ΑΕΚ

Aiming to preserve the status quo

Last season was a dream for AEK. In the first year at their new stadium, the Union managed to win both domestic titles and now the goal is consistency. All the signs and squad depth are there, since the club have strengthened in hte summer and now it seems that the power of their form on home soil will help decide everything for the Athenian team.

Continuing with Almeida

Matias Almeida won the double in his first season with the Union. The bet for the Argentine is now a good course in Europe and of course retaining the domestic titles.

Maintaining the core of the squad and strengthening

Essentially, in the summer, the Union only lost Giorgos Tzavellas who moved to Pendiksport in Turkey. On the other hand, Ponce and Rodolfo Pizarro came to strengthen the attacking line, while the important events of the summer included the acquisition of Orbelin Pineda from Celta Vigo.

Aris

A season with many question marks

For another summer, Aris failed to advance in Europe, while the team’s setup has raised many questions with radical changes across all areas. There have been many  new arrivals in the summer with impressive CV’s, but it is certain that it will take time to create a team. The goal for another season is to be in the top six and the dream is to win the Greek Cup, where last season Aris failed once more to claim something more.

Trust in Terzis

During the last season, Apostolos Terzis once again assumed the role of official coach, but this time he managed to convince the management of the club and received their blessing to build a team for the new season himself for the first time.

Complete overhaul of the squad

Another classic summer for Aris. Few things remain to remind anyone of last year’s team. A total of 12 players left, while 14 arrived. Houtesiotis came to strengthen the team between the posts, Montoya, Ferrari, Fatore and Aidonis at the back, Pavisic, Djurasek, Jean Jules in midfield and Moron, Menendez, Saverio, Zamora and Carlson to strengthen the attacking line.

On the other hand, Mateo Garcia, Mazikou, M’bakata, Iturbe, Peersman, Siabanis, N’kolou, Dabo, Gervinho, Kamara, Camacho and Etembo said goodbye to the team, while Gray is also set for the exit door.

Asteras Tripolis

Stability is required

Let’s accept that last season was a bad year at the office and that it is Asteras’ usual stability and seriousness that prevails in the end, especially if you consider that the management of the Arcades is an important constant. Last year, of course, the team wanted to reach the Play Offs but were almost in danger (of relegation) in the end… This season the goal is obviously to maintain the image of a team that makes life difficult for every opponent. As well as, of course, to finish in the top six.

The old familiar Rastavac

Asteras changed two coaches (Metaxas and Manztios) last season, finished 10th and immediately after the end of the championship the management announced the start of its cooperation with Milan Rastavac. The 49-year-old technician worked at Asteras from 2019 to 2022 and after coaching Vojvodina, he has returned. Let us recall that then, in his first two seasons in Tripoli, he produced a remarkable team (7th place 2019-20, 6th place 2020-21).

Attack is the priority

In the transfer moves of the summer, Asteras made four additions, while 11 players left. Priority was given to strengthening offensively with the arrival of 24-year-old Argentinian forward Juan Miritego (on loan), while they have also brought in Mandzi for the attacking line. Defender Houhoumis and midfielder Kaltsas have also arrived.

On the other hand, Iglesias, Santafe, Tassoulis, Tsiftsis, Dominguez, Tilika, Kafi, Barales, Gardafski, Riera and Demidenko are all in the past.

Atromitos

100 years of history

Every year Atromitos aims to enter the top six, something they have however failed to achieve in the last four seasons. In the 2021-22 season they were in danger of relegation, last year they finished eighth, this time there is hope for much more, given that the team have made some good moves in the transfer window. The point is, of course, to combine their 100th year of history celebration with a successful season.

Vote of confidence in Coleman

Welshman Chris Coleman continues for a third season. The coach who led Wales to eighth place in the FIFA world rankings, leading his country’s team to the semi-finals of EURO 2016 may not have achieved everything he would have liked in Peristeri. However, he received a vote of confidence from the management and this is certainly important for a team that shows character and that especially last season showed good signs for significant periods of time. Stability and duration are what is sought, of course.

Ten additions

Atromitos have strengthened with 10 transfers. Perhaps the most important move was that of the loan renewal from Olympiakos of Agibu Kamara, who stood out in the few months of his presence in Peristeri. The other additions are defenders Imrekov, Acevedo, Tsakmakis, forwards Dirks, Andzieliski and Vergos, goalkeepers Marchezani and Tsintotas and midfielder Jubitana.

Those who left are: Mavrommatis, Klonaridis, Strungis, Kiartanson, Kotsopoulos, Hatziisaias, Gianniotis, Rotariou, Branescu, Suarez, Economidis.

Kifissia

A top flight novice with big dreams

In a few years the club have gone from the modest grounds of the local championship of Athens, to the Super League, where they will compete for the first time in the club’s history. And, the club has every reason to be excited. Kifissia is a pleasant surprise, it’s a club with big dreams, and they have added experienced players to their squad, while they have also solved the issue of their home ground. In the end, they will not use the Rizoupoli Stadium, but that of Kaisariani, the «Michalis Kritikopoulos» Stadium. As this is not yet ready, however, its first home games will be played elsewhere.

Anastasiou is on a demanding mission

From Agrinio to Kifissia, 53-year-old Yiannis Anastasiou took on the demanding task of essentially putting together a new team from scratch, as after achieving promotion Kifisia proceeded with sweeping changes. An experienced technician, knowledgeable in the division, and having the support of an administration with an «appetite», he expects to obviously disprove the cliché that the «Cinderella» club will go stragith back down.

Sweeping changes

The newboys have made many changes. They brought in the 34-year-old former Olympiacos goalkeeper Ogmundur Kristinsson, the 33-year-old Sotiris Ninis, who left as a free agent from PAS Ioannina, and the experienced Spanish stopper Alberto Botia. Furthermore, the attackers Ozegovics, Krisioumas, and Pantelidis, the midfielder Ipalibos, defenders Antounes, Agbeniekou, Sakics, Tsapan, Masouras, Parras and the goalkeepers Nikopolidis and Antonopoulos have also arrived.

Furthermore, Kouiroukidis, Stelios Pozatzidis, Leonidas Pozatzidis, Agrimakis, Antoine Na, Talal, Kingue, Sotirakos, Kallergis, Daskalakis, Pavlakis, Probydakis, Mazoulouxis, Seis, Panagiotou, Gini, and Noikokyrakis have left.

Lamia

Dreaming of the next step up

They survived by virtue of grand upset in the final match against Ionikos, overturning a 2-0 half-time deficit to draw 2-2, and they may now be rightly described as adept at avoiding relegation at the last minute. The situation for Lamia are completely different for the new season.

Significant reinforcement, an ambitious and hungry coach and the most expensive transfer in the club’s history, and now the team of Fthiotida are expecting a season in the top half of the table, and potentially, even fight for entry into the top six.

The «saviour» Vokolos

Leonidas Vokolos took over in February 2023, managing to accomplish what appeared to be a very difficult mission. The team remained in the Super League, Vokolos renewed his deal and started working on the «building» of stability, but also the psychological uplifting of a team that has significantly changed its face and wants to change its role in the league.

The bet with Carlitos

In the moves made by Lamia this summer as well, the transfer of the Spanish striker Carlitos (Carlos Lopez), undoubtedly received the publicity it deserves. At the age of 33, the former Panathinaikos forward returns to Greece from Legia Warsaw, as the highest paid player in the team’s history.

Many others also went to Fthiotida. The midfielders Santana, Anagnostopoulos, the forwards Malchi, Longo, Lake, Akounia, Moula, Marmentini, Giakoumakis, Tereziou, the defender Giannoutsos and the goalkeepers Nagy, Hatziemmanouil.

As for those who left, they are Medina, Vasilakaki, Nikopolidi, Manouso, Karamano, Beharano, Romanic, Vergo, Abada, Garaveli, Margariti and Saranov.

NFC Volos

Aiming for six

From sixth place last year and often in a «in transition» situation, Volos made many changes. Last season was the best in their history and if nothing else, the goal remains to claim stability in the top six and participate in the Play Offs.

They are expected to prove competitive for the upcoming season as well, given that they have decided to reform their squad to a large extent. The Volos team saw 14 players leave and they brought in 12.

Continuing with Bratsos

A «permanent assistant» who has developed into one of the pleasant surprises of last year’s championship, he is a a young, Greek coach doing well, something which is undoubtedly always good to see. The 46-year-old Kostas Bratsos took over Volos after the premiere, achieved the goal of reaching the Play Offs and obviously continues to enjoy the support and trust of the club’s management.

A barrage of changes…

Many players, who were key figures last season, have left. They of course were replaced and in fact across all areas. Notable newcomers include Slovakian stopper Kruzliak, Argentine winger Koba, Serbian midfielder Glavcic and Slovakian forward Mraz. The goalkeepers Siabanis and Kostic, defenders Mygas, Kitsos and Karagiannis, forward Moraitis, midfielder Trouillet, and the winger Engin also arrived.

There are quite a few who have left the blue and reds. These are Ozegovics, Escoval, Kleiman, Chirinos, Avgerino, Meskida, Si, Kotnik, Pires, Economopoulos, Katse, Kartali, Pirinen, and Gagi.

Olympiacos

A summer of changes

The Red and Whites have decided to change a lot this summer, both on and off the pitch. The architect tasked with building the new Olympiacos is Antonio Cordon, who became the new technical director. The Red and Whites lost some important players, made several additions and are expected to make more, and Olympiacos enters the new season as one of the big question marks.

Diego Martinez era

Diego Martinez was Cordon’s choice for the red and white dugout. The Spanish coach made his name at Granada, who he guided to Europe, but last year he failed to keep Espanyol in the top flight. Martinez is testing his strength outside of Spain for the first time, and we can expect to see if he will manage to… buckle up at Olympiakos.

A completely different team

Reabciuk, Kane, Butiki, Bakabu, Gary Rodriguez, Valbuena, Christianson, Kitsos, M’villa, Kasami, Kanos and Samaseku all left the team. On the other hand, Brnich, El Kambi, Ibora, Kini, Heze, Scarpa, Porozo, Freire and Alexandropoulos came to Piraeus with the squad changing significantly.

OFI

Faith in making the next step up

From 8th position two season’s ago to the 7th place last season, with faith and optimism for the next step, OFI is enthusiastically preparing for the new season. The Cretans took first place in the Play Outs standings, strengthened in many positions that they faced problems, they expect a lot from the return of Gayegos and continue to support an exciting football project.

The «reformer» Dabrauskas

Valdas Dabrauskas has a «heavy» CV. He took over OFI in October 2022, directly influenced the team, managing to overturn the difficult climate and the negative results of the first days. The 46-year-old Lithuanian coach apparently gave OFI the trigger for a good … finish and therefore the impetus for what is expected in the championship that begins.

Return of Gayegos

OFI have both talent and experience and at the same time appeared particularly active in the transfer window. The Cretans convinced Lambropoulos to return to Greece after four years, midfielder Gayegos also returned from Universidad, the stopper Karo was bought from APOEL. Abada, Riera and «our» Titos Koutentakis also became residents of Crete.

However, more players left. Tsilianidis, Kamau, Groning, Yohu, Durmisai, Tzu, Stevens are a thing of the past, as is Duce who was sold to Auxerre, while Diamantis and Balogiannis left as free agents.

Panathinaikos

Aiming to continue the upward trend

Last year they made it to water, but in the finale they did not drink any water. Despite being at the top for most of the season, Panathinaikos finished in second place, while in the Greek Cup they were eliminated by PAOK. This season started with the team achieving an important goal: the return to European groups. The next goal for the Greens is to win this year’s championship.

With the Jovanovic recipe

He is the man who is credited with making Panathinaikos competitive again, after several years of a limbo status for the club. The Serbian coach remains the absolute leader of the Greens and this year he wants to be able to lead the club to the top.

Reinforcement in important positions

The Greens lost Kourbelis, Sarlias, Pougouras, Sanchez, Kampetsis and Poughach. On the other hand, Mladenovic, Palmer-Brown and Jedvaj came to strengthen the defensive line, while the center was strengthened with Vilenia, Arao, Djuric and Zeka.

Panetolikos

In search of calm and stability

Although they faced the worst last season, despite not being expected to struggle, the team preserved their top-flight status. Obviously for the new season the priority cannot be anything other than finding ome calm, stability, and a return to the safety of mid-table. The Agrinio team finished 11th last time out. The club is already presenting an air of renewal, however, replacing Yiannis Anastasiou with Gabriel Schurer in the dugout. Their premiere against AEK was postponed due to European obligations of the Union, so they will have to wait to get their season underway.

To Schurer the reins

A great stopper, at the age of 51, Gabriel Schurer is coming to Europe for the first time as a coach. In the two years from 2004-2006 he was of course a player at Olympiacos. So, after two years on the bench of Panaitolikos, Yannis Anastasiou left the team, giving his place to Schurer – one of the two new coaching entries in the Greek league.

A few solid transfers

There were of course departures and arrivals in Agrinio. Panetolikos acquired goalkeeper Kapinos and defender Marios Oikonomou (free from Sampdoria). They also added strikers Dias and Baldasara, defenders Duarte and Torrejon, while also promoting some academy players.

Furthermore, Anestis, Morsey, Martenson, Apostolakis, Houhoumis, Kolovos, Dago and Dias all left.

Panserraikos

A clear goal

A lot of time has passed since the 2010-2011 season. The thirst and the dreams remained, of course. Panserraikos had an excellent season in Super League 2, went up to the top table, changed their coach, strengthened the squad, and are dreaming that this time they will stay in the top flight. The «lions» have big ambitions and a stable management, which has no other goal, of course, other than to avoid «accidents», but also to create a team that will be able to look every opponent in the eye.

The Pablo Garcia Chapter

Without the need for recommendations, let’s just say that Pablo Garcia is taking his first coaching steps outside of PAOK with Panserraikos, in his second term on the bench as first team coach in the Super League. His previous term was in the 2020-2021 season at PAOK, replacing Abel Ferreira – when he won the Greek Cup – for two seasons he led PAOK B, while for a number of years he associated his name with several generations of talented footballers in PAOK’s academies. Next to him at Panserraikos is almost all of his longtime staff of collaborators.

Lots of rearrangements

Panseraikos made 16 additions, the most prominent of which was Emil Bergström, in an attempt to strengthen their squad in terms of quality and experience. The 30-year-old Swedish defender was acquired on a free transfer following his spell at Gornik Zambrze. Zisis Hatzistravos and Ismaila Ouedraogo also add a PAOK element. Other arrivals at Panserraikos include Wooleri, Aleksic, Hayek, Hovan, Dunkerlai, Tomas, Peleas, Gotzamanidis, Moreira, and Tsiligiris.

Lymberakis, Giannikoglou, Dimitriou, Zeris, Siontis, Papazoglou, Kanis, Lioumis, Karaperis, Katsantonis, Giannarakis have all left the club.

PAS Giannina

The «inheritance» of Giorgos Christovasilis is a challenge

The first competitive season without the emblematic president of the team, Giorgos Christovasilis, who passed away, is without a doubt a challenge for his sons, Panagiotis and Yiannis. The climate is good, there is a good mood and appetite, while the long-term goal obviously remains a comfortable stay in the top flight, and why not the surpassing of the 2021-22 season with the conquest of sixth place.

Staikos handled things well

From June 2022 in Ioannina, Thanasis Staikos managed to face all the «greats» with his fists. The 43-year-old technician is now another year more experienced, he kept the core of his team, and if the issue of depth is solved, his work will undoubtedly become more efficient.

The core remains, and is strengthened

PAS made eight transfers. He got goalkeeper Kleiman who left Volos, the midfielder Begala, the defender Panagou, the Argentinian striker Garo, the 19-year-old forward Mina (his loan at Werder has ended). The squad will also have a PAOK «flavor» this year, with the loan of Marios Tsaousis and Panagiotis Tzimas.

From the Epirus team, Rizos, Ninis, Stamatelopoulos, Moreira, Radou, Tsavos, Tsintotas and Pelios all left.