1967–68 AEK Athens F.C. season

The 1967–68 season was the 44th season in the existence of AEK Athens F.C. and the ninth consecutive season in the top flight of Greek football. They competed in the Alpha Ethniki, the Greek Cup and the Balkans Cup. The season began on 7 October 1967 and finished on 31 August 1968.

In the summer of 1967, the good course of the club was guaranteed by the presence, from the beginning of the season, of Jenő Csaknády.^[1] Evaluating the team's existing roster, he decided that without the need of particular transfer additions, he could turn it into a worthy contender for the title.^[2] The experience of the previous season, in which Csaknády took the team 6 points behind Olympiacos and managed to make them equal contenders, the confidence and admiration of the players towards his person and his undoubted ability and hard work, convinced everyone in AEK that better days were ahead for the club, even talking about the repeat of the championship conquest of 1963. Csaknády managed to turn the players into soldiers, ready to give their best to the team and their coach.^[3]

AEK entered the championship race and in their first six matches achieved 5 wins and a draw in the derby against Panathinaikos at Leoforos Alexandras Stadium. The team appeared complete in all their lines and under the guidance of Csaknády, seemed capable of subduing any opponent. The defeat in Katerini against Pierikos by 1–0 on 29 November, temporarily removed them from the top of the standings. The yellow-blacks reacted in a deafening and thunderous way at the very next matchday, when they destroyed the other contender, Olympiacos and their hopes in winning the league, by crushing them by 1–4 at Karaiskakis Stadium. As the league race progressed, AEK were at a demonic pace whenever they faced a big rival in a derby. Most noticeably, the team achieved five out of six victories against the three big clubs of Thessaloniki, with Aris managing to get a draw in his ground. With the victory against Panathinaikos at home the yellow and blacks and their record was kept intact, with the only remaining derby being the against Olympiacos at Nea Filadelfeia. On 31 March, AEK with their second victory by 2–1 over the club of Piraeus, ultimately secured the title from the 26th matchday. The win was celebrated by the thousands of fans that were in the stadium, with some of them entering the pitch and taking the jerseys and shorts of the players as souvenirs.^[4] The conquest of the championship was mathematically secured on 4 April, in the 1–0 win against Panelefsiniakos away from home.^[5][6]

While AEK had already been crowned champions, it seemed that they would achieve the conquest of the domestic double, as in the Cup they eliminated Vyzas Megara, Aris and Panionios, respectivelly. However, in the semi-final they were drawn against Olympiacos at Karaiskakis Stadium. There, the red and whites managed to take their revenge for their loss of the league, by eliminating AEK by 2–1^[7] and eventually winning the title.^[8][9]

The Hungarian-German coach, consistent to the "tradition" he had created, did not agree on staying in the club for the next season, thus achieving the absolute of two championship wins in his two full seasons on the bench of AEK.^[10][11][12]

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 31 August 1968, 23:59 UTC+2.

Expenditure: ₯0

Income: ₯0

Net Total: ₯0

AEK entered the Greek Cup at the round of 32.

As of 31 August 1968

As of 31 August 1968

Numbers in superscript represent the goals that the player scored.

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.

As of 31 August 1968

As of 31 August 1968

• AEK Athens F.C. Official Website
• A.E.K. FC Database