑΕ η Ένωση Φίλων ΑΕΚ|work=contra.gr|date=9 February 2015 |access-date=4 January 2017}}</ref>

[[File:Malaga trenning (1).jpg|thumb|left|120px|[[Diego Buonanotte]]]]

AEK began its revival by signing [[Traianos Dellas]] as their new head coach.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ακάλεστος |first1=Θεόδωρος |title=Ο Δέλλας νέος προπονητής της ΑΕΚ |url=https://www.tanea.gr/2013/04/09/sports/o-dellas-neos-proponitis-tis-aek |website=tanea.gr |date=9 April 2013 |access-date=23 September 2022 |location=Online |language=Greek}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Ο Δέλλας νέος προπονητής στην ΑΕΚ |url=https://www.a-sports.gr/articles-14849/o-della-neo-proponhth-sthn-aek.htm#.Yy2SzXZBy3A |website=a-sports.gr |access-date=23 September 2022 |location=Online |language=Greek}}</ref> Dellas led AEK to first place in the [[Football League 2 (Greece)|third national division]] with a record of 23 wins, 3 draws, and only one defeat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ertopen.com/news/item/19510-anebhke-sth-b%CE%84-ethnikh-h-aek|title=AEK promoted to the Football League|website=ertopen.com|language=el|access-date=27 April 2014}}</ref> The following year AEK participated in the [[2014–15 Football League (Greece)|2014–15 Football League]], finishing first and undefeated in the regular season standings. AEK successfully finished first in the playoffs and gained promotion back to the top tier, the [[Super League Greece|Greek Super League]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.protothema.gr/sports/article/479000/i-aek-epestrepse-stin-souper-liga/|title=AEK returned to the Super League!|date=25 May 2015|website=protothema.gr|language=el|access-date=25 May 2015}}</ref> The club's biggest signing after returning to the Greek Super League was that of Argentinian star [[Diego Buonanotte]], who only stayed at the club for a year.<ref>{{cite web |title=Buonanotte set to sign at AEK |url=https://www.sdna.gr/news-english/article/59353/buonanotte-set-sign-aek |website=sdna.gr |date=12 August 2015 |access-date=23 September 2022 |location=Online}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Buonanotte set to leave AEK this summer |url=https://www.sdna.gr/news-english/article/215300/buonanotte-set-leave-aek-summer |website=sdna.gr |date=24 June 2016 |access-date=23 September 2022 |location=Online}}</ref>

On 20 October 2015, Traianos Dellas was forced to resign as a result of a dispute with the board, and a heavy 4–0 away loss to [[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Γιαχανατζής |first1=Δημήτρης |title=Τέλος ο Δέλλας από την ΑΕΚ |url=https://www.ertnews.gr/athlitismos/telos-o-dellas-apo-tin-aek |website=ertnews.gr |date=20 October 2015 |access-date=23 September 2022 |location=Online |language=Greek}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Παραιτήθηκε ο Δέλλας από την ΑΕΚ - Υπηρεσιακός ο Στέλιος Μανωλάς |url=https://www.iefimerida.gr/news/231849/paraitithike-o-dellas-apo-tin-aek-ypiresiakos-o-stelios-manolas |website=iefimerida.gr |date=20 October 2015 |access-date=23 September 2022 |location=Online |language=Greek}}</ref> [[Stelios Manolas]] was named interim coach and later [[Gus Poyet]] was appointed as new head coach.<ref>{{cite web |title=Τέλος ο Δέλλας από τον πάγκο της ΑΕΚ, αναλαμβάνει ο Μανωλάς |url=https://www.tovima.gr/2015/10/20/sports/telos-o-dellas-apo-ton-pagko-tis-aek-analambanei-o-manwlas |website=tovima.gr |date=20 October 2015 |access-date=23 September 2022 |location=Online |language=Greek}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Da Silva |first1=Michael |title=GUS POYET APPOINTED AEK ATHENS MANAGER |url=https://www.eurosport.com/football/uruguayan-poyet-appointed-aek-athens-manager_sto4970559/story.shtml |website=eurosport.com |access-date=23 September 2022 |location=Online}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=CONFIRMED! Former Sunderland boss Gus Poyet returns to management with AEK Athens |url=https://talksport.com/football/339135/confirmed-former-sunderland-boss-gus-poyet-returns-management-aek-athens-151029172396 |website=talksport.com |date=29 October 2015 |access-date=23 September 2022 |location=Online}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author1=ESPN |title=AEK Athens hire former Sunderland manager Gus Poyet |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/aek-athens/story/2688399/aek-athens-hire-former-sunderland-manager-gus-poyet |website=espn.com |date=29 October 2015 |access-date=23 September 2022 |location=Online}}</ref> On 19 April, Poyet was fired by AEK Athens after being accused by the board of revealing private club conversations.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wood |first1=Graham |title=AEK owner lashes out at 'immoral' Poyet |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-greece-aek-poyet-idUKKCN0XH0LK |website=reuters.com |date=20 April 2016 |access-date=23 September 2022 |location=Online}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Choros |first1=Evgenia |title=Football Coach Gustavo Poyet Fired by AEK |url=https://greekreporter.com/2016/04/20/football-coach-gustavo-poyet-fired-by-aek |website=greekreporter.com |access-date=23 September 2022 |location=Online}}</ref> Stelios Manolas took charge as interim coach once again. Manolas managed to guide AEK to a 3rd-place finish in the league qualifying for the playoff round and also to their first piece of silverware since the 2010–11 season by lifting the [[Greek Cup]], defeating Olympiacos in the final 2–1.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aekfc.gr/newsdetails/telikos-kypellou-elladas-olympiakos-aek-20-30-47794.htm?lang=en&path=-637531542|title=AEK won Greek Cup! < NEWS - AEK F.C. official website|work=aekfc.gr|access-date=4 January 2017}}</ref> With the postponement of the final on two separate occasions and the congested fixture list of the playoff round, AEK had to play a fixture every three days, which evidently took its toll on the players, but they finished third in the playoffs and qualified for the [[2016–17 UEFA Europa League]] Third Qualifying Round. The first season back in the top flight was considered a success with a trophy and qualification for European football the following season, a return after a five-year hiatus.

[[File:Dmytro Chygrynskyi (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|120px|[[Dmytro Chyhrynskyi]]]]
[[File:Joleon Lescott 20120611.jpg|thumb|120px|[[Joleon Lescott]]]]

The new season started with high expectations by AEK Athens fans as the club signed [[Dmytro Chyhrynskyi]], [[Hugo Almeida]] and [[Joleon Lescott]], announcing three of the biggest transfers in their history.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kaperonis |first1=Sarantos |title=AEK COMPLETES 2ND SIGNING WITH CHYGRYNSKIY |url=https://www.agonasport.com/agonasport-allnews/2016/6/12/aek-completes-2nd-signing-with-chygrynskiy |website=agonasport.com |access-date=14 September 2022 |location=Online |archive-date=14 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220914235437/https://www.agonasport.com/agonasport-allnews/2016/6/12/aek-completes-2nd-signing-with-chygrynskiy |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Treadwell |first1=Matthew |title=Aston Villa defender Joleon Lescott joins AEK Athens on two-year deal |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11677/10556926/aston-villa-defender-joleon-lescott-joins-aek-athens-on-two-year-deal |website=skysports.com |access-date=14 September 2022 |location=Online}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Lescott joins AEK |url=https://www.ekathimerini.com/sports/211553/lescott-joins-aek |website=ekathimerini.com |access-date=14 September 2022 |location=Online}}</ref> Unfortunately, the 34-year-old English defender suffered a knee detached cartilage while cycling in his apartment. The injury ruled Lescott out for the remainder of the season. The player refused to get help from the team's doctors and insisted on completing his rehabilitation in the United Kingdom. The board did not agree to the player's wishes and additional demands, which resulted in his contract being terminated.<ref>{{cite web |title=Joleon Lescott leaves AEK Athens after less than three months |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/aek-athens/story/3003762/ex-england-defender-joleon-lescott-leaves-aek-athens-after-less-than- |website=espn.com |date=24 November 2016 |access-date=14 September 2022 |location=Online}}</ref> This outcome led what it until then seemed to be a powerful defending duo to a midsummer night's nightmare. In addition, a 0–1 aggregate loss to [[AS Saint-Étienne]] in the Europa League qualifiers brought disappointment to fans' dreams of European participation.<ref>{{cite web |title=AEK (GRE) 0 - 1 St-Étienne (FRA) |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/2020397--aek-vs-st-etienne |website=[[UEFA]] |access-date=14 September 2022 |location=Online}}</ref> Nevertheless, AEK defeated [[Xanthi F.C.|Xanthi]] 4–1 in the first match of the season, raising hopes for domestic success.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gazzetta.gr/football/article/978309/aek-xanthi-4-1|title=First match in the Super League of 2016|date=11 September 2016 |website=gazzetta.gr|language=el|access-date=11 September 2016}}</ref> However, the decision was made to replace [[Temur Ketsbaia]] with [[José Morais]];<ref>[http://www.aekfc.gr/newsdetails/symfonia-me-zoze-morais-48945.htm?lang=en&path=999364705 José Morais new head coach]</ref> the decision was based on the team's stuttering start to the season, 3 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses, and poor displays. José's arrival, however, did not improve the team's results or performances, winning only three of his fourteen matches as manager. On 19 January 2017, former manager [[Manolo Jiménez (footballer, born 1964)|Manolo Jiménez]] was appointed as manager for the second time following José's resignation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/1195672/aek-ximeneth-kai-me-ti-boula|title=AEK: Jiménez officially back|date=19 January 2017|website=naftemporiki.gr|language=el|access-date=19 January 2017}}</ref> Upon his appointment he got the team from 7th place up to a 4th-place finish, and first place in the European Playoffs, claiming second place in the league overall and qualifying for the [[UEFA Champions League]] Third qualifying round. Jiménez also guided the team to a second consecutive [[2016–17 Greek Football Cup|Greek Cup final]] where they faced [[PAOK FC|PAOK]] in a controversial game marred by pre-match violence between the two sets of fans and a winning goal from an offside position.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newsbeast.gr/sports/arthro/2691588/paretithike-telika-o-epoptis-pou-ekane-to-lathos-ston-teliko-kipellou|title=The supervisor who made the mistake in the Greek Cup final resigned|website=newsbeast.gr|language=el|access-date=12 May 2015}}</ref>

====UEFA Europa League unbeaten run and Greek champions====
[[File:Manolo Jimenez CSKA Moscow.jpg|thumb|left|90px|[[Manolo Jiménez (footballer, born 1964)|Manolo Jiménez]]]]

The third season back in the top flight began with a tough draw in the Champions League Third qualifying round versus [[CSKA Moscow]], ending in a 3–0 aggregate loss. The defeat meant AEK were demoted to the [[Europa League]] play-off round where they were pitted against Belgians [[Club Brugge]]. A 0–0 draw in Brugge in the first leg and a 3–0 win in the return in Athens meant that AEK qualified for the group stages of a major European competition for the first time in 6 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://greekmoney.gr/%CE%BC%CE%B5%CF%84%CE%AC-%CE%B1%CF%80%CF%8C-6-%CF%87%CF%81%CF%8C%CE%BD%CE%B9%CE%B1-%CE%B7-%CE%B1%CE%B5%CE%BA-%CE%B5%CF%80%CE%B9%CF%83%CF%84%CF%81%CE%AD%CF%86%CE%B5%CE%B9-%CF%83%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%85%CF%82/|title=After 6 years, AEK returns to the UEFA Europa League group stage|website=greekmoney.gr|language=el|access-date=14 September 2017|archive-date=14 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914151228/http://greekmoney.gr/%ce%bc%ce%b5%cf%84%ce%ac-%ce%b1%cf%80%cf%8c-6-%cf%87%cf%81%cf%8c%ce%bd%ce%b9%ce%b1-%ce%b7-%ce%b1%ce%b5%ce%ba-%ce%b5%cf%80%ce%b9%cf%83%cf%84%cf%81%ce%ad%cf%86%ce%b5%ce%b9-%cf%83%cf%84%ce%bf%cf%85%cf%82/|url-status=dead}}</ref> They were seeded in pot 4 and drawn along with [[AC Milan]], [[HNK Rijeka]] and [[Austria Wien]]. AEK would go on to qualify for the round of 32 undefeated, a statement that solidified their return as one of Europe's elite teams, with a record of 1 win and 5 draws, the most notable being the two back-to-back 0–0 draws versus AC Milan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/europa-league-table/2017|title=Europa League – Group D 2017/18|website=skysports.com}}</ref> In the Round of 32 AEK were drawn against Ukrainian giants [[Dynamo Kyiv]]. AEK were better than their opponents, but also were unlucky and lost after two draws and on away goal rule. The first match took place in [[Olympic Stadium (Athens)|Athens]], with a 1–1 draw and the second game in [[Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex|Kyiv]], finished 0–0.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/2022178--dynamo-kyiv-vs-aek-athens/|title=Dynamo Kyiv-AEK 0–0|website=[[UEFA]]|access-date=22 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/2022162--aek-athens-vs-dynamo-kyiv/|title=AEK-Dynamo Kyiv 1–1|website=[[UEFA]]|access-date=15 February 2018}}</ref> In April, AEK won their 12th Greek championship, by recording a 2–0 home win against [[Levadiakos F.C.|Levadiakos]] in front of 60,000 fans. This was their first championship after 24 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.protothema.gr/sports/article/780967/aek/|title=AEK-Levadiakos 2–0: AEK's champion in front of 60,000 fans|work=protothema.gr|date=22 April 2018|access-date=22 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gazzetta.gr/football/superleague/article/1222296/aek-levadeiakos-2-0|title=Bakasetas scores the goals of historical win|work=gazzetta.gr|date=22 April 2018 |access-date=22 April 2018}}</ref> AEK were crowned champions in front of 14,500 of their fans in the last matchday against [[Apollon Smyrnis F.C.|Apollon Smyrnis]] at [[Georgios Kamaras Stadium]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.myvolos.net/%CE%BA%CE%B9%CF%84%CF%81%CE%B9%CE%BD%CF%8C%CE%BC%CE%B1%CF%85%CF%81%CE%B7-%CE%B7-%CF%81%CE%B9%CE%B6%CE%BF%CF%8D%CF%80%CE%BF%CE%BB%CE%B7-%CE%B7-%CF%83%CF%84%CE%AD%CF%88%CE%B7-%CF%84%CE%B7%CF%82/|title=Rizoupoli in "Yellow-Blacks"-The coronation of AEK in pictures|work=myvolos.net|access-date=21 October 2018|archive-date=21 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181021190806/http://www.myvolos.net/%CE%BA%CE%B9%CF%84%CF%81%CE%B9%CE%BD%CF%8C%CE%BC%CE%B1%CF%85%CF%81%CE%B7-%CE%B7-%CF%81%CE%B9%CE%B6%CE%BF%CF%8D%CF%80%CE%BF%CE%BB%CE%B7-%CE%B7-%CF%83%CF%84%CE%AD%CF%88%CE%B7-%CF%84%CE%B7%CF%82/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sportdog.gr/sports/podosfairo/article/452841/live-h-fiesta-ths-aek-se-rizoypolh-kai-nea-filadelfeia|title=AEK's historical fiesta – Everything from the unforgettable celebration|work=sportdog.gr|date=6 May 2018 |access-date=6 May 2018}}</ref>

====UEFA Champions League return and consecutive Greek Cup finals====

The 2018–19 season was the season that AEK returned to the groups of the UEFA Champions League, for the 5th time in the club's history after eliminating [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] (3–2 on aggregate) and [[Fehérvár FC|MOL Vidi]] (3–2 on aggregate) in the qualifying stages.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Walker |first1=Ron |title=AEK Athens 2-1 Celtic (agg 3-2): Goals in either half end Champions League dream for Brendan Rodgers |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11945/11472796/aek-athens-2-1-celtic-agg-3-2-goals-in-either-half-end-champions-league-dream-for-brendan-rodgers |website=skysports.com |access-date=9 September 2022 |location=Online}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author1=ESPN |title=Celtic bounced from Champions League by AEK Athens; Benfica reach playoffs |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/uefa-champions-league/story/3597270/celtic-bounced-from-champions-league-by-aek-athens-benfica-reach-playoffs |website=espn.com |date=14 August 2018 |access-date=9 September 2022 |location=Online}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author1=ESPN |title=Ajax, Young Boys, AEK Athens reach Champions League group stage |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/uefa-champions-league/story/3615921/uefa-champions-league-ajaxyoung-boysaek-athens-reach-group-stage |website=espn.com |date=28 August 2018 |access-date=9 September 2022 |location=Online}}</ref>

Led by former [[Panathinaikos F.C.|Panathinaikos]]' manager, [[Marinos Ouzounidis]], AEK were drawn in Group E against [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]], [[S.L. Benfica|Benfica]] and [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]] but failed to make an impact after losing all six matches.<ref>{{cite web |author1=ESPN |title=UEFA Champions League Table 2018-19 |url=https://www.espn.ph/football/table/_/league/UEFA.CHAMPIONS/season/2018 |website=espn.ph |access-date=9 September 2022 |location=Online}}</ref>

Key players [[Jakob Johansson]], [[Lazaros Christodoulopoulos]], [[Sergio Araujo]] and [[Ognjen Vranješ]], as well as manager [[Manuel Jiménez Jiménez|Manolo Jiménez]], who were essential to the triumphant 2017–18 season, left the club, and most transfers failed to improve the team. Greek international [[Marios Oikonomou]] and Argentine striker [[Ezequiel Ponce]] were the only newcomers who managed to make an impact on an overall disappointing season (3rd place, 23 points behind 1st PAOK and 18 points behind 2nd Olympiacos – third consecutive cup final loss from PAOK, 1–0).<ref>{{cite web |title=Συνολικά στατιστικά ομάδων 2018-19 |url=https://www.slgr.gr/el/statistics/tables/teams/17/79 |website=slgr.gr |access-date=15 September 2022 |location=Online |language=Greek}}</ref>

2017–18 champions, Ognjen Vranješ and Sergio Araujo returned to Athens, and some other notable additions included Portuguese international [[Nélson Oliveira]] and Serbian midfielder [[Nenad Krstičić]]. The 2019–20 season started catastrophically, with an early Europa League elimination by the Turkish side [[Trabzonspor]] (1–3 in Athens, 0–2 in Trabzon, 3–3 on aggregate) and disappointing domestic results. New manager [[Miguel Cardoso (football manager)|Miguel Cardoso]] was sacked quickly and replaced with the club's veteran player and manager, [[Nikos Kostenoglou]] who was also later replaced by Italian manager [[Massimo Carrera]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 August 2019 |title=AEK Athens name Italian Carrera coach |url=https://www.mondefootball.fr/nouvelles/_n3887527_/aek-athens-name-italian-carrera-coach/ |access-date=3 June 2024 |website=mondefootball.fr}}</ref>

Under Carrera, AEK regained the confidence lost from the previous season and a half of bad results. Before the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, AEK was 3rd in the regular season and in the semi-finals of the Greek Cup (2–1 home victory against [[Aris Thessaloniki F.C.|Aris]] in the first leg). Later they would reach the final for the fifth time in a row. However, they lost 1–0 to [[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]].

After the draw for the [[2020–21 UEFA Europa League#Third qualifying round|Europa League third qualifying round]], AEK Athens got [[VfL Wolfsburg]] at the Play-off round and won 2–1 at the Athens Olympic Stadium, securing qualification to the Group stage.<ref>{{cite web |title=AEK (GRE) 2–1 Wolfsburg (GER) |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/2030545/ |website=[[UEFA]] |access-date=2 October 2020}}</ref>
However, AEK's campaign results in the Europa League as well as the first half of the domestic Super League were lackluster, the European campaign being one of their worst ever, only recording 1 win in the group stages. In December, Massimo Carrera was relieved of his duties and replaced by Manolo Jiménez, previous Super League and Greek Cup winner with AEK – his fourth term at the club.<ref>{{cite web |author1=ΤοΒΗΜΑ Team |title=Επίσημο: Επέστρεψε στην ΑΕΚ ο Μανόλο Χιμένεθ |url=https://www.tovima.gr/2020/12/27/sports/episimo-epestrepse-stin-aek-o-manolo-ximeneth |website=tovima.gr |date=27 December 2020 |access-date=9 September 2022 |location=Online |language=Greek}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author1=TANEA Team |title=Επίσημο: Επέστρεψε στην ΑΕΚ ο Μανόλο Χιμένεθ |url=https://www.tanea.gr/2020/12/27/sports/episimo-epestrepse-stin-aek-o-manolo-ximeneth |website=tanea.gr |date=27 December 2020 |access-date=9 September 2022 |location=Online |language=Greek}}</ref>

===Homecoming with new beginning (2022–2024)===

[[File:Djibril Sidibé World Cup Trophy.jpg|left|thumb|180px|[[Djibril Sidibé (footballer, born 1992)|Djibril Sidibé]]]]

[[File:Vida Dynamo 2015.jpg|thumb|120px|[[Domagoj Vida]]]]

Hoping to rebuild, AEK acquired the services of [[Vladan Milojević]]. However, his tenure ended early, with AEK Athens being disqualified on penalties by Bosnia and Herzegovina club, [[FK Velež Mostar|Velež Mostar]] in 2021–22 [[2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League#Second qualifying round|Europa Conference League second qualifying round]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaconferenceleague/match/2032836/|title=Velež (BIH) 2 - 1 AEK (GRE)|website=[[UEFA]]|access-date=9 September 2022|location=Online}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaconferenceleague/match/2032890/|title=AEK (GRE) 1 - 0 Velež (BIH) (2-3p)|website=[[UEFA]]|access-date=9 September 2022|location=Online}}</ref> Barely making it to Christmas, Milojevic's head was turned by an offer from the Middle East,{{according to whom|date=November 2025}} and AEK dismissed him. They hired the Greek coach [[Argiris Giannikis]], who managed PAS Giannina successfully prior to his appointment. However, his time at AEK was short and once again, he was dismissed, with AEK B coach [[Sokratis Ofrydopoulos]] managing AEK through a turbulent play-off period and an exclusion from Europe. [[Matías Almeyda]] became AEK's new coach.

Ahead of the 2022–23 season and AEK's entry into [[Agia Sophia Stadium]], AEK underwent another rebuild under the leadership of Matias Almeyda. Signed as coach towards the end of the 2021–22 season but only taking over in the 2022–23 pre-season, Almeyda played a significant part in AEK's 2022–23 success. Instilling a high-pressing, tireless, and attractive style of attacking football, he established AEK as the best team in Greece along with Panathinaikos, themselves under the leadership of Ivan Jovanovic.{{citation needed|date=November 2025}} Despite initial losses, Almeyda gave AEK great derby victories and team cohesion. Overcoming Panathinaikos' early-season unbeaten run, being 8 points behind the league leaders, AEK were level on points with Panathinaikos in the playoff round. Notably, AEK defeated PAOK 2–0 at home, 1–0 away, Panathinaikos 1–0, Olympiacos 3–0 in the Greek Cup (reaching the final with PAOK), and 3–1 away. They also underwent a 14-game win-streak at their new stadium, the Agia Sofia or OPAP Arena stadium.{{citation needed|date=November 2025}}

The newly built stadium is located in the place where the old [[Nikos Goumas Stadium]] was situated, at [[Nea Filadelfeia]]. The Agia Sophia Stadium, also known as OPAP Arena for sponsoring reasons, is a [[UEFA stadium categories|category 4 UEFA stadium]] and can host 32,500 spectators. The net construction cost is estimated around [[Euro|€]] 81,700,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.contra.gr/Soccer/Hellas/Superleague/aek/olo-to-sxedio-xrhmatodothshs-toy-ghpedoy-ths-aek.2677261.html|title=Όλο το σχέδιο χρηματοδότησης του γηπέδου της ΑΕΚ|date=7 March 2013|access-date=28 August 2015|lang=el|trans-title=The whole plan of funding for A.E.K stadium|archive-date=28 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180728071053/https://www.contra.gr/Soccer/Hellas/Superleague/aek/olo-to-sxedio-xrhmatodothshs-toy-ghpedoy-ths-aek.2677261.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The administrative region of Attica funded the stadium with the amount of [[Euro|€]] 20,000,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.contra.gr/Soccer/Hellas/Superleague/aek/perifereia-attikhs-20-ek-eyrw-gia-to-neo-ghpedo-ths-aek.2301917.html|title=Περιφέρεια Αττικής: "20 εκ. ευρώ για το νέο γήπεδο της ΑΕΚ"|date=20 June 2013|access-date=28 August 2015|lang=el|trans-title=Administrative Region of Attica: "20 million for A.E.K stadium"}}</ref> The stadium's opening ceremony took place on 30 September 2022.<ref name="neogipedo">{{cite web|url=https://www.kathimerini.gr/athletics/562019404/aek-stis-30-septemvrioy-ta-egkainia-toy-neoy-gipedoy|title=ΑΕΚ: Στις 30 Σεπτεμβρίου τα εγκαίνια του νέου γηπέδου|website=kathimerini.gr|date=30 August 2022 |access-date=9 September 2022|location=Online|lang=el}}</ref><ref name="ΑΕΚ: Επέστρεψε στο «σπίτι» της, σε βραδιά-όνειρο - Ποδόσφαιρο - Super League 1 - A.E.K. | sport-fm.gr: bwinΣΠΟΡ FM 94.6">{{cite web|url=https://www.sport-fm.gr/article/podosfairo/superleague1/aek-egkainia/4328212|title=Η ΑΕΚ επέστρεψε στο «σπίτι» της, σε βραδιά-όνειρο|website=sport-fm.gr|access-date=3 October 2022|location=Online|lang=el}}</ref><ref name="ΑΕΚ: Ολο το βίντεο των εγκαινίων της Αγια-Σοφιάς-OPAP Arena - Ποδόσφαιρο - Super League 1 - A.E.K. | sport-fm.gr: bwinΣΠΟΡ FM 94.6">{{cite web|url=https://www.sport-fm.gr/article/podosfairo/superleague1/aek-olo-to-bideo-twn-egkainiwn-tis-agia-sofias-Opap-Arena/4328407|title=Ολόκληρο το βίντεο των εγκαινίων της «Αγια-Σοφιάς - OPAP Arena»: Δείτε ξανά τη μεγάλη γιορτή!|website=sport-fm.gr|access-date=3 October 2022|location=Online|lang=el}}</ref> AEK Athens beat [[Ionikos F.C.|Ionikos]] 4–1 in the inaugural match on 3 October 2022, which was the sixth fixture of the 2022–23 [[Greece Super League|Greek Super League]].<ref name="ΑΕΚ-Ιωνικός: 4-1 - Ποδόσφαιρο - Super League 1 - Ιωνικός - A.E.K. | sport-fm.gr: bwinΣΠΟΡ FM 94.6">{{cite web|url=https://www.sport-fm.gr/article/podosfairo/superleague1/aek-iwnikos-4-1/4328915|title=Επιστροφή στο σπίτι με τεσσάρα για την εκκωφαντική ΑΕΚ!|last1=Μουσουράκης |first1=Μανώλης|website=sport-fm.gr|access-date=3 October 2022|location=Online|lang=el}}</ref>

In the summer transfer window of the 2022–23 season, AEK Athens announced the signing of two famous football players who played as opponents in the [[2018 FIFA World Cup]] final in Russia. The first player was the Croatian center-back [[Domagoj Vida]] who previously played for [[Süper Lig]] side [[Beşiktaş J.K.|Beşiktaş]], and the second player was the French right-back [[Djibril Sidibé (footballer, born 1992)|Djibril Sidibé]], most recently of [[Ligue 1]] club [[AS Monaco FC|Monaco]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aekfc.gr/newsdetails/stin-aek-o-ntomagkoi-vinta-128101.htm?lang=en&path=1629508024|title=Domagoj Vida signed for AEK FC!|website=aekfc.gr|access-date=31 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aekfc.gr/newsdetails/stin-aek-o-tzimpril-sintimpe-128249.htm?lang=en&path=557224377|title=Djibril Sidibe signed for AEK FC!|website=aekfc.gr|access-date=9 September 2022|location=Online}}</ref> The latter was the most valuable player to have ever arrived at the club with a market value of [[Euro|€]] 8,000,000, surpassing the previous record holder [[Juanfran (footballer, born 1976)|Juanfran]] by [[Euro|€]] 2,000,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aek365.org/a-879996/prwto-thema-sto-transfermarkt-h-metagrafh-sintimpe-sthn-aek.htm|title=Πρώτο θέμα στο Transfermarkt η μεταγραφή Σιντιμπέ στην ΑΕΚ|website=aek365.org|date=9 September 2022 |access-date=9 September 2022|location=Online|lang=el}}</ref> Sidibé is also the fifth World Cup winner to play in the Greek Super League, after Frenchman [[Christian Karembeu]] and Brazilian players [[Rivaldo]], [[Gilberto Silva]] and [[Denílson (footballer, born 1977)|Denilson]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gazzetta.gr/football/superleague/2148909/tzimpril-sintimpe-o-5os-oi-pagkosmioi-protathlites-poy-kosmisan|title=Τζιμπρίλ Σιντιμπέ ο... 5ος: Οι Παγκόσμιοι Πρωταθλητές που κόσμησαν το ελληνικό πρωτάθλημα|website=gazzetta.gr|last1=Χάλαρης|first1=Νότης|date=7 September 2022 |access-date=12 September 2022|location=Online|lang=el}}</ref> 

AEK Athens were crowned champions on 14 May 2023, after beating [[Volos F.C.|Volos]] 4–0 to seal the title, 5 points ahead of second place [[Panathinaikos F.C.|Panathinaikos]]. AEK Athens thus won their 13th championship and the first in Nea Filadelfeia since 1994. On 25 May 2023, AEK Athens defeated [[PAOK FC|PAOK]] 2–0 in the [[2022–23 Greek Football Cup|2022–23 Greek Cup]] final to win the title and seal the double for the first time since 1978. The following season, AEK Athens went head-to-head throughout the whole season against PAOK, and ended up losing a potential second consecutive title, on the final game of the season, staying two points behind the first place. They lost in the Round of 16 of the Greek Cup against [[Aris Thessaloniki F.C.|Aris]] on penalties, and were eliminated in the group stage of the [[UEFA Europa League]], against [[AFC Ajax]], [[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.]] and [[Olympique de Marseille]].

===The Marios Iliopoulos era (2024–present)===
Following an ultimately disappointing season for AEK and a missed chance to win a second consecutive league title, major shareholder and owner [[Dimitris Melissanidis]] announced his departure from the club's ownership on June 10, 2024, selling his shares to [[Seajets]] owner, [[Marios Iliopoulos (Greek businessman)|Marios Iliopoulos]] for a seeming €90 million. At his final interview, Melissanidis stated that he "had completed his part and brought AEK back to the top, with a new stadium, a competitive team in Greek and European football, and zero debt".{{citation needed|date=November 2025}}

At an Iliopoulos presentation,{{when|date=November 2025}} he stated he wanted a competitive team that will dominate Greek football and become a significant European power, while also focusing on the one thing AEK was lacking in, their academies. On a question regarding an increase on the transfer budget and a change on the current transfer policy, he urged AEK fans to "put on their seatbelts slowly and enjoy it".{{citation needed|date=November 2025}} Not long after, Iliopoulos sold [[Ezequiel Ponce]] for a club record €9,000,000, while signing players such as [[Roberto Pereyra]], [[Erik Lamela]] and [[Thomas Strakosha]] with club record contract fees.{{citation needed|date=November 2025}}

The season, however, started with an early elimination of AEK from the Conference Cup by [[FC Noah]].<ref>{{cite web |title=AEK: €350,000 Fine Imposed on Players by Iliopoulos |url=https://en.protothema.gr/2024/08/27/aek-e350000-fine-imposed-on-players-by-iliopoulos/ |website=protothema |date=27 August 2024 |access-date=30 August 2024}}</ref>

On 19 September 2024, the club announced ex [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] player, [[Anthony Martial]], on a three-year deal.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 19, 2024 |title=Έσκασε το μπαμ με Μαρσιάλ: «Ευκαιρία για εμένα η ΑΕΚ» |url=https://www.sport-fm.gr/article/podosfairo/superleague1/aek-anakoinwse-ton-adoni-marsial-eukairia-gia-emena-i-aek/5006050 |website=sport-fm.gr |language=el |quote=Το super deal με τον Αντονί Μαρσιάλ επισημοποίησε η ΑΕΚ! Οι «κιτρινόμαυροι» ανακοίνωσαν την απόκτηση του Γάλλου σούπερ σταρ, ο οποίος υπέγραψε συμβόλαιο διάρκειας 3 ετών.}}</ref> This is the club's highest valued player arrival, with an estimate of €10m. In October 2024 they announced the signing of [[Javier Ribalta]] as their new [[Executive director|Executive Director]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-08 |title=' Ultimately Javier Ribalta is the new AEK football director... |url=https://athens-times.com/ultimately-javier-ribalta-is-the-new-aek-football-director/ |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=Athens Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

In the [[2024–25 Super League Greece|2024–25 Super League]], AEK finished fourth resulting in the announcement of coach [[Matías Almeyda]]'s departure after the end of the season.<ref>{{cite web |title=AEK officially announces the departure of Almeida |url=https://en.protothema.gr/2025/05/13/aek-officially-announces-the-departure-of-almeida/ |website=Proto Thema |date=13 May 2025 |access-date=26 June 2025}}</ref>

==Crest==
[[File:Device of the Palaiologos Dynasty.svg|thumb|150px|[[Palaiologos]] dynasty and [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantium]] emblem]]

In 1924, AEK adopted the image of a [[double-headed eagle]] ({{lang|el|Δικέφαλος Αετός}}; Dikéfalos Aetós) as their emblem. Created by [[Greeks|Greek]] refugees from [[Constantinople]] in the years following the [[Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922)|Greco-Turkish War]] and subsequent [[Population exchange between Greece and Turkey|population exchange]], the emblem and colours (yellow and black) of AEK were chosen as a reminder of lost homelands; they represent the club's historical ties to Constantinople. The double-headed eagle is featured in the flag of the various entities of the [[Greek Orthodox Church]], whose [[Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople|headquarters are in Constantinople]], and served as [[Byzantine heraldry|Imperial emblem]] under the [[Palaiologos]] dynasty, which was the last one to rule the [[Byzantine Empire]].

AEK's main emblem underwent numerous minor changes between 1924 and 1982. The design of the eagle on the shirt badge was often not identical to the design of the eagle depicted on official club correspondence, merchandise, and promotional material. All designs were considered "official" (in the broadest sense of the word), however, it was not until 1982 that an identifiable, copyrighted design was established as the club's official, and shirt badge. The emblem design was changed in 1989, again in 1993, and again in 2013 to the current design.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://oneloveaek.blogspot.com/2014/09/blog-post.html|title=The story of an emblem|publisher=oneloveaek.blogspot.com|language=el|access-date=1 September 2014}}</ref>

==Anthem of AEK==
AEK's club anthem, '''Embrós tis AEK Palikária''' (Advance AEK's Lads), was composed by [[Stelios Kazantzidis]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sportdog.gr/sports/podosfairo/article/476410/h-latreia-toy-kazantzidh-gia-thn-aek-ndash-o-ymnos-ths-enwshs-kai-h-paraligo-hellip-kloph-toy-papa-wannoy|title=The worship of Kazantzidis for AEK – The anthem of the Union|date=14 September 2018 |publisher=sportdog.gr|language=el}}</ref> The lyrics were written by Christos Kolokotronis. The most popular version of the anthem is sung by ex-football player [[Mimis Papaioannou]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onsports.gr/Podosfairo/Podosfairo-Afierwmata/item/47068-Anastenazoyn-ta-gkolpost%E2%80%A6|title=AEK's anthem|date=12 April 2011|publisher=Onsports.gr|language=el}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
!: Εμπρός της ΑΕΚ παλληκάρια
:Σουτάρετε και σπάστε τα δοκάρια
:Τα δίχτυα σκίστε 
:Τη δόξα κατακτήστε
:Νικήστε, νικήστε, νικήστε!<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.greeklyrics.gr/stixoi/umnos-ths-aek/ | title=Ύμνος της ΑΕΚ }}</ref>
|-
!: Let's go AEK's lads
:Shoot the ball and break the posts
:Tear the nets
:Conquer the glory
:Win, win, win!
|-
|}

==Kit and colours==
The colours of yellow/gold and black were adopted due to AEK's connections with [[Constantinople]] and the [[Byzantine Empire]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aekfc.gr/index.asp?a_id=319 |title=Colours info |work=aekfc.gr |access-date=20 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080331113307/http://www.aekfc.gr/index.asp?a_id=319 |archive-date=31 March 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

AEK have almost always worn predominantly gold or yellow shirts and black shorts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aek-live.gr/afieroma-stis-faneles-tis-aek/|title=The story of kit of AEK|date=5 June 2018|publisher=aek-live.gr|language=el}}</ref> An exception was the unusual but popular [[Kappa (company)|Kappa]] kits of the 1990s, which featured a large two-headed eagle motif across the kit.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.contra.gr/multimedia/videos/h-kaluterh-fanela-ths-aek-olwn-twn-epoxwn.1540652.html|title=The best jersey of AEK, of all time|date=17 December 2011 |publisher=contra.gr|language=el}}</ref>

AEK's traditional away colours are all-black or all-white; on a few occasions, the club has worn a third kit of light blue, silver, dark red, or [[Tyrian purple]] (''porphyra'', a type of reddish purple), inspired by the use of the colour on the Byzantine war flag and by Byzantine imperial dynasties.<ref>[http://portfolio.contra.gr/faneles-aek Φανέλες ΑΕΚ] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151029043344/http://portfolio.contra.gr/faneles-aek |date=29 October 2015 }}</ref>

==Shirt sponsors and manufacturers==
Since 1 June 2021, AEK's kit has been manufactured by Nike. Previous manufacturers have been [[Adidas]] (1974–75, 1977–83 and 2005–07), Zita Hellas (1983–89), [[Diadora]] (1989–93), Basic (1993–95), [[Kappa (company)|Kappa]] (1995–2000), [[Puma AG|Puma]] (1975–77 and 2007–15) and [[Capelli Sport|Capelli]] (2018–21).

Starting in 2015, the club's main shirt sponsors are [[OPAP]], which also sponsored them in 2010–14. Previous shirt sponsors have been [[Citizen Holdings|Citizen]] (1982–83), [[Nissan Motors|Nissan]] (1983–85), Ethniki Asfalistiki (1985–93 and 1995–96), Phoenix Asfaleies (1993–95), [[Geniki Bank]] (1996–98), [[Firestone Tire and Rubber Company|Firestone]] (1999), [[Marfin Investment Group]] (1999–2001), [[Alpha TV|Alpha Digital]] (2001–02), [[Piraeus Bank]] (2002–04), [[WIND Hellas|TIM]] (2004–06), [[LG Corp.|LG]] (2006–08), [[Diners Club International|Diners Club]] (2009–10), and [[Jeep]] (2014–15).

[[File:AEK Shirt 2nd and 3rd 2008-2009.jpg|thumb|240px|Alternative AEK shirts (2008–09)]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;margin-left:1em"
|-
! Period
! Kit manufacturer
! Shirt sponsor
|-
| 1974–1975
| [[Adidas]]
| rowspan=3|&nbsp;—
|-
| 1975–1976
| [[Puma SE|Puma]]
|-
| 1976–1982
| rowspan=2| Adidas<ref>[http://www.enwsi.gr/retro-aek/to-deftero-vima-pros-to-oniro-video/ enwsi.gr] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708174958/http://www.enwsi.gr/retro-aek/to-deftero-vima-pros-to-oniro-video/ |date=8 July 2015 }} {{in lang|el}}</ref>
|-
| 1982–1983
| [[Citizen Holdings|Citizen]]
|-
| 1983–1985
| rowspan=2| Zita Hellas
| [[Nissan Motors|Nissan]]
|-
| 1985–1989
| rowspan=2| Ethniki Asfalistiki
|-
| 1989–1993
| [[Diadora]]
|-
| 1993–1995
| Basic
| Phoenix Asfaleies
|-
| 1995
| [[Kappa (company)|Kappa]]
| Ethniki Asfalistiki
|-
| 1995
| Diadora<ref>[http://portfolio.contra.gr/faneles-aek contra.gr] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151029043344/http://portfolio.contra.gr/faneles-aek |date=29 October 2015 }} {{in lang|el}}</ref>
| |&nbsp;—
|-
| 1995–1996
| rowspan=4| Kappa
| Ethniki Asfalistiki
|-
| 1996–1998
| [[General Bank of Greece]]
|-
| 1999
| [[Firestone Tire and Rubber Company|Firestone]]
|-
| 1999–2000
| rowspan=2| [[Marfin Investment Group]]
|-
| 2000–2001
| rowspan=4| [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]]
|-
| 2001–2002
| [[Alpha TV|Alpha Digital]]
|-
| 2002–2004
| [[Piraeus Bank]]
|-
| 2004
| rowspan=2| [[WIND Hellas|TIM]]
|-
| 2005–2006
| rowspan=2| Adidas
|-
| 2006–2007
| rowspan=2| [[LG Corp.|LG]]
|-
| 2007–2009
| rowspan=5| Puma
|-
| 2009–2010
| [[Diners Club International|Diners Club]]
|-
| 2010–2013
| [[OPAP|Kino]]
|-
| 2013–2014
| [[OPAP|Tzoker]]
|-
| 2014–2015
| [[Jeep]]
|-
| 2015–2018
| Nike
| rowspan=3| [[OPAP|Pame Stoixima]]
|-
| 2018–2021
| [[Capelli Sport|Capelli]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Capelli Sport the official kit sponsor of AEK FC |url=https://www.aekfc.gr/newsdetails/h-capelli-sport-chorigos-athlitikou-imatismou-tis-aek-52666.htm?lang=en&path=1402718020 |website=www.aekfc.gr |access-date=9 June 2018 |location=Online |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| 2021–
| Nike
|-
|}

==Financial information==
[[Loukas Barlos]], a successful [[bauxite]] Mine Owner, was also owner and president since 1974, and was in charge when Greek football turned professional in 1979. In 1981, due to health problems, he passed his shares to [[Andreas Zafiropoulos]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.enwsi.gr/retro-aek/epochi-zita-stin-aek/|title="Zita" era in AEK|date=31 August 2020|publisher=enwsi.gr|language=el}}</ref> In 1982 the business shipping magnate Michalis Arkadis became president, aiming to reinforce financial support, with Zafiropoulos holding the majority stake. In 1988, Zafiropoulos placed [[Stratos Gidopoulos]] in the presidency, and AEK managed to win their first championship in ten years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kitrinomavro.gr/aekpedia/2015/05/22/aek-1988-1989/|title=Period 1988/89 and management changes|publisher=kitrinomavro.gr|language=el}}</ref>

On 17 June 1992, the club passed to new owners. The business shipping magnate and oil tycoon [[Dimitris Melissanidis]], together with Giannis Karras, took the majority stake and continued the successful and champion seasons.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aek-live.gr/otan-melissanidis-karras-agorasan-ti/|title=When Melissanidis-Karras "bought" AEK|date=17 June 2019|publisher=aek-live.gr|language=el}}</ref>

After an unsuccessful season, in 1995, they passed their shares to Michalis Trochanas, and with his turn a percentage to [[ENIC Group]] investment company. In 1999, NETMED, a Dutch media company, took over the management of the club. A crisis period followed with mismanagement and many changes in the presidency. In 2004, ex-AEK player [[Demis Nikolaidis]] made a plan to progress with the reorganization and financial consolidation, and together with other investors (such as [[Nicholas X. Notias]], Gikas Goumas, Takis Kanellopoulos, a shareholder of [[Titan Cement]], and others) took the majority stake.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sport-fm.gr/article/podosfairo/29929|title=The "Nikolaidis Group" is revealed...|publisher=sport-fm.gr|language=el|access-date=13 November 2005}}</ref>

The plan initially seemed to work, but the downfall continued. The team was relegated after the 2012–13 season for the first time in its history. In an effort to discharge the immense debt created by years of mismanagement, its directors chose for the team to compete in the third tier. On the same day Dimitris Melissanidis, the old president of the club, became the administrative leader of AEK, under the supervision of the amateur [[A.E.K. (sports club)|AEK]] Later, together with other notable AEK fans and old players, they created the non-profit association "Union Friends of AEK" (''Enosi Filon AEK'') which took the majority stake of the football club.<ref name="contra.gr"/>

In March 2015, AEK FC became the first Greek company that is listed in the Elite programme of the [[London Stock Exchange]], a pan-European programme for ambitious high-growth businesses that was launched in 2012 at [[Borsa Italiana]] and following its success was rolled out in the UK in 2014, and the first Greek football club quoted on a stock exchange. [[Raffaele Jerusalmi]], executive director of the board of directors of LSEG, stated: "We are delighted to welcome AEK to the Elite programme".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.capital.gr/story/2267312|title=Στις... ELITE του Χρηματιστηρίου του Λονδίνου η ΑΕΚ|work=Capital|access-date=4 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lseg.com/resources/media-centre/press-releases/elite-welcomes-first-intake-european-companies-programme|title=ELITE welcomes first intake of European companies to programme|work=lseg.com|access-date=4 January 2017}}</ref> On 27 April 2015, AEK FC was selected for the honor of opening a session of the London Stock Exchange.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aekfc.gr/newsdetails/i-aek-sto-programma-elite-45070.htm?lang=en&path=2073348437|title=AEK FC joins ELITE platform|work=aekfc.gr|access-date=30 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.contra.gr/Soccer/Hellas/BEth/aek/ksekinaei-me-aek-to-xrhmatisthrio-toy-londinoy.3436053.html|title=Αρχίζει με... ΑΕΚ το χρηματιστήριο του Λονδίνου|work=Contra|date=27 April 2015 |access-date=4 January 2017}}</ref>

Current sponsorships:
*Premium Sponsors: '''[[OPAP|Pame Stoixima]]''', '''[[Nike, Inc.|Nike]]'''
*Official Sponsors: Football Pro, [[Piraeus Bank]], [[Cosmote]], [[Cosmote TV]], [[LG Corporation]], [[Seajets]]

==Stadium==
{{main|Nikos Goumas Stadium|Olympic Stadium (Athens)|Agia Sophia Stadium}}

'''Nikos Goumas Stadium''' was a [[multi-purpose stadium]] in [[Nea Filadelfeia]] ("''New [[Alaşehir#Ancient Philadelphia|Philadelphia]]''"), a northwestern suburb of Athens, Greece. It was used mostly for [[association football|football]] matches and was the home stadium of [[AEK FC]]. It was named after one-time club president, Nicholas Goumas, who contributed to its building and later upgrading. It served as AEK's home ground since 1930.<ref name="Nikos Goumas Stadium info">{{cite web | url=http://www.stadia.gr/ngoumas/ngoumas.html | title=Nikos Goumas Stadium info |work=stadia.gr | access-date = 23 March 2008}}</ref> The Nikos Goumas Stadium had severe damages from 1999's earthquake and in 2003 was demolished with the prospect to build a new stadium for AEK FC. Unfortunately, prolonged obstruction, legal issues, and tight deadlines caused multiple delays to the project. 

In 2004 the club moved to the 70,000-capacity "[[Spyridon Louis|Spyros Louis]]" ([[Athens Olympic Stadium]]) in Athens. The Olympic Athletic Center of Athens, also known as OAKA, is one of the most complete European athletic complexes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oaka.com.gr/%CF%87%CF%8E%CF%81%CE%BF%CE%B9-%CE%B5%CE%BA%CE%B4%CE%B7%CE%BB%CF%8E%CF%83%CE%B5%CF%89%CE%BD/%CE%BA%CE%B5%CE%BD%CF%84%CF%81%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%BF%CE%AF-%CE%B1%CE%B3%CF%89%CE%BD%CE%B9%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%BF%CE%AF-%CF%87%CF%8E%CF%81%CE%BF%CE%B9/|title=Central Race Areas of OAKA|publisher=oaka.com|language=el|access-date=27 October 2018|archive-date=28 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028033732/http://www.oaka.com.gr/%CF%87%CF%8E%CF%81%CE%BF%CE%B9-%CE%B5%CE%BA%CE%B4%CE%B7%CE%BB%CF%8E%CF%83%CE%B5%CF%89%CE%BD/%CE%BA%CE%B5%CE%BD%CF%84%CF%81%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%BF%CE%AF-%CE%B1%CE%B3%CF%89%CE%BD%CE%B9%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%BF%CE%AF-%CF%87%CF%8E%CF%81%CE%BF%CE%B9/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
It has hosted the [[1991 Mediterranean Games]], the [[1997 World Championships in Athletics]], the [[1994 UEFA Champions League Final|1994]] and [[2007 UEFA Champions League Final]]s, as well as other important athletic and cultural events, the most significant of which remains the [[2004 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Xenides |first=George |url=http://www.stadia.gr/oaka/oaka-f.html |title=Athens Olympic Stadium |publisher=Stadia|date=3 November 1983 |access-date=7 June 2012}}</ref>

Construction of an all-new purpose-built stadium initially began on 28 July 2017 in the site of the old Nikos Goumas stadium. It suffered from major delays due to the local authorities taking too long on confirming certain proposals concerning the stadium's road system. Construction was completed in 2022. The stadium has capacity of approximately 32,500 fans and features a unique underground road system that the teams use to enter the stadium.

[[Agia Sophia Stadium]] features The Museum of Refugee Hellenism of AEK Athens. It is open daily from Tuesday to Sunday (10:00-18.00).  
 
The stadium's opening ceremony took place on 30 September 2022.<ref name="ΑΕΚ: Επέστρεψε στο «σπίτι» της, σε βραδιά-όνειρο - Ποδόσφαιρο - Super League 1 - A.E.K. | sport-fm.gr: bwinΣΠΟΡ FM 94.6" /><ref name="ΑΕΚ: Ολο το βίντεο των εγκαινίων της Αγια-Σοφιάς-OPAP Arena - Ποδόσφαιρο - Super League 1 - A.E.K. | sport-fm.gr: bwinΣΠΟΡ FM 94.6" /> AEK Athens won [[Ionikos F.C.|Ionikos]] 4–1 in their new stadium opening game on 3 October 2022, a game conducted for the sixth fixture of the 2022–23 [[Greece Super League|Greek Super League]].<ref name="ΑΕΚ-Ιωνικός: 4-1 - Ποδόσφαιρο - Super League 1 - Ιωνικός - A.E.K. | sport-fm.gr: bwinΣΠΟΡ FM 94.6" /> 

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;margin-left:1em"
|-
! Stadium
! Capacity
! Years
|-
|[[Nikos Goumas Stadium]] || style="text-align:center;" | 27,729 || 1928–1985 and 1987–2003
|-
|[[Olympic Stadium (Athens)|Athens Olympic Stadium]] || style="text-align:center;" | 69,618 || 1985–1987 and 2004–2022
|-
|[[Agia Sophia Stadium]] || style="text-align:center;" | 32,500 || 2022–
|-
|}

===Training facility===
{{See also|Spata Training Centre}}

Since December 2010, AEK has been using state-of-the-art facilities in an area of 144 acres in the Mazareko area in [[Spata]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.in.gr/2010/11/15/sports/football/episimi-prwti-tis-aek-sto-proponitiko-twn-spatwn/|title=Official first of AEK in the Spata training centre |date=15 November 2010 |publisher=in.gr|language=el|access-date=15 November 2010}}</ref> Previously owned by [[Nicholas X. Notias]], it is the most expensive (with a total cost around €25m)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aek365.gr/article.php?id=56339 |script-title=el:Χλιδή το προπονητικό |publisher=Aek365.gr |date=21 April 2010 |language=el |access-date=1 July 2010}}</ref> and one of the biggest training centers in Greece. These facilities include two lawns with natural turf and one with plastic for the needs of the Academies (which was created in 2013 with a viewing platform for spectators) and all the necessary and well-equipped areas for the preparation of a team with modern instruments. A standard football studio, one of the most complete in Greece. The main building of the centre hosts the offices of the club, a press room, and the players' rooms. The training ground is used by the first team and youth teams. The [[Spata Training Centre]] includes state-of-the-art facilities, a fitness and health centre with weight-training and fitness rooms, a cryotherapy centre, and more. There are also plans for an AEK Museum, hotel, aquatic centre, and two more soccer fields. From 2013 on, AEK training centre services have been upgraded dramatically. The players of the teamwork daily in an environment with all the necessary infrastructure, while in the last few months, they have at their disposal in the basement of the building a treatment centre with the most modern means. Even the young athletes of the Academies work in facilities that very few Academies have in Greece. But the outlook is even more impressive. Since 2014, the official name of the ground is "[[OPAP]] Sports Centre".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sentragoal.gr/article.asp?catid=39428&subid=2&pubid=129665515|title="Προπονητικό Κέντρο ΟΠΑΠ" τα Σπάτα|work=Sentragoal|access-date=4 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305164636/http://www.sentragoal.gr/article.asp?catid=39428&subid=2&pubid=129665515|archive-date=5 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 4 July 2018, the Sports Centre came to auction which was bought by Dimitrios Melissanidis for a price of €3.5m and then donated it to AEK. Alongside the Sports Centre, Melissanidis also bought 70 hectares for an extra €5.5m<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsbeast.gr/sports/greek-football/arthro/3779183/dorea-melissanidi-stin-aek-to-proponitiko-kentro-sta-spata|title=Δωρεά Μελισσανίδη στην ΑΕΚ το προπονητικό κέντρο στα Σπάτα|date=4 July 2018}}</ref> which were added to the wider area of the existing training center and there will be additional stadiums along with the necessary additional facilities for the preparation of the team and for the hospitality of the players.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aekfc.gr/fp/proponitiko-kentro-43052.htm?lang=el&path=889339769|title=Προπονητικο Κεντρο}}</ref>

==Supporters, rivalries, and affiliations==

===Support===
{{main article|Original 21}}
AEK Athens has a large fans' base across all over Greece and is one of the two most popular Greek clubs in relation to their fans' base. According to [[Sky Sports]], AEK have around 30% of all Greek football fans.<ref name="skysp01">{{cite web|url =https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12028/8680867/Our-Greek-correspondent-Fotis-Voinikas-fears-for-football-in-his-country-after-AEK-s-relegation|title = Our Greek correspondent Fotis Voinikas fears for football in his country after AEK's relegation}}</ref> AEK's fan base in Greece is believed to be over 2 million with various types of research.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aek-live.gr/posi-imaste-i-opadi-tis-aek-erevna-tou-aek-live-gia-oles-tis-dimoskopisis/|title = Πόσοι είμαστε οι Ενωσίτες; Όλες οι δημοσκοπήσεις!|date = 23 March 2020}}</ref> AEK Athens traditional fanbase comes from the area of [[Athens]], where the club is based.

AEK has a strong support of fans in [[Greek diaspora]] especially in [[Cyprus]] where the club has a large following with a recent fan poll having AEK as the most popular Greek-supported team in Cyprus, having about 35% of Cypriot football fans supporting the club. One of the main reasons AEK's popularity in Cyprus is large making them ahead of Olympiacos (the most popular Greek team in Greece), is due to the fact AEK is a refugees' club which many [[Greek Cypriots]] are after the [[Turkish invasion of Cyprus]] and due to this many Greek Cypriots can relate to the similar history of AEKs being a refugees' club. AEK has also a strong following in Australia, the US, the UK, Germany and France. The most hardcore supporters of AEK are [[Original 21]], which is the largest group fan organisation of the club and is known for its loyal and passionate support.

===Supporters friendships===
A so-called "triangle of brotherhood" has developed between the largest fan club of AEK (Original 21), the largest fan club of [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]] (Ultras) and the largest fan club of [[A.S. Livorno Calcio|Livorno]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aek365.com/a-157840/ta-adelfia-apo-th-massalia.htm|title=Original 21 and Commando Ultra '84 friendship|date=25 November 2011 |publisher=aek365.com|language=el}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sport-fm.gr/article/podosfairo/i-liborno-bgazei-kitrinomauri-fanela-logw-aek-pic/3527441|title=Livorno shoots yellow-black jersey due to AEK|publisher=sport-fm.gr|language=el}}</ref> The connection is mostly an ideological one.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://oneloveaek.blogspot.gr/2013/06/aek-marseille-freres-pour-toujours.html?m=1|title=One love, AEK: AEK-Marseille, frères pour toujours}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aek-live.gr/γιόρτασε-11-χρόνια-αδελφοποίησης-η-original-στ/ |title = Γιόρτασε 11 χρόνια αδελφοποίησης η Original στο Λιβόρνο!| date=28 April 2014 }}</ref> Also, AEK's and [[FC St. Pauli|St. Pauli]]'s left-wing fans, have a strong friendship and their connection is mostly for ideological reasons.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aek-live.gr/οι-οπαδοί-της-σαν-πάουλι-με-σημαία-της-α/ |title = Οι οπαδοί της St.Pauli με σημαία της ΑΕΚ και πανό για την R-21 (pics)| date=12 November 2015 }}</ref> There is an informal friendship and fraternization between the fans of AEK and [[Fenerbahçe S.K. (football)|Fenerbahçe]]. In the 2017 Euroleague final, [[Fenerbahçe S.K. supporters]] displayed a banner that read "Same City's Sons"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Το πανό των οπαδών της «Φενέρ» για την ΑΕΚ! {{!}} Filathlos.gr {{!}} Το Εγκυρότερο Αθλητικό Blog! |url=https://www.filathlos.gr/aek/334210-to-pano-ton-opadon-tes-phener-gia-ten-aek |access-date=18 March 2023 |website=Filathlos.gr |date=22 May 2017 |language=el}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=21 May 2017 |title="Aynı Şehrin Çocukları: Fenerbahçe & AEK Athens" #Fener4Glory |url=https://twitter.com/tribundergi/status/866320354721058816 |access-date=18 March 2023 |website=Twitter |language=tr}}</ref> There is also a friendship and cooperation between AEK fans club of Piraeus and [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] fans club of Athens (including Chelsea supporters club of South Africa).

===Rivalries===
{{main|Athenian derby|A.E.K.–Olympiacos rivalry|Double-headed eagles derby}}

AEK FC's biggest rivalries are with [[Panathinaikos F.C.|Panathinaikos]] and [[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]].
Against their city neighbours Panathinaikos, they contest the Athens local football derby.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.onsports.gr/face-look/story/266138/retro-istories-panathinaikos-aek-to-klasiko-athinaiko-ntermpi-photos-videos|title=Panathinaikos – AEK, the classic Athenian Derby|date=4 November 2012|publisher=onsports.gr|language=el}}</ref> The rivalry started not only because of both competing for the major titles, but also because of the refugee ancestry of a big part of AEK fans and, by contrast, that Panathinaikos was considered in general the representative of the Athenian high-class society{{Citation needed|date=April 2019}}.
The rivalry with [[Piraeus]] based club Olympiacos stems from the rivalry between two of the most successful Greek football clubs. The rivalry was particularly inflamed after 1996, when AEK's former star player and then-manager [[Dušan Bajević]] moved to Olympiacos,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.onsports.gr/afieromata/story/586468/otan-o-ntoysan-mpagevits-epestrepse-sti-filadelfeia-kai-i-aek-evraze|title=When Dušan Bajević returned to Nea Philadelphia and AEK "boiled"|date=13 January 2018|publisher=onsports.gr|language=el}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.katiousa.gr/athlitismos/ntousan-mpagevits-o-titoikos-prigkipas-pou-egine-vatrachos/|title=Dusan Bajevic – The Titoic prince became a frog|date=11 December 2017|publisher=katiousa.gr|language=el}}</ref> and most recently after the controversial [[2007–08 Super League Greece|2007–08 Super League]] which was awarded to Olympiacos.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.onsports.gr/afieromata/story/201632/to-ithiko-protathlima-tis-aek-to-2008-photos-videos|title=The "moral" championship of AEK in 2008|date=20 April 2012|publisher=onsports.gr|language=el}}</ref>

===Affiliated clubs===
*{{flagicon|MEX}} [[Atlético Morelia]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Τζουβάρας |first1=Θωμάς |title=Συνεργασία ΑΕΚ - Ατλέτικο Μορέλια για την ανάδειξη Μεξικανών ποδοσφαιριστών |url=https://www.sport24.gr/football/synergasia-aek-atletiko-morelia-gia-tin-anadeixi-mexikanon-podosfairiston.10030588.html |website=sport24.gr |access-date=11 May 2023 |location=Online |language=el |date=2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Yu |first1=Kevin R. |title=Atlético Morelia anuncia convenio con el AEK Atenas de Orbelín Pineda |url=https://www.tudn.com/futbol/liga-de-expansion-mx/atletico-morelia-anuncia-convencio-con-aek-atenas-orbelin-pineda |website=tudn.com |access-date=11 May 2023 |location=Online |language=es |date=2023}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|GER}} BV Weckhoven<ref>{{cite web |title=Ο γερμανικός σύλλογος BV Weckhoven στο Δίκτυο Ακαδημιών ΑΕΚ |url=https://www.aekfc.gr/newsdetails/aaa-152-130545.htm?lang=el&path=2005020577 |website=aekfc.gr |access-date=10 September 2023 |location=Online |language=el}}</ref>

==Honours==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center;"
|+AEK Athens F.C. honours [https://www.aekfc.gr/clp/oi-titloi-thc-a-e-k-45010.htm?lang=en&path=306773877 aek.gr]
!style="width: 10%;"|Type
!style="width: 15%;"|Competition
!style="width: 5%;"|Titles
!style="width: 70%;"|Seasons
|-
| rowspan="6" |'''Domestic'''
! scope=col|[[Super League Greece]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kárpáti |first1=Tamás |last2=Schöggl |first2=Hans |title=Greece - List of Champions |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesg/grkchamp.html |website=rsssf.org |access-date=16 August 2025 |location=Online |date=14 April 2025}}</ref>
|'''13'''
|align="left"| [[1938–39 Panhellenic Championship|1938–39]], [[1939–40 Panhellenic Championship|1939–40]], [[1962–63 Alpha Ethniki|1962–63]], [[1967–68 Alpha Ethniki|1967–68]], [[1970–71 Alpha Ethniki|1970–71]], [[1977–78 Alpha Ethniki|1977–78]], [[1978–79 Alpha Ethniki|1978–79]], [[1988–89 Alpha Ethniki|1988–89]], [[1991–92 Alpha Ethniki|1991–92]], [[1992–93 Alpha Ethniki|1992–93]], [[1993–94 Alpha Ethniki|1993–94]], [[2017–18 Super League Greece|2017–18]], [[2022–23 Super League Greece|2022–23]]
|-
! scope=col|[[Super League Greece 2]]
|'''1'''
|align="left"| [[2014–15 Football League (Greece)|2014–15]]
|-
! scope=col| [[Gamma Ethniki]] 
|'''1'''
|align="left"| [[2013–14 Gamma Ethniki|2013–14]] 
|-
! scope=col| [[Greek Football Cup]]
|'''16'''
|align="left"| [[1931–32 Greek Football Cup|1931–32]], [[1938–39 Greek Football Cup|1938–39]], [[1948–49 Greek Football Cup|1948–49]], [[1949–50 Greek Football Cup|1949–50]], [[1955–56 Greek Football Cup|1955–56]], [[1963–64 Greek Football Cup|1963–64]], [[1965–66 Greek Football Cup|1965–66]], [[1977–78 Greek Football Cup|1977–78]], [[1982–83 Greek Football Cup|1982–83]], [[1995–96 Greek Football Cup|1995–96]], [[1996–97 Greek Football Cup|1996–97]], [[1999–2000 Greek Football Cup|1999–00]], [[2001–02 Greek Football Cup|2001–02]], [[2010–11 Greek Football Cup|2010–11]], [[2015–16 Greek Football Cup|2015–16]], [[2022–23 Greek Football Cup|2022–23]]
|-
! scope="col" |[[Greek League Cup]]
| style="background-color: gold" |'''1'''
|align="left"| [[Greek League Cup|1990]]
|- 
! scope=col|[[Greek Super Cup]]
|'''2'''
|align="left"| [[1989 Greek Super Cup|1989]], [[1996 Greek Super Cup|1996]]
|-
|rowspan="1" |'''Regional'''
! scope=col|[[Athens Football Clubs Association|Athens FCA First Division]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mastrogiannopoulos |first1=Alexander |title=Greece - Final Tables 1906-1959 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesg/grkprehist.html |website=rsssf.org |access-date=16 August 2025 |location=Online |date=11 April 2019}}</ref>
|bgcolor=|'''5'''
|align="left"| 1939–40, 1942–43, 1945–46, 1946–47, 1949–50
|-
|}
*{{legend|gold|record}}
* {{sup|S}} Shared record

===Doubles===
* '''Winners (3):''' 1938–39, 1977–78, 2022–23

===European competitions===
* '''[[UEFA Champions League|European Cup/UEFA Champions League]]'''
** Quarter-finals (1): [[1968–69 European Cup|1968–69]]

* '''[[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League]]'''
** Semi-finals (1): [[1976–77 UEFA Cup|1976–77]]

* '''[[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]]'''
** Quarter-finals (2): [[1996–97 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|1996–97]], [[1997–98 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|1997–98]]

* '''[[Balkans Cup]]'''
** Runners-up (1): [[1966–67 Balkans Cup|1966–67]]

===Unofficial titles===
====Regional tournaments====
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center;"
!Competition
!Titles
!Seasons
!Runners-up
!Ref.
|-
! scope=col|[[P.O.K.#Easter Cup|Easter Cup]]
|align="center" bgcolor=|'''4'''
|align="left" | 1938, 1944, 1955, 1958
|
|
|-
! scope=col|[[P.O.K.#Christmas Cup|Christmas Cup]]
|align="center" bgcolor=|'''3'''
|align="left" | 1944, 1947, 1957
| 
|
|-
! scope=col|[[Pre-Mediterranean Cup]]
|align="center" bgcolor="gold"|'''1'''
|align="left" | 1991
| 
|<ref name="greece1990/91">{{cite web|last1=Mastrogiannopoulos|first1=Alexander|title=Greece 1990/91 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesg/grk91.html|website=rsssf.org|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=6 December 2023|location=Online|date=31 January 2008|quote=Mediterranean Cup 1991 NB: post-season tournament (June 1991) between top-level clubs (so a sort of league cup), except that Olympiakos, Panathinaikos and PAOK did not enter. Semifinals: AEK 4-2 Apollon, OFI bt [?], Final: AEK 1-0 OFI [Takis Karagiozopoulos].}}</ref>
|-
! scope=col|Athletic Echo Cup
|align="center" bgcolor="gold"|'''1'''
|align="left" | 1963
| 
|<ref>{{Cite news|date=9 September 1963|title=Η Πρωταθλήτρια Ελλάδος ΑΕΚ ενίκησε τον ηρωικόν κάτοχο του Κυπέλλου Ολυμπιακό 3-2|publisher=newspaper "Athletic Voice"|lang=el}}</ref>
|-
! scope=col|Supercup
|align="center" bgcolor="gold"|'''1'''
|align="left" | 1971
| 
|<ref>{{Cite news|date=30 June 1971|title=newspaper "Athletic Echo"|lang=el}}</ref>
|-
|}

==== International tournaments ====
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center;"
!Competition
!Titles
!Seasons
!Runners-up
!Ref.
|-
! scope=col|[[Nova Supersports Cup]]
|align="center" bgcolor="gold"|'''1'''{{sup|s}}
|align="left" | [[1999 Nova Supersports Cup|1999]]
|align="left" | [[2000 Nova Supersports Cup|2000]], [[2001 Nova Supersports Cup|2001]]
|<ref>{{cite web |author1=Πάτροκλος Πανανίδης |title=Τρεις εκτελεστές |url=https://www.tanea.gr/1999/08/02/sports/treis-ektelestes/ |website=tanea.gr |date=2 August 1999 |accessdate=12 November 2020 |location=Online |language=el}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Η Μπρέσια νικήτρια του τουρνουά Supersport 3-2 την ΑΕΚ |url=https://www.in.gr/2000/08/05/sports/i-mpresia-nikitria-toy-toyrnoya-supersport-3-2-tin-aek |website=in.gr |date=5 August 2000 |accessdate=12 November 2020 |location=Online |language=el}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Τη δεύτερη θέση κατέκτησε η ΑΕΚ στο 3ο τουρνουά Supersport |url=https://www.in.gr/2001/08/03/sports/ti-deyteri-thesi-katektise-i-aek-sto-3o-toyrnoya-supersport/ |website=in.gr |date=3 August 2001 |accessdate=12 November 2020 |location=Online |language=el}}</ref>
|-
! scope=col|[[Sydney Festival of Football]]
|align="center" bgcolor="gold"|'''1'''
|align="left" | 2010
|
|<ref>{{cite web |title=Rangers reel from shock defeat |url=https://gulfnews.com/sport/football/rangers-reel-from-shock-defeat-1.662220 |website=gulfnews.com |access-date=21 October 2023 |location=Online |date=1 August 2010 |quote=Burns helped give AEK its third win in as many matches and the round-robin title in the four-team tournament that included Sydney FC and Blackburn Rovers.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=BURNS HITS THE WINNER FOR AEK |url=https://www.ftbl.com.au/news/burns-hits-the-winner-for-aek-221573 |website=ftbl.com.au |access-date=21 October 2023 |location=Online |date=31 July 2010 |quote=It was a disappointing result for the Light Blues who had already beaten Blackburn and drawn with Sydney and left the Greek side as Festival winners.}}</ref>
|-
|}

* {{legend|gold|Record}}
* {{sup|S}} Shared record

Source: [https://www.aekfc.gr/clp/oi-titloi-thc-a-e-k-45010.htm?lang=en&path=306773877 AEK Athens F.C.]

==European performance==
{{Main|AEK Athens F.C. in European football}}

'''Best seasons'''
{| class="toccolours" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" align="left" style="margin:0.5em;"
|- bgcolor=#CADCFB
! Season
! Manager
! Round
! Eliminated by
! Results
|-
! colspan="5" bgcolor=#EFEFEF |[[UEFA Champions League|Champions League / European Cup]]
|-
| align="center" | [[1968–69 European Cup|1968–69]]
| {{flagicon|YUG}} [[Branko Stanković]]
| align="center" | '''[[1968–69 European Cup#Quarter-finals|Quarter-finals]]'''
| {{flagicon|CSK}} [[FC Spartak Trnava|Spartak Trnava]]
| 1–2 in [[Trnava]], 1–1 in Nea Filadelfeia
|-
| align="center" | [[1978–79 European Cup|1978–79]]
| {{flagicon|HUN|1957}} [[Ferenc Puskás]]
| align="center" | '''[[1978–79 European Cup#Second round|Round of 16]]'''
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]]
| 1–2 in Nea Filadelfeia, 1–5 in [[West Bridgford]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/clubs/50129--aek-athens/ |title=AEK Athens FC in the UEFA Champions League 1978/79 |date= |work=[[UEFA]] |access-date=}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | [[1989–90 European Cup|1989–90]]
| {{flagicon|YUG}} [[Dušan Bajević]]
| align="center" | '''[[1989–90 European Cup#Second round|Round of 16]]'''
| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]]
| 0–2 in [[Marseille]], 1–1 in Nea Filadelfeia
|-
| align="center" | [[1992–93 UEFA Champions League|1992–93]]
| {{flagicon|BIH|1992}} [[Dušan Bajević]]
| align="center" | '''[[1992–93 UEFA Champions League#Second round|Round of 16]]'''
| {{flagicon|NED}} [[PSV Eindhoven|PSV]]
| 1–0 in Nea Filadelfeia, 0–3 in [[Eindhoven]]
|-
| align="center" | [[1994–95 UEFA Champions League|1994–95]]
| {{flagicon|BIH|1992}} [[Dušan Bajević]]
| align="center" | '''[[1994–95 UEFA Champions League#Second round|Round of 16]]'''
| {{flagicon|ITA}} [[AC Milan|Milan]]
| 0–0 in Nea Filadelfeia, 1–2 in [[Trieste]]
|-
! colspan="5" bgcolor=#EFEFEF |[[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|Cup Winners' Cup]]
|-
| align="center" | [[1995–96 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|1995–96]]
| {{flagicon|BIH|1992}} [[Dušan Bajević]]
| align="center" | '''[[1995–96 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup#Second round|Round of 16]]'''
| {{flagicon|GER}} [[Borussia Mönchengladbach|Borussia M'gladbach]]
| 1–4 in [[Mönchengladbach]], 0–1 in Nea Filadelfeia
|-
| align="center" | [[1996–97 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|1996–97]]
| {{flagicon|GRE}} [[Petros Ravousis]]
| align="center" | '''[[1996–97 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup#Quarter-finals|Quarter-finals]]'''
| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Paris Saint-Germain FC|Paris Saint-Germain]] 
| 0–0 in [[Paris]], 0–3 in Nea Filadelfeia
|-
| align="center" | [[1997–98 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|1997–98]]
| {{flagicon|ROM}} [[Dumitru Dumitriu]]
| align="center" | '''[[1997–98 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup#Quarter-finals|Quarter-finals]]'''
| {{flagicon|RUS}} [[FC Lokomotiv Moscow|Lokomotiv Moscow]]
| 0–0 in Nea Filadelfeia, 1–2 in [[Moscow]]
|-
! colspan="5" bgcolor=#EFEFEF |[[UEFA Europa League|Europa League / UEFA Cup]]
|-
| align="center" | [[1976–77 UEFA Cup|1976–77]]
| {{flagicon|CSK}} [[František Fadrhonc]]
| align="center" bgcolor=#CD7F32 | '''[[1976–77 UEFA Cup#Semi-finals|Semi-finals]]'''
| {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Juventus FC|Juventus]]
| 1–4 in [[Turin]], 0–1 in Nea Filadelfeia
|-
| align="center" | [[1991–92 UEFA Cup|1991–92]]
| {{flagicon|BIH|1992}} [[Dušan Bajević]]
| align="center" | '''[[1991–92 UEFA Cup#Third round|Round of 16]]'''
| {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Torino F.C.|Torino]]
| 2–2 in Nea Filadelfeia, 0–1 in [[Turin]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/history/clubs/50129--aek-athens/ |title=AEK Athens FC in the UEFA Europa League 1991/92 |date= |work=[[UEFA]] |access-date=}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | [[2000–01 UEFA Cup|2000–01]]
| {{flagicon|MKD}} [[Toni Savevski]]
| align="center" | '''[[2000–01 UEFA Cup#Fourth round|Round of 16]]'''
| {{flagicon|ESP}} [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]]
| 0–1 in Nea Filadelfeia, 0–5 in [[Barcelona]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/history/clubs/50129--aek-athens/ |title=AEK Athens FC in the UEFA Europa League 2000/01 |date= |work=[[UEFA]] |access-date=}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | [[2001–02 UEFA Cup|2001–02]]
| {{flagicon|POR}} [[Fernando Santos (Portuguese footballer)|Fernando Santos]]
| align="center" | '''[[2001–02 UEFA Cup#Fourth round|Round of 16]]'''
| {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Inter Milan|Internazionale]]
|1–3 in [[Milan]], 2–2 in Nea Filadelfeia
|-
| align="center" | [[2002–03 UEFA Cup|2002–03]]
| {{flagicon|BIH}} [[Dušan Bajević]]
| align="center" | '''[[2002–03 UEFA Cup#Fourth round|Round of 16]]'''
| {{flagicon|ESP}} [[Málaga CF|Málaga]]
| 0–0 in [[Málaga]], 0–1 in Nea Filadelfeia
|-
| align="center" | [[2006–07 UEFA Cup knockout stage|2006–07]]
| {{flagicon|ESP}} [[Lorenzo Serra Ferrer]]
| align="center" | '''[[2006–07 UEFA Cup#Round of 32|Round of 32]]'''
| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.|Paris Saint-Germain]]
| 0–2 in [[Paris]], 0–2 in [[Marousi]]
|-
| align="center" | [[2007–08 UEFA Cup|2007–08]]
| {{flagicon|GRE}} [[Nikos Kostenoglou]]
| align="center" | '''[[2007–08 UEFA Cup#Round of 32|Round of 32]]'''
| {{flagicon|ESP}} [[Getafe CF|Getafe]]
| 1–1 in Marousi, 0–3 in [[Getafe]]
|-
| align="center" | [[2017–18 UEFA Europa League|2017–18]]
| {{flagicon|ESP}} [[Manolo Jiménez (footballer, born 1964)|Manolo Jiménez]]
| align="center" | '''[[2017–18 UEFA Europa League#Round of 32|Round of 32]]'''
| {{flagicon|UKR}} [[FC Dynamo Kyiv|Dynamo Kyiv]]
| 1–1 in Marousi, 0–0 in [[Kyiv]]
|-
! colspan="5" bgcolor=#EFEFEF |[[Balkans Cup]]
|-
| align="center" | [[1966–67 Balkans Cup|1966–67]]
| {{flagicon|GRE|old}} [[Tryfon Tzanetis]]
| align="center" bgcolor=#C0C0C0 | '''Runners-up'''
| {{flagicon|TUR}} [[Fenerbahçe S.K. (football)|Fenerbahçe]]
| 2–1 in Nea Filadelfeia, 0–1 and 1–3 in [[Istanbul]]<ref>On May 30, 1968, Fenerbahçe defeated AEK Athens with a score of 3-1 in a decisive third match, securing the trophy. The playoff match was held in Istanbul, at the home stadium of Fenerbahçe.</ref>
|-
|}
{{clear}}

===UEFA and IFFHS rankings===

<div style="float: left; width: 48%; margin-right: 2%;">

'''UEFA Club ranking'''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! Rank !! Country !! Team !! Points
|-
|174||{{flagicon|WAL}}||[[The New Saints F.C.|The New Saints]]||9.000
|-
|175||{{flagicon|ISL}}||[[Breiðablik (men's football)|Breiðablik]]||9.000
|-
|- style="background:#dfd;"
|'''176'''||{{flagicon|GRE}}||'''AEK Athens'''||'''8.500'''
|-
|177||{{flagicon|LIE}}||[[FC Vaduz|Vaduz]]||8.500
|-
|178||{{flagicon|CZE}}||[[FC Baník Ostrava|Baník Ostrava]]||8.460
|-
|}

Last update: 26 October 2025

Source: [https://www.uefa.com/nationalassociations/uefarankings/club/?year=2026 UEFA]

</div><div style="float: left; width: 48%;">

'''IFFHS Club World ranking'''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! Rank !! Country !! Team !! Points
|-
|309||{{flagicon|SRB}}||[[FK TSC|TSC]]||77.5
|-
|310||{{flagicon|NIC}}||[[Diriangén FC|Diriangén]]||77.25
|-bgcolor="#ddffdd"
|'''311'''||{{flagicon|GRE}}||'''AEK Athens'''||'''76.5'''
|-
|312||{{flagicon|ROM}}||[[CS Universitatea Craiova|Universitatea Craiova]]||76.25
|-
|313||{{flagicon|ARG}}||[[Unión de Santa Fe|Unión Santa Fe]]||76
|}

Last update: 11 July 2025

Source: [https://iffhs.com/posts/4493 IFFHS]

</div>

<div style="clear: both;"></div>

==Players==
===Current squad===
{{updated|12 September 2025}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aekfc.gr/rp/roster-42892.htm?lang=en&path=677361083|title=Current Roster|work=aekfc.gr|access-date=3 August 2025}}</ref>
{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player|no= 1|pos=GK|nat=ALB|name=[[Thomas Strakosha]]}}
{{Fs player|no= 2|pos=DF|nat=CMR|name=[[Harold Moukoudi]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|third-captain]]}}
{{Fs player|no= 3|pos=DF|nat=GRE|name=[[Stavros Pilios]]}}
{{Fs player|no= 4|pos=MF|nat=SRB|name=[[Marko Grujić]]}}
{{Fs player|no= 6|pos=MF|nat=DEN|name=[[Jens Jønsson]]}}
{{Fs player|no= 7|pos=MF|nat=SUI|name=[[Dereck Kutesa]]}}
{{Fs player|no= 8|pos=MF|nat=SRB|name=[[Mijat Gaćinović]]}}
{{Fs player|no= 9|pos=FW|nat=SRB|name=[[Luka Jović]]}}
{{Fs player|no=10|pos=MF|nat=POR|name=[[João Mário (footballer, born January 1993)|João Mário]]|other=on loan from [[Beşiktaş J.K.|Beşiktaş]]}}
{{Fs player|no=11|pos=FW|nat=MTN|name=[[Aboubakary Koïta]]}}
{{fs player|no=12|pos=DF|nat=GRE|name=[[Lazaros Rota]]}}
{{fs player|no=13|pos=MF|nat=MEX|name=[[Orbelín Pineda]]}}
{{Fs player|no=14|pos=FW|nat=HAI|name=[[Frantzdy Pierrot]]}}
{{Fs player|no=17|pos=MF|nat=GRE|name=[[Dimitris Kaloskamis]]}}
{{Fs player|no=18|pos=MF|nat=ROU|name=[[Răzvan Marin]]}}
{{Fs player|no=19|pos=MF|nat=SWE|name=[[Niclas Eliasson]]}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{Fs player|no=20|pos=MF|nat=GRE|name=[[Petros Mantalos]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|captain]]}}
{{Fs player|no=21|pos=DF|nat=CRO|name=[[Domagoj Vida]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|vice-captain]]}}
{{Fs player|no=22|pos=DF|nat=PER|name=[[Alexander Callens]]}}
{{Fs player|no=23|pos=MF|nat=CRO|name=[[Robert Ljubičić]]}} 
{{Fs player|no=24|pos=DF|nat=GRE|name=[[Gerasimos Mitoglou]]}}
{{Fs player|no=28|pos=DF|nat=ENG|name=[[Moses Odubajo]]}}
{{Fs player|no=29|pos=DF|nat=SCO|name=[[James Penrice]]}}
{{Fs player|no=34|pos=DF|nat=GRE|name=Christos Kosidis}}
{{Fs player|no=37|pos=MF|nat=ARG|name=[[Roberto Pereyra]]}}
{{Fs player|no=41|pos=GK|nat=GRE|name=Marios Balamotis}}
{{Fs player|no=44|pos=DF|nat=POR|name=[[Filipe Relvas]]}}
{{Fs player|no=55|pos=DF|nat=GRE|name=[[Konstantinos Chrysopoulos]]}}
{{Fs player|no=73|pos=MF|nat=GRE|name=Christoforos Kolimatsis}}
{{Fs player|no=81|pos=GK|nat=GRE|name=Angelos Angelopoulos}}
{{Fs player|no=90|pos=FW|nat=ANG|name=[[Zini (footballer)|Zini]]}}
{{Fs player|no=91|pos=GK|nat=ITA|name=[[Alberto Brignoli]]}}
{{Fs end}}

===Out on loan===
{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player|no=|pos=GK|nat=GRE|name=Dimitrios Goumas|other=at [[PK-35 (men)|PK-35]] until 31 December 2025}}
{{Fs player|no=|pos=DF|nat=GRE|name=[[Alexandros Parras]]|other=at [[NK Domžale|Domžale]] until 30 June 2026}}
{{Fs player|no=|pos=DF|nat=AUS|name=Dimitri Valkanis|other=at [[Brisbane Roar FC|Brisbane Roar]] until 30 June 2026}}
{{Fs player|no=|pos=MF|nat=GRE|name=[[Markos Nino]]|other=at Ellas Syros until 30 June 2026}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{Fs player|no=|pos=MF|nat=CIV|name=Hamed Kader Fofana|other=at [[Iraklis F.C. (Thessaloniki)|Iraklis]] until 30 June 2026}}
{{Fs player|no=|pos=MF|nat=ESP|name=[[Paolo Fernandes]]|other=at [[Al-Khaleej FC|Al-Khaleej]] until 30 June 2026}}
{{Fs player|no=|pos=FW|nat=ARG|name=Elián Sosa|other=at [[Anorthosis Famagusta FC|Anorthosis Famagusta]] until 30 June 2026}}
{{Fs player|no=|pos=FW|nat=GRE|name=[[Vasilios Kontonikos]]|other=at [[PAS Giannina F.C.|PAS Giannina]] until 30 June 2026}}
{{Fs end}}

====Youth Academy====
{{Main|AEK Athens F.C. Academy}}

==Statistics and records==
{{Main|List of AEK Athens F.C. records and statistics}}

===Domestic and European records===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; font-size:95%"
!width="250"| Outline
!width="250"| Domestic records
|-
| align="left"| Least goals conceded in a [[Super League Greece|Greek Championship]] season 
| '''12''' ([[2017–18 Super League Greece|2017–18]])
|-
| align="left"| Consecutive knock-out qualifications in [[Greek Football Cup|Greek Cup]]
| '''15''' ([[2015–16 Greek Football Cup|2015–16]], [[2016–17 Greek Football Cup|2016–17]], [[2017–18 Greek Football Cup|2017–18]], [[2018–19 Greek Football Cup|2018–19]], [[2019–20 Greek Football Cup|2019–20]])
|-
| align="left"| Biggest win in a [[Greek Football Cup|Greek Cup]] final
| '''7–1''' (vs [[Apollon Smyrnis F.C.|Apollon Smyrnis]], [[1995–96 Greek Cup|1995–96]])
|-
| align="left"| Biggest away victory in [[Super League Greece|Greek Championship]]
| '''0–8''' (vs [[Egaleo F.C.|Egaleo]], [[1961–62 Alpha Ethniki|1961–62]])
|}
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; font-size:95%"
!width="250"| Outline
!width="250"| European national records
|-
| align="left"| Consecutive unbeaten matches in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League
| '''6''' (vs [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]], [[A.S. Roma|Roma]] and [[K.R.C. Genk|Genk]], [[2002–03 UEFA Champions League|2002–03]])
|-
| align="left"| Consecutive participation in the Round of 16 phases of a European competition
| '''4''' ([[1994–95 UEFA Champions League|1994–95]], [[1995–96 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|1995–96]], [[1996–97 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|1996–97]] and [[1997–98 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|1997–98]])
|-
| align="left"| Consecutive games without a loss in any European competition
| '''14''' (vs [[Club Brugge KV|Club Brugge]], [[A.C. Milan|Milan]], [[HNK Rijeka|Rijeka]], [[FK Austria Wien|Austria Wien]], [[FC Dynamo Kyiv|Dynamo Kyiv]], [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] and [[Fehérvár FC|MOL Vidi]], [[2017–18 UEFA Europa League|2017–18]] and [[2018–19 UEFA Champions League|2018–19]])
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; font-size:95%"
!width="250"| Outline
!width="250"| International records
|-
| align="left"| Consecutive draws in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League
| '''6''' (vs [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]], [[A.S. Roma|Roma]] and [[K.R.C. Genk|Genk]], [[2002–03 UEFA Champions League|2002–03]])
|}

===One-club men===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;margin-left:1em"
! Player
! Position
! Debut
! Last match
|-
| align="left" |{{flagicon|GRE|old}} [[Ilias Iliaskos]]||[[Forward (association football)|FW]]||1927||1933
|-
| align="left" |{{flagicon|GRE|old}} [[Christos Ribas]]||[[Goalkeeper (association football)|GK]]||1929||1947
|-
| align="left" |{{flagicon|GRE|old}} [[Tryfon Tzanetis]]||[[Forward (association football)|FW]]||1933||1950
|-
| align="left" |{{flagicon|GRE|old}} [[Georgios Magiras]]||[[Midfielder (association football)|MF]]||1933||1949
|-
| align="left" |{{flagicon|GRE|old}} [[Kleanthis Maropoulos]]||[[Forward (association football)|FW]]||1934||1952
|-
| align="left" |{{flagicon|GRE|old}} [[Michalis Delavinias]]||[[Goalkeeper (association football)|GK]]||1938||1955
|-
| align="left" |{{flagicon|GRE|old}} [[Michalis Papatheodorou]]||[[Midfielder (association football)|MF]]||1944||1956
|-
| align="left" |{{flagicon|GRE|old}} [[Antonis Parayios]]||[[Defender (association football)|DF]]||1948||1957
|-
| align="left" |{{flagicon|GRE|old}} [[Andreas Stamatiadis]]||[[Forward (association football)|FW]]||1950||1969
|-
| align="left" |{{flagicon|GRE|old}} [[Stelios Serafidis]]||[[Goalkeeper (association football)|GK]]||1953||1972
|-
| align="left" |{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Spyros Ikonomopoulos]]||[[Goalkeeper (association football)|GK]]||1977||1996
|-
| align="left" |{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Stelios Manolas]]||[[Defender (association football)|DF]]||1979||1998
|}

===Super League top scorers===
AEK has a remarkable tradition in strikers and goal-scoring players. 14 different teams' players, 24 times overall, have finished the season as the top scorer in the Super League.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;margin-left:1em"
! Rank
! Player
! Times
! Season(s)
|-
| 1||align=left|{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Kostas Nestoridis]]||align="center" 1|5 (national record)||1959–1963
|-
| 2||align=left|{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Thomas Mavros]]||align="center" 1|3||1978, 1979, 1985
|-
| 3||align=left|{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Vasilis Dimitriadis]]||align="center" 1|2||1992, 1993
|-
| 4||align=left|{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Mimis Papaioannou]]||align="center" |2||1964, 1966
|-
| 5||align=left|{{flagicon|ARG}} [[Ismael Blanco]]||align="center" 1|2||2008, 2009
|-
| 6||align=left|{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Kleanthis Maropoulos]]||align="center" 1|2||1939, 1940
|-
| 7||align=left|{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Alexis Alexandris]]||align="center" 1|1||1994
|-
| 8||align=left|{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Nikos Liberopoulos]]||align="center" 1|1||2007
|-
| 9||align=left|{{flagicon|CYP}} [[Kostas Vasiliou]]||align="center" 1|1||1939
|-
| 10||align=left|{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Georgios Dedes]]||align="center" 1|1||1976
|-
| 11||align=left|{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Demis Nikolaidis]]||align="center" 1|1||1999
|-
| 12||align=left|{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Vasilios Tsiartas]]||align="center" 1|1||1996
|-
| 13||align=left|{{flagicon|BIH}} [[Dušan Bajević]]||align="center" 1|1||1980
|-
| 14||align=left|{{flagicon|DEN}} [[Henrik Nielsen (footballer, born 1965)|Henrik Nielsen]]||align="center" 1|1||1988
|-
|}

===Player records===
* Most club appearances: '''593'''–'''[[Stelios Manolas]]'''
* Most club goals: '''299'''–'''[[Mimis Papaioannou]]'''

===Manager records===
* Most club titles: '''8'''–'''[[Dušan Bajević]]'''

==Contribution to the Greece national team==
AEK, through their history, have highlighted some of the greatest Greek players in the history of [[Football in Greece|Greek football]], who also contributed to the [[Greece national football team|national team]] ([[Mimis Papaioannou|Papaioannou]], [[Kostas Nestoridis|Nestoridis]], [[Thomas Mavros|Mavros]], [[Vasilios Tsiartas|Tsiartas]], [[Demis Nikolaidis|Nikolaidis]], etc.).

Five players of the club were part of the golden team of 2004 that won the [[UEFA Euro 2004]]:

* [[UEFA Euro 2004]] (6): [[Theodoros Zagorakis|Thodoris Zagorakis]] (player of the tournament), [[Vasilios Tsiartas|Vasilis Tsiartas]], [[Michalis Kapsis]], [[Kostas Katsouranis]], [[Demis Nikolaidis]] and [[Vasilios Lakis|Vasilis Lakis]].

A total of 113 players of AEK had played for the [[Greece national football team]] up to 18 November 2025.

===Player list===

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="width:45%" style="background: #FFFFFF; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 100%;"
|-
|{{Tooltip|'''N.'''|Number}}
|'''Name'''
|{{Tooltip|'''Pos.'''|Position}}
|'''Years'''
|'''Apps'''
|'''Goals'''
|-
|1
|align=left|[[Alexis Alexandris]]
|[[Forward (association football)|FW]]
|1991–1994
|9
|0
|-
|2
|align=left|[[Georgios Alexopoulos]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|2005
|3
|0
|-
|3
|align=left|[[Mimis Anastasiadis]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|1960
|3
|0
|-
|4
|align=left|[[Christos Aravidis]]
|[[Forward (association football)|FW]]
|2014–2017
|5
|1
|-
|5
|align=left|[[Youlielmos Arvanitis]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|1948–1952
|5
|0
|-
|6
|align=left|[[Christos Ardizoglou]]
|[[Forward (association football)|FW]]
|1975–1984
|43
|2
|-

|7
|align=left|[[Georgios Athanasiadis (footballer, born 1993)|Georgios Athanasiadis]]
|[[Goalkeeper (association football)|GK]]
|2024
|1
|0
|-
|8
|align=left|[[Ilias Atmatsidis]]
|[[Goalkeeper (association football)|GK]]
|1994–1999
|47
|0
|-
|9
|align=left|[[Michalis Bakakis]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|2014–2022
|20
|0
|-
|10
|align=left|[[Anastasios Bakasetas]]
|[[Forward (association football)|FW]]
|2016–2019
|19
|0
|-
|11
|align=left|[[Fotis Balopoulos]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|1965–1969
|10
|0
|-
|12
|align=left|[[Vasilis Barkas]]
|[[Goalkeeper (association football)|GK]]
|2018–2020
|10
|0
|-
|13
|align=left|[[Angelos Basinas]]
|[[Midfielder (association football)|MF]]
|2008
|6
|0
|-
|14
|align=left|[[Daniel Batista Lima|Daniel Batista]]
|[[Forward (association football)|FW]]
|1995–1998
|10
|1
|-
|15
|align=left|[[Dionysis Chiotis]]
|[[Goalkeeper (association football)|GK]]
|2002
|1
|0
|-
|16
|align=left|[[Nikos Christidis]]
|[[Goalkeeper (association football)|GK]]
|1978
|5
|0
|-
|17
|align=left|[[Lazaros Christodoulopoulos]]
|[[Midfielder (association football)|MF]]
|2017–2018
|4
|0
|-
|18
|align=left|[[Kostas Christodoulou]]
|[[Forward (association football)|FW]]
|1938
|1
|0
|-
|19
|align=left|[[Michalis Delavinias]]
|[[Goalkeeper (association football)|GK]]
|1948–1951
|4
|0
|-
|20
|align=left|[[Traianos Dellas]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|2001, 2006–2008
|32
|1
|-
|21
|align=left|[[Vasilis Dimitriadis]]
|[[Forward (association football)|FW]]
|1991–1993
|14
|1
|-
|22
|align=left|[[Giannis Dintsikos]]
|[[Forward (association football)|FW]]
|1984
|3
|0
|-
|23
|align=left|[[Pavlos Emmanouilidis]]
|[[Forward (association football)|FW]]
|1950–1958
|12
|3
|-
|24
|align=left|[[Konstantinos Galanopoulos]]
|[[Midfielder (association football)|MF]]
|2018–2024
|8
|1
|-
|25
|align=left|[[Giorgos Gasparis (footballer, born 1913)|Giorgos Gasparis]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|1935–1938
|2
|0
|-
|26
|align=left|[[Giorgos Giamalis]]
|[[Goalkeeper (association football)|GK]]
|1929–1932
|10
|0
|-
|27
|align=left|[[Ilias Iliaskos]]
|[[Forward (association football)|FW]]
|1932
|1
|0
|-
|28
|align=left|[[Spyros Ikonomopoulos]]
|[[Goalkeeper (association football)|GK]]
|1984–1989
|12
|0
|-
|29
|align=left|[[Babis Intzoglou]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|1976–1977
|2
|0
|-
|30
|align=left|[[Giannis Kanakis]]
|[[Forward (association football)|FW]]
|1951
|1
|0
|-
|31
|align=left|[[Giannis Kalitzakis]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|1997–1999
|21
|0
|-
|32
|align=left|[[Vaios Karagiannis]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|1992
|8
|0
|-
|33
|align=left|[[Giorgos Karafeskos]]
|[[Midfielder (association football)|MF]]
|1968–1971
|8
|0
|-
|34
|align=left|[[Michalis Kasapis]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|1994–2002
|37
|0
|-
|35
|align=left|[[Kostas Katsouranis]]
|[[Midfielder (association football)|MF]]
|1976–1977
|29
|2
|-
|36
|align=left|[[Pantelis Kafes]]
|[[Midfielder (association football)|MF]]
|2007–2011
|10
|0
|-
|37
|align=left|[[Michalis Kapsis]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|2003–2004
|15
|0
|-
|38
|align=left|[[Giorgos Kefalidis]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|1963
|2
|0
|-
|39
|align=left|[[Spyros Kontoulis]]
|[[Midfielder (association football)|MF]]
|1938
|3
|0
|-
|40
|align=left|[[Georgios Koutoulas]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|1988–1990
|11
|0
|-
|41
|align=left|[[Stefanos Konstantinidis]]
|[[Midfielder (association football)|MF]]
|1929–1932
|6
|0
|-
|42
|align=left|[[Dimitrios Konstantopoulos]]
|[[Goalkeeper (association football)|GK]]
|2011
|1
|0
|-
|43
|align=left|[[Nikos Kostenoglou]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|1996
|1
|0
|-
|44
|align=left|[[Christos Kostis]]
|[[Forward (association football)|FW]]
|1994–1997
|11
|3
|-
|45
|align=left|[[Sotirios Kyrgiakos]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|2008–2009
|10
|0
|-
|46
|align=left|[[Panagiotis Lagos]]
|[[Midfielder (association football)|MF]]
|2006–2011
|5
|0
|-
|47
|align=left|[[Vasilios Lakis]]
|[[Midfielder (association football)|MF]]
|1999–2004
|35
|3
|-
|48
|align=left|[[Vasilios Lampropoulos]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|2018–2019
|2
|0
|-
|49
|align=left|[[Nikos Liberopoulos]]
|[[Forward (association football)|FW]]
|2004–2008, 2010–2012
|30
|5
|-
|50
|align=left|[[Georgios Magiras]]
|[[Midfielder (association football)|MF]]
|1948–1949
|4
|0
|-
|51
|align=left|[[Grigoris Makos]]
|[[Midfielder (association football)|MF]]
|2010–2012
|10
|0
|-
|52
|align=left|[[Robert Mallios Galić]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|1930–1933
|12
|1
|-
|53
|align=left|[[Vasilios Manettas]]
|[[Forward (association football)|FW]]
|1938
|1
|0
|-
|54
|align=left|[[Stelios Manolas]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|1982–1994
|71
|6
|-
|55
|align=left|[[Petros Mantalos]]
|[[Midfielder (association football)|MF]]
|2014–
|71
|7
|-
|56
|align=left|[[Xenofon Markopoulos]]
|[[Forward (association football)|FW]]
|1948–1949
|5
|2
|-
|57
|align=left|[[Dimitris Markos]]
|[[Midfielder (association football)|MF]]
|1998–1999
|17
|1
|-
|58
|align=left|[[Kleanthis Maropoulos]]
|[[Forward (association football)|FW]]
|1938–1950
|10
|1
|-
|59
|align=left|[[Thomas Mavros]]
|[[Forward (association football)|FW]]
|1976–1982
|36
|11
|-
|60
|align=left|[[Antonis Minou]]
|[[Goalkeeper (association football)|GK]]
|1992–1993
|16
|0
|-
|61
|align=left|[[Tasos Mitropoulos]]
|[[Forward (association football)|FW]]
|1992–1994
|16
|2
|-
|62
|align=left|[[Georgios Mouratidis]]
|[[Midfielder (association football)|MF]]
|1951–1952
|2
|0
|-
|63
|align=left|[[Vangelis Moras]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|2006
|1
|0
|-
|64
|align=left|[[Dimitris Nalitzis]]
|[[Forward (association football)|FW]]
|2002–2003
|6
|0
|-
|65
|align=left|[[Kostas Negrepontis]]
|[[Forward (association football)|FW]]
|1929–1930
|2
|0
|-
|66
|align=left|[[Kostas Nestoridis]]
|[[Forward (association football)|FW]]
|1956–1962
|14
|3
|-
|67
|align=left|[[Kostas Nikolaidis]]
|[[Midfielder (association football)|MF]]
|1971–1973
|4
|0
|-
|68
|align=left|[[Demis Nikolaidis]]
|[[Forward (association football)|FW]]
|1996–2003
|54
|17
|-
|69
|align=left|[[Lakis Nikolaou]]
|[[Forward (association football)|FW, DF]]
|1973–1980
|15
|0
|-
|70
|align=left|[[Takis Nikoloudis]]
|[[Midfielder (association football)|MF]]
|1976–1979
|16
|3
|-
|71
|align=left|[[Marios Oikonomou]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|2018–2020
|1
|0
|-
|72
|align=left|[[Ilias Papageorgiou]]
|[[Forward (association football)|FW]]
|1950–1953
|12
|4
|-
|73
|align=left|[[Georgios Papadopoulos (footballer, born 1914)|Georgios Papadopoulos]]
|[[Forward (association football)|FW]]
|1934–1938
|9
|0
|-
|74
|align=left|[[Theologis Papadopoulos]]
|[[Goalkeeper (association football)|GK]]
|1986–1987
|24
|0
|-
|75
|align=left|[[Michalis Papatheodorou]]
|[[Forward (association football)|FW]]
|1950–1951
|2
|0
|-
|76
|align=left|[[Mimis Papaioannou]]
|[[Forward (association football)|FW]]
|1963–1978
|61
|29
|-
|77
|align=left|[[Pavlos Papaioannou]]
|[[Midfielder (association football)|MF]]
|1985–1992
|10
|0
|-
|78
|align=left|[[Sokratis Papastathopoulos]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|2008
|3
|0
|-
|79
|align=left|[[Antonis Parayios]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|1950–1951
|2
|0
|-
|80
|align=left|[[Vangelis Paraprastanitis]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|1980
|1
|0
|-
|81
|align=left|[[Panagiotis Patakas]]
|[[Forward (association football)|FW]]
|1952
|1
|0
|-
|82
|align=left|[[Giorgos Petridis]]
|[[Midfielder (association football)|MF]]
|1963
|1
|1
|-
|83
|align=left|[[Vasilios Pliatsikas]]
|[[Midfielder (association football)|MF]]
|2008
|1
|0
|-
|84
|align=left|[[Spyros Pomonis]]
|[[Forward (association football)|FW]]
|1964–1972
|5
|1
|-
|85
|align=left|[[Kostas Poulis]]
|[[Midfielder (association football)|MF]]
|1950–1953
|9
|0
|-
|86
|align=left|[[Petros Ravousis]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|1976–1981
|22
|0
|-
|87
|align=left|[[Christos Ribas]]
|[[Goalkeeper (association football)|GK]]
|1933–1936
|9
|0
|-
|88
|align=left|[[Lazaros Rota]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|2022–
|23
|0
|-
|89
|align=left|[[Dimitris Saravakos]]
|[[Forward (association football)|FW]]
|1994
|1
|1
|-
|90
|align=left|[[Lambis Serafidis]]
|[[Forward (association football)|FW]]
|1952
|2
|0
|-
|91
|align=left|[[Stelios Serafidis]]
|[[Goalkeeper (association football)|GK]]
|1963
|1
|0
|-
|92
|align=left|[[Giorgos Sidiropoulos]]
|[[Goalkeeper (association football)|GK]]
|1975
|1
|0
|-
|93
|align=left|[[Stelios Skevofilakas]]
|[[Midfielder (association football)|MF]]
|1963–1966
|11
|0
|-
|94
|align=left|[[Spyros Sklavounos]]
|[[Goalkeeper (association football)|GK]]
|1932
|3
|0
|-
|95
|align=left|[[Alekos Sofianidis]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|1959–1967
|7
|0
|-
|96
|align=left|[[Nikos Stathopoulos]]
|[[Midfielder (association football)|MF]]
|1969–1971
|12
|0
|-
|97
|align=left|[[Stavros Stamatis]]
|[[Midfielder (association football)|MF]]
|1989–1990
|5
|0
|-
|98
|align=left|[[Andreas Stamatiadis]]
|[[Forward (association football)|FW]]
|1954–1963
|8
|0
|-
|99
|align=left|[[Lakis Stergioudas]]
|[[Goalkeeper (association football)|GK]]
|1976–1977
|5
|0
|-
|100
|align=left|[[Stratos Svarnas]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|2020–2022
|6
|0
|-
|101
|align=left|[[Stefanos Theodoridis]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|1971
|1
|0
|-
|102
|align=left|[[Apostolos Toskas]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|1969–1973
|20
|0
|-
|103
|align=left|[[Dionysis Tsamis]]
|[[Midfielder (association football)|MF]]
|1975–1976
|2
|0
|-
|104
|align=left|[[Vasilios Tsiartas]]
|[[Midfielder (association football)|MF]]
|1994–1996, 2000–2004
|56
|10
|-
|105
|align=left|[[Aris Tsachouridis]]
|[[Forward (association football)|FW]]
|1963
|1
|0
|-
|106
|align=left|[[Tryfon Tzanetis]]
|[[Forward (association football)|FW]]
|1949
|1
|0
|-
|107
|align=left|[[Adam Tzanetopoulos]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|2015–2018
|1
|0
|-
|108
|align=left|[[Georgios Tzavellas]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|2021–2023
|9
|0
|-
|109
|align=left|[[Tasos Vasiliou]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|1966–1967
|2
|0
|-
|110
|align=left|[[Vangelis Vlachos]]
|[[Midfielder (association football)|MF]]
|1982–1984
|4
|0
|-
|111
|align=left|[[Michalis Vlachos]]
|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]
|1994–1997
|10
|0
|-
|112
|align=left|[[Theodoros Zagorakis]]
|[[Midfielder (association football)|MF]]
|2000–2004
|45
|0
|-
|113
|align=left|[[Akis Zikos]]
|[[Midfielder (association football)|MF]]
|1999–2001
|18
|0
|-
|}

==List of former players==
{{Details|Category:AEK Athens F.C. players}}
<gallery>
File:DK-AEK (4) (croppe.jpg| [[Anastasios Bakasetas]]
File:CSKA-AEK (5).jpg| [[André Simões]]
File:Basinas 2008.jpg| [[Angelos Basinas]]
File:Anthony-Martial-2015.jpg| [[Anthony Martial]]
File:Bruno Alves.jpg| [[Bruno Alves]]
File:Bruno Cirillo 2.jpg| [[Bruno Cirillo]]
File:Malaga trenning (1).jpg| [[Diego Buonanotte]]
File:Juan Cala.jpg| [[Cala (footballer, born 1989)|Cala]]
File:Majstorovic Nov2010.jpg| [[Daniel Majstorović]]
File:Dionisis Chiotis.jpg| [[Dionysis Chiotis]]
File:Djibril Sidibé.jpg| [[Djibril Sidibé (footballer, born 1992)|Djibril Sidibé]]
File:DK-AEK (4 cropped).jpg| [[Dmytro Chyhrynskyi]]
File:Bajevic Maric Vladic (Bajevic cropped).jpg| [[Dušan Bajević]]
File:Ehsan Hajsafi at IRNPOR match 2018 FIFA World Cup.jpg| [[Ehsan Hajsafi]]
File:Eidur Gudjohnsen.jpg| [[Eidur Gudjohnsen]]
File:2020-03-10 Fußball, Männer, UEFA Champions League Achtelfinale, RB Leipzig - Tottenham Hotspur 1DX 3690 by Stepro (cropped).jpg| [[Erik Lamela]]
File:SPA - KS 11.19 (3).jpg| [[Ezequiel Ponce]]
File:Fabián Andrés Vargas (2011-10-20).jpg| [[Fabián Vargas]]
File:Georgios Magiras.jpg| [[Georgios Magiras]]
File:Krychowiak in 2020.jpg| [[Grzegorz Krychowiak]]
File:Lazaros Christodoulopoulos.jpg| [[Lazaros Christodoulopoulos]]
File:Lefter Küçükandonyadis (1948) Cropped.jpg| [[Lefter Küçükandonyadis]]
File:Hugo Almeida - SV Werder Bremen (1).jpg| [[Hugo Almeida]]
File:Ioannis Okkas1.jpg| [[Ioannis Okkas]]
File:Ignacio Scocco en Newell's Old Boys 2021.jpg| [[Ignacio Scocco]]
File:NACIONAL VS BARCELONA 2 LAC (15388871639).jpg| [[Ismael Blanco]]
File:CSKA-AEK (1).jpg| [[Jakob Johansson]]
File:Joleon Lescott 20120611.jpg| [[Joleon Lescott]]
File:Juan Fran.jpg| [[Juanfran (footballer, born 1976)|Juanfran]]
File:Iran vs. Montenegro 2014-05-26 (059).jpg| [[Karim Ansarifard]]
File:Kleanthis Maropoulos coloured.jpg| [[Kleanthis Maropoulos]]
File:20130814 AT-GR Kostas Katsouranis 2377.jpg| [[Kostas Katsouranis]]
File:CSKA-Roma (4).jpg| [[Kostas Manolas]]
File:레오나르두.jpg| [[Leonardo (footballer, born September 1986)|Leonardo]]
File:Mario Mitaj 2022.jpg| [[Mario Mitaj]]
File:Loc-Rub (4).jpg| [[Marko Livaja]]
File:Iran vs. Angola 2014-05-30 (165).jpg| [[Masoud Shojaei]]
File:Milen Petkov.jpg| [[Milen Petkov]]
File:Milton Viera Boca Juniors.jpg| [[Milton Viera]]
File:Néstor Martín Errea (Atlanta) - El Gráfico 2111.jpg| [[Néstor Errea]]
File:Nelson Oliveira - Croatia vs. Portugal, 10th June 2013 (crop).jpg| [[Nélson Oliveira]]
File:Nordin Amrabat'13.JPG| [[Nordin Amrabat]]
File:Liberopoulos.JPG| [[Nikos Liberopoulos]]
File:Panagiotis Kone.jpg| [[Panagiotis Kone]]
File:Paulo Assunção.jpg| [[Paulo Assunção]]
File:Rivaldo bunyodkor 2010.jpg| [[Rivaldo]]
File:Sergio Araujo 2019 2020.png| [[Sergio Araujo]]
File:20130814 AT-GR Sokratis Papastathopoulos 2368.jpg| [[Sokratis Papastathopoulos]]
File:Sotirios Kyrgiakos 2008.jpg| [[Sotirios Kyrgiakos]]
File:Dellas 2008.jpg| [[Traianos Dellas]]
File:Tsiartas.jpg| [[Vasilios Tsiartas]]
File:Walter Centeno 2016.jpg| [[Walter Centeno]]
</gallery>

==Personnel==

===Ownership and current board===

{{Fb cs header}}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Owner                                                |s={{flagicon|GRE}} [[Marios Iliopoulos (Greek businessman)|Marios Iliopoulos]]}}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=President                                            |s={{flagicon|GRE}} Evangelos Aslanidis}}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=1st Vice President & [[Chief executive officer|CEO]] |s={{flagicon|CYP}} Minas Lysandrou}}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=2nd Vice President                                   |s={{flagicon|GRE}} Alexis Alexiou}}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=3rd Vice President                                   |s={{flagicon|GRE}} Alexis Dedes}}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Board Members                                        |s={{flagicon|GRE}} Georgios N. Kanellopoulos}}<br>{{flagicon|GRE}} Nikos Pantermalis

{{Fb oi footer|s=[https://www.aekfc.gr/pel/dioikitiko-symvoulio-43388.htm?lang=en&path=1966086743 AEK Athens F.C.]|date=June 2025}}

===Executives===

====Administration Department====

{{Fb cs header}}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=General Manager                 |s={{flagicon|GRE}} Angeliki Arkadi}}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=[[Chief financial officer|CFO]] |s={{flagicon|GRE}} Andreas Christakos}}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Commercial Director             |s={{flagicon|GRE}} Nikos Karaouzas}}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Press Officer                   |s={{flagicon|GRE}} Tasos Tsatalis}}

{{Fb oi footer|s=[https://www.aekfc.gr/pel/stelechi-43389.htm?lang=en&path=-181396910 AEK Athens F.C.]|date=December 2024}}

====Football Department====

{{Fb cs header}}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Director of Football              |s={{flagicon|ESP}} [[Javier Ribalta]]}}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Deputy Director of Football       |s={{flagicon|GRE}} [[Konstantinos Stavrothanasopoulos|Kostas Stavrothanasopoulos]]}}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Head of Football Operations       |s={{flagicon|GRE}} Alex Clainos}}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Team Managers                     |s={{flagicon|GRE}} [[Dimitris Nalitzis]]<br>{{flagicon|GRE}} Panos Anastasopoulos}}

{{Fb oi footer|s=[https://www.aekfc.gr/pel/agonstelechi-126281.htm?lang=en&path=-502730888 AEK Athens F.C.]|date=June 2025}}

===Coaching and medical staff===
[[File:Marko Nikolić 2020.jpg|thumb|300x300px|[[Marko Nikolić (football manager)|Marko Nikolić]] is the team's current head coach.]]

;Coaching staff
{{Fb cs header}}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Head coach	         |s={{flagicon|SRB}} [[Marko Nikolić (football manager)|Marko Nikolić]]}}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Assistant coaches      |s={{flagicon|SRB}} [[Aleksandar Rogić]]<br>{{flagicon|SRB}} Radoje Smiljanić<br>{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Ilias Kyriakidis]]}}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Head of performance    |s={{flagicon|SRB}} Goran Basarić}}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Fitness coaches        |s={{flagicon|GRE}} Georgios Papaleontiou<br>{{flagicon|GRE}} Kostas Konstantopoulos<br>{{flagicon|GRE}} Sotiris Mavros}}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Goalkeeper coach       |s={{flagicon|ITA}} Marco Garofalo}}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Analyst                |s={{flagicon|GRE}} Vasilis Armatas}}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Opponents analyst      |s={{flagicon|GRE}} Kostas Charpidis}}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Rehabilitation coach   |s={{flagicon|GRE}} Ignatios Sakellaridis}}

{{Fb oi footer|s=[https://www.aekfc.gr/pel/techniki-igesia-43381.htm?lang=en&path=-1464847241 AEK Athens F.C.]|date=July 2025}}

;Medical staff
{{Fb cs header}}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Medical director           |s={{flagicon|GRE}} [[Lakis Nikolaou]]}}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Doctors	                 |s={{flagicon|GRE}} Charis Lalos<br>{{flagicon|GRE}} Dimitris Serenidis}}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Podiatrist                 |s={{flagicon|GRE}} Manos Arvanitakis}}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Εrgophysiologist           |s={{flagicon|GRE}} Dimitris Stergiopoulos}}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Nutritionists              |s={{flagicon|GRE}} Daniel Kapsis<br>{{flagicon|GRE}} Dimitris Kakouros}}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Physiotherapists           |s={{flagicon|GRE}} Christos Dedousis<br>{{flagicon|GRE}} Konstantinos Pavlidis<br>{{flagicon|GRE}} Dimitris Prevenios<br>{{flagicon|GRE}} Vasilios Laosoglou}}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Assistant physiotherapists |s={{flagicon|GRE}} Alexis Asprogiannis<br>{{flagicon|GRE}} Taxiarchis Kagiaros}}

{{Fb oi footer|s=[https://www.aekfc.gr/pel/iatriko-epiteleio-43385.htm?lang=en&path=1756378213 AEK Athens F.C.]|date=July 2025}}

;Other staff
{{Fb cs header}}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Team manager assistant  |s={{flagicon|GRE}} Antonis Maos}}
{{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Kit mens                |s={{flagicon|GRE}} Georgios Baliotis<br>{{flagicon|GRE}} Spyros Mallioras<br>{{flagicon|GRE}} Manolis Fanelakis<br>{{flagicon|GRE}} Giannis Manthos}}

{{Fb oi footer|s=[https://www.aekfc.gr/pel/prosopiko-45719.htm?lang=en&path=-389483010 AEK Athens F.C.]|date=October 2024}}

===Presidents===
{| class="wikitable centre" style="font-size:100%"
|-
!scope=col colspan=4 align=center|AEK Athens F.C. presidential history from 1924 to present
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|
* Sarantis Papadopoulos (1924)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aek-live.gr/pios-itan-o-protos-proedros-tis-aek/|title=Ποιος ήταν ο πρώτος πρόεδρος της ΑΕΚ;|date=29 July 2016|website=aek-live.gr}}</ref>
* [[Konstantinos Spanoudis]] (1924–32)
* Alexandros Strongylos (1932–33)
* Konstantinos Sarifis (1933–35)
* Konstantinos Theofanidis (1935–37)
* Konstantinos Chrysopoulos (1937–38)
* Vasilios Fridas (1938–40)
* Emilios Ionas (1945–49)
* Spyridon Skouras (1949–50)
* Georgios Melas (1950–52)
* Eleftherios Venizelos (1952)
* Georgios Chrysafidis (1952–57)
* [[Nikos Goumas]] (1957–63)
* Alexandros Makridis (1963–66)
* Georgios Toubalidis (1966)
* Michail Trikoglou (1966–67)
* Emmaonuil Kalitsounakis (1967)
* Kosmas Kyriakidis (1967–68)
* Ilias Georgopoulos (1968–69)
* Georgios Chrysafidis (1969–70)
|
* Kosmas Chatzicharalampous (1970–73)
* Dimitrios Avramidis (1973)
* Ioannis Theodorakopoulos (1973–74)
* [[Loukas Barlos]] (1974–81)
* [[Andreas Zafiropoulos]] (1981–82)
* [[Michalis Arkadis]] (1982–83)
* Lefteris Panagidis (1983–84)
* [[Andreas Zafiropoulos]] (1984–88)
* Kostas Generakis (1988)
* [[Stratos Gidopoulos]] (1988–91)
* Kostas Angelopoulos (1991)
* Kostas Generakis (1991–92)
* [[Dimitris Melissanidis]] (1992–93)
* Giannis Karras (1993–94)
* [[Dimitris Melissanidis]] (1994–95)
* Giannis Karras (1995)
* [[Michalis Trochanas]] (1995–96)
* Nikos Stratos (1995)
* [[Michalis Trochanas]] (1996)
* Georgios Kyriopoulos (1996–97)
|
* [[Alexis Kougias]] (1997)
* [[Lakis Nikolaou]] (1997–98)
* Kostas Generakis (1998–99)
* Stefanos Mamatzis (1999–2000)
* Cornelius Sierhuis (2000–01)
* Filon Antonopoulos (2001)
* Petros Stathis (2001)
* Chrarilaos Psomiadis (2001–03)
* Giannis Granitsas (2003–04)
* Kostas Generakis (2004)
* [[Alexis Kougias]] (2004)
* Andreas Dimitrelos (2004)
* [[Demis Nikolaidis]] (2004–08)
* Georgios Kintis (2008–09)
* Nikos Thanopoulos (2009–10)
* Stavros Adamidis (2010–12)
* Andreas Dimitrelos (2012)
* [[Thomas Mavros]] (2012)
* Andreas Dimitrelos (2012–13)
* Evangelos Aslanidis (2013–)
|}

===Notable managers===
<gallery>
File:František Fadrhonc (1974).jpg|[[František Fadrhonc]] led AEK Athens to the [[1976–77 UEFA Cup]] semi-finals
File:Zlatko Čajkovski 1953.jpg|[[Zlatko Čajkovski]] [[1977–78 Alpha Ethniki]] champion and [[1977–78 Greek Football Cup|1977–78 Greek Cup]] winner
File:Ferenc Puskás (cropped).jpg|The [[Golden Team|'Mighty Magyar']], [[Ferenc Puskás]], manager of the club in the [[1978–79 Alpha Ethniki|1978–79]] season
File:Dušan Bajević (cropped).png|[[Dušan Bajević]] 4 times [[Super League Greece|Alpha Ethniki]] champion, 1 time [[Greek Football Cup|Greek Cup]], [[Greek League Cup]] and [[Greek Super Cup]] winner
File:20150616 - Portugal - Italie - Genève - Fernando Santos.jpg|[[Fernando Santos (footballer, born 1954)|Fernando Santos]] winner of the [[2001–02 Greek Football Cup|2001–02 Greek Cup]]
File:2017-08-02 Manolo Jimenez.jpg|[[Manolo Jiménez (footballer, born 1964)|Manolo Jiménez]] [[2017–18 Super League Greece|2017–18 Greek Super League]] champion and [[2010–11 Greek Football Cup|2010–11 Greek Cup]] winner
File:Dellas 2008.jpg|[[Traianos Dellas]] led the club to promotion to the [[Super League Greece|Greek Super League]]
File:Almeyda_foto_.jpg|[[Matías Almeyda]] [[2022–23 Super League Greece|2022–23 Greek Super League]] champion and [[2022–23 Greek Football Cup|2022–23 Greek Cup]] winner
</gallery>

{| style="text-align: center; "
|-
! rowspan="2" |Manager
! rowspan="2" |From
! rowspan="2" |To
! colspan="8" |Trophies
|-
! 
|-
| align="left" |{{flagicon|GRE|old}} [[Kostas Negrepontis]]
| align="left" |1933<br>1937<br>1944<br>1955<br>1958
| align="left" |1936<br>1940<br>1948<br>1956<br>1959
| style="text-align:left; font-size:80%;" |2 [[Super League Greece|Greek Leagues]]<br>1 [[Greek Football Cup|Greek Cup]]
|-
| align="left" |{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Jack Beby]]
| align="left" |1948
| align="left" |1951
| style="text-align:left; font-size:80%;" |2 [[Greek Football Cup|Greek Cups]]
|-
| align="left" |{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Mario Magnozzi]]
| align="left" |1952
| align="left" |1953
|—
|-
| align="left" |{{flagicon|GRE|old}} [[Tryfon Tzanetis]]{{ref label|note01|A|^}}
| align="left" |1954<br>1956<br>1960<br>1965
| align="left" |1955<br>1957<br>1962<br>1966
| style="text-align:left; font-size:80%;" |1 [[Balkans Cup]] Runner-up
|-
| align="left" |{{flagicon|AUT}} [[Heinrich Müller (footballer, born 1909)|Heinrich Müller]]
| align="left" |1963
| align="left" |1964
| style="text-align:left; font-size:80%;" |1 [[Greek Football Cup|Greek Cup]]
|-
| align="left" |{{flagicon|HUN}} [[Jenő Csaknády]]{{ref label|note01|A|^}}
| align="left" |1962<br>1967
| align="left" |1963<br>1968
| style="text-align:left; font-size:80%;" |2 [[Super League Greece|Greek Leagues]]
|-
| align="left" |{{flagicon|SFR Yugoslavia}} [[Branko Stanković]]{{ref label|note01|A|^}}
| align="left" |1968
| align="left" |1973
| style="text-align:left; font-size:80%;" |1 [[Super League Greece|Greek League]]
|-
| align="left" |{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Stan Anderson]]{{ref label|note01|A|^}}
| align="left" |1973
| align="left" |1974
|—
|-
| align="left" |{{flagicon|TCH}} [[František Fadrhonc]]
| align="left" |1974
| align="left" |1977
|—
|-
| align="left" |{{flagicon|YUG}} [[Zlatko Čajkovski]]
| align="left" |1977<br>1982
| align="left" |1978<br>1982
| style="text-align:left; font-size:80%;" |1 [[Super League Greece|Greek League]]<br> 1 [[Greek Football Cup|Greek Cup]]
|-
| align="left" |{{flagicon|HUN}} [[Ferenc Puskás]]
| align="left" |1978
| align="left" |1979
|—
|-
| align="left" |{{flagicon|AUT}} [[Helmut Senekowitsch]]
| align="left" |1983
| align="left" |1983
| style="text-align:left; font-size:80%;" |1 [[Greek Football Cup|Greek Cup]]
|-
| align="left" |{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Giannis Pathiakakis]]
| align="left" |2000
| align="left" |2001
| style="text-align:left; font-size:80%;" |1 [[Greek Football Cup|Greek Cup]]
|-
| align="left" |{{flagicon|POR}} [[Fernando Santos (Portuguese footballer)|Fernando Santos]]
| align="left" | 2001<br> 2004
| align="left" | 2002<br> 2006
| style="text-align:left; font-size:80%;" |1 [[Greek Football Cup|Greek Cup]]
|-
| align="left" |{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Lorenzo Serra Ferrer]]
| align="left" | 2006
| align="left" | 2008
|—
|-
| align="left" |{{flagicon|BIH}} [[Dušan Bajević]]
| align="left" |1988<br>2002<br>2008
| align="left" |1996<br>2004<br>2010
| style="text-align:left; font-size:80%;" |4 [[Super League Greece|Greek Leagues]]<br>1 [[Greek Football Cup|Greek Cup]]<br>1 [[Greek League Cup]]<br>1 [[Greek Super Cup]]
|-
| align="left" |{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Manolo Jiménez (footballer, born 1964)|Manolo Jiménez]]
| align="left" | 2010<br> 2017
| align="left" | 2011<br> 2018
| style="text-align:left; font-size:80%;" |1 [[Greek Football Cup|Greek Cup]] <br>1 [[Super League Greece|Greek League]] 
|-
| align="left" |{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Traianos Dellas]]
| align="left" | 2013
| align="left" | 2015
| style="text-align:left; font-size:80%;" |1 [[Gamma Ethniki|Football League 2]] <br> 1 [[Super League Greece 2|Football League]]
|-
| align="left" |{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Stelios Manolas]]*
| align="left" | 2015 <br/> 2016
| align="left" | 2015 <br/> 2016
| style="text-align:left; font-size:80%;" |1 [[Greek Football Cup|Greek Cup]]
|-
| align="left" |{{flagicon|ARG}} [[Matías Almeyda]]
| align="left" | 2022
| align="left" | 2025
| style="text-align:left; font-size:80%;" |1 [[Super League Greece|Greek League]] <br> 1 [[Greek Football Cup|Greek Cup]]
|}

{{Details|List of AEK Athens F.C. managers}}

;Key
:<nowiki>*</nowiki> Served as [[caretaker manager]].<br>† Served as caretaker manager before being appointed permanently.

Only competitive matches are counted. Wins, losses, and draws are results at the final whistle; the results of [[Penalty shootout (association football)|penalty shootouts]] are not counted.

==See also==
{{portal|Association football|Greece}}
*[[A.E.K. (sports club)]]
*[[AEK Athens B F.C.]]
*[[AEK Athens F.C. Academy]]
*[[History of AEK Athens F.C.]]
*[[List of AEK Athens F.C. seasons]]
*[[List of AEK Athens F.C. records and statistics]]
*[[List of AEK Athens F.C. managers]]
*[[AEK Athens F.C. in European football]]
*[[European Club Association]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* Κουσουνέλος, Γιώργος (1924). ''ΑΕΚ - Η ΥΠΕΡΟΜΑΔΑ'' {{in lang|el}}. Αθήνα, Ελλάδα:	Σ. Φίλης.
* Μακρίδης, Παναγιώτης (1955). ''Η ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΑΕΚ'' {{in lang|el}}. Αθήνα, Ελλάδα: Αθλητική Ηχώ.
* Συλλογικό έργο (1979). ''Η αθλητική δράση των Ρωμιών της Πόλης 1896–1976'' {{in lang|el}}. Κωνσταντινούπολη, Τουρκία: Ειδική Έκδοση.
* Αλεξανδρής, Γ.Χ. (1996). ''Η Ιστορία της ΑΕΚ'' {{in lang|el}}. Αθήνα, Ελλάδα: Ιδιωτική Έκδοση Γ.Χ. Αλεξανδρής.
* Καραπάνος, Παναγιώτης (1999). ''Το αλφαβητάρι της ΑΕΚ: Όλα όσα πρέπει να ξέρεις και δεν σου έχουν πει για την ΑΕΚ'' {{in lang|el}}. Αθήνα, Ελλάδα: Εκδόσεις Δίαυλος. {{ISBN| 978-960-531-066-0}}.
* Νόταρης, Ι. Σωτήρης (2002). ''ΑΕΚ, κλασικός αθλητισμός: Ο καρπός της αθλητικής παράδοσης της Πόλης στη σύγχρονη Αθήνα από το 1924 έως τις μέρες μας'' {{in lang|el}}. Αθήνα, Ελλάδα: Εκδόσεις Καλαβρία. 
* Συλλογικό έργο (2007). ''Ο Κιτρινόμαυρος Δικέφαλος'' {{in lang|el}}. Αθήνα, Ελλάδα: Εκδόσεις Παπαδόπουλος. {{ISBN|978-960-412-558-6}}.
* Κατσαρός, Κωνσταντίνος (2008). ''Κώστας Νεστορίδης: Ο μάγος της μπάλας'' {{in lang|el}}. Αθήνα, Ελλάδα: Εκδόσεις Άγκυρα. {{ISBN|978-960-422-625-2}}.
* Συλλογικό έργο (2009). ''ΑΕΚ: Για πάντα πρωταθλητές'' {{in lang|el}}. Αθήνα, Ελλάδα: Εκδόσεις Σκάι. {{ISBN|978-960-482-018-4}}.
* Κακίσης, Σωτήρης (2011). ''Ένωσις!'' {{in lang|el}}. Λευκωσία, Κύπρος: Εκδόσεις Αιγαίον. {{ISBN|978-996-369-277-4}}.
* Έρτσος, Γεράσιμος (2015). ''Στάδιο ΑΕΚ και η ιστορία του...από το 1928 μέχρι το 2015'' {{in lang|el}}. Αθήνα, Ελλάδα: Ιδιωτική Έκδοση. {{ISBN|978-960-937-426-2}}.
* Συλλογικό έργο (2014). ''90 ΧΡΟΝΙΑ, Η ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΑΕΚ'' {{in lang|el}}. Αθήνα, Ελλάδα: Εκδοτικός Οίκος Α. Α. Λιβάνη. {{ISBN|978-960-14-2802-4}}.
* Συλλογικό έργο (2017). ''Ποιος, ποιος, ποιος, ο μαύρος θεός'' {{in lang|el}}. Αθήνα, Ελλάδα: Εκδόσεις Ελληνοεκδοτική. {{ISBN|978-960-563-146-8}}.
* Αγγελίδης, Νικόλαος (2017). ''Όλες οι ΑΕΚ του κόσμου'' {{in lang|el}}. Αθήνα, Ελλάδα: Εκδόσεις Νότιος Άνεμος. {{ISBN|978-960-951-152-0}}.
* Γεωργάκης, Θεόδωρος (2021). ''Είναι διαφορετικό να είσαι ΑΕΚ'' {{in lang|el}}. Αθήνα, Ελλάδα: Όστρια Βιβλίο. {{ISBN|978-960-604-701-5}}.
* Παναγιωτακόπουλος, Παναγιώτης (2021). ''1963–2021 Η ΕΥΡΩΠΑΪΚΗ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ ΤΗΣ Α.Ε.Κ. ΜΕΣΑ ΑΠΟ ΤΑ ΕΙΣΙΤΗΡΙΑ ΤΩΝ ΑΓΩΝΩΝ: το ταξίδι συνεχίζεται...!!!'' {{in lang|el}}. Αθήνα, Ελλάδα: {{ISBN|978-618-00-2832-4}}.
* Παναγιωτακόπουλος, Παναγιώτης (2022). ''1979–2003 ΤΟ ΤΑΞΙΔΙ ΣΥΝΕΧΙΖΕΤΑΙ...Νο2: Οι επίσημοι αγώνες της Α.Ε.Κ. στο Ναό μέσα από τα εισιτήρια των αγώνων'' {{in lang|el}}. Αθήνα, Ελλάδα: {{ISBN|978-618-00-3993-1}}.
* Παναγιωτακόπουλος, Παναγιώτης (2023). ''100 ΧΡΟΝΙΑ Α.Ε.Κ. – 100 ΣΤΙΓΜΕΣ ΔΟΞΑΣ μέσα από τα εισιτήρια των αγώνων: Το Ταξίδι Συνεχίζεται...!!! Νο3'' {{in lang|el}}. Αθήνα, Ελλάδα: {{ISBN|978-618-00-4636-6}}.
* Γασπαρινάτος, Γεράσιμος (2023). ''Μια ομάδα στον κόσμο αγαπώ!'' {{in lang|el}}. Αθήνα, Ελλάδα: One Team Εκδοτική. {{ISBN|978-618-86768-0-0}}.
* Συλλογικό έργο (2024). ''100 ΧΡΟΝΙΑ Α.Ε.Κ: Η ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ ΤΗΣ Α.Ε.Κ. ΜΕΣΑ ΑΠΟ ΤΗΝ ΕΞΕΛΙΞΗ ΤΟΥ ΓΗΠΕΔΟΥ ΤΗΣ'' {{in lang|el}}. Αθήνα, Ελλάδα: Εκδόσεις Κάπα. {{ISBN|978-960-62-8372-7}}.
* Συλλογικό έργο (2024). ''ΟΨΕΙΣ ΤΗΣ ΚΟΙΝΩΝΙΚΗΣ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑΣ ΤΗΣ ΑΕΚ'' {{in lang|el}}. Γλύφα Βαρθολομιού Ηλείας, Ελλάδα: Εκδόσεις Μπαλτά. {{ISBN|978-618-5658-06-9}}.

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
{{Wikinews category|AEK Athens F.C.}}
{{Commons category}}
'''Official websites'''
*{{oweb|1=https://www.aekfc.gr/?lang=en}} {{in lang|en|el}}
*[https://www.slgr.gr/en/team/658/ AEK Athens] at [[Super League Greece]] {{in lang|en|el}}
*[https://www.uefa.com/nationalassociations/teams/50129--aek-athens/ AEK Athens] at [[UEFA]]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20180414172247/http://www.fifa.com/live-scores/clubs/club=greece-aek-31075/index.html AEK Athens] at [[FIFA]] (archived 14 April 2018)
'''News sites'''
*AEK Athens on [http://www.aek365.org/ aek365.org] {{in lang|el}}
*[https://www.novasports.gr/team-sport/aek-podosfairo/ AEK Athens news] from [[Nova Sports]]
*[https://www.flashscore.gr/team/aek/ANpZncAM/ Current results of AEK matches]
*[https://football.aek.com/ A.E.K. FC Database] {{in lang|en|el}}
'''Media'''
*{{Facebook|AEK.FC.OFFICIAL}}
*[https://www.youtube.com/user/AEKFCOfficial AEK Athens] on YouTube
'''Other'''
*[https://www.aekfc.gr/ehp/e-shop-45908.htm?lang=en&path=-222580127 AEK Athens e-shop]

{{A.E.K. (sports club)}}
{{AEK Athens F.C.}}
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{{AEK Athens F.C. squad}}
{{AEK Athens F.C. matches}}
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{{AEK F.C. managers}}
{{Super League Greece teamlist}}
{{Football in Greece}}
{{Greek football clubs in Europe}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:AEK Athens F.C.}}
[[Category:AEK Athens F.C.| ]]
[[Category:AEK (sports club)|Football]]
[[Category:Football clubs in Athens]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1924]]
[[Category:1924 establishments in Greece]]
[[Category:Left-wing politics in sports]]