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It has been a rough financial struggle for AEK lately but hope is not dead yet. The Greek American Haralmbos Kozoni will most likely be the one to take care of the team’s accumulated debts and weak play. Both with financial and emotional assistance Haralambos, or Bob as he’s known among his friends and colleagues in the states, is ambitious to help pull the team out of the dead-lock and take it back to the top.

Although final financial statements concerning the team’s debts are not yet available AEK is said to have piled up a debt of over €30m. According to his consultant- Geogios Prassas, Bob is planning to make a stage-by-stage investment of €50m in the team. As soon as negotiations between the two parties begun Kozonis was asked for an initial amount of €5m for AEK to deal with urgent issues. Kozonis came up with the money in a hour’s time, wanting no interest but a simple pledge in exchange which he hasn’t been given yet.

Both businessmen share the same roots and the same interests: Greece, soccer and AEK. 25 years ago Prasas, a successful 39 years old capitalist, left for the USA looking for a brighter future but his feelings for AEK brought him back in Greece. He was the one to prepare the plan for Bob to follow in case he decides to take over AEK. They both believe in AEK’s future in Greek soccer and in the team’s opportunities to be brought back where it belongs.

Despite the lack of full public support and the speculations that Haralambos is not successful enough for such a huge step, his consultant assures that he has carefully thought this through and nothing he does is random. Prasas defines Bob as warm and optimistic person but definitely not naïve.

He is cautious and carefully thinking through each detail. One of the most serious problems for Kozonis to deal with if he takes over the team is the field. AEK pays €300 thousand to train on a playground resembling a cornfield. The team needs new high-rank players which cannot be attracted with such a field. Kozonis strongly believes that Dusan Bajevic needs help to turn AEK into a high class team since to do that he needs big players. He is ready to give Dusan whatever he can and make AEK number one again.