Super League: XI of the 2023-24 season

 Super League: XI of the 2023-24 season

By Andreas Mitsis

                       The party in Thessaloniki and at Toumba as PAOK celebrated the league title.


Drama was only the first name when PAOK managed to defeat city rivals Aris at Charilaou in the last round and thus win their fourth league title of all time. Join us as the undersigned sums up the season as per tradition and selects the players who performed best in the 2023-24 Super League.


Last season's league breakdown was the most exciting in years and days. Few could have guessed that we would immediately surpass last year in 2023-24 in terms of table drama. All of the big club quartet (PAOK, AEK, Olympiakos & Panathinaikos) were in the battle for the league title right up until the remaining two rounds of the playoff. 


The decision only came during the last round on Sunday (19/05) and PAOK would draw the longest straw. Needing an away win against city rivals Aris, the Thessaloniki club managed to leave Charilaou with a 1-2 win after drama right down to the last second, [ Link ]. No other league in Europe has had the same dramatic dissolution. Something we are not used to in Greek football. 


It has been eventful and dramatic not only in the league game but also out in the European Cup game for our big clubs. All qualified and participated in European group games last autumn. Teams like Marseille, Villarreal, Brighton, Eintracht Frankfurt and West Ham were defeated. PAOK and Olympiakos then came in the spring to go far in the UEFA Europa Conference League. 


In total, our clubs have recorded 11,000 coefficient points and it's not over yet. Something we have reason to return to a little further down. As the undersigned wrote 12 months ago, our club team football has received a nice boost. 


The bar has been raised in parallel as the heavyweights are more equal in terms of quality than they have been for a long time. The playoffs have truly been amazing. Also notable from earlier this season was the government's decision in December to close down all arenas for two months. Between December 12 - February 12, there were games in front of empty stands in the old Covid spirit, [ Link ].


PAOK won their first league title since 2018-19, their fourth all-time. An incredibly strong and well-deserved title, thanks in large part to coach Razvan Lucescu. The tone last summer was not too positive around the club but the team went from strength to strength successively during the season. The Romanian handled his squad in an exemplary manner. 


A squad with e.g. perfect age balance. Stability and continuity have been keywords. The team has kept a high minimum level in their efforts, where a quintet of offensive midfielders has been directly decisive for the offence in the absence of a distinct goalscorer. Mbwana Samatta struggled throughout to get things going while Brandon Thomas did a tremendous job and a couple of important goals but in all fairness, he is neither a clinical goalscorer nor a quality striker. 


In the UECL, PAOK won their group (16 out of 18 possible points) ahead of Eintracht Frankfurt. The Germans were defeated both at home in Toumba and away. In the playoffs, they knocked out Dinamo Zagreb in the round of 16 before Club Brügge knocked them out in the quarterfinals. PAOK have reached the quarter-finals of the UECL twice in the last three seasons. Next season, PAOK will qualify for the Champions League starting in the second qualifying round.


Second in the table, AEK has sometimes not had the same frenzy/intensity in their game as last year when they won the double. The offence could sometimes be a bit too one-sided, but the breadth of the squad and the foundation Almeyda built last season still meant they came stumbling close to a new league title. In the playoffs, the team was hampered a lot by the fact that Levi García was both slightly injured and out of shape. 


AEK's sporting board has work ahead of it this summer when the squad needs to be reshaped a bit. The goalkeeper position but also the full-back positions are examples of places where upgrading is required. 


If Olympiakos' 2022-23 season was long, eventful and chaotic, we can state that this season also continued on the beaten path, but also add the word success in several contexts. The big club from Piraeus began a fresh start late last spring when the meritorious sports director Antonio Cordon was hired. Another Spaniard was hired as a coach in the form of Diego Martinez. These two, for separate reasons, did not last particularly long in Olympiakos. 


In December, the Portuguese Pedro Alves took over the sports directorship and at the same time Carlos Carvalhal took over the coaching job. Things basically got even worse there e.g. the team found it incredibly difficult to perform. In February, there were thus new changes, but this time with an unlikely positive effect. A new-age sports director in Darko Kovacevic, in agreement with owner Vangelis Marinakis and others with mandates in the coaching matter, brought in the experienced Spanish coach José Luis Mendilibar. 


The 63-year-old from the historic Basque coaching school was nothing short of a success. The team almost underwent a metamorphosis under Mendilibar's leadership. By being inclusive, logical, pragmatic and implementing a "back to basic" mindset, he worked wonders under tough conditions in the middle of the season. Among other things, he succeeded in getting team captain Kostas Fortounis to show off a disciplined and sacrificial defensive job we have never seen before in his career, for which even the offensive midfielder himself should be praised. 


The team moved up in the league, showed, among other things, an impressively effective pressing game and knocked out one team after another in the UEFA Europa Conference League playoffs. Ferencvaros, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Fenerbahce and finally Aston Villa in the semi-final game after a total of 6-2 against the Premier League table four.

 



In other words, Mendilibar led the big club from Piraeus to a historic first European Cup final where Fiorentina awaits on Wednesday 29 May in Athens at AEK's Agia Sophia Stadium, which makes it even more unique. It has been a crazy couple of months for Olympiakos and we must not forget that they also took home the prestigious UEFA Youth League, [ Link ]


The triumph in Nyon is, in a way, a receipt for the investments Marinakis made in the development of the facilities at the first-class training facility in Rentis, the youth academy and more. In August, the UEFA Super Cup final was also organized at Karaiskakis. Next year the club celebrates its 100th anniversary, which is something AEK has done this season.


Panathinaikos must continue to wait for a long-awaited league title. The Greens from the capital came close last year and also had moments this season with the momentum to go all the way and win their first league title since 2009-10. It's always easy to be in hindsight, but even when the decision to fire coach Ivan Jovanovic was made at Christmas and bring in Fatih Terim, it felt like Panathinaikos board had lost their way. The gamble generally did not go home. Terim was also backed up with several winter acquisitions, e.g. Tasos Bakasetas. 


The team has been uneven in its performances and there has been a noticeable defensive vulnerability on a relatively regular basis. The fans have aired their displeasure with owner Giannis Alafouzos but a little plaster on the supporters' wounds may come on Saturday (25/05) when the cup final against Aris looms. 


A win is a must so that the top four in the table will not be without a game in Europe next season. Panathinaikos and Terim went their separate ways before the last league round. Christos Kontis has temporarily taken over responsibility for the team. The fact is also that the club has already completed new acquisitions for 2024-25, where above all the agreement with the Serbian national team midfielder Nemanja Maksimovic stands out. 


Most important in the longer term for the club is that the construction of the arena at Votanikos takes off in earnest. In the short term, it is of the utmost importance to review the sporting organization and find a suitable coach who can make the best use of the player material. 


At the other end of the table was relegation for Kifisia and PAS Giannina, respectively. Only two seasons ago, "Ajax of Epirus" had one of its best editions in modern times. However, after various changes within the club, which also affected the team negatively, a long-standing club from the periphery will be relegated. 


The warning bells were already ringing last year. Newcomers Panserraikos started and finished well. It was enough for a seventh place for the Serres club, where coach Pablo García, however, will not continue until next season for personal reasons. 


Rumours place him in Atromitos, but in certain contexts, he is also mentioned as a candidate for the position of national team captain. A decision on a new national team captain is expected to come this summer. Kifisia and PAS leave until 2024-25 while Levadiakos and Kalithea with Greek-American ownership join. 

***

After the above summary, we instead, according to tradition, focus on the best-performing players in the 2023-24 league season. Like last season, the team is almost completely dominated by players from the four biggest clubs except only a few. The withdrawals are based on the stakes during the 26 basic rounds including the playoff/playout. We start with the formation and the season's coach.


Formation: 4-1-3-2


Coach: Leonidas Vokolos (Lamia) 

Comment: On Valentine's Day last February, Vokolos was hired by Lamia. No one could have believed at the time that he would be as perfect a match for the club from central Greece as he proved to be. Vokolos first saved them in spectacular fashion in the Super League and then in this season led the club to their most successful league season in modern times in the form of a sixth place and playoff appearance. A mighty impressive feat. 


The 53-year-old is calm himself in his coaching role. He is extremely well-liked by his players, which also resulted in the players giving everything and more for him and the team out on the pitch. However, the team was a piece of cake in the playoffs for the big clubs, but that does not detract from the performance Vokolos and his crew made in a big way. 


After various different jobs in football, he has had his real breakthrough as a coach. The club and Vokolos have decided to go their separate ways. He is already rumoured to have a new job lined up for 2024-25. PAOK's Razvan Lucescu had been equally deserving of the award after his tremendous work where a year ago he was somewhat questioned by many but has once again shown what a skilled coach/manager he is.

***

Starting XI


Goalkeeper: Alexei Koselev (Lamia)

Matches/Goals:  33/0

Comment: 30-year-old Moldovan national team goalkeeper who joined this season's sensation Lamia last winter without being given first-choice goalkeeper. However, it took only a short time before he became the given choice between the posts. This season he has shone. Lined up fine efforts and won points for his team. Popular Koselev reads the game well, is a good shot-stopper, is quick down the ground and has been a key factor in Lamia's success.


Right back: Rodinei (Olympiakos)

Matches/Goals:  30/2

Comment: The league's best right back. Brazilian fullback with all that implies. Rodinei has had a big influence on Olympiakos' play with his desire to constantly get forward on the right flank. The 32-year-old is outstanding in most aspects offensively, apart from his mixed compote in terms of the plays. Defensively, he can sometimes e.g. get out of position but his phenomenal offence means that there is leniency on that part. Won everything with Flamengo before moving to the big club from Piraeus last January. There has rightly been speculation about a possible selection for the Brazilian national team. 


Centre back: Domagoj Vida (AEK)

Matches/Goals:  29/6

Comment: Experienced Vida logically defends his place in the starting eleven from last season. Reads the game well and makes sure to try and stay one step ahead of his opponents. With his presence and his overall actions, he gives security to the defensive, which is decisive for the entire team's performance. The 104-time Croatian international can have some concerns if the back line is lifted too high against dynamic/quick strikers. Vida is also a constant threat in offensive set-piece situations with his head game and overall feeling for goals. Strong personality and is the player in AEK with the most number of minutes played in the league.



Centre back: Dinos Koulierakis (PAOK)

Matches/Goals:  22/1

Comment: Breakthrough last year and the 20-year-old has not slowed down. Incredibly mature in his game for his young age and is a centre-back profile every team wants in today's football. Koulierakis has been invaluable for PAOK in the second half of the season and has carried a huge load considering the team's weak squad depth in the centre-back positions e.g. African Championship MVP for his Nigeria Willian Troost-Ekong returned injured to Thessaloniki in February. 


Left-back: Baba Rahman (PAOK)

Matches/Goals:  28/5

Comment: Joined PAOK in the middle of last summer on a free transfer to make his second stay at the Thessaloniki club. Coach Lucescu may not have been completely sold on the idea, but the skilled Romanian coach and Baba himself have ensured that the 29-year-old had a brilliant season. Runs up and down his left flank, and has extremely fine ball control and very high-quality touches. Five goals and four assists on the account. Robust from a defensive perspective, [ Link ]. Refused to play at the African Championship with his Ghanaian national team last winter, which he has been loyal to for many years, to instead concentrate on his duties with PAOK. 


Central Midfielder: Soualiho Meïte (PAOK)

Matches/Goals:  30/1

Comment: The champions' safe spot in their central midfield. Dominant with his physique but also reliable on the ball and pressure-resistant. Meïte has a high average of the number of ball recoveries per game and won a lot of duels but without being too one-dimensional because he could also carry the ball. The Frenchman possesses almost a complete midfield package. He has meant extra for PAOK in top/derby matches. 


Attacking Midfielder: Daniel Podence (Olympiakos) 


 Matches/Goals:  31/11

 Comment: Transfer bomb when he returned to the big club from Piraeus on transfer deadline day in September. The Portuguese had a relatively strong season with Wolves in the Premier League last year but had a desire to return to Olympiakos where he thrived like a fish in water between the summer of 2018 and January 2020. The desire for a new collaboration was mutual and the outcome was brilliant. In his second stint with "Thrylos", Podence has been much more productive in his game and has really matured in recent years in terms of decision-making on the pitch. The 28-year-old with his low point combined with brilliant technique is a big crowd favourite at Karaiskakis and talks about turning the loan into a permanent transfer are already underway.


Offensive Central Midfielder: Giannis Konstantelias (PAOK)

 Matches/Goals:  34/9

 Comment: The 21-year-old is perhaps the most sought-after player in Greek football in general. Konstantelias possesses a rare talent where he has the ability to make a difference on his own through his excellent technique, ball control, dribbling ability and imagination. The creator plays football with a smile on his face and is extremely popular with the masses. Konstantelias has gradually started to add more goals to his account and does not fall out of match pictures to the same extent as before. Lucescu has also helped him find a better balance in how his should distribute the forces and become more decisive but also responsible both defensively and offensively. Awarded the MVP award for, among other things, his decisive performances towards the end of the playoffs. An award which could almost have gone to one of his colleagues in PAOK's midfield.

Offensive Left Midfielder: Bernard (Panathinaikos)

 Matches/Goals:  31/10

Comment: Had a solid season last year but has taken his game in Panathinaikos to a new level in the last six months or so. The meritorious 31-year-old brass has shown enormous determination and really played for the trefoil on his chest. A coach's dream. Always loyal in his defensive duties but has added goals/assists in abundance this season. With Fatih Terim at the helm since the end of December, creative Bernard got a slightly freer role with a starting position out on the left, which gave positive efficiency in an offensive direction. Among other things, Brassen has a very good drive with the ball at his feet but will leave Athens in the summer to move back to Brazil and Atletico Mineiro. 


Striker: Fotis Ioannidis (Panathinaikos)

Matches/Goals:  28/15


Comment: Ioannidis' development curve over the past 18 months is something out of the ordinary. The national team striker has gone from strength to strength. He has grown into a bit of a physical monster with extreme running capacity and strength in his body which has helped him in his progress. Phenomenal in the pressing game, can finish with both feet, has a good eye for the game and is not an uneven dribbler at the same time. Will most likely be able to become the greens from the capital's most expensive player sale of all time. 

Striker: Loren Morón (Aris)

 Matches/Goals:  35/20

 Comment: One of the absolute best strikers Aris has had in the 2000s, if not the best. Morón has in every way followed in compatriot Sergio Koke's footsteps at Charilaou. Brought up in Marbella, he later made his mark with Betis in La Liga. One of the keys to Morón's success has been that he was able to quickly acclimatise to his new existence despite leaving Spain for the first time. The similarities between Seville and Thessaloniki are many. High work capacity, moves incredibly smartly and nicely and is sharp in its endings. Won the shooting league with a three-goal margin down to second. The class goals have replaced each other. By clicking here you can see all 20 of his complete hits for Aris. 

***

Substitute

Goalkeeper: Dominik Kotarski (PAOK)

 Matches/Goals:  34/0

 Comment: PAOK's former sports director José Boto went his own way during the 1.5 years he was in Thessaloniki between December 2021 and July 2023. His stay was generally a failed one but the signing of Kotarski stands out in a positive sense. Very skilled goalkeeper for his age. 12 clean sheets in league play. Kotarski was brought up in Dinamo Zagreb and Ajax, but it is in PAOK that he got the chance to grow. Communicative and quick reflexes. The 24-year-old has acted as a backup to Dominik Livakovic in the Croatian national team but had to make his senior national team debut earlier this spring when he had to sit out half a game of a friendly against Egypt. Needs to improve his play in the penalty area and decision-making to take another step in his development. It is not excluded that he is sold this summer if the right club for his own part knocks on the door and PAOK is sufficiently satisfied from a financial point of view. 

Center back: Fabiano (Aris)

 Matches/Goals:  27/4

 Comment: The brass with German roots has for a couple of seasons delivered solid efforts for the Thessaloniki club. Together with his centre-back colleague Jakub Brabec, who has had another fine year for Aris, the duo has maintained an even and fine level in their performances, which has been a safe foundation for the team to stand on. Can also fill in at right back position if needed. Playful Fabiano squeezes a place in the team ahead of Olympiakos' highly influential David Carmo and AEK's Alexander Callens. 


Central Midfielder: Santiago Hezze (Olympiakos) 

 Matches/Goals:  31/0

 Comment: A Duracell rabbit like no other in terms of covering huge areas. A versatile midfielder with an incredible understanding of the game. Excellent ability to assess what he should do both with and without the ball. Only 22 years old but feels significantly older in the way he acts on the pitch, [ Link ]. Well-spent four million euros from Olympiakos when he was bought from Hurácan in August. Hezze has formed a strong inner midfield with, among others, Chiquinho, where all the players in the midfield complement each other well. Argentina captain Lionel Scaloni has his eyes on him. Earlier last fall, the world champion coach took Olympiakos left-back Francisco Ortega to a national team meeting and fearless Hezze is getting closer to a future call-up. However, will probably learn to play in the Olympics this summer even though he played non-stop for a long time. The midfielder has been very valuable to Olympiakos and also holds Polish citizenship. AEK's Swiss army knife with a big positive impact on his team, as well as last year's MVP Orbelin Pineda, was tough enough just not selected for the team of the season in favour of Meïte and Hezze.


Attacking Midfielder: Andrija Zivkovic (PAOK)

 Matches/Goals: 29/10


 Comment: The 27-year-old Serbian national team midfielder has had his best season for PAOK since arriving from Benfica in September 2020. He is one of the league's absolute best players and was joined by especially Konstantelia's and Taison's tongue-in-cheek in the playoffs when the battle for the league title was to be decided. Zivkovic has been decisive with his wit, technique and fine left foot. The big-hearted winger for the Thessaloniki club has grown into a PAOK icon and is seen as Vieriniha's heir. Has for periods worn the captain's armband.


Offensive Right Midfielder: Niclas Eliasson (AEK)

 Matches/Goals:  36/8


 Comment: What a development. Eliasson is at the peak of his career. In connection with the speedy winger gaining much more confidence from coach Almeyda, he has shown great progression in his game. Fits like a glove in the Argentine's philosophy. Eliasson's goals and assists are proof that the end product has improved. Never before has he had such nice statistical numbers. From no league goals scored last year to eight in his second season in AEK. Eliasson has also been given more responsibility in terms of e.g. taking care of fixed situations. Even in his performances this season but extra good in the very last few months. Participated from the start or as a substitute in all matches. The Swedish-Brazilian from Falkenberg may be considered rather overlooked in Sweden but was recently fully deservedly selected in Jon Dahl Tomasson's Swedish national team squad for the matches in June. 


Attacking Midfielder: Taison (PAOK)

 Matches/Goals:  29/5

Comment: Possesses a somewhat unlikely explosiveness for his age. Senseless winner skull. Along with Konstantelias, just mentioned club icon A. Zivkovic, Bulgarian national team captain Kiril Despodov and Thomas Murg, the 36-year-old brass has been part of a thriving offensive midfield for PAOK. Outstanding drive with the ball, game perception, technique and shots. Coach Lucescu was given the green light for the signing last winter by, among others, his father Mircea, who managed the determined Taison for a couple of years at Shakhtar Donetsk. Has been rewarded for his efforts in PAOK these 1.5 years with a contract extension until next summer. Olympiakos' Kostas Fortounis, Lamia's Sotiris Tsiloulis and Aris' Shapi Suleymanov deserve to be mentioned in this context. 


Striker: Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympiakos)

 Matches/Goals:  31/17


Comment: Exceeded all expectations. El Kaabi was not the declared starting striker when he arrived during the month of August, but he became one relatively immediately with, among others, the skilled Stevan Jovetic but also the club legend and compatriot Youssef El-Arabi behind him in the attack hierarchy. A curse has rested over shirt number nine in Olympiakos for a longer time where players with nine on their backs many times had difficulty delivering in accordance with expectations. The relatively low expectations placed on him in general, given a rather checkered past career, helped him to surprise positively. He proved to be a real cobra in the penalty area with a very fine movement pattern and nose for goal. El Kaabi is nothing remarkable in the game, but with the help of quality teammates, the team got the most out of him. All the pieces simply fell into place. In total, he was noted for 17 league goals despite a month's absence for games with Morocco in the AFCON. Incidentally, he has scored 15 (!) goals in EL/UECL in 18 matches. Olympiakos and North African strikers are demonstrably very compatible. In the competition for the place were Kifisia's Ognjen Ozegovic and AEK's Equi Ponce. 

Hellas Football

@Mitsaras87A

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