2023–24 AEK Athens F.C. season

Supplier: Nike
Sponsor(s): Pame stoixima
Features: Car.gr, LG Corp

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The summer of 2023 found AEK starting as the dominant club in Greece, as they had won the domestic double in their previous season. Matías Almeyda decided to maintain the roster that won the double, with the only players to depart being Georgios Tzavellas and Alexander Fransson. On the other hand, Stavros Pilios, Rodolfo Pizarro and Alexander Callens were acquired, Ezequiel Ponce returned after 4 years, while the transfer of Orbelín Pineda became permanent with a record fee of €6.5 million.^[2]

AEK began their competitive obligations in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, where they were drawn against Dinamo Zagreb. On 7 August, one day before the first leg at Nea Filadelfeia, 100 ultras of the Croatian team, joined by Greek ultras, crossed the country without being intercepted by the authorities and attacked the supporters of AEK outside the stadium. During the attack, a 29-year-old fan of AEK, Michalis Katsouris, was fatally stabbed multiple times.^[3] The murder of Katsouris would have a lasting impact on the club throughout the season, both on and off the pitch. In the aftermath of these events, UEFA decided not to impose sanctions on the Croatian club, but to postpone the match,^[4] which was moved as the second leg of the tie.^[5] Thus, on 15 August, just days after the incident, AEK played their first match at Stadion Maksimir. In the stadium there were only supporters of Dinamo, since any movement of fans was strictly prohibited, while the footballers competed with black armbands. After falling 1–0 behind in the first half, AEK later equalized with Steven Zuber. In the final minutes they completed the comeback with a goal by Galanopoulos, who, after scoring, raised his black armband towards the Croatian ultras.^[6] In the rematch, despite losing 0–2 in the second half, AEK responded in the final minutes, scoring twice to equalize the match and snatch qualification, which was dedicated to Michalis Katsouris.^[7] Since UEFA did not accept any changes to their schedule, AEK traveled to Bosuilstadion three days later to face Royal Antwerp for the play-off round. Despite creating several chances, they were defeated by 1–0, by an early goal from the Belgian champions. In the second leg, at Agia Sophia Stadium, AEK dominated possession for much of the match, but Antwerp withstood the pressure and got away with a 1–2 win, which sent the yellow-blacks to the group stage of the UEFA Europa League. There, they were drawn with Ajax, Marseille and Brighton & Hove Albion. Despite the difficult draw, AEK performed well, winning their first match at Falmer Stadium, but didn't get the respective results and lost the qualification to Ajax in the final matchday.

AEK entered the Cup at the round of 16 facing Aris. In the first leg in Athens that took place at an empty stadium due to punishment, Almeyda made an extensive rotation, which resulted in a goalless draw. In the rematch of Thessaloniki, AEK took the lead in the second half, but Aris quickly equalized and the match went to a penalty shoot-out. There, AEK were eliminated with the score of 4–2.

The Championship began with AEK as the main contender for the title. Nevertheless, they often dropped points in matches in which they were expected to win, keeping them away from the top of the table despite remaining close to the leaders. They remained unbeaten against all of their title rivals in the regular season, recording a win and a draw against each of them. Eventually they entered the play-offs in the second place with one point behind PAOK. In the play-offs they moved to the top of the table, completing 13 consecutive derbies without a defeat. However, their streak was broken in a 2–1 defeat at Leoforos Alexandras Stadium, where AEK took the lead but conceded two "cheap" goals to Panathinaikos and fell to the second place. Furthermore, in the following matchday against PAOK at home in a similar situation, AEK had a 2–0 lead, but were equalized in the final minutes. The two victories against Aris and a 3–0 win against Panathinaikos that followed brought them very close to the title. Nevertheless, two consecutive defeats to PAOK and Olympiacos gave the advantage to the club of Thessaloniki. On the final matchday AEK were playing against Lamia at home, requiring that PAOK not to win in order to win their second Championship in a row. Eventually, AEK won by 3–0, while PAOK won by 1―0 and were denied the opportunity to win the Championship in their 100-year anniversary.^[8]