Angelopoulos: “I had a proposal for AEK three years ago, I’m not interested in taking money”

His papers about his plans for her future AEK Betsson BC opened by Makis Angelopoulos in the second part of his interview) on Betsson’s channel.

“Three years ago I remember that a fund had come and made me an offer to buy the shares in two installments, five million for 51% and for the remaining part 2.5 million over three years. I am not interested in taking money, if you are willing to invest money to grow the team and through the process we will see how you will get the majority, etc. This was not the intention, it did not proceed, they came back with an improved proposal but now we are better off financially and I did not discuss it because the approach was not the one I would have liked for AEK“, he said about the possibility of getting… a teammate in KAE.

“At some point, after I have completed what I have envisioned for AEK, after all the investments in the stadium have been made, then I think I will have little to offer“, added the strong man of the “yellow and black”.

“Obviously he will have a more general role in the set-up, he has a lot of experience as a coach“, he pointed out about his role Dragan Sakotaemphasizing that there will be detailed information through a press conference.

At the same time, he spoke about the future of Kuzminskas in the team, stressing that he is positive about the possibility of the Lithuanian staying, but also that the decision will be made by the coach. “I also had a personal meeting“, he emphasized.

Read the first part of the interview here.

What he says in detail:

On whether he is looking for… a teammate in the KAE: “Efforts are always made and we talk to people, you always have to know who you can work with, what they can offer and what is the added value they can bring. Three years ago I remember that a fund had come and made me an offer to buy the shares in two installments, five million for 51% and for the remaining part 2.5 million over three years. I am not interested in taking money, if you are willing to invest money to grow the team and through the process we will see how you will get the majority, etc. This was not the intention, it did not proceed, they came back with an improved proposal but now we are better off financially and I did not discuss it because the approach was not the one I would like for AEK.

And this had been preoccupying me because I will be leaving AEK, the exit is a given for everyone at some point from an investment and I have been preoccupied with AEKtzis finding himself with my own madness, a bit difficult… Someone who has the financial ability to invest these the money I have invested, difficult… When the right moment comes we will see this, I did not join AEK to win, I have no financial motivation. In the 80s I was reading about the stone years of football and the dream I had was when Latsis and Onassis would take over AEK and we could make the transfers we want. I grew up with this anxiety about AEK and at some point I say since you have the possibility of what you dreamed of why don’t you do it now that you can in a department that is suffering. And that’s how I started 2015 in the first capital increase with the first 280 thousand and hopefully we reached 21,500,000. At some point, after I have completed what I have envisioned for AEK, after all the investments in the stadium have been made, then I think I will have little to offer».

For the Greek trunk: “For the Greek trunk to be made, the Greeks must exist. From what we see they are recycled from one to the other, from those who do not go to the EuroLeague. We don’t see anything new, it is in our intentions this year for 2-3 kids who are at a good age and can be a base together with the 5-6 we have now. I think that’s the plan but the options are limited».

For the team goal: “Whatever we say, we are in a space where you cannot guarantee the result, the quality and the stability. Because I put emotion above entrepreneurship, the goal is for AEK to claim titles. AEK has surpassed the level of winning 3-4 games and the year being considered a success. In my mind, AEK must fight as much as possible for the titles it participates in. It’s hard to get this out of my mind, many people were pressuring me “come on president”, let’s get together a little with a lower budget. Unfortunately the feeling swallows me up every year».

Why does the goose leave: “I agree that he is a gem and a hard worker, here I am also given an opportunity to say a little about the world. A very small group, I’m talking about the permanent staff. He has achieved so many things in these last 9 years. This very small team organized two events, organized the company, the budget, participated in the creation of the film, deals with the real estate at the stadium, with a very small team did almost everything. George was one of the most pivotal in this part because he is a workaholic, he was on the field 12 hours, he did things beyond his own responsibilities because he likes to do a lot. I consider it a creation of AEK and mine, the first and last phone call of the day. There is fatigue after all these years, he should look to do something else in his life, he has gained a lot of experience. He was the property of AEK and one of my supporters like Giorgos Nikolaou. They did too many things at once, multi-talented abilities. George was one of them. The sign of our cooperation was only positive, we discussed it yesterday about his future and I think that at some point we will be together again».

For Nikolaou: “If we expel Nikolaos, we’d better close it, Giorgos lives for AEK. He would pay to be in AEK, he is a special case of a person, not only Media does. He has been involved from the production of the film to the events, the stadium. At first he was responsible for the academies. It is what we say “I live and breathe for AEK”. AEK is an end in itself and people who live and breathe for it are hard to find. We have seen many times actors who have been active for a short time, are in opposition. I know many who want AEK not to do well so that they can be confirmed and vindicated. Unfortunately there are no people who can be 100% dedicated like George and they are hard to find».

On whether Kuzminskas will stay: “As I said, most, if not all, of the players we had (I’m talking about the foreigners), I want them to stay. I also had a personal meeting with Kuzminskas. He’s an interesting character, I like him. My intention, I would like him in the team but as you know us, the model is coach-centric and not president-centric. My suggestion can be positive but the decisions are for the coach who knows chemistry. We will ask the coach about that».

For the role of Dragan Sakota: “I think we will not analyze this matter now because there will be a press conference for Dragan, so let’s not deprive him of the priority of the news, let’s not say things that will be heard soon. Obviously he will have a more general role in the set-up, he has a lot of experience as a coach. He completed 50 years as head coach, the absolute record».

For the worst decision he has made: “We will see it from the business or racing side. Certainly the decision in the midst of the coronavirus to increase the budget with zero revenue. That year I covered 82% of the budget. Tickets, sponsors, etc. were 18%. Perhaps that decision in order to claim two titles, the European and the intercontinental. Again the feeling worked. Maybe it was a mistake because we also had some obligations, there was also the organization of the games that we financed without people and income. Business wise it was a decision in a moment of global crisis, that I had to operate less emotionally. Maybe last year’s decision with the change of model and Plathas. Everything will be decided in the end because many of the decisions may not be liked but I operate with the logic of the history of the future. When someone sees what we did, how will they judge it and that it may hit me financially in the short term, it doesn’t concern me. If I feel that after 10 years someone will say that it is the right decision, then nothing stops me and I go ahead without thinking about the short-term damage».