Their 2-2 draw with Panachaiki at Kaftanzoglio Stadium on 27 April, corresponding to matchday 31 of the league, saw PAOK leave the standings’ podium. The team were in need of a change, a boost of confidence ahead of their Greek Cup quarter-final against Aris at Toumba on 30 April.

They encountered the solution in Gyula Lóránt, the only coach who had led PAOK to a league trophy back then. The deal was sealed in Germany where PAOK FC vice-president Petridis and his translator Karafoulidis travelled to meet the Hungarian tactician.

Lóránt responded immediately and landed at Thessaloniki airport on Tuesday 29 April, in the evening. About 2.000 fans of the “Double-Headed Eagle” were expecting him there and accompanied his car all the way to “Electra Palace” where he spent the night. On the following day, he was on the bench at Kaftanzoglio for the second leg of the Greek Cup quarter-finals against Aris who had a slender advantage, having won 1-0 in the first leg played almost two months earlier (5 March 1980).

In front of 40.000 PAOK fans, the “Double-Headed Eagle” kept a tight defence to avoid Aris’ dangerous counters and at the same time dominated proceedings but saw Koudas, Kostikos and Orfanos waste their opportunities to break the deadlock. Koudas was denied by woodwork in the 44th minute, while Aris’ goalkeeper saves Kostikos’ rebound effort. At the stroke of the hour, Sarafis made it 1-0 from up-close following a shot by Kermanidis, cancelling out the first leg scoreline. PAOK were on the lookout for that second goal that would see them through. In the 85th minute, Koudas was brought down into the box by Michalitsios and Venos, but the referee waved on “play”.

Vasilakos however came to the rescue a few minutes later, with a long-range shot to make it 2-0 and propel PAOK to the Greek Cup semi-finals. Aris joined the list of teams eliminated that season by PAOK, along with Olympiacos and AEK.

PΑΟΚ: Furtula, Gounaris, Iosifidis, Anastasiadis, Apostolidis, Damanakis, Sarafis, Koudas, Vasilakos, Orfanos (46′ Kermanidis), Kostikos

REFEREE: Vourakis

After the final whistle, Lóránt said: “I have no participation in PAOK’s victory today. I didn’t work for it, nor did I issue the line-up or dictate tactics to the players. The only thing I did was speak to them before kick-off and ask them to play with passion and give it all to win. They all knew that it was a match of huge importance. They made some errors, but their will to win led them to success. My work will start at the end of the season”.