The 1966–67 season was the 43rd season in the existence of AEK Athens F.C. and the eighth consecutive season in the top flight of Greek football. They competed in the Alpha Ethniki, the Greek Cup, the European Cup Winners' Cup and the Balkans Cup. The season began on 1 March 1966 and finished on 30 May 1968.
Overview
The performance of AEK Athens in the previous season's championship may have left them disappointed at missing out on the title, but taking into account the injustice and punishments they suffered, combined with the abstention of Mimis Papaioannou, gave the impression that the club was ready for the new championship race without significant transfer additions. The departures of Giorgos Petridis and above all, of Kostas Nestoridis, after nine active seasons at the club, did not disturb the manager, Tryfon Tzanetis. He did not make any significant signings, as he considered the existing squad, assembled gradually during the early 1960s, sufficient to meet the club's needs. The only addition was the forward of Apollon Athens, Vasilis Mastrakoulis as a backup choice to Mimis Papaioannou and Kostas Papageorgiou who had formed an irreplaceable attacking duo. As far as covering the gap in the midfield was concerned, this was filled with the return of the versatile Panagiotis Ventouris, after the end of his spell in South Africa during the previous season.
AEK started the season in the first round of the European Cup Winners' Cup. Their opponent was the Braga, who in the previous season had won their first title and made their maiden appearance in European competitions. The club's performance in both legs was not enough as they were eliminated after losing both legs.
The Championship race started with Olympiacos, who under the guidance of Márton Bukovi, seemed unstoppable, as they achieved 11 straight victories in the same number of matches. Additionally, an unexpected draw away to Panserraikos prompted the administration of AEK in a final attempt to revive their title challenge, to dismiss Tzanetis from the bench and bring back Jenő Csaknády after three and a half years. The Hungarian-German manager made an immediate impact, when in the his two matches he achieved as many victories, including a home win against Olympiacos, reducing the gap to four points. The imposing 5–1 victory over Panserraikos on 16 April reduced the distance even more to 3 points from Olympiacos.
However, five days later, the Championship was interrupted for over a month, as the football stadiums were used by the military junta, that had meanwhile been imposed on the country as gathering places for arrested dissidents. Sports matches were among the first public events to resume under the regime. AEK returned to action on 21 May, winning 2–0 against Egaleo away from home, which combined with the draw of the red and whites reduced the gap to two points. However, a goalless draw against Ethnikos at home, as well as the 1–1 at Karaiskakis Stadium against Olympiacos marked the end of the league race, as they finished second three points behind the red and whites.
In the Cup, AEK, like the other clubs that reached the round of 16 of the previous season, entered directly into the second round where they defeated with ease Athinaikos and Aspida Xanthi, respectively. In the quarter-finals they faced the eventual winners, Panathinaikos and were eliminated by a 2–1 defeat at home.
AEK also competed in the Balkans Cup of the season, placed in the 2nd group alongside FK Vardar, Lokomotiv Sofia and Farul Constanța. They managed to finish first undefeated as they achieved three wins and three draws and qualified for the 2-legged final, facing Fenerbahçe. In the first leg at Nea Filadelfeia, AEK won 2–1 and they went to Istanbul to defend their slight lead. The Turks levelled the aggregate score by winning 1–0 and since the away goals rule was not applied in the tournament, a third match was set. As no suitable date was available, the deciding match was played seven months later and on 30 May 1968 at Mithat Paşa, AEK were defeated by 3–1 and lost a great opportunity to win an international trophy, which was still regarded as a prestigious competition at the time.
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 December 1967, 23:59 UTC+2.
PlayerNat.Position(s)Date of birth (Age)SignedPrevious clubTransfer fee Goalkeepers Stelios Serafidis GK 1953 AEK Athens U20 — Vangelis Petrakis GK 1962 Aris ₯500,000 Theodoros Maniateas GK 1964 Panthisiakos Free Stelios Konstantinidis GK 1967 AEK Athens U20 — Defenders Alekos Sofianidis LB / LM / LW 1959 Beşiktaş Free Aleko Yordan CB / RB 1964 Beykoz Free Tasos Vasiliou CB 1965 Apollon Athens ₯1,200,000 Giorgos Kefalidis RB / CB 1964 Pierikos ₯800,000 Fotis Balopoulos CB / DM / CM / ST 1964 Proodeftiki ₯450,000 Lakis Frogoudakis LB / RB / CB / DM 1964 AEK Athens U20 — Midfielders Stelios Skevofilakas LM / RM / AM / CM 1961 Eleftheroupoli Free Fanis Tasinos LM / CM 1963 Korinthos ₯500,000 Panagiotis Ventouris LM / RM / LW / RW / ST / AM / SS 1965 Fostiras ₯400,000 Nikos Stathopoulos LM / LB / CM 1965 AEK Athens U20 — Michalis Simigdalas CM / RM / LM / RB / LB 1963 AEK Athens U20 — Giorgos Karafeskos CM / DM / RM / RW 1964 AEK Athens U20 — Forwards Andreas Stamatiadis (Captain) RW / LW / SS / ST 1952 AEK Athens U20 — Vasilis Mastrakoulis RW / ST / SS 1966 Apollon Athens ₯270,000 Kostas Papageorgiou ST 1963 Atromitos ₯200,000 Mimis Papaioannou SS / ST / AM / RW 1962 Veria ₯175,000 Spyros Pomonis LW / LM 1960 AEK Athens U20 — Nikos Exarchidis ST 1966 Niki Plaka Free Kostas Nikolaidis RW / LW / SS / ST 1965 PAO Safraboli Free Nikos Sevastopoulos RW / SS / AM / ST 1963 AEK Athens U20 — Left during season Giorgos Petridis AM / SS / ST 1957 Pera Club Free
Transfers
In
PlayerFromFeeDateSource AEK Athens U20Promotion Alexander the GreatLoan return Corinthians JohannesburgLoan return HellenicLoan return Apollon Athens₯270,000 Alexander the GreatLoan return Alexander the GreatLoan return AEK Athens U20Promotion South Melbourne HellasLoan return Alexander the GreatLoan return Niki PlakaFree transfer
Out
PlayerToFeeDateSource PanegialiosContract termination Vyzas MegaraFree transfer Apollon LimassolFree transfer Vyzas MegaraFree transfer
Loan out
PlayerToFeeDateUntilOption to buySource Alexander the GreatFree9 September 1966 Corinthians JohannesburgFree6 February 1967 Alexander the GreatFree9 September 1966 Alexander the GreatFree9 September 1966 Alexander the GreatFree9 September 1966
Overall transfer activity
Expenditure: ₯270,000
Income: ₯0
Net Total: ₯270,000
Pre-season and friendlies
Competitions
Overall record
Alpha Ethniki
League table
Results summary
Results by Matchday
Matches
Greek Cup
AEK entered the Greek Cup at the round of 32.
Matches
European Cup Winners' Cup
First round
Balkans Cup
Group B
Matches
Group stage
Finals
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;"| Left during season
Goalscorers
The list is sorted by competition order when total goals are equal, then by position and then alphabetically by surname. RankPlayerAlpha EthnikiGreek CupEuropean Cup Winners' CupBalkans CupTotal110 3 1 822211 4 0 116313 1 0 0144 9 0 0 1105 2 1 0 03 1 1 0 137 2 0 0 02 2 0 0 02 1 0 0 1210 1 0 0 01 0 0 0 11Own goals 0 0 1 01Totals5210 21377
Hat-tricks Numbers in superscript represent the goals that the player scored. PlayerAgainst Result Date Competition Source Kostas Nikolaidis Panserraikos 5–1 (H) 16 April 1967 Alpha Ethniki Kostas Nikolaidis Aspida Xanthi 5–1 (A) 14 June 1967 Greek Cup
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 CupEuropean Cup Winners' CupBalkans CupTotal112 1 0 2152 3 0 0 033 0 0 0 11Totals15 1 0 319
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;"| Left during season
Starting 11 This section presents the most frequently used formation along with the players with the most starts across all competitions.
Formation Matchday(s)444–2–41–30
Player Stelios SerafidisGKTasos VasiliouRCBFotis BalopoulosLCBLakis FrogoudakisRBAlekos SofianidisLBGiorgos KarafeskosRCMStelios SkevofilakasLCMAndreas Stamatiadis (C)RWPanagiotis VentourisLWMimis PapaioannouRCFKostas NikolaidisLCF
Awards PlayerAwardSource Kostas Nikolaidis FW Greek Cup Top Scorer
References
External links AEK Athens F.C. Official Website A.E.K. FC Database