AEK B.C.
A.E.K. Athens B.C. | |||
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A.E.K. Athens B.C. logo | |||
Nickname | Dikefalos Aetos-Double-Headed Eagle Vasilissa-The Queen Enosis-Union Kitrinomavroi-Yellow-Blacks | ||
Leagues | Greek League Greek Cup | ||
Founded | 1924 | ||
History | A.E.K. Athens B.C. 1924–present | ||
Arena | Galatsi Olympic Hall 6,200 | ||
Location | Nea Filadelfeia, Athens, Greece | ||
Team colors | Yellow and Black | ||
President | |||
Head coach | |||
Championships | 8 Greek Championships 3 Greek Cups 2 Saporta Cups | ||
Website | www.aek.gr | ||
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Departments of AEK Athens | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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A.E.K. Athens B.C. (Greek: Αθλητική Ένωσις Κωνσταντινουπόλεως– Athlitiki Enosis Konstantinoupoleos), the Athletic Union of Constantinople, is a Greek professional sports basketball club based in Athens, Greece. The club was established in Athens in 1924 by Greek refugees from Constantinople in the wake of the Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922).
Well-known players that have played with the club over the years have included: Rolando Blackman, Ricky Pierce, Danny Vranes, Ruben Patterson, Kurt Rambis, J.R. Holden, Willie Anderson, Joe Arlauckas, Anthony Bowie, Arijan Komazec, Claudio Coldebella, Georgios Amerikanos, Georgios Trontzos, Vasilis Goumas, Minas Gekos, Kostas Patavoukas, Aggelos Koronios, Michalis Kakiouzis, Nikos Hatzis, Jake Tsakalidis, Nikos Zisis, Nasos Galakteros, Dimosthenis Dikoudis, Dimitris Papanikolaou, Giannis Kalampokis.
History
Early History
The large Greek population of Constantinople, not unlike those of the other Ottoman urban centres, continued its athletic traditions in the form of numerous athletic clubs. Clubs such as Enosis Tataoulon (Ένωσις Ταταούλων) from the Tatavla district, Megas Alexandros (Μέγας Αλέξανδρος) of Vathyriakos, Hermes (Ερμής – Ermis) of Galata, Olympias (Ολυμπιάς) of Therapia, and Kati Kioi (Κατί Κίοϊ) of Chalcedon existed to promote Hellenic athletic and cultural ideals. These were amongst a dozen Greek-backed clubs that dominated the sporting landscape of the city in the years preceding World War I. After the war, with the influx of mainly French and English soldiers to Constantinople, many of the city clubs participated in regular competition with teams formed by the foreign troops. Taxim, Pera and Tatavla became the scene of weekly competitions in not only football, but of athletics, cycling, boxing and tennis.
Of the clubs in the city, though, football was dominated by Enosis Tataoulon and Hermes. Hermes, one of the more popular clubs, was formed in 1875 by the Greek community of Pera (Galata). Forced to change its name to Pera Club in 1921, many of its athletes, and those of most other sporting clubs, fled during the population exchanges at the end of the Greco-Turkish War, and settled in Athens and Thessaloniki.[1]
AEK (Queen) Athens Basketball is the most successful among A.E.K's athletic departments. The obvious reason is that AEK's basketball team was the first ever Greek team to win an international trophy in any team sports. AEK won an unofficial championship played in Athens that was organized by the YMCA, in 1924.Under Missas Pantazopoulos guidance AEK won the first club's championship in 1958.
The First European Triumph
AEK was the first ever Greek team to participate in the European Championships (now called the Euroleague) Final Four, in 1966, which was held in Bologna, Italy. Two years later, AEK was the first-ever Greek team, not only to reach a European Cup Final, but also to win a European title. On April 4, 1968, AEK defeated Slavia Prague by a score of 89-82, in Athens before 120,000 spectators, 80,000 watching from inside the stadium and 40,000 watching from outside (the Guinness world record in basketball attendance).[2] In 1970, AEK reached the Cup Winners' Cup semifinals, where the team was eliminated by Vichy Basket, France, in what turned out to be the last year of the first "Golden Era" of the club's history. It was called the "Golden Era" because AEK dominated Greek Basketball during the 1960s, winning the Greek Championship 4 consecutive years in 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, as well as in 1968 and 1970; 6 times in 8 years.
Over the next decades, AEK lost its glamour, and managed to win only one trophy, the Greek Cup in 1981, under the direction of Coach Fred Develey, an American coach who previously was the head coach of Maccabi Tel Aviv and ARIS of Greece, with super star Nik Galis. In addition to winning the Greek Cup in 1981, AEK was also a finalist of the Greek Cup in 1976, 1978, 1980, 1988, and 1992, but failed to win in any of those years.
The Queen's Comeback & 21st Century
AEK made a come back in the late 1990s, when the team played in six consecutive Greek Cup Final Fours in the years 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, four consecutive Greek Cup Finals in the years 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, winning the Greek Cup in 2000 and 2001. In 2002 AEK won the Greek Championship for the first time in 32 years, becoming the first team to win the Greek Championship after having lost the first two games of a 5 game playoff series. AEK lost the first two games of the series to Olympiacos, but managed to win the next 3 games and take the series and the title 3-2. AEK also reached the Greek Playoff Finals in the years 1997, 2003, and 2005, and the Greek Cup Semi-Finals in the year 2006.
In this same era, AEK reached again a high level in European competitions. The team reached the European Championship's Final Four in Barcelona in 1998, and beat Benetton Treviso by a score of 69-66, before losing in the final to Virtus Bologna by a score of 44-58. In 2000, on April 11, AEK won their second international trophy, the Saporta Cup, by defeating Virtus Bologna 83-76. The next year, 2001, AEK reached the Euroleague semifinals, losing their playoff series there to TAU Cerámica in 3 straight games.Due to many financial problems caused by the lost concern of the club's major shareholder in April 2011 AEK BC relegated from A1 for first time in club's history.
Regeneration
On 12 September 2011, Nikos Georgantzoglou is the new president of AEK Athens BC (defined by Athens Court) and participating in A2 division the club terminated in second position having 50 points with a record of 20 wins. However, the club has not been advanced to A1 division directly, as Apollon Patron that also terminated with 50 points, had 2 wins at two games with AEK. The duration of the present Administration Council elapsed on 22 May 2012.
On 25 of July 2012 A.E.K. B.C. solved and relegated to B National Division as an amateur club(for first time in club's history),in an effort to find a solution to club's critical financial problems.Major shareholder Giannis Filipou gave up of his shares and left the club, to begin the new season as an amateur club from B National Division without any debt.
Alexis Alexiou with Konstantinos Kotsatos took the club's management in an effort to return the team back to previous glory days.On April 29, 2013, A.E.K. B.C. won Iraklis B.C. in a playoff final and promoted to A2 Division. In the season 2013-14, AEK played in A2 Ethniki. Finally, AEK was the winner of the championship and returned in A1 Ethniki after 3 years of absence. AEK had a record of 23 wins and 3 defeats.
Crest
In 1924, AEK adopted as their emblem the image of a double-headed eagle (Δικέφαλος Αετός – Dikefalos Aetos). When AEK was created by Greek refugees from Constantinople in the years following the Greco-Turkish War and subsequent population exchange, the emblem and colours (yellow & black) were chosen as a reminder of lost homelands; they represent the club's historical ties to Constantinople.After all, the double-headed eagle is featured in the flag of the Greek Orthodox Church, whose headquarters are in Constantinople, and served as Imperial emblem under the Palaiologos dynasty.A.E.K.'s main emblem underwent numerous minor changes between 1924 and 2007.Since 2007 the emblem changed to the current shield design.
Colours and kit
The colours of yellow and black were adopted from AEK's connections with Constantinople and the Byzantine Empire.[3] AEK's traditional away colours are all-black with a yellow stripe on the sides and home colours are all-yellow with a black stripe on the sides.AEK's kit manufacturer for 2011-13 is a famous Greek company Nickan .
Shirt sponsors and manufacturers
Period | Kit Manufacturer | Shirt Sponsor |
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1976–82 | Adidas | Akai |
1982–85 | Diadora | Συρτέξ |
1985–87 | Asics | Akai |
1987–89 | Converse | Casio |
1989–90 | Fyrogenis | |
1990–91 | Strong | |
1991–94 | Nike | |
1994–96 | Kronos | |
1996–97 | Nike | Geniki Bank |
1997–98 | Pony International | |
1997–99 | Nike | |
1999–02 | Piraeus Bank | |
2001–04 | Champion | |
2004–07 | Fage | |
2007–08 | Wilkinson Sword | |
2008–09 | k1x | Husqvarna Motorcycles |
2009–10 | Reebok | Sixt |
2010–11 | Champion | Chillo Energy Drink |
2011–13 | Nickan | Diamonds Shipping & Trading |
Arenas
From 1949, until 1965, AEK played at the outdoor hall in Nea Filadelfeia, located beside Nikos Goumas Stadium. From 1965, until 1970, the team played all its games at Panathinaiko Stadio, which could host 60,000 fans. From 1970, until 1989, the team played at Ionikos NF's home, with a capacity of 1,500, and at Sporting Sports Arena, with a capacity of 2,500.
The team's first home arena was "Georgios Moschos", with a 2,200 capacity, in Nea Filadelfeia, located beside Nikos Goumas Stadium, for 6 years (1989–1995). The club played for 9 years (1995–2002 and 2006–2008) in all competitions, at the Athens Olympic Indoor Hall (O.A.K.A.), which seats 19,250 fans. They also played at Chalkiopoulio Sports Hall, during the Euroleague 2002-03 season. They played at the 3,000 capacity Zofria Indoor Hall, from 2002–2004, and for two years (2004–2006) at the 6,200 capacity Galatsi Olympic Hall. They played at the 2,500 capacity Sporting Sports Arena during the 2008-09 season.
For the 2009-10 season, A.E.K played at Helliniko Olympic Arena, with a 15,000 capacity. On 20 January 2011, AEK returned to Zofria Indoor Hall.
Stadium Name | Capacity | Years |
---|---|---|
Nea Filadelfeia outdoor hall | 1949–1965 | |
Panathinaiko Stadio | 60,000 | 1965–1970 |
"AS Ionikos N.Filadelfeias Hall" / Sporting Sports Arena | 1,500 / 2,500 | 1970–1989 |
"Georgios Moschos" | 2,200 | 1989–1995 |
Athens Olympic Indoor Hall | 19,250 | 1995–2002, 2006–2008 |
Chalkiopoulio Sports Hall | 5,000 | 2002–2003 |
Galatsi Olympic Hall | 6,200 | 2004–2006 2014– |
Sporting Sports Arena | 2,500 | 2008–2009 |
Helliniko Olympic Arena | 15,000 | 2009–01/2011 |
Zofria Indoor Hall | 3,000 | 2002–2004, 2011–2014 |
Records
- Record Guinness Book attendance: 80,000 tickets sold in Panathinaiko Stadio"Kallimarmaron" (Athens)
at the game AEK-Slavia Prague, on 4 April 1968.
Supporters
AEK Athens has a large fanbase,the majority of AEK supporters are refugees or have refugee descent from Constantinople and people from the population exchange of the Minor Asia Catastrophe.Original 21 is the largest AEK Athens supporters club. The first attempt to organise AEK supporters was Gate 21 (formed in 1975), which took its name from the gate in the Nikos Goumas Stadium, Nea Filadelfia, where the most hardcore fans gathered.AEK Athens have also many supporters worldwide,most of them Greek immigrants,in places as North America, England, Australia and Cyprus.
Rivalries
AEK Athens biggest rivalries is with Panathinaikos and Olympiacos. Against neighbours Panathinaikos they contest in the Athens local derby.The rivalry started because of the refugee ancestry of AEK Athens fans and by contrast Panathinaikos considered the classic representative of high class society of Athens.[citation needed] The rivalry with Olympiacos begun from the different regions of Attica the clubs are from,AEK Athens and Olympiacos from Piraeus.[citation needed]Another reason is that Olympiacos except the working class fans have many high class & rich supporters.[citation needed]
Roster
A.E.K. Athens B.C. 2013–2014 roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Updated: 2013-08-22 |
Depth Chart
Position | Starter | Bench | Bench | Reserve | Inactive |
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C | Georgios Tsiakos | Dimitris Despos | |||
PF | Andronikos Gizogiannis | Kostas Papantonakos | Nikos Zeginoglou | ||
SF | Vangelis Karampoulas | Vangelis Drosos | Giannis Stoukas | ||
SG | Michalis Polytarchou | Thodoris Tsiotras | Stathis Papadionysiou | ||
PG | Alexis Falekas | Spyros Panagiotaras |
Technical and medical staff & Academies staff
Technical staff | |
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Head coach | |
Assistant coach | |
Assistant coach | |
Physical fitness coach | |
General manager | |
Department head | |
Team manager | |
Caregiver | |
Medical staff | |
Head of medical department | |
Physiotherapist | |
Physiotherapist | |
Academies staff | |
General manager | |
Academies director | |
A.E.K. B' coach | |
Physical fitness coach | |
Juniors coach |
Honours
Total titles: 13
Domestic competitions
- Greek Championship
- Winners (8): 1958, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1970, 2002
- Greek Cup
- Winners (3): 1981, 2000, 2001
European competitions
- Euroleague
- Runners-up (1): 1998
- Saporta Cup
- Winners (2): 1968, 2000
International achievements
Season | Achievement | Notes | |
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Euroleague | |||
1964-65 | Quarter-finals | eliminated by OKK Beograd, 85-78 (W) in Athens and 84-101 (L) in Belgrade | |
1965-66 | Final Four | 4th place in Bologna, lost to Slavia Prague 73-103 in the semi-final, lost to CSKA Moscow 62-85 in the 3rd place game | |
1997–98 | Final | defeated Benetton Treviso 67-66 in the semi-final, lost to Kinder Bologna 44-58 in the final (Barcelona) | |
2000–01 | Semi-finals | eliminated 3–0 by Tau Cerámica, 67-70 (L) & 65-90 (L) in Athens, 62-76 (L) in Vitoria-Gasteiz | |
Saporta Cup | |||
1967-68 | Cup Winner's Cup Winners | defeated Slavia Prague 89-82 in the final of European Cup Winner's Cup in Athens | |
1969-70 | Semi-finals | eliminated by Jean d’Arc Vichy 60-78 (L) in Vichy and 74-65 (W) in Athens | |
1971-72 | Quarter-finals group stage | 3rd place in a group with Crvena Zvezda and Simmenthal Milano | |
1988-89 | Quarter-finals group stage | 4th place in a group with Žalgiris, Cibona and BG Steiner | |
1999-00 | Saporta Cup Winners | defeated Kinder Bologna 83-76 in the final of Saporta Cup in Lausanne | |
Korać Cup | |||
1973-74 | Quarter-finals group stage | 3rd place in a group with Jugoplastika Split and Snaidero Udine | |
1977-78 | Quarter-finals group stage | 4th place in a group with Partizan, Nice and Emerson Genova |
The road to the European Cup victories
Cup Winners' Cup 1968
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Saporta Cup 2000
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Seasons
Player records
Club top scorers & Most appearances
Number | Name | Nationality | Position | A.E.K. playing career |
A.E.K. coaching career | |
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6 | Georgios Trontzos | C | 1963-80 | 1979-80 | ||
10 | Georgios Amerikanos | SF | 1959-75 | 1986-87 | ||
9 | Minas Gekos | PG | 1977-91 1994-95 |
2009–01/2011 | ||
8 | Christos Zoupas | PG | 1962-74 | |||
9 | Nikos Chatzis | SG | 1995-05 2007-09 |
Retired Jerseys
Number | Name | Nationality | Position | A.E.K. playing career |
A.E.K. coaching career |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
10 | Georgios Amerikanos | SF | 1959-75 | 1986-87 |
One-Club Men
Name | Nationality | Debut |
Last Match |
---|---|---|---|
Vangelis Dermanoutsos | 1955 | 1967 | |
Nikos Nesiadis | 1964 | 1976 | |
Thanasis Skourtopoulos | 1983 | 1991 |
Notable players
Notable coaches
Name | Nat | From | To | Championships | |||||||
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Cups | |||||||||||
Missas Pantazopoulos | 1957 | 1967 | 5 Championships | ||||||||
Nikos Milas | 1967 | 1974 | 2 Championships 1 Saporta cup | ||||||||
Kostas Mourouzis | 1974 | 1977 | |||||||||
Fedon Mattheou | 1977 | 1979 | |||||||||
Vaggelis Nikitopoulos | 1982 1987 1989 1991 |
1986 1988 1990 1992 |
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Krešimir Ćosić | 1988 1990 |
1989 1991 |
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Vlado Đurović | 1994 | 1995 | |||||||||
Giannis Ioannidis | 1996 | 1998 | EuroleagueFinalist | ||||||||
Dušan Ivković | 1999 | 2001 | 2 Cups 1 Saporta cup | ||||||||
Dragan Šakota | 2001 | 2003 | 1 Championship | ||||||||
Fotis Katsikaris | 2003 | 2005 |
Chairmen history
Relationships with other clubs
A.E.K. has links with many basketball clubs in Greece, and in other countries where Greek immigrants live, like Α.Ε.Κ. B.C. Stockholm in Sweden, and in Greek clubs like A.E.K. Argous and A.E.K. Tripolis.
References
- ^ [The history of AEK by Panos Makridis. Athlitiki Iho] Newspaper, 1953
- ^ "All-time attendance records". Euroleague.net. Retrieved 2010-09-30.
- ^ "Colours info". aekfc.gr. Archived from the original on 31 March 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-20.
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