2015–16 AEK Athens F.C. season explained

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

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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.^[1] On 29 October,^[2] the Uruguayan Gus Poyet reached an agreement with the club and on 30 October signed a contract^[3] 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.^[4] 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 finishng 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 qualifyed 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.^[5]

Management team

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Events

• 30 January 2015 Before the campaign was over, André Simões agreed to a two-year contract with AEK Athens which was made effective on 1 July.
• 13 May 2015 Rodrigo Galo signed a two-year contract with AEK Athens.
• 10 June 2015 AEK Athens gets promoted to the Super League.
• 11 June 2015 Stavros Vasilantonopoulos joins AEK Athens from Apollon Smyrnis for 2+1 years.
• 17 June 2015 Rafik Djebbour joins AEK Athens from APOEL for 1+1 year.
• 16 July 2015 Alain Baroja joins AEK Athens from Caracas on a 1-year loan.
• 7 August 2015 Dídac Vilà joins AEK Athens for 2+1 years.
• 20 October 2015 Traianos Dellas quits as AEK Athens coach after years.
• 21 October 2015 Stelios Manolas AEK Athens' under-20 coach will take up the post on an interim basis until a new coach is found.
• 29 October 2015 Gus Poyet reached an agreement with AEK Athens.
• 30 October 2015 Gus Poyet sign contract with AEK Athens The agreement is until the summer of 2016 with a two-year renewal option, a discussion that will take place towards the end of the period.

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.	Player	Nat.	Position(s)	Date of birth (Age)	Signed	Previous club	Transfer fee	Contract until
Goalkeepers
1	Alain Baroja		GK	June 30, 2016	2015	Caracas	Free	2016
13	Panagiotis Dounis		GK	June 30, 2016	2013	AEK Athens U20	—	2017
16	Ilias Vouras		GK	June 30, 2016	2013	Niki Volos	Free	2017
22	Giannis Anestis		GK	June 30, 2016	2014	Panionios	Free	2018
—	Fotis Karagiolidis		GK	June 30, 2016	2013	Atromitos	Free	2016
Defenders
2	Aristidis Soiledis		LB / LM / LW	June 30, 2016	2014	Niki Volos	Free	2017
4	César Arzo		CB / DM	June 30, 2016	2015	Beitar Jerusalem	Free	2018
5	Vasilios Lampropoulos		CB / RB	June 30, 2016	2014	Panionios	Free	2017
12	Rodrigo Galo		RB / RM / RW / LB	June 30, 2016	2015	Paços de Ferreira	Free	2017
15	Stratos Svarnas		CB / RB	June 30, 2016	2014	Triglia Rafinas	Free	2017
23	Dídac Vilà		LB / LM	June 30, 2016	2015	Milan	Free	2018
26	Dimitrios Kolovetsios (Vice-captain 3)		CB / RB	June 30, 2016	2014	PAS Giannina	€250,000	2017
27	Michalis Bakakis		RB / LB / CB / RM	June 30, 2016	2014	Panetolikos	€250,000	2017
55	Adam Tzanetopoulos		CB / DM / CM	June 30, 2016	2013	Niki Volos	Free	2020
—	Alkiviadis Markopouliotis		CB	June 30, 2016	2015	AEK Athens U20	—	2019
Midfielders
6	Miguel Cordero		CM / DM	June 30, 2016	2012	Xerez	€70,000	2017
8	André Simões		DM / CM	June 30, 2016	2015	Moreirense	Free	2019
18	Jakob Johansson (Vice-captain 2)		DM / CM / CB	June 30, 2016	2014	Göteborg	Free	2018
20	Petros Mantalos (Captain)		AM / LM / CM / LW / SS / RM / RW	June 30, 2016	2014	Skoda Xanthi	€500,000	2019
25	Konstantinos Galanopoulos		CM / DM	June 30, 2016	2015	AEK Athens U20	—	2018
30	Diego Buonanotte		AM / RM / LM / SS / RW / LW	June 30, 2016	2015	Granada	Free	2017
36	Bruno Zuculini		DM / CM	June 30, 2016	2016	Manchester City	Free	2016
77	Stavros Vasilantonopoulos		RM / RB / LM / DM	June 30, 2016	2015	Apollon Smyrnis	Free	2018
Forwards
7	Hélder Barbosa		LW / LM / AM / RW / RM / SS	June 30, 2016	2014	Braga	Free	2017
9	Ronald Vargas		SS / AM / ST / LW / RM / LM	June 30, 2016	2015	Balıkesirspor	Free	2017
11	Vangelis Platellas		RW / RM / LM / LW / SS / AM	June 30, 2016	2013	Skoda Xanthi	Free	2016
14	Tomáš Pekhart		ST	June 30, 2016	2016	Ingolstadt 04	Free	2017
19	Rafik Djebbour		ST / SS / RW / LW	June 30, 2016	2015	APOEL	Free	2016
21	Christos Aravidis (Vice-captain)		SS / ST / RW / LW / RM / LM	June 30, 2016	2014	Panionios	Free	2017
24	Andreas Vlachomitros		SS / ST / RW / LW	June 30, 2016	2015	AEK Athens U20	—	2019
33	Ivan Brečević		ST	June 30, 2016	2013	Koper	Free	2016
81	Antonis Kyriazis		RW / LW / RM / LM	June 30, 2016	2015	AEK Athens U20	—	2018
99	Macauley Chrisantus		ST/ SS / RW / LW	June 30, 2016	2015	Sivasspor	Free	2016
Left during Winter Transfer Window
3	Stavros Petavrakis		LB / LM	June 30, 2016	2013	Fostiras	Free	2017
10	Dimitrios Anakoglou		AM / CM / RM / LM	June 30, 2016	2013	Panserraikos	€50,000	2016
29	Kyriakos Andreopoulos		DM / CM	June 30, 2016	2015	Kerkyra	€160,000	2018
44	Ablaye Faye		DM / CM	June 30, 2016	2014	Kallithea	Free	2017
—	Dimitrios Grontis		CM / AM / LM / RM / LW / RW	June 30, 2016	2012	AEK Athens U20	—	2016

Transfers

In

Summer

		width=200 style="background:#FFDE00	Player	width=200 style="background:#FFDE00	From	width=150 style="background:#FFDE00	Fee	width=150 style="background:#FFDE00	Date	width=150 style="background:#FFDE00	Contract Until	Source
4			Beitar Jerusalem	Free transfer		30 June 2017	[6]
8			Moreirense	Free transfer		30 June 2017	[7]
9			Balıkesirspor	Free transfer		30 June 2017	[8]
12			Paços de Ferreira	Free transfer		30 June 2017	[9]
16			Iraklis Psachna	Loan return		30 June 2017
19			APOEL	Free transfer		30 June 2016	[10]
23			Milan	Free transfer		30 June 2018	[11]
24			AEK Athens U20	Promotion		30 June 2018	[12]
25			AEK Athens U20	Promotion		30 June 2018
29			Kerkyra	€160,000		30 June 2018	[13]
30			Granada	Free transfer		30 June 2017	[14]
77			Apollon Smyrnis	Free transfer		30 June 2018	[15]
81			AEK Athens U20	Promotion		30 June 2018	[16]
—			Triglia Rafinas	Loan return		30 June 2017
—			AEK Athens U20	Promotion		30 June 2019
—			Episkopi	Loan return		30 June 2017
—			Anagennisi Ierapetras	Loan return		30 June 2017
—			Nea Ionia	Loan return		30 June 2017
—			A.E. Kifisia	Loan return		30 June 2017
—			Ilisiakos	Loan return		30 June 2017

Winter

		width=200 style="background:#FFDE00	Player	width=200 style="background:#FFDE00	From	width=150 style="background:#FFDE00	Fee	width=150 style="background:#FFDE00	Date	width=150 style="background:#FFDE00	Contract Until	Source
14			Ingolstadt 04	Free transfer		30 June 2017	[17]

Out

Summer

		width=200 style="background:#FFDE00	Player	width=200 style="background:#FFDE00	To	width=150 style="background:#FFDE00	Fee	width=150 style="background:#FFDE00	Date	Source
4			Aris	Contract termination		[18]
8			Hamilton Academical	Free transfer		[19]
16			Pierikos	Free transfer		[20]
23			Aris	Contract termination		[21]
31			align=center colspan=2	Retired		[22]
89			Kayseri Erciyesspor	Contract termination		[23]
—			Anagennisi Karditsa	Free transfer		[24]
—			Inter Leipzig	Free transfer
—			Atromitos U20	Free transfer		[25]
—			St. Panteleimon	Free transfer
—			A.E. Kifisia	Free transfer		[26]
—			PAS Lamia	Free transfer		[27]

Winter

		width=200 style="background:#FFDE00	Player	width=200 style="background:#FFDE00	To	width=150 style="background:#FFDE00	Fee	width=150 style="background:#FFDE00	Date	Source
3			Panthrakikos	Contract termination		[28]
14			Atromitos	Contract termination		[29]

Loan in

Summer

		width=200 style="background:#FFDE00	Player	width=200 style="background:#FFDE00	From	width=150 style="background:#FFDE00	Fee	width=150 style="background:#FFDE00	Date	width=120 style="background:#FFDE00	Until	Option to buy	Source
1			Caracas	Free		30 June 2016		[30]

Winter

		width=200 style="background:#FFDE00	Player	width=200 style="background:#FFDE00	From	width=150 style="background:#FFDE00	Fee	width=150 style="background:#FFDE00	Date	width=120 style="background:#FFDE00	Until	Option to buy	Source
36			Manchester City	Free		30 June 2016		[31]

Loan out

Summer

		width=200 style="background:#FFDE00	Player	width=200 style="background:#FFDE00	To	width=150 style="background:#FFDE00	Fee	width=150 style="background:#FFDE00	Date	width=120 style="background:#FFDE00	Until	Option to buy	Source
17			Borac Čačak	Free		30 June 2016		[32]

Winter

		width=200 style="background:#FFDE00	Player	width=200 style="background:#FFDE00	To	width=150 style="background:#FFDE00	Fee	width=150 style="background:#FFDE00	Date	width=120 style="background:#FFDE00	Until	Option to buy	Source
10			Veria	Free		30 June 2016		[33]
29			Kerkyra	Free		30 June 2016		[34]
44			Trikala	Free		30 June 2016		[35]

Contract renewals

		width=200 style="background:#FFDE00	Player	width=150 style="background:#FFDE00	Date	width=150 style="background:#FFDE00	Former Exp. Date	width=150 style="background:#FFDE00	New Exp. Date	Source
8				30 June 2017	30 June 2019	[36]
55				30 June 2016	30 June 2020	[37]

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

Competitions

Super League Greece

See main article: 2015–16 Super League Greece.

Regular season

Fixtures

Play-offs

Fixtures

Greek Cup

See main article: 2015–16 Greek Football Cup.

Group G

See main article: 2015–16 Greek Football Cup Group stage.

Matches

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

Rank			width=200 style="background:#FFDE00	Player	width=120 style="background:#FFDE00	Super League	width=120 style="background:#FFDE00	Super League Play-offs	width=120 style="background:#FFDE00	Greek Cup	width=120 style="background:#FFDE00	Total
1	21			9	0	2	11
	9			9	0	2	11
	30			6	0	5	11
4	7			7	2	0	9
5	18			3	2	2	7
6	19			2	0	3	5
	20			1	1	3	5
8	14			3	0	0	3
	11			1	0	2	3
10	99			1	0	1	2
11	12			1	0	0	1
	26			0	0	1	1
	2			0	0	1	1
Own goals	0	0	1	1
Totals	43	5	23	71

Assists

Rank			width=200 style="background:#FFDE00	Player	width=120 style="background:#FFDE00	Super League	width=120 style="background:#FFDE00	Super League Play-offs	width=120 style="background:#FFDE00	Greek Cup	width=120 style="background:#FFDE00	Total
1	9			4	0	3	7
2	12			5	0	1	6
	18			4	1	1	6
	21			3	0	3	6
	20			2	2	2	6
6	7			4	0	0	4
7	23			2	0	1	3
8	8			1	1	0	2
	19			1	0	1	2
	27			0	0	2	2
11	4			1	0	0	1
	2			1	0	0	1
Totals	28	4	14	46

Clean sheets

The list is sorted by competition order when total clean sheets are equal, then by shirt number 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.

Rank		width=200 style="background:#FFDE00	Player	width=120 style="background:#FFDE00	Super League	width=120 style="background:#FFDE00	Super League Play-offs	width=120 style="background:#FFDE00	Greek Cup	width=120 style="background:#FFDE00	Total
1	1		12	0	3	15
2	22		4	2	4	10
Totals	16	2	7	25

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

	Formation	Matchday(s)
29	4–3–3	4, 11–25, 28
17	4–2–3–1	1–3, 5–10, 29, 30
1	4–4–2 (D)	26

		Player
1		Alain Baroja	GK
26		Dimitris Kolovetsios	RCB
5		Vasilios Lambropoulos	LCB
12		Rodrigo Galo	RB
23		Dídac Vilà	LB
8		André Simões	DM
18		Jakob Johansson	RCM
20		Petros Mantalos (C)	LCM
30		Diego Buonanotte	RW
7		Hélder Barbosa	LW
21		Christos Aravidis	CF

Awards

Player		Award	Source
Rodrigo Galo	DF	Best Goal Award (1st Matchday)	[38]
Diego Buonanotte	MF	MVP Award (3rd Matchday)	[39]
Diego Buonanotte	MF	Best Goal Award (3rd Matchday)
Hélder Barbosa	FW	Best Goal Award (5th Matchday)	[40]
Christos Aravidis	FW	Best Goal Award (8th Matchday)	[41]
Jakob Johansson	MF	MVP Award (11th Matchday)	[42]
Hélder Barbosa	FW	Best Goal Award (16th Matchday)	[43]
Giannis Anestis	GK	MVP Award (17th Matchday)	[44]
Hélder Barbosa	FW	Best Goal Award (17th Matchday)
Hélder Barbosa	FW	Best Goal Award (18th Matchday)	[45]
Ronald Vargas	FW	MVP Award (24th Matchday)	[46]
Ronald Vargas	FW	Best Goal Award (24th Matchday)
Tomáš Pekhart	FW	Best Goal Award (29th Matchday)	[47]
Diego Buonanotte	MF	Greek Cup Top Scorer
Rodrigo Galo	DF	Team of the Season	[48]

External links

• AEK Athens F.C. Official Website

Notes and References

1. Web site: Ανακοίνωση ΠΑΕ ΑΕΚ. 20 October 2015. aekfc.gr. 20 October 2015.
2. Web site: Συμφωνία ΑΕΚ-Πογιέτ. 29 October 2015. aekfc.gr. 29 October 2015.
3. Web site: Υπέγραψε ο Γκουστάβο Πογιέτ. 29 October 2015. aekfc.gr/. 30 October 2015.,
4. Web site: Αφαίρεση τριών βαθμών και δυο αγωνιστικές σε ΑΕΚ, Ατρόμητο. 4 April 2016. in.gr.
5. Web site: Περίοδος 2015-2016. 25 August 2015. aekpedia.com. el.
6. Web site: Συμφωνία με Θέσαρ Άρθο. aekfc.gr. Online. el.
7. Web site: Συμφωνία με Αντρέ Σιμόες. aekfc.gr. Online. el.
8. Web site: Υπέγραψε ο Ρόναλντ Βάργκας. aekfc.gr. Online. el.
9. Web site: Υπέγραψε ο Ροντρίγκο Γκάλο. aekfc.gr. Online. el.
10. Web site: Η επιστροφή του Ράφικ Τζεμπούρ. aekfc.gr. Online. el.
11. Web site: Ντίντακ για τρία χρόνια. aekfc.gr. Online. el.
12. Web site: Επαγγελματικά συμβόλαια για τρεις. aekfc.gr. Online. el.
13. Web site: Andreopoulos for three years. aekfc.gr. Online. el.
14. Web site: Μπουονανότε για δύο χρόνια. aekfc.gr. Online. el.
15. Web site: Στην ΑΕΚ ο Βασιλαντωνόπουλος. novasports.gr. Online. el.
16. Web site: Επαγγελματικό συμβόλαιο ο Αντώνης Κυριαζής. aekfc.gr. Online. el.
17. Web site: Συμφωνία με Τόμας Πέκχαρτ. aekfc.gr. Online. el.
18. Web site: Λύση συνεργασίας με Βασίλη Ρόβα. aekfc.gr. Online. el.
19. Web site: Στη Χάμιλτον ο Ντακόλ. sport24.gr. Online. el.
20. Web site: Στον Πιερικό ο Τσεβάς. aek365.org. Online. el.
21. Web site: Λύση συνεργασίας με Μάρκο Ντούνη. aekfc.gr. Online. el.
22. Web site: Θέλει τον… Γεωργέα της η ΑΕΚ. sport-fm.gr. Online. el.
23. Web site: Λύση συνεργασίας με Γιώργο Σαρρή. aekfc.gr. Online. el.
24. Web site: Αργυρίου η ΑΣΑ. a-sports.gr. Online. el.
25. Web site: Στον ΑΤΡΟΜΗΤΟ o Ζιβάνοβιτς. 31 August 2015. football-academies.gr. Online. el.
26. Web site: Έμεινε στην Κηφισιά ο Παληαρούτας. 1 August 2015. enwsi.gr. Online. el.
27. Web site: Στην Λαμια ο Θαναηλάκης. 30 August 2015. aek1924.gr. Online. el.
28. Web site: Και τυπικά στον Πανθρακικό ο Πεταυράκης. 20 January 2016. gazzetta.gr.
29. Web site: Στον Ατρόμητο ο Γροντής. 20 January 2016. contra.gr.
30. Web site: Αλάιν Μπαρόχα για 1+2 χρόνια!. aekfc.gr. Online. el.
31. Web site: Συμφωνία με Μπρούνο Ζουκουλίνι. aekfc.gr. Online. el.
32. Web site: Δανεικός ο Ντάρκο Ζόριτς. aekfc.gr. Online. el.
33. Web site: Δανεικός στη Βέροια ο Ανάκογλου. contra.gr. Online. el.
34. Web site: Δανεικός στην Κέρκυρα ο Ανδρεόπουλος. gazzetta.gr. Online. el.
35. Web site: Εδωσε δανεικό τον Φαγιέ η ΑΕΚ. filathlos.gr. Online. el.
36. Web site: Ο Σιμόες στην ΑΕΚ μέχρι το 2019. aekfc.gr. Online. el.
37. Web site: Συμφωνία με Ανταμ Τζανετόπουλο. aekfc.gr. Online. el.
38. Web site: MVP ο Μπεργκ, καλύτερο γκολ του Γκάλο στην 1η αγωνιστική. 26 August 2015. in.gr. Online. el.
39. Web site: Στον Ντιέγκο Μπουονανότε της ΑΕΚ τα βραβεία της 3ης αγωνιστικής. 16 September 2015. slgr.gr. Online. el.
40. Web site: Βαγγέλης Μάντζιος και Έλντερ Μπαρμπόσα τα βραβεία της 5ης αγωνιστικής. 30 September 2015. slgr.gr. Online. el.
41. Web site: Γκάρι Ροντρίγκες και Χρήστος Αραβίδης τα βραβεία της 8ης αγωνιστικής. 29 October 2015. slgr.gr. Online. el.
42. Web site: MVP ο Γιόχανσον, Best Goal ο Μπαργκάν. 6 January 2016. novasports.gr. Online. el.
43. Web site: Απόστολος Βέλλιος και Έλντερ Μπαρμπόσα τα βραβεία της 16ης αγωνιστικής. 19 February 2016. slgr.gr. Online. el.
44. Web site: Γιάννης Ανέστης και Έλντερ Μπαρμπόσα τα βραβεία της 17ης αγωνιστικής. 13 January 2016. slgr.gr. Online. el.
45. Web site: Σωκράτης Διούδης και Έλντερ Μπαρμπόσα τα βραβεία της 18ης αγωνιστικής. 20 January 2016. slgr.gr. Online. el.
46. Web site: Στον Ρόναλντ Βάργκας τα βραβεία της 24ης αγωνιστικής. 2 March 2016. slgr.gr. Online. el.
47. Web site: Κώστας Φορτούνης και Τόμας Πέκχαρτ τα βραβεία της 29ης αγωνιστικής. 13 April 2016. slgr.gr. Online. el.
48. Web site: Η βράβευση των κορυφαίων από τον ΠΣΑΠ. 31 January 2017. psapp.gr. el.