Oltra & Out
The removal of Luis Oltra was anything but unexpected, considering the frequent comings and goings of managers in the Protathlima. The only aspect of the Spaniard's departure that raised eyebrows was how long it took.
Oltra's inaugural season at AEK unquestionably surpassed expectations and paved the way for an exciting future. AEK's pursuit of the title remained alive until the third from last match, and had it not been for an exhilarating yet gruelling Europa League campaign, the Larnaca team might have clinched their first Cypriot league championship.
In the season preceding Oltra's arrival, AEK astounded the Cypriot football community by narrowly besting APOEL for the second place spot on the final day—a triumph made all the sweeter by the fact that the top two teams gained entry into the prestigious Champions League. Due to the nation's coefficient ranking, clubs commenced their European competition journey during the qualification phase, resulting in shorter summer breaks for players and an early return to training.
Oltra, who took over from fellow countryman David Badia, had slightly less than three weeks to get ready for the Champions League qualifier against Midjylland. Fortunately, the Spanish coach had most of the previous season's squad at his disposal, with only Matt Derbyshire and Thiago being the notable departures. AEK's Iberian influence grew as they brought in Oier Sanjurjo, Bruno Gama, Ismael Casas, Pere Pons, and Rafa Lopes, all of whom had extensive experience in top-tier football. The club's connections in the Balkans also strengthened with the addition of Bosnian goalkeeper Kenan Piric, who joined forces with Hrvoje Milicevic (Bosnia) and Nenad Tomovic (Serbia).
AEK’s 5-4 loss to Midjylland on penalties saw them slip into the Europa League qualifiers. Victories against Partizan Belgrade and SK Dnipro earned them a coveted spot in the group stage, being pitted against Dynamo Kyiv, Stade Rennais, and Fenerbahce.
The beginning of AEK's league campaign saw them with one win, a draw, and two defeats. They marked a significant turning point with a commanding 4-0 triumph at home against Anorthosis in early October, followed by wins against Aris and Olympiacos. Unfortunately, their momentum was halted by a 1-0 defeat at the hands of APOEL, causing them to drop to 5th place in the table.
As November arrived, AEK's hopes for both a league title and a successful European campaign appeared to be fading. However, a crucial 1-1 draw in Rennais secured them 3rd place in the group, ensuring their journey in European competitions would continue in the Conference League. Remarkably, their domestic form saw a drastic improvement, with a 4-0 victory over Karmiotissa on October 30th being the first of 13 wins in the next 14 games.
AEK maintained their position at the top of the table for the sixth straight week with a 3-1 triumph over Karmiotissa on February 4th. However, there was an early indication of potential goalkeeping issues when Piric made a crucial mistake during the game, hinting at challenges ahead. Just six days later, a dramatic last gasp equaliser at home against struggling Akritas preserved their unbeaten streak. Nevertheless, this result was far from the perfect preparation for their upcoming Conference League clash with Dnipro.
AEK's narrow two legged victory over the Ukrainian side came at a cost as their league form took a nosedive. Back to back defeats against AEL and Apollon dropped them to second place in the standings. However, a 3-1 win against Paralimni boosted morale in preparation for an exciting showdown with Premier League side West Ham. Unfortunately, their round of 16 encounter with the Londoners couldn't have come at a worse time, coinciding with the start of the Protathlima play-offs.
Their journey in the Conference League took a challenging turn with a 2-0 defeat against West Ham on March 9th, initiating a six game winless streak. A 2-0 victory against Omonoia on April 21st kept AEK's hopes for the league title alive, but a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Apollon and a 1-1 draw at home against the eventual champions, Aris, dashed their championship aspirations.
AEK secured a third-place finish, earning them a spot in the Conference League qualifiers and the chance to replicate the excitement of the following season's adventure.
To prevent a recurrence of the previous season's decline and to meet the demands of both domestic and European competitions, AEK carried out an extensive recruitment drive, bringing in no fewer than eleven new signings to strengthen the squad. The blend of youthful talent and seasoned experience added depth to a squad already capable of contending for the league title. Players such as Roberge and Katelaris, who had previously won the Protathlima with Apollon two years earlier, joined the ranks, along with Facundo Sanchez, Fran Sol, Iago Herrerin, Riccardo Gagliogo, and Mark Diemers. Additionally, former Italy U21 international Franco Tongya was signed on loan from Odense, further enhancing AEK's offensive capabilities from the wing.
On paper, Luis Oltra's revamped squad appeared to have the potential for a significant title challenge. However, the reality has been quite different. Just four days before the Protathlima campaign kicked off, AEK's European aspirations were dashed with a 2-1 aggregate loss to Maccabi Tel Aviv. Their league season started with a defeat against Aris, followed by an exhilarating yet disappointing 5-5 draw against newly promoted Ethnikos Achna.
Subsequent victories over Doxa and Othellos briefly suggested a positive turn in AEK's fortunes. Oltra's efforts were even rewarded with a two-year contract extension. However, in a surprising turn of events, less than 24 hours later, AEK suffered a stunning 3-1 defeat at the hands of newly promoted AEZ. This outcome left many questioning the club's decision to extend Oltra's contract at that point in the season, rather than waiting until the end.
In Oltra's debut season, AEK achieved considerable success by capitalising on their effectiveness in wide areas. Wingers Faraj and Gyurcso created chaos, while fullbacks Rosales and Garcia either made overlapping runs or delivered crosses into the box for the towering and physical forwards Trickovski and Lopes. However, this season has seen most of AEK's new signings failing to meet expectations.
Diemers, who has been AEK's standout performer this season, operates as an attacking midfielder with a tendency to roam across various parts of the field. While the Dutchman's creativity is evident, it has also led to a sense of disconnection within the team. The central space vacated by Diemers has placed greater demands on central midfielder Kaptoum, who has had to cover more ground.
Hungarian winger Gyurcso, who made 37 appearances last season, recently returned from an injury and has played 70 minutes in the last three games, coming off the bench. His replacement, Tongya, occasionally displays flashes of brilliance, but his lack of experience is apparent.
Fran Sol's impressive record of nine goals in ten games is worth noting, although it's essential to consider that he has scored against teams that are considered favourites for relegation. While it may not be entirely fair to judge, Sol's height of 5'9" could pose a challenge for AEK, as they tend to be more threatening from crosses when the 6 foot tall Lopes is on the field.
The start of AEK's season has been marred by defensive problems. Injuries have undoubtedly played a role, with players like Katelaris, Garcia, Englezou, and Roberge spending time on the treatment table. Additionally, age appears to be taking its toll on some of the players, with Roberge (36), Gagliogo (33), Tomovic (36), and Milicevic (30) showing signs of weariness at this relatively early stage of the season.
Speculations about Oltra's imminent departure were widespread after the 1-1 draw against Salamina, but a string of respectable results against Pafos and Omonoia, both ending in 0-0 draws, and a resounding 5-0 victory over Karmiotissa seemed to quell the rumors. Regrettably, a crushing 3-0 defeat at home against APOEL marked the end of Oltra's tenure as head coach.
The general consensus regarding Oltra's dismissal has been, "It should have happened sooner." After all, both Oltra and Technical Director Xavi Roca received the dreaded vote of confidence from the board prior to the third league game of the season. While it was clear that Oltra's departure was imminent, the pressing question now is who will be his successor. Yet, there's also uncertainty surrounding whether Roca will be the next to depart, or if he will remain in charge of selecting another head coach.
A Roca road ahead…
