1988–89 AEK Athens F.C. season

Supplier: Zita Hellas
Sponsor(s): Ethniki Asfalistiki

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One of the most important seasons in the history of AEK, with the team finally managing to win the championship after 10 rough years. In the summer of 1988, an important administrative change came to the team, since the major shareholder, Andreas Zafiropoulos stepped down, with the overwhelming majority of the fans against him and handed over the management of club to the nightclub owner, Stratos Gidopoulos. Dušan Bajević, now a manager, returned after years at AEK, where he was loved in the past as a footballer. Bajević, supported by the management and the people of the club, very quickly built a tight and well-worked team, which had the best defense in the league and knew how to get the results in most matches. Gidopoulos, for his part, in addition to the very successful transfers he achieved, brought for the first time after years a wind of optimism, as he knew how to cheer up the team and the crowd with his statements and in general he proved to be a very capable agent who had the means to the players and the people of AEK not to feel at a disadvantage against their much stronger financial rivals. That finally turned out to be a dream season, although few expected that to happen, since the team had to face much stronger financial rivals in the league. The big transfer of the Polish star, Mirosław Okoński took place, Stelios Manolas was convinced to stay, while in December, Stavros Stamatis and Toni Savevski also arrived, but AEK still seemed to be an outsider for winning the league.

The team played in the UEFA Cup, where they played against Athletic Bilbao in the first round. In the first leg in a full AEK Stadium, despite the pouring rain, AEK pressed from the start and managed to take an early lead with a very impressive header from Pittas. The game was very intense and particularly hard. The Basques pushed for an equalizer, but AEK also had chances to extend the score. In the end, the fluid 1–0 remained and the rematch was set for 14 days later in the Basque Country. In the second leg, in the packed San Mamès, AEK were stunned and concieded 2 quick goals by Uralde. By the 6th minute, Athletic had already a qualification score and the remaining 84 minutes went by with AEK looking for the goal. In the end, the "golden" goal never came, despite some tepid chances. A highlight of the match at San Mamès, the human wall erected by the Basque fans to protect those of AEK from the Spanish police, an unforgettable move that was duly appreciated by the Greek excursionists.[1]

In the Cup, AEK did not do well, after being eliminated in the second round by Levadiakos, with the yellow-blacks having major complaints from the referee in the second leg, with Gidopoulos as their main expressor.[2]

Clearly the most important moment of the year was the away match against Olympiacos on 7 May, for the penultimate matchday of the championship. A match which many considered the red and whites to be a sure winner and did not give AEK any chance, even though the draw was also in their favor. The atmosphere at the period of the preparation of the two teams before this match was heated, as the players of Olympiacos cut a celebratory cake with the inscription "Olympiacos-AEK 4–0" at the "tower" of their president Argyris Saliarelis in Aegina, while at the same time the AEK were working hard, doing a mini-preparation at Parnitha.[3]

At the Olympic Stadium the match started with Olympiacos pressing hard, but the defense and Ikonomopoulos held very well at the back. The pressure of the red and whites kept increasing but AEK did not concede a goal. The save by Manolas on the goaline with an amazing header after a header by Détári,[4] and in general the spirited play of the whole team kept them intact during the match. At the 83rd minute, in a counterattack Karagiozopoulos, who had come on as a substitute, after an unrepeatable "1-2" with Okonski, scored the amazing "golden" goal which gave AEK the historic title victory.[5]

The star of the team were Mirosław Okoński, Stelios Manolas, Giorgos Savvidis, Toni Savevski and Spyros Ikonomopoulos, who had an incredible performance, giving valuable points to the team with 3 crucial penalty kicks saves during the season and was given the nickname "Mr. Championship 1989" by the fans.[6] The team's top scorer in the league is Miroslaw Okonski with 11 goals.[7]

• AEK Athens F.C. Official Website