Marios Iliopoulos: “Meeting if an opportunity arises” – The line about when he agreed to take AEK

After a discussion that lasted less than 2.5 hours, he exchanged views and referred to her and Greek football issues. The administrative leader of AEK FC, Marios Iliopoulos, presented today (16.01.2025) at noon lunch to the press representatives (sport and not only), at the restaurant of OPAP Arena, “Byzantine”. The “present” gave a large number of journalists from almost all the media in the country and the management of AEK FC. Newsit.gr was there. In his speech, with which he welcomed his guests to the AEK stadium, the Union owner stated: “I want to welcome you to the Temple of AEK. In this wonderful stadium, which gives mainly pleasure to fans and fans of AEK, but today we have the opportunity to welcome people who do not support AEK. We have a democracy. Sport has many sides, has many teams. The big teams all know who they are. Both Athens and Thessaloniki. But it is of particular interest and the small groups, which this year there is a particularity: without the help of any whistle they have made exciting results against very large groups. So I welcome you any team you support. Actually, I think the question is wrong, ‘What kind of team are you?’ We have to say ‘ What group do you support? ‘. ’ Because you’re some kind of team, but I think with the new procedures, it doesn’t seem strange to us that some people decide to change teams. And support another group because they see something different. I want 2025 to wish something new. Basically the wishes I give to the people I love and the people I associate with are seven: they are power, health, love, luck, passion, humor and conquests. CORVERSE These are the seven wishes, which, more or less, you can make a lot more of them, but I think if we think about them they include everything indirectly. Power, health, love, luck, passion, humor and conquests. So let this year be a station for Greek football, so that we can see things from a different perspective and all together, from the laterization of each one, offer for the best of Greek football. We’ll sit down and eat. Because I’m also a little fat, please very much those who are fat like me who don’t come near me because there’s going to be competition in food. Don’t compete. That’s one of the seven elements, I thought we should do some humor. We’ll have our lunch and then we’ll have any conversation you want. I don’t care for courtesy to ask any question you think you should ask. We should have a conversation and have a dialogue if you want, as long as we don’t abuse the time of some of your fellow journalists who want to ask questions. Because here we speak clearly and speak authenticly. So whatever question you want, even if that question is in danger of being considered cruel, or is out of expectation of mine, or of public opinion, or the average. I would like you to do it, as long as this question is not a bad one. And why would I say that? I’ll take a bad question, I just don’t know if the answer will like it or come back boomerang and create another chapter. So if you want to ask me a question that has that kind of texture, I just don’t know what the answer will be, if it’s in the context that someone would like to hear. So we’re open. Thank you very much, because what is happening today is something different. To be able to have democracy and have all the voices on all sides. North, South, East, West… And it’s good to hear, because every day we all learn. Thank you very much and let the year go well, as we envision it and as we dream of it, all of Greece.” After the lunch, Mr. Marios Iliopoulos answered many questions and exchanged views with the press representatives on a number of issues. The common vision with Almeida and Gachinovic as a leftback The first subject to the conversation was Matias Almeida and the criticism he receives from AEK fans, when some results are negative, with Mario Iliopoulos reporting: “Almeida is obviously not a common coach. He has values, passion and not only as a coach, but also as a human. Almeida and I envision the same thing. It is obvious because the Greek spirit has passion and many times a struggle can be lost and different thoughts created in fans, it is something that happens. Right now, we’re moving forward. If you see him a little stressed, my assessment is that the playoffs are coming soon and he, like all the AEK, want this year – not to talk too big – to win a title, I wish both titles and two titles. That’s what we all think. “ Marios Iliopoulos was asked about the “falchoswhispers” that exist in the Super League and if AEK is going to take its measures: “To be honest, except for the three games that we all know who they are, with Panseraikos last, in which there were shouted penalties that were not given and phases in which we were wronged, I think that arbitration is on a level, because 50-50 cannot be. Lately there has been a different approach. Everyone has drawn conclusions, but there was indeed a time when there were these falsifications and in this we need dignity, honesty no matter which group each supports. Without the help of the whistle small groups have made results in large groups seats. This is the beauty of football and so we get better.” On whether Gatkatsis has convinced him of equality: “In life many times the mind wants, but the body cannot respond. You have a fever, for example, and you want to run. You can’t. The mind may therefore want, but the body has not shown that it has achieved its purpose.” For the transfer of the left back and the delay that has existed: “As you ask the question, I will not put it to the coach. What people say you want left back, take left back. There must be respect for the leaders. Of course the final decision is mine to press the button, but the recommendation is of the people responsible. In the last debate yesterday, we discussed that the group does not need any transfer. But players who are interesting come out. An example is that of Marcial who emerged last minute and we didn’t have him in mind. When you have too many players, they create friction, because I don’t play, because you don’t play, and instead of competitiveness and motivation, there’s a reverse effect. Perhaps a differentiation on the left back, because there was indeed a debate a few days ago and internally, is the excellent performance of Gacinovic. There was an experiment I understand that has too much to give. If a player finds a chance that tomorrow, the day after tomorrow we will not be able, either left back or in another position and will not create dominoes, we will move on.” For his collaboration with Ribalta and his perspective: “Mr. Ribalta came to the team after three discussions we had. I have a great vision and dreams for AEK and have shown that I do not dream unfulfilled with the help of God, the Universe, perseverance, patience, effort and passion. In a Greek environment a man who comes with a different mentality, because bad lies in Greece our ways are a little different. For example, in a European club Javier’s position is absolutely appropriate and necessary. In Greek reality it is not absolutely necessary. We’re trying to synchronize, exploit his experiences, his acquaintances, his way of thinking. As until recently the AEK was also trying to synchronize because even the team was trying to find a frequency that found it towards the end of the year that passed. While we had a super team, she was eliminated from Europe by very small-scale opponents. The vision is common and I hope to find the frequency that is absolutely necessary.” The “to interview Giannis Papadopoulos” and his disagreement about penalties For his comment on Giannis Papadopoulos who from AEK went to Olympiacos : “The journalists are the moral lesson of the youth. You who are journalists should get him a press conference for his new duties. Instead of me answering, he can answer for himself. Unless he’s hiding.” How he intends to protect the AEK in matters of violence and punishment: “We draw sins from others on other matters. Not that they’re virgins on the Greek courts. But it’s not fair. The Greek government and the Ministry have made a great effort to suppress violence. But taking some measures doesn’t necessarily mean you’re taking the right measures. To some extent some proper measures have been taken, to know who is on the field and to be certified, but for a firecracker to take such punishments, while I am in favour of the state’s effort to suppress violence and for transparency, it is tragically unacceptable in this part. The AEK is in this effort that we will try and enter a “fight” to change this law for a bottle or for a cracker. If someone gets hurt, it’s obviously different, but otherwise getting into such punishments is not something they offer. We will immediately look to move on this piece that is too far to change the law.” On how he saw Greek football from within in relation to what he expected: “I expected an environment to take a dive off the Marathon at 50-60 meters and found myself in the Atlantic at 3,000 meters deep. This is what will make me have greater stubbornness, perseverance and patience. It’s the Challenge. A friend of the old came to a fight that broke a record for me on a mountain and apologized to me. And I say, “Are you crazy”? He tells me we’re friends and everything. And just because we’re friends, I tell him you can’t beat me. But now you’ve done me the greatest good. Because now in the second round you’re going to lose by state and so it is. I broke his new record with a big difference. So this makes me have greater stubbornness, greater patience and greater perseverance.” For the punishments of the Hellenic Republic and if there is room for the groups to be protected to avoid new punishments from possible provocations: “What will change to wrong other groups. There could be a promoter. To change the law yesterday, not at the end of the season. Take your perceived sword and fight. Since there is an unfair and stormy framework that can have traitors inside, it is difficult to answer.” On whether the people responsible can be found from the cameras: “We ask the police to certify the person, exactly what happened and we still don’t have it. That is why we have done the similar judicial procedures because we are punished without proof. One more reason why this law is unacceptable, which does not have the procedure to be able to certify to punish. He is not authoritarian, but he is fascist, with all the love I have to Giannis Brutsis (ed. later made clarification for a certain piece of the law). We’re people, we’re making mistakes. He made a very good effort to suppress violence and pulled out an unacceptable piece within this law. And if he can’t support it, how does he punish? Are we in a fascist state?” For the phase that is AEK City : “Very soon we start two stadiums in the first phase, third after, coaching, the stands in Seraphideo and the hotel. We start immediately with the stadiums and they will be as soon as possible. We’ve made some changes, and the hotel is being moved back a little to make some pools. Greek bureaucracy took us back. But it’s real, it will be, my word is contract. When I make a deal, I write it on a piece of paper. Because gentlemen’s deals are made and you keep it to remember. Know when I say something I do, as far as my hands, legs and purpose can reach.” To create a time when we can turn children into sport, not necessarily just football. Let’s do what goes through our hands. To be able to make the youth visualize. To get into the process, to see Greek players on the field, and to say, imagine if I played. But this, gentlemen, needs honesty and well-being. If he doesn’t have these, it’s a summer night dream and impossible. There’s no financial incentive for me. You only know how there can be an economic incentive if it’s going to be rigged games. What financial incentive does a man who envisions have? I said it before you must be crazy.” The revelation of when he agreed with D. Melissanidis to take AEK At the most touching moment of the discussion Marios Iliopoulos mentioned the moment he announced the acquisition of the AEK to his father (died in November 2022 while the deal was revealed to the public summer that passed) : “I have been more affected by my father and the principles my family has given me. Apparently everyone sees his father and mother unique. I say it and I put a tone on this thing. I’ll tell you a story. I shake hands with Melissanides at a meal. My father is still alive and I’m calling to announce. Don’t ask me exactly when this happened. I’m telling him, Dad, I want to tell you something. My father, by the age of 80, was a bit of a object to my business plans and the risks I took. From 80 to 90, he never denied me anything. So I tell him about the AEK and he drops his phone on the floor. He says don’t move and tomorrow morning’s date. It made me nervous. Apparently the decision was mine but I had a huge appreciation for my father. So he came in the next day in the morning and tells me to get some coffee to drink. I ask him what happened and he answers: I woke up this morning and thought you should call AEK. I answer him: Father, this is where you dropped the phone, now you’re telling me to call her? He says: Take it, help the youth and promote love for sport. He helped the academies develop new talents because our country is suffering from infrastructure. It’s no better for the German or the Frenchman to just have no infrastructure. Even the Olympic works that have been done have splattered. Enter with principles, with goodwill and make your great effort for Greek football. So the principles that my family gave me come first.” Who suits him more than Alafuzo, Marinakis, Savidis? “What do you mean, who should I put next to me in the car? Whoever I put next to me will faint (laughs). It is a difficult question and I would prefer to answer my one year in the AEK. The new guy on the street is always treated like a problem. Their eyes look sideways and wild. But I’m not prejudiced, but everyone writes their own story. You see his story, how he approaches you and you judge.” The possibility of investing in the media and whether it will bring someone to the team in the style of Giannis Papadopoulos? “I’ve said it before that it’s in the back of my mind. It’s not my priority to do it in a couple of months. As for… red card daraverigillikis”. From Melissanidis you also received Papadopoulos, insisted that the journalist with Mario Iliopoulos stressed: “I didn’t pick up anyone. The team is a team, the administration is a command. As long as this administration is on the train which I envision and progress and run this administration is with me and with the vision. As long as the administration cannot be synchronized, people are after all, then these people either leave alone, or I send them away.” For what happened in the locker rooms of “Saint Sofia” in the Cup AEK-PAOK: “First we need to know what the story was because many people don’t know it. I went to court because I wanted to express what I felt out of respect for the EPO. Apparently you’ve all heard of doo. The truth is we welcomed PAOK in the best way. I got Mr. Savvidis 25-30 minutes at the VIP. We talked very well. But after 80-85, the indecentness and gestures began. So I asked the game watcher to meet Lucescu. I didn’t say I was going to the locker room. So I went down to the room outside the locker room and I didn’t know where the meeting with Lucescu was going. They told me to wait a while and then they say: I went to the locker room. I went alone. At acquired speed I went in for a couple of steps. I didn’t do anything like that. If I thought about it, I’d do something else. He would say on my field you are bringing Lucescu to talk to him. He is morally obligated because of hospitality. You can’t challenge with gestures on a field with 32,000 spectators, risk a diversion. This is provocation, it’s dirty.” About whether he intends to compensate the owners for the lost games due to punishment? “It is in the thought of administration. The administration will do what it considers reasonable in the context of this punishment.” – About whether it concerns him that John Alafuzos has invested 100 million and has not succeeded? “I can’t know what every president has in mind. Because he’s involved in football, what his ambitions are, what his vision is. I don’t want to make comparisons. Each man has your own thinking and dynamic. His patience and perseverance.” In closing he said: In conclusion I want to say that I try every day the best for our team. He even got involved in things that were deep water and I hadn’t dealt with. For example, injuries. We’ve come to have 12-13 and today we have zero. I’m trying to do as much as I can for our team. I want to create a Union of all of us, as is the middle letter of the AEK, to highlight culture, ethics, honesty, well-being. If it takes humor, I don’t want toxicity. By self-criticism, self-criticism is a very important thing. Write something, for example, and think the next day about making a mistake. Journalists and referees are very dynamic links in Greek football. In order to be able to do this great work for the youth and to be able to talk about the future you must gentlemen (journalists) do your duty and have three things in mind: Honesty, well-being and unselfish love that is so lacking in Greek society. Lead the youth to a new page, a new march. Thank you very much.