Marios Iliopoulos has charted a specific course for AEK’s future, with the goal of gradually increasing the presence of Greek players on the first team. The search for transfers abroad naturally remains active; however, the intention is —as reported today by Live Sport—that, where suitable opportunities arise, Greek players who possess the quality and potential to make a meaningful contribution be added to the roster.
This is a strategy that takes time and cannot change the team’s character from one transfer window to the next. At AEK, however, there is now a clear focus on building a stronger Greek core, though this does not mean that players will be selected solely based on nationality. The primary criterion remains a player’s on-field ability and their capacity to meet the club’s demands.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
The moves AEK has made recently clearly demonstrate its intention to strengthen the Greek presence on the roster. The club has seriously considered signing Greek players such as Dimitris Giannoulis, Giorgos Kyriakopoulos, Andreas Tetei, and Giannis Apostolakis. Although none of these negotiations resulted in a deal, AEK’s interest confirms the specific direction that has been set for building the team.
This philosophy is also linked to the importance placed on national teams. The presence of more high-level Greek players at AEK could, over time, serve a dual purpose: strengthen the team’s domestic core while also creating more options for the national teams.
Even greater emphasis, however, is placed on the academy. The goal is to reestablish a productive system that will allow players from the youth divisions to gradually work their way up to the first team. For this to happen, proper staffing, scouting, coaching, infrastructure, and patience are required, as the results of such a plan cannot be seen immediately.
*photo source: KYPE
