Melissanidis Passes AEK Leadership to Iliopoulos
Dimitris Melissanidis announced he is stepping down from AEK, transferring leadership to shipowner Marios Iliopoulos. At a press conference at the OPAP Arena, Melissanidis cited personal reasons and expressed confidence in Iliopoulos, praising his character and ambitions.
Melissanidis emphasized the solid state of the club, mentioning its capable executives, sports center, museums, and revenue-generating stadium. Despite interest from an American fund, he chose Iliopoulos to ensure stability. Iliopoulos is committed to completing the team’s training center.
Melissanidis acknowledged his age and health as factors for his departure but assured continued support for Iliopoulos. He also informed coach Mr. Almeida about the transition.
Iliopoulos’ Commitment to AEK
Marios Iliopoulos expressed gratitude for the opportunity, praising Melissanidis for setting high standards. He pledged to invest in the academies and dedicate himself to winning titles with AEK.
The end of an era for AEK was announced by Dimitris Melissanidis on the morning of Monday, June 10th, as he officially stated that the time has come for him to leave the team, handing over the reins of the club to shipowner Marios Iliopoulos of SeaJets.
In his statement, Dimitris Melissanidis specifically mentioned the new chapter for AEK: “I am handing over the reins to the shipping magnate Mr. Marios Iliopoulos, whom I will introduce to you this afternoon at 16:00 in the Press Room of the stadium. I will remain a simple soldier of AEK’s greatness, among you! I will forever be grateful for everything we experienced together! Long live AEK.”
The former administrative leader of the club spoke of a difficult decision but also emphasized that he leaves AEK stronger and more powerful than ever. “AEK is its 100-year glorious history, a history full of struggles of displaced people who took root in their new homeland under the emblem of the Double-Headed Eagle. Paekeople who will always be proud of their origins and will live by the motto ‘It’s different to be AEK’.”
Those who know Marios Iliopoulos well describe him as a sometimes explosive and unpredictable character, passionate about his work and the SeaJets speedboat empire. In recent years, he has significantly strengthened his position, owning the largest fleet of speedboats in the Mediterranean. Despite his power, he is characterized by his unconventionality, often avoiding formalities and mandated dress codes as much as possible.
