BREAKING NEWS: Kintis Elected As AEK President

AEK Athens have officially announced Giorgios Kintis as the new president of the club.

Kintis, who was part of the Board of Directors immediately before former president Demis Nikolaidis took over in 2004, then worked with the former player to save AEK from its economic crisis and impending relegation.

The announcement will be looked upon as sensible by most quarters of the Greek football sphere, with neither Nikos Notias nor Takis Kanellopoulos – both major shareholders in the club - apparently willing to take over.

Kintis' reputation as a sound economist has been built during his career in the private sector and as an advisor to the National Bank of Greece.

His qualifications include an MBA title from the YALE School of Management, as well as being a graduate of the Athens Law School.

Kintis is widely accredited with AEK's recovery from their substantial debt in 2004, where it was his idea to use Article 44 of the Greek 'Companies Law' to have 95% of the debt written off by the government - a ruling that was upheld in the Court of Athens.

Notias, in an official statement on the club's website, described a new era for the club with the the election of Kintis: “AEK continues down the path of history united, strong and as determined as ever to claim the future that it deserves.

“I have confidence in the club’s administrative council, the executives of AEK and the leaders of the football department, that we will realize our vision for the football life of the club and the establishment of a training centre and our own stadium.”

Notias and caretaker presidents Kanellopoulos and Nikos Koulis, have been elected as the vice-presidents of the club.


Chris Paraskevas, Goal.com