
Marko Nikolić (foto: uradna spletna stran kluba)
Marko Nikolić vows to instil a warrior mentality at AEK Athens as he takes charge, promising relentless passion and no excuses.
Marko Nikolić, the former Partizan boss and most recently head coach of CSKA Moscow, has pledged to make AEK Athens a team that embodies warrior football from day one.
Unveiled at a press conference in Athens, the Serbian coach delivered a fiery message to the club’s hierarchy and supporters, promising they will never feel ashamed watching AEK play under his leadership.
"I promise the board and everyone at the club that they will never be ashamed of how AEK looks on the pitch with me in charge. Sometimes we’ll play better, sometimes worse — but on the pitch we will fight like animals. That’s my guarantee. Anyone who can’t live up to this will not have a place in my team," Nikolić declared.
The 44-year-old tactician, who lifted the Russian Cup last season with CSKA, arrives in Greece straight off the back of that campaign, admitting he skipped a well-deserved break to take the AEK job.
"I came to AEK without rest, even though I knew I needed it. I’m happy to be at a club with such great history and millions of supporters. I like the project and I know exactly what is expected of me. I don’t look for excuses — thanks to everyone who believed in me and helped bring me here," he said.
Nikolić’s coaching résumé is rich in trophies: he has won the Serbian SuperLiga and Cup with Partizan, the Hungarian NB 1 and Cup with Fehérvár, the UAE Super Cup with Shabab Al Ahli, and the Russian Cup twice with CSKA Moscow. He has also managed Rad, Vojvodina, Olimpija Ljubljana, Lokomotiv Moscow, and clubs in the Middle East.
AEK fans can now expect to see Nikolić’s trademark intense style — and a team that, as he promised, fights to the last whistle.