Table of Contents
The awe of Vangelis Marinakis in recent years in Greek football was Dimitris Melissanidis. Their rivalry was on several occasions out of bounds, yet the two were never friends or even partners. In football, friendships of years have literally dissolved, such as that of the president of Olympiakos with the former major shareholder of PAE Panathinaikos, Nikolas Pateras.
Time will tell how it will develop in Super League 1 not just a friendship, but the piggy bank Marinaki with the new owner of PAE AEK Mario Iliopoulos. The two big players were friends from the time they were in London for studies, where they lived together for a period of time, and the president of the “red and white” PAE in 2003 in Santorini was best man at the wedding of the major shareholder of the Union. “35-40 years ago he was my best friend, 20 years ago my best man. In the last 18-20 years we have taken different paths…” M. had said at the first press conference as the owner of AEK. Iliopoulos when asked what is his relationship with Vag. Marinakis, who as host welcomes him today at “G. Karaiskakis” in the big game of the 12th game of the championship. Olympiacos and AEK lead the SL1 race (along with Ari) and are the big favorites to win the title.
Today’s Faliro derby (20.30) is more than an important game. The “red and whites” claim their return to the throne after two failed attempts, while the new owner of AEK wishes to start his productive career by winning a championship. For this reason, he made large investments by strengthening the roster of the “two-headed” with players such as Martial, Lamela, Pereira from the top shelf of European football.
Transfer surprise
In the Super League, the ball… also rolls outside the pitches. In the last week in Greek football there was a non-competitive transfer that can turn Greek football upside down. The right hand of Dem. Melissanidis at PAE AEK, Yiannis Papadopoulos, has agreed to take over as an informal adviser to PAE Olympiacos on EPO matters. The deal was closed with the owner Vang. Marinaki and includes all contacts with the associations of football clubs and not only.
Olympiacos is used to working with top executives of the football market, however the collaboration with G. Papadopoulos caused a great surprise, because he was strongly targeted by the agents of his new professional roof while he was on the side of the “tiger”. For example, on January 6, 2024, Alexis Kougias, in his capacity as the legal advisor of PAE Olympiacos, stated: “The criminal organization headed by this criminal, Yiannis Papadopoulos, who due to circumstances is not in prison for the rest of his life, with the crimes he commits every day, throughout Greece, and who controls the entire Greek arbitration…”. All this belongs to the past and now Olympiacos and G. Papadopoulos have a common course with the aim of overturning the administrative balance in the EPO. And this is something that happens at regular intervals in the federation. EPO before 1996 was controlled by Panathinaikos, then Olympiacos took command and from 2017 until last summer AEK and PAOK co-managed the federation. The “two-headed” alliance “broke” due to some moves by the extra-administrative factor of AEK C. Papadopoulos, who now works with Olympiakos.
In July 2024, the former CEO of PAOK PAOK, Makis Gagatsis, who is supported by Olympiacos, was elected president of the EPO! However, after the agreement of Wang. Marinaki with G. Papadopoulos is certain that the Piraeus will move to gain full control of the EPO, which they lost in 2016 with the intervention of FIFA who appointed a Temporary Management Committee, removing the “sinful” administration of the federation. The first goal of Olympiakos, as it is said, is to acquire a strong EPS core and in the next elections to elect its own administration.
The reaction
All of this is expected to react except for PAOK, which nominated M. Gagatsi, and AEK. So the best men Vag. Marinakis and M. Iliopoulos will face two… fronts. One is purely competitive and the other behind the scenes concerns the control of the… Beautiful Helen of Greek football, EPO.
The two shipowners will “battle” in the murky waters of the federation to protect their investments, as this is required by the unwritten law of Greek football. The newcomer in the field of football M. Iliopoulos is not going to sit with his hands tied and watch apathetically what happens off the pitch. In AEK they consider that they were wronged by the referee in their games with Panaitolikos and Panserraikos and the major shareholder of PAE started a circle of contacts in order not to lose any more points from the referees who are more or less influenced by the “wants” of the football powerhouse . The M. Iliopoulos made two appointments with M. Gagatsi and among others discussed the issues of refereeing, while he traveled to Nyon and met with UEFA president Alexander Ceferin.
The owner of PAE AEK is on an open line with the former president of EPO Takis Baltakos, who had handled some civil cases of M. Iliopoulos before the pandemic. At the present stage, Baltakos is informally advising the Union agent, who will probably also try for his group to acquire an EPS core in order to have a say in the EPO. Before that he made an unprecedented move for Greek football. AEK jointly sent a letter with the owner of M. Iliopoulos and the Non-Profit Foundation “Takis Iliopoulos” to the EPO regarding their intention to offer a package of financial assistance of 1.5 million. euros to support amateur football. What does this mean? It means that Iliopoulos is openly giving an amount (about 28,000 euros) to all EPS, regardless of which block they belong to, for the development and progress of amateur football. If the rest of the big players do the same, then a barrier will be put in the background.
The competitive part
Competitively, the Olympiakos – AEK “duels” are of great interest. Both opponents play attractive football that is the signature of their coaches, Jose Luis Mendiliber and Matias Almeida respectively. Today’s big game takes place after the league was interrupted due to national team commitments and in these cases it is a question of how the two teams will present themselves.
The hosts have ups and downs in their performance, but they come from an important and “clean” victory with 3-2 at the expense of PAOK in Toumba. The “red and whites” have the Portuguese Gelson Martins in excellent condition, El Kaabi is consistently the team’s killer who receives significant help from the two young players, Christos Mouzakitis and Charalambos Kostoulas. The problem for Piraeus is their defensive function as they concede goals easily. Overall, the home of K. Tzolakis has been violated nine times, while AEK only four.
Today is the first big match played by Olympiacos as the home team. In previous derbies away from home, they suffered a defeat against Ari (2-1), drew with Panathinaikos (00) at OAKA and, as mentioned above, beat PAOK 3-2.
AEK has played two home derbies, in the first they defeated Panathinaikos 2-0 and in the second they conceded a draw to PAOK (1-1). The problem in the Union is that Almeida is trying to fit all the big names at his disposal in the eleven and in several matches the “black and yellow” fought like… a detuned machine. After the defeat by Panserraikos, they stopped experimenting, ended up in a formation and in the previous match against Asteras Tripoli, AEK’s appearance was convincing and particularly effective in attack.
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#Olympiacos #AEK #derby #men #Marinakis #Iliopoulos #football #match
Is the ongoing struggle between Olympiacos and AEK for dominance ultimately beneficial or detrimental to the overall health and progress of Greek football?
## Open-Ended Discussion Questions About the Greek Football Scene:
This article highlights several key areas within Greek football. Here are some open-ended questions to encourage discussion around these themes:
**Competitive Dynamics & On-Field Performance:**
1. **Olympiacos and AEK are both seen as strong contenders this season. What factors will be crucial in determining who ultimately claims the title?** (This invites discussion about player strengths, coaching styles, team dynamics, and potential challenges)
2. **The article mentions that AEK “fought like…a detuned machine” earlier in the season. What might be causing this inconsistency, and how can Almeida address it for greater stability?** (This probes tactical analysis, player integration, and coaching strategies)
3. **Both Olympiacos and AEK have been susceptible to conceding goals. How might their respective defensive vulnerabilities impact their chances of success?** (This encourages analysis of defensive tactics, player weaknesses, and potential solutions)
**The Role of Finances and Ownership:**
1. **Marinakis’ ambition for Olympiacos is clear, but is it ethical to leverage political influence for competitive advantage in sport?** (This delves into the complex relationship between sport, politics, and fairness)
2. **Iliopoulos’ investment has brought a new perspective to AEK. How might his approach differ from traditional Greek football ownership models? What challenges and opportunities does this present?** (This explores the impact of new ownership, potential reforms, and sustainable development in Greek football)
3. **The article highlights AEK’s donation to amateur football. Is this a genuine commitment to grassroots development, or a strategic move to gain favor within the EPO?** (This encourages critical thinking about motives, transparency, and the impact of external factors on football governance)
**Governance and Power Struggles in the EPO:**
1. **The article describes a history of power struggles within the EPO. What are the underlying causes of this instability, and what are the potential consequences for the future of Greek football?** (This explores political influence, corruption, and the need for transparent and accountable leadership)
2. **Do you think Gagatsis’ election as EPO president signals a genuine shift in power, or will the ongoing conflict between Olympiacos and AEK derail any progress?** (This probes the effectiveness of current leadership, the potential for meaningful reform, and the need for collective action)
3. **The article mentions UEFA president Alexander Ceferin. What role could international football bodies play in promoting transparency and fairness within the EPO?** ( This encourages consideration of external pressure, the role of international regulations, and potential solutions for improving governance)
**Remember:**
* Encourage diverse viewpoints and avoid leading questions
* Promote respectful debate and constructive criticism
* Invite participants to share their personal experiences and perspectives on Greek football
These are just starting points. The richness of this article provides ample opportunity for a thought-provoking and engaging discussion.
