AEK is champion for the 13th time in its history

Manos Staramopoulos • 16 de mayo de 2023

AEK defeated Volos 4-0 in the decisive 10th match of the play-offs y win a new tittle in Greece

AEK champions of Greece in 2023

AEK Athens experienced great moments on Sunday (May 14). Matias Almeida's team was adored by more than 30,000 fans for their great success in being crowned champions of Greece. The newly built «Agia Sophia OPAP Arena» was resounding with the voices of its fans, who could not believe their eyes. His team after a marathon of regular season and playoffs emerged champions and will now participate in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers .


In a riveting conclusion to the season, AEK defeated Volos 4-0 in the decisive 10th match of the play-offs, staged at the bustling OPAP Arena. AEK clinched the title, standing out with a five-point advantage over Panathinaikos. The remarkable goals were netted by Zuber (16′), Gaćinović (33′), Pineda (59′), and Szymański (86′).


This marks the 13th championship in AEK’s illustrious history and the sixth in its professional era, which commenced in 1979. The previous seasons of glory include 1938-39, 1939-40, 1962-63, 1967-68, 1970-71, 1977-78, 1978-79, 1988-89, 1991-92, 1992-93, 1993-94, and 2017-18. Immediately after the end of the match against Volos, the 2022/23 championship was awarded to AEK.

In the center of the OPAP Arena was placed an arch with the word "Champions" and a huge yellow-black podium where Matias Almeida and his players would climb. After a spectacular show with photorhythms, the Super League trophy arrived on the pitch, carried by a representative of the cooperative.


The players then emerged one by one from the locker room in a cloud of smoke. They went up to the podium and received their medals from the president of PAE, Evangelos Aslanidis and the CEO Giorgos Kosmas.


Most of the foreigners also wore their country's flags on their waists, while several were accompanied by their children. The stadium shook when Sergio Araujo appeared on crutches, while Matias Almeida, the pioneer of success, entered the stadium last amid cheers. His colleagues and the entire staff of PAE AEK followed.



Melissanidis


The administrative leader of the Union received the trophy in his suite, to the sounds of the classic song "Eye of the tiger", where it was brought to him by Matias Almeida and Petros Mantalos, and then he went to the press room of "Agia Sophia" for a short statement:


 "10 years ago in Tatoi, I made a commitment to the world of AEK. Then there were only three letters: AEK and the history of the club. Today there is the AEK of normality. The real AEK that we all want and that will soon celebrate its 100 years of life.


You're asking me if it's time to give notice. My own notice was this pitch. Now the world is alerting, this coach, these players. I want to see a competitive championship again in the years to come.


This year was competitive. Football needs such championships and for the team to win the title in the last matchday"



The Argentinian coach Matias Almeida emphasized


"First of all I feel grateful to God for giving me this opportunity in my life, then to the owner of the club who gives me a job and then to all the people who work for AEK. All those involved in everyday life, the bus driver, the gardeners, the physiotherapists. Mainly and initially the footballers, and a huge hug in our world that supported us from the first minute to the last".



The protagonists of ΑΕΚ


During the championship, the footballers who contributed the most in order for AEK to reach its success were: The Argentinian striker, and its captain, Sergio Araujo. The wonderful Mexican midfielder, Orbelin Pineda who always did something magical. The Swiss midfielder, Steven Zuber, who especially in the playoffs showed his class. The right back, Lazaros Rota. The two defensive midfielders, Symanski and Jonson. The international midfielder, Petros Mantalos. Serbian winger Gacinovic. And the center forward, Levi Garcia


The win secured AEK their 13th league trophy and they now have their sights set on winning the double by winning the Cup.



Greek Super League Ladder. Championship Group


1-AEK: 83

2-Panathinaikos: 78

3-Olympiacos: 73

4-PAOK: 67

5-Aris: 51

6-Volos: 40

Relegation Group

1-OFI: 41

2-Atromitos: 38

3-Giannina: 38

4-Asteras Tripolis: 31

5-Panetolikos: 30

6-Lamia: 29

7-Ionikos: 27 (relegated)

8-Levadiakos: 26 (relegated)


The Greek football champions are the annual winners of Super League Greece , the highest professional football  league in Greece.  Officially the title has been contested since the season 1927–28, in various forms of competition.


Until 1958–59, in what was called Panhellenic Championship, the regional champions formed a national group, from which the national champion was decided. In some occasions the title was decided in a final between regional champions. Since 1959–60, the top league has been formed in its current form , with the top level being called Alpha Ethniki until 2005–06, when Super League Greece was founded, without any change in competition format. Olympiakos  are the current champions, with 47 titles.



Club Champions Winning years


Olympiakos

47

1931, 1933, 1934, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1947, 1948, 1951, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1966, 1967, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1 980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2 021, 2022 [3][4][ 5]

Panathinaikos

20

1930, 1949, 1953, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1977, 1984, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1995, 1996, 2004, 2010 [3][ 6][7]

AEK Athens

13

1939, 1940, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1978, 1979, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2018 [3][8]

PAOK 3 

1976, 1985, 2019 , 2023

Aris Thessaloniki 3

1928, 1932, 1946

Larissa 1

1988


Manos Staramopoulos- Discoveryfootball.com

Manos Staramopoulos

Journalist and Analyst of International Football and Affairs

Chief Editor English Zone of Discoveryfootball.com

Athens (Greece)

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