AEK H.C.

AEK Handball Club is the handball department of the major Greek multi-sports club A.E.K. It was established in 2005. The club is commonly known in European competitions as AEK Athens HC.

AEK
Full name	AEK Handball Club
Nickname(s)	Énosis (Union) Kitrinómavri (Yellow-Blacks) Dikéfalos Aetós (Two-Headed Eagle)
Founded	2005; 18 years ago (2005)
Arena	G. Kassimatis Indoor Hall
Capacity	1,000
President	Stamatis Papastamatis
Head coach	Alexandros Alvanos
League	Handball Premier
2021–22	2nd
Club colours
Home Away
Website Official site

History

The department Handball of A.E.K. founded by a decision of the General Assembly of A.E.K. on 12 July 2005.

On 5 August 2005, the Greek Handball Federation accepted a merger through absorption of the association's Board of handball GA Ilioupolis with AEK Handball Club.

During the period 2006–07, AEK Handball Club acquired the 3rd position in A1 (Greek Men's handball championship) and gained the participation at European Cups for the first time.

During the period 2007–08, AEK participated at EHF Cup (European Handball Federation Cup) and eliminated by Dinamo Baumit Bucuresti at second round.

On 31 May 2009, with Nikos Georgantzoglou as a president, AEK won the first Greek handball cup winning Filippos by a score of 33–31 in Serres.

For the period 2009–10 AEK participated at EHF Cup Winners' Cup.^[1]

For the third round of EHF Cup Winners' Cup, AEK HC played against BSB Izmir on 14 November 2009 in Athens (losing 24–29) and on 21 November 2009 in Smyrni (draw 22–22). During the period 2009–10, AEK HC terminated at 4th position of A1, gaining its European participation for 2nd consecutive time and for 3rd in general. In addition, AEK HC participated at the final-four of Greek men's handball cup on 29 May 2010 in Lamia, but the semi-final game against PAOK did not take place due to fan "fights".

For the second round of European Challenge Cup (2010–11), AEK HC won HC Dinamo Minsk 31–25 in Athens and lost 32–27 in Minsk and therefore AEK has been advanced to the top 16 teams. For the third round (phase of 16), AEK defeated Sporting Lisboa at penalties. AEK lost 27–23 in Lisboa, but won 27–23 in Athens and so the game went on penalty-kicks, where AEK advanced to the top 8 with final score 32–27. For the Quarter-Final (phase of 8), AEK played against Partizan of Beograd and disqualified.^[2]

On 7 May 2011, AEK won the Greek handball championship through the play-offs and became champion for the first time in their short history. AEK needed only the win against PAOK at Thessaloniki and was losing by one goal (22–21) 30 seconds before the final whistle but with great will and power scored twice (the final goal at the exact second of the final) and gained the first championship of its history just 6 years from their establishment.^[3] AEK participated to the first round of the EHF Champions League for the period 2011–12 and also to the first round of Challenge Cup, losing from Lions (Holland).

On 17 March 2012, AEK participated to the final game of the Greek men's handball cup against PAOK, but lost the game 26–24. AEK participated to the EHF Cup for the period 2012–13 but was eliminated by Diomidis Argous in the first round, losing both games at Argos and Athens.

On 3 March 2013, AEK won the second Greek handball cup in its history, winning PAOK by a score of 27–23 in Kerkyra (Corfu).^[4] The same year on 1 June 2013 AEK won the second Greek handball championship against Diomidis.^[5]

On 19 March 2014, AEK won the third Greek handball championship in its history, winning Diomidis 18–16 in Athens.^[6]

On 29 March 2015, AEK participated in the final of the Greek men's handball cup for fifth time in a row, against PAOK, but lost the game by a score of 27–29. The team finished third in the Greek handball championship.^{[citation needed]}

On 14 and 20 May 2018, AEK HC played to the final games of EHF Challenge Cup 2017–18 and became one of the three most successful teams in Greek handball (including Diomidis Argous and Filippos Verias) in European achievements.^[7] In 2020, AEK won its third Greek Championship.^[8]

On 23 May 2021, AEK HC won the fourth Greek handball cup in its history, winning PAOK by a score of 24–22 in Kozani. On 30 May of the same year, AEK HC won the first EHF European Cup in its history by winning the Swedish club Ystads IF, this way AEK HC became the most successful Greek club in European handball competitions.^[9] AEK won its fourth Greek Championship on 6 July 2021 celebrating a historic treble.^[10]

Kits

HOME
2019–20	2021–

AWAY
2018–19	2020–

Honours

European competitions

• EHF European Cup
  •   Winners (1): 2020–21
  •   Runner-up (1): 2017–18

Domestic competitions

• Greek Championship
  •   Winners (4): 2010–11, 2012–13, 2019–20, 2020–21
  •   Runner-up (5): 2012, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2022
• Greek Cup
  •   Winners (4): 2008–09, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2020–21
  •   Runner-up (6): 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2020, 2022

Tournaments

• Official Tournaments
  • 47th International Handball Tournament Struga (1): 2019
  • 1st International Tournament "Andreas Papastamatis" (2): 2020, 2021

Unofficial team awards

• Continental Treble (European trophy, National league, National cup)
  • Winners (1): 2020–21
• Double (National league, National cup)
  • Winners (2): 2012–13, 2020–21

Players

Squad for the 2022–23 season^[11]

Goalkeepers 01   Ivan Matskevich 12   Theodoros Kalamatas 32   Igor Arsić Back players CB 08   Ignacio Moya Florido 96   Patrick Andre Toniazzo Lemos LB 09   Stipe Mandalinić 10   Panagiotis Nikolaidis (c) 19   Konstantinos Kotsionis 34   Ioannis Kalomoiros 51   Luka Sokolić RB 05   Nikola Jukić 15   Efthymios Iliopoulos

Wingers Line players 13   Leonardo Domenech de Almeida 22   Anastasios Papadionysiou 27   Nikolaos Liapis 93   Łukasz Rogulski LW 03   Maximilien Tike 68   Aurélien Tchitombi 99   Christos Kederis RW 02   Evangelos Arampatzis 05   Nemanja Živković

Transfers

Transfers for the 2022–23 season

Joining   Ivan Matskevich (GK) (from   HC Meshkov Brest)   Maximilien Tike (LW) (from   JS Cherbourg Manche)   Stipe Mandalinić (LB) (from   RK Eurofarm Pelister)   Nikola Jukić (RB) (from   GWD Minden)   Nemanja Živković (RW) (from   RK Partizan)   Łukasz Rogulski (P) (from   KS Azoty-Puławy)   Nikolaos Liapis (P) (from   CB Ademar León)   Aurélien Tchitombi (LW) (from   Grand Nancy Métropole)   Leonardo Domenech de Almeida (P) (from   BM. Logroño La Rioja)

Leaving   Goran Andjelic (GK) (to   AC Diomidis Argous)   Petros Boukovinas (GK) (to   TV Großwallstadt)   Olexandr Shevelev (P) (to   AC Diomidis Argous)   Nikola Stevanovic (RB) (to   Alpla HC Hard)   Ignacio Plaza Jiménez (P) (to   FC Porto)   Cristian Ugalde (LW) (to   Tatabánya KC)

Team officials

Staff for the 2022–23 season^[12]

Pos.	Name
General Manager	Stathis Papachartofylis
Team Manager	Ilias Chatsikas
Head Coach	Alexandros Alvanos
Assistant Coach	Makis Papakostas
Goalkeeper Coach	Vangelis Raspitsos
Personal trainer	Georgios Vavetsis
Physiotherapist	Stavros Toilos

Season by season

Season	Division	Place	Cup	Europe
2005–06	A1 Ethniki	8th	–	–
2006–07	A1 Ethniki	3rd	–	–
2007–08	A1 Ethniki	8th	–	EHF Cup R2
2008–09	A1 Ethniki	7th	Winner	–
2009–10	A1 Ethniki	4th	Final-4	EHF Cup R3
2010–11	A1 Ethniki	1st	Finalist	EHF Challenge Cup QF
2011–12	A1 Ethniki	2nd	Finalist	EHF Champions League QS EHF Cup R2
2012–13	A1 Ethniki	1st	Winner	EHF Cup R1
2013–14	A1 Ethniki	2nd	Winner	EHF Champions League QS EHF Cup R3
2014–15	A1 Ethniki	3rd	Finalist	–
2015–16	Handball Premier	9th	–	EHF Challenge Cup R3
2016–17	Handball Premier	3rd	–	–
2017–18	Handball Premier	2nd	–	EHF Challenge Cup Finalist
2018–19	Handball Premier	2nd	Finalist	EHF Challenge Cup SF
2019–20	Handball Premier	1st	Final	EHF Challenge Cup QF
2020–21	Handball Premier	1st	Winner	EHF European Cup Winner
2021–22	Handball Premier	2nd	Finalist	EHF European League
2022–23	Handball Premier			EHF European Cup

• In 2019–20 season, the Greek Cup final against Diomidis Argous and the EHF Challenge Cup quarterfinal against Potaissa Turda were cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.

European competitions record

Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate Qual. 2007–08 EHF Cup R2   Dinamo Baumit București 30–29 36–22^1 52–65   2009–10 EHF Cup Winners' Cup R3   Izmir BSB SK 24–29^1 22–22 46–51   2010–11 EHF Challenge Cup R3   SKA Minsk 31–25^1 32–27 58–57   16   Sporting CP 32–27 27–23^1 55–54   QF   RK Partizan Beograd 23–24 28–22^1 45–52   2011–12 EHF Champions League QR   RK Partizan Beograd 25–26^Η 4th     Tatran Presov 40–23 2011–12 EHF Cup R2   OCI-Lions 25–27^1 26–24 49–53   2012–13 EHF Cup R1   AC Diomidis Argous 29–30 30–18^1 47–60   2013–14 EHF Champions League QR   HC Dinamo Minsk 25–21 3rd     Besiktas JK 34–30^Η 2013–14 EHF Cup R3   Lugi HF 22–24^1 25–23 45–49   2015–16 EHF Challenge Cup R3   AC Filippos Verias 34–36^1 32–22 56–68   2017–18 EHF Challenge Cup R3   London GD 41–21 16–40^1 81–37   16   Göztepe SK 32–23 29–25^1 57–52   QF   Berchem HC 32–25^1 18–32 64–43   SF   AM Madeira Andebol SAD 23–23 21–29^1 52–44   F   AHC Potaissa Turda 27–26 33–22^1 49–59   2018–19 EHF Challenge Cup R3   Bregenz Handball 29–25^1 18–20 49–43   16   AS SGS Ramhat Hashron 35–25 28–34^1 69–53   QF   Dinamo Viktor Stavropol 30–24 25–21^1 51–49   SF   AM Madeira Andebol SAD 22–30 27–22^1 44–57   2019–20 EHF Challenge Cup R3   HC Vogošća Poljine Hills 41–22^H 27–33^H 74–49   16   Drammen HK 33–31^1 27–27 60–58   QF   AHC Potaissa Turda --- --- --- 2020–21 EHF European Cup R3   KH Prishtina 37–19^H 8–41^H 78–25   16   CSM București 29–23 28–23^1 52–51   QF   HC Neva SPb 29–27^H 21–30^H 59–48   SF   RK Gorenje 31–29^1 31–31 62–60   F   Ystads IF 30–26^Η 20–24^Η 54–46   2021–22 EHF European League Group D   Tatabánya KC 34–26^1 25–24 5th     RK Pelister 27–30^1 30–19   Sporting CP 25–24 31–30^1   Kadetten Schaffhausen 28–31 30–26^1   USAM Nîmes 34–30 26–27^1 2022–23 EHF European Cup R2   HV Hurry-Up 35–30^1 17–25 60–47   R3   Alingsås HK 32–27^1 31–24 56–58

Competitions		Appearances	Played	W	D	L	Goals
1	EHF Champions League	2	4	1	0	3	103–121
2	EHF European League/EHF Cup	5	18	5	0	13	467–510
	EHF Cup Winners' Cup	1	2	0	1	1	46–51
3	EHF European Cup/EHF Ch.Cup	7	44	28	3	13	1,285–1,110
Overall		15	68	34	4	30	1,901–1,792

Notable former coaches

•   Giannis Arvanitis
•   Dimitris Dimitroulias
•   Kostas Toutsis
•   Nikos Grammatikos (2017–2019)^[13]
•   Dimitris Dimitroulias (2019–2022)^[14][15]

Notable current and former players

•  

  Alexandros Alvanos

•  

  Spyros Balomenos

•  

  Thomas Bauer

•  

  Savvas Karypidis

•  

  Cristian Ugalde

•  

  Jesper Meinby

•  

  Joakim Hykkerud

•   Abderrahim Berriah (2021–2022)^[16][17]
•   Sofiane Bendjilali (2021–2022)^[18][19]
•   Thomas Bauer (2020–2021)^[20][21]
•   Nikola Stevanovic (2022)^[22]
•   Ivan Matskevich (2022–)
•   Tomislav Nuić (2021)^[23][24]
•   Patrick Andre Toniazzo Lemos (2020–)^[25]
•   Leonardo Domenech de Almeida (2022–)^[26]
•   Marin Buneta (2019–2021)^[27][28]
•   Stipe Mandalinić (2022–)
•   Nikola Jukić (2022–)
•   Ioulios Argyrou
•   Aurélien Tchitombi (2022–)^[29]
•   Lars Jacobsen (2018–2020)^[30][31]
•   Jesper Meinby (2021)^[32][33]
•   Malik Hoggas (2019–2020)^[34][35]
•   Maximilien Tike (2022–)
•   Christoforos Bakaoukas (2005–2016)
•   Savvas Karypidis (2013–2015)
•   Fanis Tsaousis (2005–2015)
•   Giorgos Papadopoulos
•   Dimitris Kaffatos (2005–2007, 2009–2014, 2019–2020)
•   Dionysis Georgiadis (2010–2020)
•   Giorgos Perros
•   Alexandros Alvanos (2012–2014, 2018–2019)
•   Spyros Balomenos (2012–2013)
•   Panagiotis Nikolaidis
•   Konstantinos Tsilimparis (2013–2015)
•   Grigoris Sanikis (2013–2015)
•   Gergö Rózsavölgyi (2019)^[36]
•   Laurynas Palevicius (2018–2019)^[37][38]
•   Mladen Rakčević (2013–2014)
•   Goran Andjelic (2021–2022)^[39]
•   Joakim Hykkerud (2021)^[40][41]
•   Łukasz Rogulski (2022–)^[42]
•   Bogdan Criciotoiu (2020)^[43][44]
•   Radule Radulovic (2017–2019)
•   Milan Kosanović (2019–2021)^[45][46]
•   Miljan Manić
•   Mirko Lukić
•   Zlatko Šuša
•   Eldin Vražalica^[47]
•   Igor Arsic (2019–2020)^[48][49]
•   Nemanja Živković (2022–)
•   Maros Balaz (2018–2019)^[50][51]
•   Juraj Briatka (2021–2022)^[52]
•   Luis Felipe Jiménez Reina (2020–2021)^[53]
•   Ignacio Plaza Jiménez (2019–2022)^[54]
•   Cristian Ugalde (2020–2022)^[55]
•   Ignacio Moya Florido (2020–)^[56]
•   Anis Gatfi
•   Yunus Özmusul (2019)^[57]
•   Olexandr Shevelev (2022)^[58]

Sponsorships

• Great Sponsor: Elliniki Etairia Graniton
• Official Sport Clothing Manufacturer: Macron
• Official Broadcaster: ERT3

References

1. "Κύπελλο Χάντμπολ: Πρώτος τίτλος στην ΑΕΚ". enet.gr. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
2. "Τέλος η Ευρώπη για την ΑΕΚ". sport24.gr. 2 April 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
3. "Χάντμπολ: Πρωταθλήτρια Ελλάδας η ΑΕΚ με φοβερή ανατροπή!". enet.gr. 7 May 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
4. "Χάντμπολ: Το σήκωσε η ΑΕΚ, 27-23 τον ΠΑΟΚ!". onsports.gr. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
5. "Πρωταθλήτρια χάντμπολ η ΑΕΚ". enet.gr. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
6. . handball.org.gr. Archived from the original on 14 February 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
7. "EHF Challenge Cup Final - Handball: AEK fought, won, but did not... raise it up" (in Greek). iefimerida.gr. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
8. "Πρωταθλήτρια Handball Premier η ΑΕΚΑΡΑ!". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
9. Nikolaev, Sergey. "AEK claim maiden European trophy". ehfec.eurohandball.com. Online. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
10. "Ιστορικό τρεμπλ για τη "Βασίλισσα" ΑΕΚ!". sport-fm.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
11. Hellenic Handball Federation AEK HC roster
12. "AEK ATHENS HC". ehfec.eurohandball.com. Online. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
13. "Παραίτηση Νίκου Γραμματικού". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
14. "Έναρξη συνεργασίας με Δημήτρη Δημητρούλια". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
15. "Λύση συνεργασίας με Δημήτρη Δημητρούλια". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
16. "Έναρξη συνεργασίας με τον Αμπντεραχίμ Μπεριά". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
17. "Παραχώρηση του Μπεριά στη γαλλική Tremblay". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
18. "Έναρξη συνεργασίας με τον Sofiane Bendjilali". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
19. "Λύση συνεργασίας με τον Σοφιάν Μπεντζιλαλί". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
20. "Έναρξη συνεργασίας με τον Thomas Bauer". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
21. "Ευχαριστούμε Thomas!". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
22. "Έναρξη συνεργασίας με τον Νίκολα Στεφάνοβιτς". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
23. "Έναρξη συνεργασίας με τον Tomislav Nuic". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
24. "Ευχαριστούμε Tomislav!". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
25. "Έναρξη συνεργασίας με τον Patrick Andre Toniazzo Lemos". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
26. "Έναρξη συνεργασίας με τον Λεονάρντο Ντομενέκ ντε Αλμέιδα". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
27. "Έναρξη συνεργασίας με τον Marin Buneta". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
28. "Ευχαριστούμε Marin!". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
29. "Έναρξη συνεργασίας με τον Ορελιέν Τσιτομπί". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
30. "Ο Λαρς Γιάκομπσεν στην ΑΕΚ". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
31. "Καλή συνέχεια Lars!". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
32. "Έναρξη συνεργασίας με τους Joakim Andre Hykkerud και Jesper Meinby Pedersen". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
33. "Ευχαριστούμε Jesper Meinby Pedersen!". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
34. "Έναρξη συνεργασίας με Malik Hoggas". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
35. "Ολοκλήρωση συνεργασίας με τον Malik Hoggas". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
36. "Έναρξη συνεργασίας με Ροζαβόλγκι Γκέργκο". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
37. "Ο Λαουρίνας Παλεβίτσιους στην ΑΕΚ". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
38. "Ανακοίνωση ολοκλήρωσης συνεργασίας". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
39. "Έναρξη συνεργασίας με τον Goran Andjelic". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
40. "Έναρξη συνεργασίας με τους Joakim Andre Hykkerud και Jesper Meinby Pedersen". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
41. "Ευχαριστούμε Joakim Andre Hykkerud!". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
42. "Στην ΑΕΚ για δύο χρόνια ο Λούκας Ρογκούλσκι!". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
43. "Έναρξη συνεργασίας με τον Bogdan Criciotoiu". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
44. "Ολοκλήρωση συνεργασίας με τον Bogdan Criciotoiu". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
45. "Έναρξη συνεργασίας με τον Milan Kosanovic". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
46. "Ευχαριστούμε Milan!". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
47. "Ανακοίνωση ολοκλήρωσης συνεργασίας". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
48. "Έναρξη συνεργασίας με τον Igor Arsic". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
49. "Ολοκλήρωση συνεργασίας με τον Igor Arsic". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
50. "Ενίσχυση με τον διεθνή Σλοβάκο Μάρος Μπάλαζ (VIDEO)". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
51. "Ανακοίνωση ολοκλήρωσης συνεργασίας". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
52. "Έναρξη συνεργασίας με τον Juraj Briatka". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
53. "Έναρξη συνεργασίας με τον Luis Felipe Jimenez Reina". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
54. "Έναρξη συνεργασίας με τον Ignacio Plaza Jimenez". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
55. "Έναρξη συνεργασίας με τον Christian Ugalde". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
56. "Έναρξη συνεργασίας με Ignacio (Nacho) Moya Florido". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
57. "Έναρξη συνεργασίας με Yunus Özmusul". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
58. "Έναρξη συνεργασίας με τον Ολεξάντρ Σέβελεφ". aek.gr (in Greek). Online. Retrieved 7 May 2022.

External links

Official websites

• Official website (in Greek)
• AEK H.C. at HHF (in Greek)
• AEK H.C. at EHF (in English)

Media

• Official Facebook page