The 1961–62 season was the 38th season in the existence of AEK Athens F.C. and their third consecutive season in the top flight of Greek football. They competed in the Alpha Ethniki and the Greek Cup. The season began on 9 September 1961 and finished on 17 June 1962.
Kits
Home
Away
Overview
In the summer of 1961, AEK Athens aspired to return to the championship claim. With Tryfon Tzanetis on the wheel of the team and Kleanthis Maropoulos essentially in the position of technical director, they carried out the transfers of Panikos Krystallis and Dimitris Zagylos from Cyprus, who were considered very skilled footballers.
AEK started strongly in the league with three consecutive wins including the emphatic 8–0 away win against Egaleo, which is the biggest away win at first national division level, while in the 4th matchday they drew 0–0 with Olympiacos in Nea Filadelfeia, though were better than their opponent. In the 6th matchday, AEK were at the top of the standings alongside Panathinaikos and Olympiacos, where they remained until the 8th matchday when without conceding a single goal, they faced Panathinaikos at Leoforos Alexandras Stadium. AEK found themselves losing by 2–0 and they managed to reduce the score to 2–1, however in the last quarter of the match they collapsed resulting in a 4–1 defeat while the "greens" were able to extend the score even more. Thus, AEK moved into second place, however they continued to have good performances. However, they were also defeated by Apollon Athens, which at that time had a formidable team and was in the first positions of the standings. With various ups and downs, they remained with 5 points from the top until the 28th matchday, when the derby against Panathinaikos took place. In a packed Nea Filadelfeia Stadium, AEK entered intensively and by half an hour into the game they were leading 2–0. Shortly before the end of the half, Panathinaikos managed to reduce the score to 2–1 and during the second half they made the comeback and won by 2–3, which mainly happened due to mistakes by the players of AEK. They continued, aiming for the second place with Olympiacos and Apollon as their main competitors, with the latter defeating them at home and passed them in the standings and at the end of the championship AEK finished in 4th place.
In the round of 32 of the cup, AEK were awarded the game against Kalamata, as they resigned from the match. In the round of 16, they faced Apollon Athens at home and in the presence of fifteen thousand spectators, AEK were defeated by 2–1 and were eliminated. It was the third time that Apollon defeated AEK in the same year, as they had already them won two times in the league.[1]
Players
Squad information
NOTE: The players are the ones that have been announced by the AEK Athens' press release. No edits should be made unless a player arrival or exit is announced. Updated 17 June 1962, 23:59 UTC+2.
Note: Inauguration of the large stand and turf of the AEK Stadium. The game was attended by the then heir to the Spanish throne Juan Carlos and his future wife, Sofia.[2][3]
Note: AEK offered all the earnings for the construction of the stadium of Olympiacos, repaying the gesture of the latter who had donated all the earnings from their match against Barcelona, two months ago, for the newly built AEK Stadium. Olympiacos were typically the host team, since at the time they often used AEK Stadium as a home ground.[4]
Note: The first of the six games that the defender Theofilos Vernezis played as a goalkeeper, due to the injury of both goalkeepers Serafidis and Fakis.
The list is sorted by competition order when total clean sheets are equal and then alphabetically by surname. Clean sheets in games where both goalkeepers participated are awarded to the goalkeeper who started the game. Goalkeepers with no appearances are not included.
