Razvan Marin celebrated with arms wide open, as if to mimic the flight of an eagle. A double-headed eagle, just like the symbol of AEK Athens, who won their first Champions League clash 1-0 against LASK.
This victory is far from anecdotal or just a statistic; it confirms that the Greek side can stake a claim as a disruptive force in this European tournament. The goal is to secure a playoff spot, and the first three points are in the bag, igniting excitement in the Greek capital.
The Romanian midfielder’s free-kick goal - one that, had it been scored by a European giant, would have gone viral - opened the doors of Europe to these lesser-known yellow-and-blacks. While this colour combination has been successfully worn by Borussia Dortmund, for the Greeks it represents a historical and sociological bond with the Byzantine Empire.
A new page of history has been written in the northern outskirts of Athens, where, in their last Champions League appearance, the 2018/19 season, the Greeks finished Group E with zero points.
This promising start is the result of a tailwind pushing the Greek champions in the 2025/26 season. Bought two years ago by Greek shipowner Marios Iliopoulos, AEK is experiencing a golden moment, writing a new chapter. And it’s doing so not only at home but also across the continent.
Anarchy in Athens
Although the Greek capital has historically been associated in football terms mainly with Olympiacos and Panathinaikos, whose Champions League performances have brought more significant results, AEK represents a vibrant part of Athens.
Far from the red-and-white stronghold of the Piraeus port and the wealthier neighbourhoods where the greens are supported, the heart of yellow-and-black passion beats in the Exarchia district, the quintessential anarchist hub.
This is the district where the main student protests formed during the Colonels’ dictatorship - most notably the Polytechnic uprising in 1973 that began the regime’s downfall. The true centre of the Greek capital is painted with yellow and black murals, with the double-headed eagle on every corner.
It’s a reminder of the real identity of a maze of streets where you can still escape gentrification and listen to rebetiko in a typical taverna, keeping a certain romanticism alive.
Identity
This romanticism is also carried forward by a significant part of its ultras, who over time have developed a strong left-wing, anti-racist, anti-fascist identity with anarchist elements. The club’s history, however, is rooted above all in its founders' refugee status.
AEK was founded in 1924, just two years after the fire that, on September 13th, 1922, razed the Christian-Orthodox quarters of Smyrna to the ground.
The club's creation had a human purpose more than a sporting one: it was meant to keep alive the memory of Greek communities forced to abandon their lands and to create a gathering place for thousands of refugees arriving in Athens.
From that moment on, the Enosi became a protective haven for every kind of refugee arriving in the Greek capital.
It’s no coincidence that it was these many immigrants who volunteered to transform the first pitch in the Nea Filadelfia area, where the Agia Sophia stadium still stands today, named in honour of the famous basilica of Constantinople, now converted into a mosque by Turkish premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Melting pot
Italian goalkeeper Alberto Brignoli is just the first of many foreigners who make AEK a truly multicultural club. The current squad includes as many as 15 nationalities, while the UEFA list counts 'only' 14. 10 players are Greek, while the other 21 are foreigners, with countries like Rwanda, Mauritania, Honduras, Angola, and Cameroon represented.
Leading the group is a Serbian coach, Marko Nikolic, in his first experience at a club outside the former Yugoslavia or the area once influenced by the Soviet Union.
Among the most prominent names in his squad, besides the aforementioned Marin, is Luka Jovic, who at 28 is still seeking personal redemption after unsuccessful spells at Real Madrid and AC Milan. The main striker, however, is Barnabas Varga, who, after arriving in Athens last June, has already scored six goals in total.
The group’s cohesion, however, is absolute, reflecting the identity that has always characterised the Greek club.
After their first three points in the Champions League, celebrated with the passion of those who live every moment to the fullest, AEK has officially set sail, eager to travel proudly across the continent.
The next match against Shakhtar Donetsk will be in London, for political reasons. The journey will be long, but Greece’s yellow-and-blacks are ready to start enjoying the ride.