AEL (Athlitiki Enosi Larissas)

 

AEL Larissa (Athlitiki Enosi Larissas), or simply AEL, is one of the most historic football clubs in Greece, based in the city of Larissa in Thessaly. It was founded in 1964 through the merger of four local teams, aiming to create a strong club that would represent the city at the national level.

History and Trophies

AEL is the only team outside Athens and Thessaloniki to have won the Greek championship. Specifically, the club has won the following major trophies:

• 1 Greek Championship (1987-88): Winning the league title in 1988 is the club's greatest achievement, making them the first team outside Athens and Thessaloniki to become champions.
• 2 Greek Cups (1984-85, 2006-07): AEL won its first Greek Cup in 1985 and its second in 2007, while they were runners-up in 1982 and 1984.

Notable Players and Coaches

• Michalis Ziogas: A key forward who made a name for himself during the 1980s.
• Vasilis Karapialis: One of the best Greek footballers, whose career skyrocketed with AEL before he moved to Olympiacos.
• Tasos Kyriakos and Fotis Dalakouras are also players who made significant contributions to the team.

As for the coaches, some standout figures include:

• Andrija Kraljević: The Serbian coach who led the team to the 1988 league title.
• Giannis Papakostas and Giorgos Donis: The latter coached the team during their 2007 Greek Cup victory.

Best Performances

• Domestically: The 1988 league title remains AEL's greatest success. In 2007, they won their second Greek Cup, defeating Panathinaikos 2-1 in the final, with Thomas Kiparissis being the star player.
• Internationally: AEL’s best European performance came in the 1984-85 season when they reached the Round of 16 in the Cup Winners’ Cup, before being eliminated by Dynamo Moscow. They also participated in the UEFA Europa League in 2007-08, eliminating Blackburn Rovers in the first round but losing to Ajax in the group stage.

Current Status

In recent years, AEL has been striving to return to the top ranks of Greek football but has faced financial difficulties and management challenges. The team has alternated between the Super League and Super League 2, with the 2023-24 season seeing them compete in the second division, aiming for promotion.

Stadium

AEL plays at the AEL FC Arena, a modern stadium with a capacity of around 16,000 seats, inaugurated in 2010. It is one of the most contemporary football venues in Greece, located just outside the city of Larissa.

The club enjoys strong support from its dedicated fanbase, which has stood by the team through both its highs and lows.

Pic: tranfermarkt.com