The 1994–95 season was the 71st season in the existence of AEK Athens F.C. and the 36th consecutive season in the top flight of Greek football. They competed in the Alpha Ethniki, the Greek Cup, the Greek Super Cup and the UEFA Champions League. The season began on 10 August 1994 and finished on 3 June 1995.
Kits
Overview
In the summer of 1994, AEK having won three consecutive championships, entered the season focused on achieving success in European competitions. The club leaders, Melissanidis-Karras-Bajevic, decided to invest heavily in the transfer market, in an attempt to qualify for the inaugural UEFA Champions League group stage. Thus, despite the departure of the last season's top scorer, Alexis Alexandris for Olympiacos, the club made several high-profile signings. The "hottest" name of the domestic transfer market, Christos Kostis, Dimitris Saravakos, who was released by Panathinaikos, the Georgian international, Temur Ketsbaia from Anorthosis and the talented Nikos Kostenoglou from Skoda Xanthi were among the club's most notable signings.
The season did not start well for the team, as they were defeated in the Super Cup at the hands of Panathinaikos. AEK had assembled a strong squad, but struggled to cope with the demands of competing domestically and in Europe, they soon fell behind in the league race. In the second round, the administrative uncertainty in the team returned to the spotlight, since Melissanidis-Karras encountered financial difficulties in their business interests and decided to search for a buyer for the club. The whole situation had a negative impact on the team and as a result AEK finished in fifth place, with Panathinaikos winning the league comfortably.
AEK were drawn against Walter Smith's Rangers. On 10 August at Nikos Goumas Stadium, Saravakos delivered a superb individual performance, scoring both goals in AEK's 2–0 victory. Rangers were determined to overturn the deficit in the rematch. However, they faced a disciplined AEK side that took the lead with Savevski after a cross from Tsiartas at the end of the first half. Thereafter, AEK adopted a disciplined tactical approach to the match, which led to a historic victory and qualification. In a difficult group with Ajax of Louis van Gaal, who eventually won the trophy, AC Milan of Fabio Capello, the eventual runners-up and Casino Salzburg, AEK finished fourth with a total of two draws and four defeats.
Having fallen out of title contention early in the season, AEK were focused on claiming the Cup. They easily passed the first round, finishing first in a group with Panargiakos, Atromitos, Kastoria and Ethnikos Asteras. Afterwards, they prevailed over Doxa Vyronas, then Panetolikos and in the quarter-finals they easily eliminated Ethnikos Piraeus. In the semi-finals they faced Edessaikos who also they overcame with relative ease. Thus, AEK faced Panathinaikos at the Olympic Stadium on April 19, for the second consecutive season. AEK protested the decision to stage the final at that stadium arguing that it effectively served as Panathinaikos' home ground. In order to express their protest, AEK entered the pitch without their opponents and waited for Panathinaikos instead of making the customary joint entrance. Saravakos missed a penalty at the 6th minute and then a nervous match ended 0–0. In extra time, the pattern of the match remained unchanged and it appeared that the match would be decided for the second year in a row in the penalty shootout. However, the referee awarded Panathinaikos a penalty for a challenge by Vlachos on Warzycha at the 115th minute, which was strongly disputed by AEK, resulting in a mass confrontation, as players and club officials of the yellow-blacks surrounded the referee of the match. As a result, Manolas and Vlachos were sent off. At the same time, tensions also spread to the supporters of AEK in the stands and further crowd disturbances occurred outside the stadium. Eventually, Warzycha scored from the penalty spot and secured the trophy for Panathinaikos. In the aftermath of the episodic final, some players of AEK refused to attend the award ceremony, while a few days after the final the referee, Filippos Bakas, was attacked by unidentified assailants. Eventually, businessman Michalis Trochanas became the club's new owner.
Among the main players of the season for AEK were Saravakos, Savevski, Šabanadžović, Manolas, Kasapis, Atmatsidis, Tsiartas, Kostis and Dimitriadis. Saravakos was AEK's top scorer and the league's second-highest scorer with 21 goals.
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 3 June 1995, 23:59 UTC+3.
PlayerNat.Position(s)Date of birth (Age)SignedPrevious clubTransfer feeContract until Goalkeepers Spyros Ikonomopoulos GK 1979 AEK Athens U20 — 1995 Ilias Atmatsidis GK 1992 Pontioi Veria ₯40,000,000 1996 Vasilis Karagiannis GK 1993 Diagoras ₯20,000,000 1998 Defenders Stelios Manolas (Captain) CB / RB 1980 AEK Athens U20 — 1995 Georgios Agorogiannis RB / RM / RW 1992 AEL ₯35,000,000 1996 Georgios Koutoulas CB / LB 1987 AEK Athens U20 — 1996 Michalis Vlachos (Vice-captain 2) CB / DM 1993 Olympiacos Free 1995 Manolis Papadopoulos CB 1992 Olympiacos Free 1995 Vaios Karagiannis LB / CB 1990 A.O. Karditsa ₯11,000,000 1996 Vasilios Borbokis RB / RM 1993 Apollon Kalamarias Free 1997 Charis Kopitsis RB / RM / LB / LM 1992 Panionios Free 1997 Nikos Kostenoglou CB / RB 1994 Skoda Xanthi ₯70,000,000 1998 Michalis Kasapis LB / LM 1993 Levadiakos ₯25,000,000 1998 Midfielders Toni Savevski CM / LM / DM 1988 Vardar ₯34,000,000 1996 Refik Šabanadžović DM / CM / CB / RB 1991 Red Star Belgrade ₯18,700,000 1996 Stavros Stamatis (Vice-captain) DM / CM / CB / RB / LB / AM 1988 Charavgiakos ₯22,000,000 1996 Temur Ketsbaia RM / LM / RW / LW / AM / CM 1994 Anorthosis Famagusta ₯100,000,000 1995 Vasilios Tsiartas AM / RM / LM / SS 1992 Naoussa ₯70,000,000 1997 Forwards Dimitris Saravakos RW / LW / SS / AM 1994 Panathinaikos Free 1997 Vasilis Dimitriadis ST 1991 Aris ₯95,000,000 1996 Christos Kostis SS / ST / AM / RW / LW 1994 Iraklis ₯350,000,000 1998 From Reserve Squad Fanouris Chalaris CB / DM — Perama — Dimitris Konstantelos CB — AEK Athens U20 — Giorgos Ananiadis LM / LB — AEK Athens U20 — Giorgos Angelis ST / SS / AM — Olympiacos Assos — Left during Winter Transfer Window Stathis Karalagas DM 1994 AEK Athens U20 — 1997 Frank Klopas SS / ST / AM 1988 Chicago Sting Free 1994 Nikos Mirtsekis ST 1994 Panionios Free 1997 Samouil Drakopulos ST / RW 1992 Grasshopper ₯55,000,000 1996
Transfers
In
Summer
PlayerFromFeeDateContract UntilSource EdessaikosLoan return30 June 1995 Skoda Xanthi₯70,000,00030 June 1998 AEK Athens U20Promotion30 June 1997 Anorthosis Famagusta₯100,000,00030 June 1995 PanathinaikosFree transfer30 June 1997 Iraklis₯350,000,00030 June 1998 PanioniosFree transfer30 June 1997 Ethnikos AsterasLoan return30 June 1994
Winter
PlayerFromFeeDateContract UntilSource ProodeftikiLoan return30 June 1998
Out
Summer
PlayerToFeeDateSource PanathinaikosEnd of contract PaniliakosContract termination OlympiacosEnd of contract IonikosEnd of contract
Winter
PlayerToFeeDateSource Apollon AthensFree transfer IraklisFree transfer
a. AEK paid the amount of ₯23,800,000 for the player's release. b. AEK received the amount of ₯23,800,000 for the player's release. c. AEK retains a buy-back option until July 1995.
Loan out
Summer
PlayerToFeeDateUntilOption to buySource EdessaikosFree30 June 1995 KavalaFree30 June 1995
Winter
PlayerToFeeDateUntilOption to buySource AiolikosFree31 December 1995 PAS GianninaFree31 December 1995
Overall transfer activity
Expenditure Summer: ₯520,000,000
Winter: ₯0
Total: ₯520,000,000
Income Summer: ₯0
Winter: ₯0
Total: ₯0
Net Totals Summer: ₯520,000,000
Winter: ₯0
Total: ₯520,000,000
Pre-season and friendlies
Competitions
Overall record
Alpha Ethniki
League table
Results summary
Results by Matchday
Matches
Greek Cup
Group 1
Matches
Round of 32
Round of 16
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
Greek Super Cup
UEFA Champions League
Qualifying round The draw for the qualifying round as well as group formations was held on 20 July 1994. The knockout phase pairs were made automatically by a predetermined bracket.
Group stage
Matches
Statistics
Squad statistics
! colspan="13" style="background:#FFDE00; text-align:center" | Goalkeepers
! colspan="13" style="background:#FFDE00; color:black; text-align:center;"| Defenders
! colspan="13" style="background:#FFDE00; color:black; text-align:center;"| Midfielders
! colspan="13" style="background:#FFDE00; color:black; text-align:center;"| Forwards
! colspan="13" style="background:#FFDE00; color:black; text-align:center;"| From Reserve Squad
! colspan="13" 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 alphabetically by surname. RankPlayerAlpha EthnikiGreek CupGreek Super CupChampions LeagueTotal121 3 0 2262 8 8 0 016311 0 0 0114 5 4 0 09 5 4 0 096 3 0 0 367 1 2 0 03 0 3 0 039 2 0 0 02 1 1 0 02 1 1 0 02 1 0 0 1213 1 0 0 01 1 0 0 01 0 1 0 01Own goals 0 0 0 00Totals6127 0 694
Hat-tricks Numbers in superscript represent the goals that the player scored. PlayerAgainst Result Date Competition Source Dimitris Saravakos OFI 4–0 (H) 29 January 1995 Alpha Ethniki
Assists
The list is sorted by competition order when total assists are equal, then by position and then alphabetically by surname. RankPlayerAlpha EthnikiGreek CupGreek Super CupChampions LeagueTotal1 7 7 0 4182 8 1 0 093 8 0 0 084 4 0 0 04 2 2 0 046 3 0 0 03 2 1 0 03 0 3 0 039 1 1 0 02 0 2 0 0211 1 0 0 01 1 0 0 01 1 0 0 01 0 1 0 01 0 1 0 01Totals3819 0 461
Clean sheets
The list is sorted by competition order when total clean sheets are equal and then alphabetically by surname. Clean sheets in games where both goalkeepers participated are awarded to the goalkeeper who started the game. Goalkeepers with no appearances are not included. RankPlayerAlpha EthnikiGreek CupGreek Super CupChampions LeagueTotal112 4 0 4202 2 4 0 06Totals14 8 0 426
Disciplinary record
! colspan="20" style="background:#FFDE00; text-align:center" | Goalkeepers
! colspan="20" style="background:#FFDE00; color:black; text-align:center;"| Defenders
! colspan="20" style="background:#FFDE00; color:black; text-align:center;"| Midfielders
! colspan="20" style="background:#FFDE00; color:black; text-align:center;"| Forwards
! colspan="20" style="background:#FFDE00; color:black; text-align:center;"| From Reserve Squad
! colspan="20" 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)563–5–21–34
Player Ilias AtmatsidisGKStelios Manolas (C)RCBManolis PapadopoulosCBMichalis VlachosLCBRefik ŠabanadžovićRDMToni SavevskiLDMCharis KopitsisRMMichalis KasapisLMVasilios TsiartasAMChristos KostisLCFDimitris SaravakosRCF
Awards PlayerAwardSource Michalis Kasapis DF Greek Player of the Season (shared)
References
External links AEK Athens F.C. Official Website A.E.K. FC Database