After the distinctions of the previous years, AEK seemed to operate in a "frantic tempo", until this season, which was the passing to a declining period for the team. The team's roster was constantly renewed as a generation of players left, passing the torch to the next one. The new generation was consisted of great and talented players, however the club was not ready to claim a leading role in the league.
AEK participated in the European Cup. The draw was tough for them, as from the very first round faced one of the greastest European clubs over time, the great Internazionale of Ivano Bordon, Giacinto Facchetti and Sandro Mazzola. The first match at San Siro in front of almost 80,000 spectators, AEK managed to take the lead at the 14th minute with Pomonis, but Inter's superiority was obvious and after equalizing 5 minutes later, they finished the first half leading by 3–1. The second half turned out to be a standard procedure with Inter raising the score to 4–1 and likewise the few chances of AEK qualifying disappeared.[1] In the rematch at the crowded AEK Stadium no one expected what was about to happen. Everything started wrong for the yellow-blacks, as they were left behind the score at the 17th minute with a goal by Mazzola. Bertini's dismissal two minutes later and Stankovic's offensive style, brought AEK in taking the lead at the half time with Ventouris and Papaioannou, while also having two shoots hit the post. The Italians, wanting if nothing else not to lose, chased the goal and equalized with Boninsegna at the 76th minute. The players of AEK, realizing that the qualification was lost definitively, sought the victory and achieved it with a goal by Nikolaidis at the 89th minute, that made the final 3–2. One of the greatest victories for the then "poor" Greek football and the first great European night for AEK.[2][3]
In the league AEK paid their bad performances in the away matches, dropping points in almost every away game, achieving only 4 wins out of the 17 away games. That resulted in a third-place finish with 6 points away from the top.
This season was one of the worst for the club's history for the cup. A very important year for the development of the tournament, as the amateur teams of the local legal associations cease to participate and only the teams of the national divisions could participate. The ties of the first round competed again according to geographical criteria, while from the second round onwards the draw was free. AEK easily overcame PAO Rouf in the first round and Kozani in the second round, but in the round of 16 they faced Lamia, who to everyone's surprise, eliminated them with 1–0 at the extra time.[4]
Players
Squad information
NOTE: The players are the ones that have been announced by the AEK Athens' press release. No edits should be made unless a player arrival or exit is announced. Updated 11 June 1972, 23:59 UTC+2.
Note: Due to the departure of the national team to Mexico, it was agreed that the Greek internationals would compete only in the first half of the match, resulting in the usage of 31 players in total. In reality only Papaioannou competed for one half, Glezos did not play at all, while Toskas, Stathopoulos and Gaitatzis played the entire match.
Note: At the 69th minute the goalkeeper of AEK Athens, Konstantinidis was injured and was replaced by forward Papaioannou, since the team had already used the two permitted substitutions. At the 88th minute, Panachaiki suffered the same fate, with defender Androutsos replacing Saraliotis.[6]
The list is sorted by competition order when total clean sheets are equal and then alphabetically by surname. Clean sheets in games where both goalkeepers participated are awarded to the goalkeeper who started the game. Goalkeepers with no appearances are not included.
