The 2016–17 season was the 93rd season in the existence of AEK Athens F.C. and the 56th competitive season and second consecutive in the top flight of Greek football. They competed in the Super League, the Greek Cup and the 2016–17 UEFA Europa League. The season began on 28 July 2016 and finished on 31 May 2017.
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In the summer of 2016, AEK after searching for a new coach they ended up with their former player, Temur Ketsbaia.[1] The team made some great additions, such as the former Barcelona defender, Dmytro Chyhrynskyi, the former English international defender, Joleon Lescott, Patito Rodriguez and the international Portuguese striker, Hugo Almeida, while from the Greek market they were strengthened with the talented Vasilis Barkas and Anastasios Bakasetas. In the departures, those of Arzo, Cordero, Buonanotte and Djebbour stood out, while after the end of the European games Barbosa departed as well and was immediately replaced by the Greek international, Lazaros Christodoulopoulos.
Winning the cup the previous season brought AEK back to European competitions and the third qualifying round of the Europa League, where they were unlucky to be drawn with French side Saint-Etienne. In the first leg at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, AEK fought the game to a 0–0 draw, while in the second leg at the Olympic Stadium, they conceded an early goal and they were eliminated, unable to do anything, since the French kept the score until the end by playing defensively.
AEK started the league well, but their defensive playing style, resulted in facing difficulties in scoring goals and dropped points in easy games. A 3–0 away defeat by Olympiacos, eventually led in the termination of the contract of Ketsbaia.[2] In the attempt to find a manager with an offensive philosophy, the management proceeded in hiring the Portuguese José Morais, the former assistant of José Mourinho in several clubs, but without much experience as a head coach.[3] With Morais on the bench, the team presented themselves trying to play offensively, leaving their defense open and conceded goals with ease, not being able to impose themselves on their opponents. Thus, AEK were left far behind in the league, bringing bad results and Morais not being able to manage the situation, resigned from the team's bench in January.[4] The removal of the Portuguese coach resulted in the return of Manolo Jimenez, who had won the 2011 cup with AEK.[5] With the club having already signed Astrit Ajdarevic and the Bosnian international defender Ognjen Vranjes, who came in to replace Lescott, who was released after disagreements with management over his treatment from an injury, were also strengthened with Vinicius Freitas and most importrantly with the loan of the great Argentinian striker, Sergio Araujo from Las Palmas. Under Jimenez, AEK managed to cover the lost ground, finishing the championship at the fourth place, with only 1 defeat in 3 months and thus advanced to the play-offs.[6]
In the cup, AEK after being the first to pass their group with their opponents Kerkyra, Anagennisi Karditsa and Lamia, easily eliminated Levadiakos for the round of 16 and then Platanias to advance to the semi-finals. There they met Olympiacos and in the first match at Karaiskakis Stadium they got a big win with 1–2. In the rematch at the Olympic Stadium, AEK having a qualifying score controlled the game, but a mistake by Mantalos in the midfield brought the ball into the possession of Romao who scored from an advantageous position. From there the game took off with the red and whites pressing in an episodic match that ended with Almeida playing as the goalkeeper in stoppage time, after the suspension of Anestis and AEK taking a very stressful qualification. AEK were in the final for a second consecutive season, where they faced PAOK, who didn't want the final to be held at the Olympic Stadium and made an issue of the venue of the final.[7] In the end, a solution was found with the final taking place at Panthessaliko Stadium,[8] which was turned into a construction site in order to ensure security measures,[9] which however proved ineffective, as violent incidents between the ultras of the two clubs took place inside and outside the stadium.[10] In the match, AEK, who faced a hostile referee, were left behind in the score, but managed to equalize immediately and towards the end of the match, PAOK regained their lead from an obvious offside position and made the final 2–1,[11] claiming their first title after 14 years.[12]
In the play-offs, AEK initially took their revenge for the lost cup final by winning 0–1 at Toumba Stadium and after an impressive run managed to take the first place in the relevant standings that led to the Champions League, with a win in the final matchday and thus finishing second in the league.[13]
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 2017, 23:59 UTC+3.
Summer: €950,000
Winter: €200,000
Total: €1,150,000
Summer: €750,000
Winter: €0
Total: €750,000
Summer: €200,000
Total: €400,000
Last updated: 31 May 2017 Source: Competitions
Last updated: 2017-04-30. Source: Super League Greece
Last updated: 2017-05-31. Source: Super League Greece
The draw for the third qualifying round was held on 15 July 2016.[64]
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.