page_title: History of AEK F.C.
section_title: The František Fadrhonc Era (1974–1977)
hierarchical_section_title: History of AEK F.C. / The Barlos ownership years (1974–1981) / The František Fadrhonc Era (1974–1977)
caption_attribution_description: English: František Fadrhonc in 1974.
context_page_description: AEK Athens F.C., as one of the most famous association football clubs, as one of the biggest clubs and the most historical club in Greece, has a long, unique and idiosyncratic history, and has experienced both the highs and the lows of the game. It won its first championship in 1939 and has gone on to become one of Greece's most successful football teams.
context_section_description: 1974–75 season
  New chairman Loukas Barlos hired František Fadrhonc, the man who had just led the Netherlands to the finals of the 1974 FIFA World Cup, as AEK's manager.
  Summer arrivals included German players Walter Wagner and Timo Zahnleiter plus the Greeks Christos Ardizoglou and Giorgos Dedes.
  AEK finished second in Alpha Ethniki and qualified for the UEFA Cup.
  1975–76 season
  Giorgos Dedes won the top scorer award in the Alpha Ethniki helping AEK finish second for the second consecutive season.
  1976–77 season
  Summer arrivals included Thomas Mavros, Nikos Christidis, Petros Ravousis and Takis Nikoloudis.
  The club's most memorable moment in European competitions was the campaign to the semi-final of the UEFA Cup during the 1976–77 season under František Fadrhonc's management. In the way to the semi-final AEK Athens managed to eliminate four clubs. In the first round they faced Soviet champions Dynamo Moscow. In Athens won 2–0 with goals by Takis Nikoloudis and Mimis Papaioannou. In Moscow, Dynamo paid them back by winning 2–0 and leading the match to extra time. In the last minute of extra time, AEK Athens managed to score thanks to a penalty kick by Tasos Konstantinou and proceeded to the second round. They were drawn against English 4th placed side Derby County. In Athens a goal by Walter Wagner and an own goal by Rod Thomas gave AEK the 2–0 win. In Derby AEK Athens found themselves behind in the score line but responded scoring three times with Takis Nikoloudis, Tasos Konstantinou and Walter Wagner. Derby Country only managed to score a consolation goal and the match ended in a 2–3 win for AEK Athens. In the third round AEK Athens had to oppose Yugoslav giants Red Star Belgrade. In Athens AEK was once again victorious by winning 2–0. Mimis Papaioannou and Thomas Mavros were the goal-scorers. In Belgrade Red Star took the lead with a goal by Petar Baralić but Walter Wagner quickly equalised. The two additional goals scored by Zoran Filipović and Dušan Savić were not enough and AEK Athens won on away goals. In the quarter-final AEK Athens faced their greatest challenge to that moment, English league's runner-up side QPR. The first leg was played in London. The two penalty kick goals in the first ten minutes scored by Gerry Francis and another one scored by Stan Bowles gave QPR the 3–0 win and what looked like a certain qualification. Nevertheless, AEK Athens made the impossible possible. With two goals by Thomas Mavros and ano more by Mimis Papaioannou AEK Athens sent the match to extra time and eventually to a penalty shootout. Three minutes before the final whistle, František Fadrhonc had Nikos Christidis substitute Lakis Stergioudas, the team's regular goalkeeper. His move proved vital as Nikos Christidis saved two penalties and gave AEK Athens a 7–6 win. In the semi-finals draw AEK Athens were to play either Italian league's runner-up side Juventus or Spanish league's third placed side Athletic Bilbao. Ultimately AEK Athens had to face the Italians. In Turin, Juventus scored first with Antonello Cuccureddu but AEK Athens responded with a goal by Lefteris Papadopoulos. Two goals by Roberto Bettega and one by Franco Causio followed, giving Juventus a 4–1 victory. Juventus also won in Nikos Goumas Stadium thanks to a goal scored by Roberto Boninsegna end went on to win their first European title.
  1977–78 season, Part I
  Important forwards Walter Wagner and Giorgos Dedes both left the club but club chairman Loukas Barlos replaced them with Yugoslav international Dušan Bajević who was considered to be one of the best forwards of his time. Unfortunately, Bajević suffered an injury with prevented him from playing during the first matches of the 1977–78 season.
caption: František Fadrhonc
exif: {}