AEL: Settled or Prolonging Mediocrity?

We are approaching the 2019/2020 Greek Super League season, AEL claim they are more settled than ever before since the fairy-tale title winning 1987-88 season 31 years ago. Questions are starting to surround the club whether they are settled in terms of the management or will continue to prolong the mediocrity mostly caused by the controversial owner Alexis Kougias with his lunatic actions.

Stadium: AEL FC Arena

Earlier this off-season, Alexis Kougias has settled an agreement with the stadium’s stakeholder and businessman Kostas Piladakis (Owner of AEL: 2004-2013) for the use of AEL FC Arena at a cost of €300,000 annually, as well as confirming it will be the venue to host European games for AEL if they qualify with included bonuses, and access to various facilities.

Unlike last season the stadium’s concession was in threat that would have forced the club to play away from Larissa. Kougias stressfully resolved the issue by closing the North and South stands of the stadium, purely to revive the stadiums concession and economic reasons, which caused extreme outrage by the Gate 1 Monsters who boycotted most of the home games due to this controversial decision.

Since gaining promotion to the top-flight 3 years ago, the stadiums pitch had been neglected and was heavily criticised by the owners Gipedo Larissa A.E, saying the club was in breach of regulations of not maintaining the pitch and noted it is Kougias responsibility. It also came under criticism from EURO 2004 winner Angelos Charisteas, stated that it is the worst pitch he had ever seen. 

Thankfully for the upcoming season the stadium is not a problem anymore as the North and South stands are reopened and will be in full operation, which also allows the Gate 1 Monsters to brighten up the ground’s atmosphere, as well as the pitch now being properly maintained.

Manager: Gordan Petric

At the conclusion of the 2018/19 Greek Super League season AEL were quick to announce the appointment of Serbian manager Gordan Petric, who was the assistant manager for Serbian giants Partizan and replaced Italian manager Gianluca Festa, who mutually terminated his contract despite his will to stay in Greece citing problems with the environment inside the club.

This is not the first time Petric has stepped foot in Greece, back in 1999 he signed for AEK Athens from Crystal Palace and left within months to continue his professional career in Scotland for Heart of Midlothian. 

20 years later, he arrives in Greece for the second time as a manager and agreed to a 2-year contract with AEL until 2021. The 50 year-old has somewhat a decent coaching record, though his last managerial job was with FK Rad in the 2017/18 Serbian league season that saw him sacked in October that season after a poor run of results, and would remain his worst coaching stint in his managerial career of 3 wins, 2 draws and 9 losses.

AEL 2019/2020 Transfers

Nikola Stankovic – The versatile Serbian left-back signed a pre-contract agreement back in March that would see him wear the Crimson jersey until 2022. Stankovic is 25 years old and has earned only 1 international cap for Serbia, in a friendly 3-0 loss to Qatar. He has registered a great amount of games so far in his career and will compete with fellow compatriot Stefan Zivkovic for the left-back role.

Alexios Michail – After PAS Giannina’s relegation to the newly structured 2nd tier, Super League 2, the veteran defender departed his boyhood club after 27 years. The 32 year-old has found a new challenge with the Crimsons until 2021, which means AELs defence has been bolstered with added experience. Michail adds in the depth required for the centre-back position and will come in handy for what will be a crucial season for AEL.

Milos Filipovic – The Serbian right-winger, also capable of playing behind the striker agreed to a 3 year contract with AEL and desires to earn European qualification with the club. FIlipovic comes in to fill in for his fellow compatriot Milos Deletic, who departed for AEK Athens. The right-wing position in the team is very crucial. The question remains whether the 29 year-old is capable of fulfilling that role where Deletic excelled in his 3 years with the club, so all eyes on Filipovic on the right wing this season.

Borijove Ristic – The 35 year-old Serbian goalkeeper will be the backup for Icelandic international Ogmundur Kristinsson and fills in for the young Greek Panagiotis Paiteris, who did not catch the eye of Petric and was released immediately. This will be Ristic’s second stint in Greece, as he was previously at Pansseraikos for the 2017/2018 football season.

Evripidis Giakos – Another long-serving PAS Giannina player departed after 18 years with the club, the 28 year-old midfielder agreed to a 3 year contract with AEL. The depth in the midfield is a priority, Giakos adds in his pedigree of experience and strengthens the midfield stocks. He can play as a forward, but he is very much suited to that much needed attacking midfield role.

Abiola Dauda – I have previously mentioned AEL must sign a proven goal-scorer, and they have gone and chalked that off the list by signing Abiola Dauda from Turkish club Giresunspor. Previously he was at Atromitros a little while ago, where he scored 16 goals in 49 games, the 31 year-old Nigerian will lead the front line for the Crimsons in the upcoming Greek Super League season. Personally, this is a great signing and I am looking forward to how will play. What is important is the kind of service he will receive from his teammates for him to put away the goal-scoring chances.

Jonathan Bustos – The 25 year-old Argentine attacking midfielder left Primera B side Platense of Argentina, signed a 3 year contract with the Crimsons. Not much is known about Bustos, as he has been plying his trade in the 2nd and 3rd tiers of Argentina’s football pyramid. May be brought in as a backup for the attacking midfield role or the wing positions but let’s see if he can settle in this upcoming season.

*Bruno Chalkiadakis – The Greek-Brazilian midfielder will continue his career with AEL after leaving Romanian club FC Hermannstadt. Although the transfer has been agreed, the club expected his arrival on 1st July, until the administration received an unexpected email from Bruno declaring himself injured for up to 4-6 weeks and is unable to undergo his medical, therefore requested the club to hold his contract and was immediately accepted.

In more recent news, AEL have listed young Greek players Lefteris Bamis and Vangelis Nousios on the loan list. Strangely, there was reports earlier in July stating that Nousios is confirmed as a Levadiakos player but has taken part of AELs pre-season training in Karpenissi and friendly games. Also, the club has announced that Aleksander Gojkovic has returned to the Crimsons after he was released back in June. With the Serbian defender returning he bolsters the defensive stocks; his playing time last season was mediocre at best so let’s hope he improves under the new coach. It is also confirmed veteran defender Vangelis Moras decided before pre-season training commenced, he will continue for one more season before officially heading into retirement.

What must be said is all the transfers and contract renewals have been done before and during pre-season, which shows a good sign of improvement regarding the team’s preparation for the season ahead.

Departures – Milos Deletic, Nikola Jakimovski, Hristofor Hubchev, Panagiotis Paiteris, Gertin Hoxhalli, Noe Akosta, Davor Taleski, Petar Kunic, Kenan Bargan, Christos Gromitsaris, Theodoros Tripotseris, Leozinho.

2019/2020 Roster

Goalkeepers: 

Ogmundur Kristinsson, Borijove Ristic, Stefanos Souloukos, Stratos Misyrlis

Defenders:

Right Backs – Nikos Karanikas, Manolis Bertos

Left Backs – Nikola Stankovic, Stefan Zivkovic

Centre Backs – Vangelis Moras, Alexios Michail, Slavko Bralic, Nikos Golias, Nikola Zizic, Aleksander Gojkovic

Midfielders: 

Fation Andoni, Radomir Milosavljelic, Adnan Secerovic, Panagiotis Ballas, Alexandros Halatsis, Dimitris Miltiadis, Milos Filipovic, Dimitris Pinakas, Evripidis Giakos, Jonathan Bustos, *Bruno Chalkiadakis (Yet to undergo medical and sign the paperwork)

(*Lefteris Bamis, *Vangelis Nousios – added into the 2019/2020 as both players participated in pre-season, but will seek game time elsewhere on loan as announced by the club)

Attackers: 

Abiola Dauda, Marko Nunic, Evgeni Shikavka, Michalis Tsoumanis

Objectives

In the first set of statements of the 2019/2020 football season, the owner Alexis Kougias set the objective for AEL to finish in the top 6 at the end of the regular season and chase after European qualification, stating it is a possibility once the leagues fixtures were released, also claiming it is well balanced. With pre-season finishing in just a few weeks, Gordan Petric is overall pleased with what he has seen from the squad but has stated his will to make any necessary transfers to strengthen the team. It is extremely satisfying there are no reported injuries so far this pre-season, therefore heading into the 2019/2020 Greek Super League season very well organised and prepared. AELs first game of the season is against Atromitros away from home.

This upcoming season is crucial for the Crimsons, with the restructure of the Greek football pyramid it is important for the club to remain in the top-flight and it will no doubt be very competitive. What I don’t want to see is the lunatic owner raging in his “personal statements” over referees decisions during the matches, being regularly fined for his comments, laying out ultimatums against the club’s staff as well as club owners across the league, constantly coming out tricking the media he is leaving the club and selling his shares, and former players overdue in their payments that result into temporary point deductions. It is undeniable that AEL are suffering internally with poor management for almost a decade (possibly more) but what I expect is the team to show competency and consistency throughout the season and putting smiles on the fans faces.

So, the question, is AEL settled or prolonging mediocrity? We will have to wait and see.

By Michael for Hellas Football