2001–02 AEK Athens F.C. season

The summer of 2001 finds AEK once again in the midst of great administrative and financial problems. The multinationals ENIC and Netmed are looking all summer for interested parties to buy the team or take over the management of the club. Eventually, the well-known from his past in the basketball team and controversial businessman, Makis Psomiadis, through the company "Ippoventure", becomes the new boss of AEK.[1] Makis Psomiadis initially puts in the position of president his friend and businessman, Filon Antonopoulos and later his cousin, Charilaos Psomiadis.[2] In the competitive part, however, Psomiadis seems to be quite capable. He brings as the team's coach, Fernando Santos, and adds to the roster, the Paraguayan international defender, Carlos Gamarra, as a loan.

AEK started the championship very well and from an outsider they slowly became a favorite for the title, with Santos demonstrating a disciplined and well-done team. However, 3 consecutive defeats in January 2002 suddenly made the situation very difficult and the first problems in the Psomiadis-Santos relations begun. The team continued well, however, and competed with Olympiacos for the title race until the end. Finally, on 20 April 2002, a match that was deemed as "final", took place in Olympic Stadium for the penultimate matchday, where Olympiacos won 4-3 and conclusively AEK lost the title in a draw with 58 points each.[3]