AEK Athens Season Preview 2021-22

August 24, 2021

By Greg Gavalas

The new season for AEK Athens has seen many changes however it’s hard to not feel like more of the same so far and if anything, perhaps even more disappointment after AEK’s European run turned into one of the clubs worst ever, eliminated form the UEFA Europa Conference League at the first hurdle.

New Coach

Like the last few seasons, AEK has brought in a new coach, Vladen Milojevic, the 51-year-old Serbian is familiar with Greek Football having played most of his footballing career in the Alpha Ethniki from 1993 to 2004 and is best remembered for his time with Panathinaikos and Iraklis from 1997 to 2003.

Milojevic also coached Panionios from 2016-2017 and had a good run with the team before dominating in his homeland with Red Star Belgrade.

The new coach has not had a great start at AEK, the European exit to Bosnian outsiders Velex Mostar was a huge blow for everyone, having seen the team get out enthused in Bosnia was concerning and to only win 1-0 in Athens and then lose on penalties was only underwhelming, although it must be said, AEK missed many chances, and the Bosnian goalkeeper had the game of his life.

Some criticism for Milojevic has come regarding his line ups, they don’t feature enough attacking players, we have seen the 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3, the later has not helped AEK even since last season and friendly matches to Lamia and Asteras Tripolis have shown that concern.

New Signings

The coach does have a fare few new players to call upon and look to form a winning layout, one of AEK’s biggest downfalls the last couple of seasons has been the defence who have leaked many goals and it can be said it has been the weakest defensive arms we have ever seen at the club.

Reinforcements have come in, Gerasimos Mitiglou from Volos FC, Greek International – Giorgos Tzavellas, former AEK Athens player – Ognjen Vranjes and French right back, Celment Michelin who is going to give Michalis Bakakis some competition there.

Another player brought in, is Iranian utility, Ehsan Hajisafi who has previously played for Panionios and Olympiakos, the 31-year-old can also play in the midfield on the left.

The team is also boosted by the signing of Austrian goalkeeper, Cican Stankovic, the 28-year-old has already played in most friendlies with the team and should be a big help in keeping out goals.

In midfield Damien Le Tallec has come to Greece from Montpellier where he spent the last three season in Ligue 1, Le Tallec is a defensive midfielder and he will join the other 5 (Galanopoulos, Simoes, Sabanadzovic, Shakhov, Szymanski) defensive midfielders.

Key Station

AEK remains rather thin in the attacking midfielder position with captain Petros Mantalos looking to lead the line here however as we read, it’s said the next transfer target is for this position and for a player that can be at Mantalos’s level or higher. This will be a key signing if it happens as the team can not rely on just Mantalos.

Moroccan International, Nordin Amrabat has being signed by the Enosi, the now 34-year-old is a good signing and he himself has said his age will be just a number as he will be looking to light up the Super League fields and make an impact like that of Levi Garcia, sadly for the Trinidad and Tobago winger another injury will see him miss the first rounds of the season, a big loss for AEK.

If AEK is to have a push for a Championship title it will need a big season from not only these guys but Christos Albanis and Muamer Tankovic, both can provide good sparks to the team and have scored some vital goals when needed.

The last of the current newbies is not such a newbie but like Vranjes and another former loanee who has finally been signed by Dimitris Melissanidis, with no introduction needed, Sergio Araujo is now an AEK player and will be looking to score the vital goals with Karim Ansarifard up front.

Summary

As it stands it’s hard to see the 2018 Champions threatening for the title, the squad looks like it has certainly strengthened the defence however my concern is the system Milojevic is using, which relies too much on defensive minded players who wont be able to threat a tight defence and the desperate need for a very good central attacking midfielder, on top of that Araujo’s form has been inconsistent and Ansarifard looks to have lost an edge on his usual performances but I am certainly not taking him out of my starting 11.

It will be interesting to see what the new signings can bring, truth be told, they will need to make a real practical “BAM” for AEK to better 3rd position in the Super League.

Hellas Football

Follow @GregGavalas