AEK Athens Football Club (Greek: ΠΑΕ ΑΕΚ), also known simply as AEK, AEK Athens (in European competitions), or with their full name Athlitiki Enosis Konstantinoupoleos (Greek: Αθλητική Ένωσις Κωνσταντινουπόλεως, Athletic Union of Constantinople), are a Greek association football club based in Nea Filadelfeia suburb of Athens.
The club has amassed various records since their founding. Regionally, domestically and continentally, the club has set several records in winning various official and unofficial competitions. Established in Athens in 1924 by Greek refugees from Constantinople in the wake of the Greco-Turkish War, A.E.K. is one of the most successful clubs in Greek football,[1] winning 34 national titles (including 13 Championships, 16 Cups, 1 League Cup and 3 Super Cups). The team has appeared several times in European (UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League) competitions. AEK is a member of the European Club Association.[2]
The club was relegated from the Greek Super League after the 2012–13 season for the first time in their history. In an effort to discharge the immense debt created by years of mismanagement, their directors chose for the team to compete in the third tier Football League 2 for the 2013–14 season, thus turning the club into an amateur club.[3] After 2 seasons on the lower divisions the club completed its comeback to the first division.[4]