PAOK had to make tough decisions last summer regarding the major overhaul of the U20s’ roster and the replacement of Vladan Ivić who had made the leap to the senior squad. The club were clear about it. They would base the new team on the previous U17s and drop the age average considerably.

Keys handed to García

Along with Angelos Zazopoulos, he led the U17s to the Super League title in 2015-16. And now it was time for the next step ahead.

Pablo García along with Apostolos Papavasiliou took over the U20s, in a quest to develop their players’ talent and prepare them for the seniors.

In his own unique way and his special philosophy, the Uruguayan veteran focused on conveying a winning mentality to his troops and asked them to give their best on the pitch, no matter the rival.

Building the roster

Many important U20 players of the 2015-16 roster left the team taking the next step in their careers. It’s the case of Kakko, Kushta, Topalidis, Pantekidis, Rangelov, Panagiotidis, Patralis, Dimitriadis, Tselepidis, Pantekidis and Koutoglidis. The U20 side would now be based on the remaining players, plus the newcomers from the U17s. Dimitriou, Siampanis, Dodontsakis, Mattheou, Muca, Mišković, Gialamoudis, Kapretsos and Kragiopoulos welcomed Chatzidimpas, Meletidis, Chatzistravos, Tzovaras, Papathanasiou, Polyzos, Aidonidis and Noukaris who made the leap from the U17s, plus the newly-signed Stathopoulos, Kozak and Papadopoulos. The team was boosted with some January signings as well: Gintidis, Kyrialanis, Kanelidis and Tsigos.

During the season, players born after 2000 were also called to the U20s to assist: Lyratzis, Gargalatzidis, Tsaousis, Doumtsis, Maniotis and Voutsas.

Youth League adventure

Winning the Super League U17 in 2015-16 provided PAOK with the opportunity of their maiden participation in the UEFA Youth League, a tournament widely regarded as the Champions League of youth football.

PAOK players and coaching staff collected valuable experience and measured themselves against two traditional forces of European grassroots football.

In the first round, the “Double-Headed Eagle” were paired against Puskás Akadémia Felcsút. Despite not boasting a senior team in Hungary’s top tier, this academy is considered one of the best in the country.

PAOK U20s began their European journey in the excellent home ground of their rivals in Felcsút. They secured a 1-1 draw thanks to a Stathopoulos’s strike in the second half. In the second leg held in Kaftanzoglio Stadium, PAOK were better throughout the encounter but couldn’t break the deadlock. The goalless draw saw them qualify to the next round.

PAOK were drawn against AFC Ajax, a club renowned for their high-quality academies and impeccable organization at youth level. Several players who faced PAOK in the UEFA Youth League became regulars in Ajax’s senior side during the season and went on to feature in the UEFA Europa League final against Manchester United.

The Dutch side got the upper hand in the tie from the first leg, as they won 2-0 in Kaftanzoglio. PAOK travelled to Amsterdam in a quest for a miracle and managed to make their famous rivals work hard for their qualification.

The “Double-Headed Eagle” squandered some glorious opportunities for a 1-0 lead in the first ten minutes, especially the double shot on woodwork by Gargalatzidis a few seconds after kick off. García’s troops weathered the attacking… storm of their rivals and wasted yet another great chance to score in the 63rd minute, Stathopoulos coming agonizingly close in a one-on-one against the rival keeper. Ajax took the lead with a rather rigorous spot kick by Kaj Sierhuis ten minutes later and the same player completed his brace in the 75th minute. Dimitriou reduced distances for the visitors four minutes from time.

PAOK fought bravely, but a comeback was not in the cards. They returned to Thessaloniki having collected valuable experience from their UEFA Youth League participation.

Super League trajectory

PAOK U20s had the youngest roster in the Super League. Indeed in some matches they got to play against rivals two years older than them.

The decision of the club to count on younger players affected the team’s stability. Lack of experience and the abundance of newcomers cost points in numerous encounters. Especially in the beginning of the season, PAOK U20s lacked consistency and chemistry and lost considerable ground in the league. As the season unfolded though, the team bonded and improved on the pitch as well.

But luck wasn’t on their side. They suffered many injuries during the season. They were forced to play without their main defensive duo, Dimitriou and Dodontsakis, for most of their league encounters.

Despite the hardship, PAOK U20s managed to stand out and remain competitive until the end. They finished third in the standings, behind champions Olympiacos and second-placed Panathinaikos, a team they defeated twice in the league.

In 30 matches, the “Double-Headed Eagle” collected 61 points, recording 18 victories and 7 draws and suffering just 5 defeats. Along with Atromitos, they boasted the third-best attack in the league (56 goals scored) and had the second-best defence (29 goals conceded), level with Panathinaikos. Had they not suffered a heavy defeat in the final encounter against Atromitos in Athens, their defensive tally would be even better and reflect their excellent discipline in rearguard, despite the injuries.

Top stats

Antonis Stathopoulos was top scorer of PAOK U20s with 10 goals to his name. The young forward joined PAOK from FC Twente and scored 9 goals in the Super League and one in the UEFA Youth League.

Giorgos Tzovaras had one goal less. He made his presence felt in the final stretch of the season, scoring in the last five encounters. The young winger was also the top assist provider with 10, Chatzistravos coming second with four assists.

Regarding playing time, Stathopoulos featured in more matches than anyone (30 games in the league and in European competition). But it was Papathanasiou who got more time on the pitch, with 2.861 minutes played.

Final connclusions

The club and those who work for the U20s are very satisfied with the work accomplished throughout a transitional season that laid the foundation for the next one. The “Double-Headed Eagle” youngsters matured through wins and defeats alike and they will be stronger and readier for the upcoming season. Expectations will be bigger and they will be called to justify the club’s trust in them.