The 2015–16 season was the 92nd season in the existence of AEK Athens F.C. and the 55th season in the top flight of Greek football. They competed in the Super League and the Greek Cup. The season began on 22 August 2015 and finished on 31 May 2016.
Kits
Overview AEK Athens finally returned in Super League after 2 years of absence. The team experienced radical changes over the summer. The major signings were André Simões from Moreirense, Rodrigo Galo, Venezuela internationals, Ronald Vargas and Alain Baroja as a loan from Caracas, Dídac Vilà from Milan and Diego Buonanotte, who hundreds of AEK fans welcomed at the airport. The transfers also included the return of Rafik Djebbour after 4 years.
AEK started the championship well, but after a 4–0 defeat from Olympiacos on 20 October, Traianos Dellas resigned as coach after 2 and a half years at the team's bench, with the U20 coach, Stelios Manolas taking over as an interim coach, until a new coach was found. On 29 October, the Uruguayan Gus Poyet reached an agreement with the club and on 30 October signed a contract, until the summer with renewal option for two years, a discussion that would take place towards the end of the period. Poyet managed to change the atmosphere within the team and lead the club to an unbeaten streak spanning from the start of 2016 until February. The team picked up 3 important derby wins against PAOK, Panathinaikos and Olympiacos at home all by 1–0 win, with Vargas being the scorer. After a defeat against Atromitos at Peristeri Stadium incidents occurred between the fans. That resulted in the team to be punished with a 3-point deduction and combined with the defeats that AEK suffered in the away games of the final matchdays, resulted in losing the second place and eventually finishing 3rd in the league. Even though the team's well performance, on 19 April Poyet was sacked, due to conflicts with Dimitris Melissanidis, mainly focusing the club's ambitions and budget.
In the cup, AEK easily passed through their respective group finishing first and eliminated Levadiakos for the round of 16 and Iraklis for the quarter-finals, winning all their games. In the semi-finals they faced Atromitos and with Manolas who had replaced Poyet and was appointed as interim coach until the end of the season, they qualified for the cup final, with a 1–0 at home and 1–1 away from home. On 17 May at the Olympic Stadium, AEK made clear of their strong comeback, as they beat the champion Olympiacos by 2–1 for the second time within 3 months and lifted the trophy for 15th time in their history. The same night, celebrations were organised at Nea Filadelfeia by fans, who celebrated with the players and staff.
After the conquest of the cup, Manolas did not sit on the bench of the team again due to overwork, with his assistant, Nikos Panagiotaras sitting in his place. In the play-offs the team did not capitalise on their form in the cup and facing the fatigue that was built up, achieved a 3rd-place finish, thus qualifying for the 3rd qualifying round in the next season's UEFA Europa League.
Management team
Players
Squad information
NOTE: The players are the ones that have been announced by the AEK Athens' press release. No edits should be made unless a player arrival or exit is announced. Updated 31 May 2016, 23:59 UTC+3.
No.PlayerNat.Position(s)Date of birth (Age)SignedPrevious clubTransfer feeContract until Goalkeepers 1 Alain Baroja GK 2015 Caracas Free 2016 13 Panagiotis Dounis GK 2013 AEK Athens U20 — 2017 16 Ilias Vouras GK 2013 Niki Volos Free 2017 22 Giannis Anestis GK 2014 Panionios Free 2018 — Fotis Karagiolidis GK 2013 Atromitos Free 2016 Defenders 2 Aristidis Soiledis LB / LM / LW 2014 Niki Volos Free 2017 4 César Arzo CB / DM 2015 Beitar Jerusalem Free 2018 5 Vasilios Lampropoulos CB / RB 2014 Panionios Free 2017 12 Rodrigo Galo RB / RM / RW / LB 2015 Paços de Ferreira Free 2017 15 Stratos Svarnas CB / RB 2014 Triglia Rafinas Free 2017 23 Dídac Vilà LB / LM 2015 Milan Free 2018 26 Dimitrios Kolovetsios (Vice-captain 3) CB / RB 2014 PAS Giannina €250,000 2017 27 Michalis Bakakis RB / LB / CB / RM 2014 Panetolikos €250,000 2017 28 Alkis Markopouliotis CB 2015 AEK Athens U20 — 2019 55 Adam Tzanetopoulos CB / DM / CM 2013 Niki Volos Free 2020 Midfielders 6 Miguel Cordero CM / DM 2012 Xerez €70,000 2017 8 André Simões DM / CM 2015 Moreirense Free 2019 18 Jakob Johansson (Vice-captain 2) DM / CM / CB 2014 Göteborg Free 2018 20 Petros Mantalos (Captain) AM / LM / CM / LW / SS / RM / RW 2014 Skoda Xanthi €500,000 2019 25 Konstantinos Galanopoulos CM / DM 2015 AEK Athens U20 — 2018 30 Diego Buonanotte AM / RM / LM / SS / RW / LW 2015 Granada Free 2017 36 Bruno Zuculini DM / CM 2016 Manchester City Free 2016 77 Stavros Vasilantonopoulos RM / RB / LM / DM 2015 Apollon Smyrnis Free 2018 Forwards 7 Hélder Barbosa LW / LM / AM / RW / RM / SS 2014 Braga Free 2017 9 Ronald Vargas SS / AM / ST / LW / RM / LM 2015 Balıkesirspor Free 2017 11 Vangelis Platellas RW / RM / LM / LW / SS / AM 2013 Skoda Xanthi Free 2016 14 Tomáš Pekhart ST 2016 Ingolstadt 04 Free 2017 19 Rafik Djebbour ST / SS / RW / LW 2015 APOEL Free 2016 21 Christos Aravidis (Vice-captain) SS / ST / RW / LW / RM / LM 2014 Panionios Free 2017 24 Andreas Vlachomitros SS / ST / RW / LW 2015 AEK Athens U20 — 2019 33 Ivan Brečević ST 2013 Koper Free 2016 81 Antonis Kyriazis RW / LW / RM / LM 2015 AEK Athens U20 — 2018 99 Macauley Chrisantus ST/ SS / RW / LW 2015 Sivasspor Free 2016 Left during Winter Transfer Window 3 Stavros Petavrakis LB / LM 2013 Fostiras Free 2017 10 Dimitrios Anakoglou AM / CM / RM / LM 2013 Panserraikos €50,000 2016 29 Kyriakos Andreopoulos DM / CM 2015 Kerkyra €160,000 2018 44 Ablaye Faye DM / CM 2014 Kallithea Free 2017 — Dimitrios Grontis CM / AM / LM / RM / LW / RW 2012 AEK Athens U20 — 2016
Transfers
In
Summer
PlayerFromFeeDateContract UntilSource4 Beitar JerusalemFree transfer30 June 20178 MoreirenseFree transfer30 June 20179 BalıkesirsporFree transfer30 June 201712 Paços de FerreiraFree transfer30 June 201716 Iraklis PsachnaLoan return30 June 201719 APOELFree transfer30 June 201623 MilanFree transfer30 June 201824 AEK Athens U20Promotion30 June 201825 AEK Athens U20Promotion30 June 201828 AEK Athens U20Promotion30 June 201929 Kerkyra€160,00030 June 201830 GranadaFree transfer30 June 201777 Apollon SmyrnisFree transfer30 June 201881 AEK Athens U20Promotion30 June 2018— Triglia RafinasLoan return30 June 2017— EpiskopiLoan return30 June 2017— Anagennisi IerapetrasLoan return30 June 2017— Nea IoniaLoan return30 June 2017— A.E. KifisiaLoan return30 June 2017— IlisiakosLoan return30 June 2017
Winter
PlayerFromFeeDateContract UntilSource14 Ingolstadt 04Free transfer30 June 2017
Out
Summer
PlayerToFeeDateSource4 ArisContract termination8 Hamilton AcademicalFree transfer16 PierikosFree transfer23 ArisContract termination31 Retired89 Kayseri ErciyessporContract termination— Anagennisi KarditsaFree transfer— Inter LeipzigFree transfer— Atromitos U20Free transfer— St. PanteleimonFree transfer— A.E. KifisiaFree transfer— PAS LamiaFree transfer
Winter
PlayerToFeeDateSource3 PanthrakikosContract termination14 AtromitosContract termination
Loan in
Summer
PlayerFromFeeDateUntilOption to buySource1 Caracas Free30 June 2016
Winter
PlayerFromFeeDateUntilOption to buySource36 Manchester City Free30 June 2016
Loan out
Summer
PlayerToFeeDateUntilOption to buySource17 Borac Čačak Free30 June 2016
Winter
PlayerToFeeDateUntilOption to buySource10 VeriaFree30 June 201629 KerkyraFree30 June 201644 TrikalaFree30 June 2016
Contract renewals
PlayerDateFormer Exp. DateNew Exp. DateSource8 30 June 201730 June 201955 30 June 201630 June 2020
Overall transfer activity
Expenditure Summer: €160,000
Winter: €0
Total: €160,000
Income Summer: €0
Winter: €0
Total: €0
Net Totals Summer: €160,000
Winter: €0
Total: €160,000
Pre-season and friendlies
Competitions
Overall record
Super League Greece
Regular season
League table
Results summary
Results by Matchday
Matches
Play-offs
Τable
Results summary
Results by Matchday
Matches
Greek Cup
Group G
Matches
Group stage
Round of 16
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
Statistics
Squad statistics
! colspan="11" style="background:#FFDE00; text-align:center" | Goalkeepers
! colspan="11" style="background:#FFDE00; color:black; text-align:center;"| Defenders
! colspan="11" style="background:#FFDE00; color:black; text-align:center;"| Midfielders
! colspan="11" style="background:#FFDE00; color:black; text-align:center;"| Forwards
! colspan="11" style="background:#FFDE00; color:black; text-align:center;"| Left during Winter Transfer Window
Goalscorers
The list is sorted by competition order when total goals are equal, then by position and then by squad number. RankPlayerSuper LeagueSuper League Play-offsGreek CupTotal121 9 0 2119 9 0 21130 6 0 51147 7 2 09518 3 2 27619 2 0 3520 1 1 35814 3 0 0311 1 0 231099 1 0 121112 1 0 0126 0 0 112 0 0 11Own goals 0 0 11Totals43 52371
Assists
The list is sorted by competition order when total assists are equal, then by position and then by squad number. RankPlayerSuper LeagueSuper League Play-offsGreek CupTotal19 4 0 37212 5 0 1618 4 1 1621 3 0 3620 2 2 2667 4 0 04723 2 0 1388 1 1 0219 1 0 1227 0 0 22114 1 0 012 1 0 01Totals28 41446
Clean sheets
The list is sorted by competition order when total clean sheets are equal and then by squad number. Clean sheets in games where both goalkeepers participated are awarded to the goalkeeper who started the game. Goalkeepers with no appearances are not included. RankPlayerSuper LeagueSuper League Play-offsGreek CupTotal1112 0 315222 4 2 410Totals16 2 725
Disciplinary record
! colspan="17" style="background:#FFDE00; text-align:center" | Goalkeepers
! colspan="17" style="background:#FFDE00; color:black; text-align:center;"| Defenders
! colspan="17" style="background:#FFDE00; color:black; text-align:center;"| Midfielders
! colspan="17" style="background:#FFDE00; color:black; text-align:center;"| Forwards
! colspan="17" style="background:#FFDE00; color:black; text-align:center;"| Left during Winter Transfer window
Starting 11 This section presents the most frequently used formation along with the players with the most starts across all competitions.
Formation Matchday(s)294–3–34, 11–25, 28174–2–3–11–3, 5–10, 29, 3014–4–2 (D)26
Player 1Alain BarojaGK26Dimitris KolovetsiosRCB4César ArzoLCB12Rodrigo GaloRB23Dídac VilàLB8André SimõesDM18Jakob JohanssonRCM20Petros Mantalos (C)LCM9Ronald VargasRW7Hélder BarbosaLW21Christos AravidisCF
Awards PlayerAwardSource Rodrigo Galo DF Best Goal Award (1st Matchday) Diego Buonanotte MF MVP Award (3rd Matchday) Diego Buonanotte MF Best Goal Award (3rd Matchday) Hélder Barbosa FW Best Goal Award (5th Matchday) Christos Aravidis FW Best Goal Award (8th Matchday) Jakob Johansson MF MVP Award (11th Matchday) Hélder Barbosa FW Best Goal Award (16th Matchday) Giannis Anestis GK MVP Award (17th Matchday) Hélder Barbosa FW Best Goal Award (17th Matchday) Hélder Barbosa FW Best Goal Award (18th Matchday) Ronald Vargas FW MVP Award (24th Matchday) Ronald Vargas FW Best Goal Award (24th Matchday) Tomáš Pekhart FW Best Goal Award (29th Matchday) Diego Buonanotte MF Greek Cup Top Scorer Rodrigo Galo DF Team of the Season
References
External links AEK Athens F.C. Official Website