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Overview
AEK had entered the darkest period of their history and this season the first signs of dissolution began to be clearly visible. The shareholders of the club had withdrawn from the financing and the team was drowning in debt, since it could not meet its financial obligations. The team started the season without particular expectations and in the transfer market the departures of Ignacio Scocco, Ismael Blanco and Papa Bouba Diop stood out, while the international Colombian midfielder, Fabián Vargas and the Icelandic international star, Eiður Guðjohnsen were among the arrivals.
In the Europa League, AEK were drawn with the Georgian Dinamo Tbilisi, with qualification being the only way, since the team's finances were in a very bad state. In the first match at the Olympic Stadium, the yellow-blacks missed several chances, until José Carlos redeemed the team in the last minutes of the match, making the final 1–0. In the replay at the Boris Paichadze National Stadium, AEK entered the match badly and conceded a goal in the first minute, but then recovered and the match eventually went to the extra time. In the first twenty minutes of extra time nothing happened, but in the 110th minute, Guðjohnsen was tackled inside the area and the referee indicated a penalty, where Leonardo converted into a goal, shaping the final 1–1, which gave AEK the qualification. In the group stage, AEK were drawn along with Anderlecht, Lokomotiv Moscow and Sturm Graz and after a teribble run with 5 consecutive defeats, all they managed was to finish third on the tie, with their only victory in an indifferent game in the last matchday.
In the championship, AEK started with some victories, but the heavy defeat at Toumba Stadium made difficult the position of the then expensive for the financial situation of the team, Manolo Jiménez. After the team's victory at Nea Smyrni in the following matchday, and after pressure, Jiménez eventually left, giving away his compensation.[1] In his place, Nikos Kostenoglou returned to take over the team. The team continued their mediocre appearances with the team's game largely dependent on Leonardo's performance. In the Cup, AEK eliminated Kalamata in the Round of 32, but were eliminated by PAOK in the very next round. The end of the regular season found the team in the fifth place, with several hopes of finishing higher in the play-offs. In the play-offs that followed, AEK surprisingly stood decently, losing all away games and winning all home games. Finally, they finished 2nd in the relevant standings, getting a ticket for the Europa league play-off round, but losing the ticket for the Champions League in the last matchday. However the entrance in the UEFA competitions was the least of their problems, as the club was struggling financially and the situation was getting worse year by year.[2]
7 July: AEK Athens and Puma sign new 3-year deal.[5]
12 July: Defender Dellas signs new 1-year deal.[6]
20 July: Youth coach Kola is released from the club.[7]
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 20 May 2012, 23:59 UTC+3.
Source: Super League Greece Rules for classification: 1) Points, 2) Head-to-head points,[41] 3) Head-to-head goal difference.[42] If in current league table there are tied teams after applying criteria 1 to 3, they are considered to share places and listed in Greek language alphabetic order.[43] If in final league table there are still tied teams after applying criteria 1 to 3, a decision match (or matches if they are more than two) are to be played but only in three cases: to determine the champion, to fill spots in the play-off or to determine the teams to be relegated.[44] In any other case, the final standings of tied teams are determined with a public draw[45] Notes:
^AEK Athens were not licensed to play in the Europa League 2012–13 and therefore were replaced by the 6th placed team in the league table, which were Asteras Tripolis (which played in the second qualifying round).
Note: The match was scheduled for 23 November, because it had not yet been decided the teams that would replace Olympiacos Volos and Kavala, after their deletion for the league for match-fixing scandal.
Note: The match was originally to be held on February 18, but because a few number tickets were authenticated by the tax office and in fear of incidents with the fans, its conduction was moved for February 26.[46]
Source: Superleague Greece: Standings and Schedule Rules for classification: Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) classification of regular season. Notes:
^ abcAEK Athens were not licensed to play in the Europa League 2012–2013 and therefore were replaced by the 6th placed team in the league table, Asteras Tripolis, qualified for the second qualifying round. This meant that PAOK were qualified for the third qualifying round of the Europa League and Atromitos to the Europa League play-offs.
^ abAtromitos lost the final of the 2011–12 Greek Football Cup against Champions League-qualified team Olympiacos. As a consequence, the three Europa League spots were distributed by the final standings of this group.
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.