1999–2000 AEK Athens F.C. season

Supplier: Kappa
Sponsor(s): Marfin

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From the middle of the previous season, Dimitris Melissanidis had taken over the management of the club and was credited with the club's success in reaching the Champions League qualifiers. Melissanidis decided to follow the example of Dušan Bajević's success and turned to the Serbian market in order to build a title-winning team. The promising Serbian manager Ljubiša Tumbaković from Partizan was hired and brought Matijašević, Petrić and Bjeković with him. The highlight was the loan signing of Dragan Ćirić from Barcelona, which excited the supporters, who rushed to the airport to welcome him. At the beginning of September a major earthquake struck Parnitha, causing damage to part of Nikos Goumas Stadium, which was deemed unsuitable. As a result, AEK were forced to play most of their home matches at Nea Smyrni Stadium.^[2]

The season started with enthusiasm, title expectations and a draw in the Champions League qualifiers that gave AEK confidence in their chances of reaching the group stage, which would have secured financial independence and self-sufficiency. Amid an atmosphere of excitement surrounding the club's return to the Champions League, AEK were drawn against Swedish AIK. The team of Tumbaković did not appear ready for the first leg at Nikos Goumas Stadium in August and the Swedish champions left with a 0–0 draw. Tumbaković had assured that the team would be better prepared for the rematch. Indeed, AEK played more offensively and created chances, but an error by Atmatsidis resulted in conceding a goal which eventually cost them the qualification for the group stage. Thus, AEK continued their European campaign in the UEFA Cup.

Disappointed after their elimination, AEK were drawn against the Georgian Torpedo Kutaisi. In a poor match at Ramaz Shengelia Stadium, the yellow-blacks again appeared unmotivated, but secured a 1–0 victory in the end of the match thanks to a goal by Zikos. The rematch at Nea Smyrni, AEK secured qualification with a 6–1 victory against the Georgians. The next opponent for AEK was the Hungarian MTK Budapest. At the Hidegkuti Nándor Stadium AEK put in a poor performance and were stymied by Henk ten Cate's tactical approach. Fortunately Ćirić scored midway through the second half and reduced to 2–1, a scoreline that could be overturned in Athens. The rematch in Nea Smyrni almost turned out to be a nightmare for AEK, as the well-prepared MTK put them under pressure. Ćirić by scoring another penalty fifteen minutes before the end of the match, securing qualification for AEK. In the draw for the third round of the UEFA Cup AEK came across Monaco. On 23 November in a difficult match, Monaco left Nea Filadelfeia with a 2–2 draw. In the second leg at Stade Louis II, AEK chased the qualification, but a miscalculation by Atmatsidis, led to a goal by Simone just after half an hour. For the rest of the match AEK were searching for an equalizer and Monaco limited themselves to counter-attacks. In the end, the 1–0 scoreline remained and AEK exited to the European Cups and the new millennium found them participating only in domestic competitions.

In the league Tumbaković did not start well, losing both the derbies against Panathinaikos and Olympiacos, which led to protests from the supporters early in the season. Moreover, the elimination from the Champions League, led in Melissanidis gradual withdrawal from the management. The multinational owners of ENIC, took the matter into their hands and appointed the first foreign president in history of the club, Cornelius Sierhuis. In the competitive part, Tumbaković brought inconsistent results and after a home defeat by Panionios and since the club was also been eliminated from the UEFA Cup he was removed from the bench. Among other things, his transfers proved to be mediocre, with Ćirić not being able to live up to the expectations surrounding his reputation. The situation led to Takis Karagiozopoulos taking charge as an interim manager, before Giannis Pathiakakis was appointed as his successor. The new manager raised the morale of the team, but also lost the derbies and AEK finished in the third place, far from the first two places.

In the Cup, AEK were drawn in the 8th group with Trikala, Egaleo, Athinaikos, Akratitos and A.O. Karditsa and finished first after winning all of their matches. They advanced through the round of 32 without an opponent and in the round of 16 faced Trikala again, defeating them 6–0. The draw for the quarter-finals placed AEK against Olympiacos. At Olympic Stadium, AEK took the lead with Vasilios Lakis, but then came under pressure from Olympiacos, which resulted in an equaliser by Alexandris to make it 1–1. In the rematch at Nea Filadelfeia Olympiacos were swept aside, trailing 3–0 by the 48th minute. In the semi-finals with Panionios was a formality, as AEK won 4–1 and lost 2–1 at Nea Smyrni. AEK reached the final, where they faced Ionikos. On 10 May at the Olympic Stadium, Ionikos put up a relatively strong resistance and despite the goal by Nikolaidis in the first half, they maintained the narrow 1–0 scoreline until late in the match. Two goals by Petkov and Maladenis followed and AEK won the Cup amid celebrations, with Pathiakakis winning his first major title. Highlights of the match included the fair-play gesture by Nikolaidis, who after scoring a goal with his hand, asked the referee to disallow it. The gesture later led the International Olympic Committee to honour him for his sportsmanship.^[3]

Demis Nikolaidis who appeared to regain his form during the second half of the season, scored 22 league goals and was one of the positive elements of the season after winning the Cup, as the team failed to win any derby.^[4]