First Leg
The first leg was of the tie due to be played on 11th September 2001. Due to the momentous events that unfolded in America that day, the UEFA Cup fixtures that night were postponed for a week.
When the game was eventually played (Thursday 20th September 2001), Hibs fell to a 2-0 defeat in the fiery atmosphere of AEK’s Nicos Goumas Stadium in front of a hostile crowd of 15,525.
AEK fans jeered throughout the minutes silence pre-game for the victims of 9/11 and burning American flags could be seen amid their support throughout the tie. Perhaps this reflected a deep-rooted animosity to the United States, born of America’s overt support for both the reactionary monarchist side in the Greek civil war of 1946-49, and the brutal military dictatorship of 1967-74, who both inflicted severe suffering on ordinary Greeks during their un-democratic periods in power.
Hibs had come into the game on the back of an impressive 5-1 home victory over Dunfermline Athletic, with strikers Brewster (x2), McManus and substitute Paco Luna (x2) bagging the goals. After seven games of the season gone, Hibs again sat third in the league, with 11 points taken (3 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses).
With inspirational captain Franck Sauzée unfit for the first leg in Athens that night, Hibs lined-up: Colgan; Orman, Smith, Fenwick; Laursen, De La Cruz; O’Neill, Jack, Murray; Brewster, McManus. Paco Luna came on for Tam McManus at 1-0, with fellow striker David Zitelli following for Craig Brewster at 2-0.
A goalless first half was followed by a Tsartas penalty on 55th minute, after a rash lunge by Ulrik Laursen on full-back Georgeas on the left-hand side of the 18-yard box. A centrally placed penalty fooled the diving Colgan, sparking wild scenes amidst the home fans, with flares going off and supporters scaling the perimeter fence.
The crucial second goal soon materialised from the dangerous Nikolaidis on 68 minutes. A cross from inside the box to the back post evaded the head of Paul Fenwick, to hang invitingly for the striker to head home from close range.
Hibernian’s return to continental competition hadn’t quite lived up to past exploits, but that wouldn’t stop supporters packing out the home end at Easter Road for the second tie, creating a febrile atmosphere for one of the great European nights in the club’s history.
Second Leg
The second leg was played on the evening of Thursday 27th September 2001 at Easter Road Stadium.
Hibs warmed up for the second leg of the tie with a healthy 4-0 home league win over St Johnstone, with the goals coming from across the team courtesy of Paul Fenwick, Grant Brebner, Allan Smart and Paco Luna.
Official attendance for the eagerly anticipated return of European football to Leith was 16,647. With all three and three-quarter stands allocated for the home fans packed, and a decent amount of AEK fans populating the bottom right-hand corner of the South Stand. This was under 900 spectators short of a capacity crowd at Easter Road.
Crucially, this game saw the return of talismanic captain and European Cup winner Franck Sauzée. Hibs lined-up for the second leg: Colgan; Orman, Sauzée, Fenwick; Laursen, De La Cruz; Jack, O’Neill, Murray; Brewster, Luna.
AEK Athens were forced to rely on their number two goalkeeper, Dionissis Chiotis, after an injury to their first choice. Playmaker Tsartas was rested from the staring XI, but on the bench. Greek international players Zagorakis, Nikolaidis and Lakis all started.
As a personal aside, I was lucky enough to be in attendance that night, due to my good friend Dean’s grandad Terry managing to get hold of a few tickets. So, on the night of the game, me, Dean, Terry and our other good friend Michael all piled into Terry’s classic Vauxhall Nova for the trip to Leith.
Moments after settling into the plush interior, another motorist in a much inferior vehicle took the left wing-mirror clean off the Nova. Despite startling us three youngsters, Terry was old-school and barely seemed to register the incident… you didn’t need wing-mirrors where we were going.
Easter Road was buzzing when we arrived. Despite the first-leg defeat, there was a confidence that this Hibs team and manager were capable of delivering something special; something to compare with the old days.
Sauzée was back in the team, we had been impressive domestically stretching back for over a season now, and we had players we knew could hurt AEK.
Our seats were in the bottom left corner of the newly constructed West Stand. This was my first visit to the new addition to the stadium, and it was impressive – especially compared to the ‘shed’ it replaced.
Whilst standing in the concourse before kick-off, Terry noticed a Ladbrokes bookie was open and taking bets. Beating a path to the front of the queue, Terry asked each of us to pick the first scorer on the night. I plumped for new striker Paco Luna, who had been on the scoresheet quite regularly in the matches prior. Terry put £1 on each of our choices for us, and we headed to our seats.
First Half
The game opened scrappy and fast paced, with Hibs managing an early shot on target through Luna, with a half-volley inside five minutes. Hibs were clearly intent on scoring early, an aim identified by manager Alex McLeish after the first leg.
The home side had the best of opening ten minutes. They saw more of the ball and were clearly winning the early midfield battle. Youngster Ian Murray was prominently involved, with Luna looking sharp and dangerous up-front. The return of sweeper and club captain Sauzée was already showing to be a big boost to the whole team. The overly sensitive referee incensed several Hibs players (especially Jack) early on, constantly stopping play for minor, or non-existent, incidents.
Building on this good start, a 13th minute O’Neill corner was flashed over the bar by a near post header from Laursen, after good movement in the box by the Great Dane. Shortly afterwards, De La Cruz gave a taste of things to come, skinning his marker and firing a dangerous shot-cum-cross into the box, which was smothered by the AEK keeper.
Hibs again had the best of the following ten minutes, with De La Cruz starting to really torment AEK down his wing, beating markers time and again, getting in various dangerous positions, and winning numerous corners. An example of this was when, just before the twenty-minute mark, De La Cruz set off on a run from almost his own half, taking him past two AEK players, and into the box, before his low cross was diverted behind for a corner. Towering wing-back Ulrik Laursen was proving a real danger in the box from these numerous set-pieces.
Around the 25th minute, an AEK player took a dramatic tumble in the Hibs box under pressure, after a rare foray forward by the Greek side. This was swiftly waved away by the referee, after a muted appeal from the player, but this level of play-acting would be a memorable feature of the game for many in attendance.
At the half hour mark, Hibs were still the dominant team. With Sauzée particularly impressive in his role as sweeper, snuffing out any hint of danger from the tepid visitors and launching attacks with his wide range of passing. The trio in the centre of midfield were really cementing their grip on the game and beginning to over-run their opponents in yellow by this stage.
Another decent opening went begging in this period when, after a flap from the AEK goalkeeper, Murray had a good chance on the half-volley from the edge of the area. His goal-bound effort was cleared in desperation by a falling AEK player.
The nature of the tie and AEK’s meek performance were highlighted by the fact that the manager, Santos, and several of his coaching staff were constantly puffing on cigarettes throughout the match.
Just after 30 minutes, Hibs won a corner after persistent work from Orman. From the resulting corner, a wayward Paco Luna header found De La Cruz on the right-hand side of the box, he unleashed a powerful volley, which was heroically blocked by a diving AEK defender.
Five minutes later, Greek international Lakis scored what appeared to be a knock-out blow with a well-placed diving header to silence Easter Road. This goal was rightly flagged for off-side, with Lakis all by himself at the edge of the Hibs 6-yard box. The goal came after a mistake by Hibs defender Orman and showed the danger the largely subdued Greek side still possessed if Hibs allowed them.
After this disallowed goal, AEK started to up their pedestrian tempo, perhaps scenting they could put this tie effectively out of reach before half time.
Close to half-time, Luna came close to opening the scoring for the dominant home side. After the same player won a free-kick, a swift pass into Brewster resulted in the big striker lofting a hopeful ball into the box with his back turned. This was won in the air by O’Neill on the right edge of the box, his cushioned header was then volleyed into the danger area by Jack, with the diminutive Luna rising highest to direct a header agonisingly over the crossbar.
At the end of the half, there was a decent penalty shout for Hibs, with Luna falling after a tussle with an AEK defender whilst chasing a lofted through-ball. Despite his pleading, the referee wasn’t interested. It would probably have been soft, but the striker had every right to appeal as he was clearly body-checked.
As the first 45 minutes came to an end at Easter Road, it was clear to those in green that Hibs had been comfortably the better team. Despite AEK’s disallowed goal, goalkeeper Colgan had very little to do. The Hibs defence comfortably dealt with the rare AEK attacks – Sauzée was in his usual imperious form.
The central midfield three of Hibs were totally dominant, and running the visitors ragged at times. Laursen at left wing-back had offered good width and a real aerial presence, especially at set-pieces. On the other wing, De La Cruz had tormented AEK defenders for fun in spells. Paco Luna was proving a real livewire in and around the box and was Hibs’ main threat for a goal.
The home side had the majority of possession and were seemingly first to every loose ball, snapping into tackles and winning possession back quickly in most cases. All that seemed to be lacking was the final ball to capitalise on a good performance so far. AEK had a decent five-minute spell around the disallowed goal, but mainly seemed to just be content to nullify Hibs and trying to quieten the raucous home crowd.
At half time, the opening notes of ‘Sunshine on Leith’ began to be heard above the general noise in the stadium. As the song began to rise in intensity, the collective voice of the home crowd soon overtook the ‘tannoyed’ recording, with the poignant lyrics ringing out from the four sides of the ground.
It is hard to quantify what club anthems like this one truly mean in the larger scope of a game of football, but there is no doubt that it is unique for a club the size of Hibs to have such a renowned football song, written by two supporters of a globally famous band, all to themselves.
The renditions of the song belted out at Easter Road on that night certainly lived long in the memory of all who participated and all who heard. They were a fitting backdrop to such an occasion in the club’s history – even earning applause from the AEK die-hards who had made the trip to Edinburgh.
Second Half
Early in the second half, it was still apparent that Hibs were on top. This was illustrated by some big and important tackles from both Orman and Sauzée, which got the fired-up crowd on their feet once again.
And then it came… on 52 minutes, the breakthrough… the largely quiet Brewster picked up a loose ball in midfield. He stroked it out wide to the galloping De La Cruz, who once more turned his marker back and forth, before delivering a curling cross into the danger area. This inviting delivery was flicked on at the near post by O’Neill, with the gambling Ian Murray the first to the ball at the back post.
His subsequent header was on target, but its trajectory was redirected by Luna, which fooled the AEK goalkeeper and cannoned into the net off the underside of the crossbar. Easter Road erupted; and just like that, belief began to course through the stadium.
You might recall that I had picked Luna as first goal scorer at the bookies pre-game. After the wild celebrations died down, I turned to Terry to ask when we could go and collect my winnings. This was met with the retort – “Bookies is shut, son.” As far as this bet was concerned, the bookies never opened again!
Around ten minutes into the half, a good old-fashioned stramash broke out in the middle of the park following a robust challenge from Jack on Nikolaidis. Jack clearly never touched the striker, who theatrically threw himself to the turf. The Greek side’s star striker had indeed been booked just prior to Hibs breakthrough goal, for constant simulation and over-reactions to the attentions of the home team’s defenders.
Jack followed him into the book after this. The booking could have been for the intent of the tackle, or the reaction of Jack to the awarding of a free-kick for such blatant simulation. But the clear dive of Nikolaidis caused an eruption from the German hard man, which saw him standing over the stricken striker, pointing his finger and bellowing at him. Cue much pushing and shoving in the centre-circle.
On 59 minutes, Santos played his trump card. Removing the ineffective Konstantinidis for the creative fulcrum Vasilis Tsartas. This was a clear signal the game wasn’t going at all how Santos had hoped when picking his original line-up.
Not long after this, a great bit of hold up play by Brewster saw him cannily release an un-marked De La Cruz into acres of space on the right flank. The wing-backs low cross found Jack alone in the middle of the box. The big German couldn’t get his feet sorted in time, so ended up with his back to goal. He laid the ball back to the on-rushing O’Neill, whose low drive went wide of the left-hand post.
On 64 minutes, Santos threw on the big number nine Mielcarski to replace full-back Marica, heralding a change in formation to three in the centre of the park; more than likely an attempt to try and counteract Hibs’ dominance of midfield.
Despite the change in personnel and system by AEK, after 20 minutes of the second half, Hibs were still comfortable in the game and looking much the more threatening. Both Orman and De La Cruz were causing a myriad of problems for the visitors down the right flank during this period.
A lovely move from Hibs nearly resulted in a second for the hungry Luna. A good tackle from Orman on Nikolaidis resulted in De La Cruz picking up the loose ball on the right in his own half. The Ecuadorian cut inside and fed Brewster, who played a first-time pass into Jack. The German then moved it onto O’Neill, who released the galloping Laursen into space on the left.
The big Dane then played a slide rule ball into the feet of Brewster, who moved it on to De La Cruz out wide. His cross was met by the unmarked Luna, whose downward header was well parried away by the AEK stopper.
On 69 minutes, McLeish made the first change for the home side. Removing the increasingly influential Brewster for the younger and fresher legs of home-grown striker, Tam McManus.
It didn’t take long for the substitute to involve himself in the action. A lofted through ball was met by McManus on a first-time half volley after good movement by the youngster. A poor connection meant the chance went begging, with the ball bouncing past the near post.
Moments later, AEK’s play acting went to even higher levels of farce. McManus chased down a hopeful through-ball from strike partner Luna. As McManus slid for the ball close to the gathering goalkeeper, the stopper proceeded to throw himself theatrically in the air and let rip a squeal that would have shamed any self-respecting baby.
Unbelievably, the referee bought what the dodgy salesman in black was selling, and promptly booked the dumbfounded McManus.
Shortly after, talisman Sauzée challenged with Nikolaidis in the air. He came out of the challenge with a cut to the side of his right eye, and blood all down his refined Gallic features. The referee ordered him off immediately for treatment. The unease in the stadium was palpable, was the Big Man finished for the night? Ominously, Tsartas came close with the resulting free-kick.
AEK looked to take advantage of a temporarily depleted Hibs. Nikolaidis capitalised on a mistake to race clear with only Orman back in defence. His attempted cross to a free team-mate was well blocked by the Austrian, however, and the danger was snuffed out.
Sauzée’s chances of continuing looked bleak when the armband was passed from the bench to Ulrik Laursen, and, on 82 minutes, he was eventually replaced by midfielder Grant Brebner. This precipitated a change in the Leith side’s set-up, with Laursen moving into Sauzée’s position at the heart of the back three, and Ian Murray shifting to left-wing back to accommodate Brebner in centre-midfield.
Despite this very real set-back, a minute later Hibs had levelled the tie on aggregate. After strong work from Jack, De La Cruz was brought down by an AEK defender for a free-kick to Hibs. O’Neill’s back-post delivery was met by the towering Laursen, who headed back across the crowded penalty area for the ball to be diverted into the goal by the left foot of the falling Luna.
The stadium shook with the joy and belief of the raucous crowd. This game was going into the Hibernian European pantheon for sure.
With Easter Road a cauldron of noise summoning the ghosts of continental glories past, Hibs pushed on to find an aggregate winner in normal time.
And then it arrived – the priceless shot at glory. The imperious De La Cruz picked up a misplaced AEK pass in his own half, driving at the tired Athens defence, he bundled through one challenge, and then neatly hurdled another. Sending in a bullet cross from the right-hand side of the box to the unmarked Luna, who proceeded to head into the turf and wide from nine yards out. This was the last kick of the 90 minutes…
Extra Time
In the interval leading up to extra-time, the Hibs support again summoned the green and white angels above with a titanic rendition of ‘Sunshine on Leith’.
During this, Hibs made their final change. Taking off midfielder O’Neill and replacing him with forward David Zitelli. This seemed to switch the formation to a 4-4-2. With Zitelli going to the left wing, Brebner moving inside to replace O’Neill in the centre, and Ian Murray dropping back into left-back.
AEK started the first half of extra time dangerously. Tsartas was beginning to find a good deal of space in the gap between midfield and defence. This may have been due to Hibs’ change of formation; removing a man from the centre of midfield who could cover this area effectively.
With the half just two minutes old, Athens broke the spell. Tsartas again found himself in space and fired a low drive at goal. Colgan got a hand to it but couldn’t stop it hitting the back of the net. The Hibs keeper should really have done better, with Colgan’s reaction after suggesting he knew that.
Although, slightly in his defence, the shot seemed to bounce right in front of his outstretched glove. The wind had been collectively knocked out of the home team and their hopeful supporters in the stands.
Hibs tried to rally. A great, driving run from Jack from his own half saw him beat a couple of AEK players and release McManus into space on the left. The youngster drove at the AEK defence but was seemingly halted by a challenge from an AEK defender. The ball broke into the box, and the Hibs striker was first to his feet to gather the loose ball and fire a menacing delivery across the AEK goalmouth, which Luna was close to getting on the end of, with the goal at his mercy.
But it wasn’t to be. AEK’s second goal, and the tie-clincher, came direct from a Tsartas corner on 104 minutes. The lofted delivery looked like it would meet the head of an AEK player, but instead evaded everyone and crept into the far side of the net. Hibs now needed three unanswered goals to go through.
The second half of ET was a tamer affair compared to what had preceded it. With AEK comfortable and Hibs looking a spent force. A half-chance for Hibs arose when an excellent long-range cross from Orman was met by the unmarked McManus at the far corner of the 6-yard box. The youngster elected to try and steer his header to his centrally placed partner Luna, but the AEK keeper intercepted the weak header into the turf.
There was time, however, for a memorable consolation goal for Hibs. Substitute Zitelli carried the ball in from a wide position. His speculative and swirling effort from around 30 yards out fooled the Athens goalkeeper and put Hibs back in front in the game.
On 118 minutes, AEK made their final change to run down the clock, with Lakis coming off to be replaced by Kappos.
A few minutes later, the final whistle was blown. The game, and tie, were brought to an end. On the night, Hibs were by far the better side, and could quite possibly have won the whole tie in normal time. The change in formation at the beginning of extra time allowed Tsartas to exert a real influence in the game and magnified the AEK threat. His two goals killed off the game, but Zitelli’s memorable goal in the second period of ET at least allowed Hibs to claim a well-deserved victory on the night.
Aftermath
After the games in the UEFA Cup, Hibs were unable to maintain their promising start to the season, picking up only three points in their next four league matches. Manager Alex McLeish left for Rangers in the December of that year, by which time Hibs had tumbled to 8th in the table, after picking up only one more point in a further four league matches.
McLeish was replaced by club legend and team captain Franck Sauzée, whose 69-day tenure saw the club only record one win, against Stranraer in the Scottish Cup. Sauzée was controversially sacked and replaced with journeyman Bobby Williamson, who managed to stave off the very real threat of relegation.
At the end of the season, Ulrik Laursen was sold to Celtic for £1.3 million, and went on to star in the Parkhead clubs run to the UEFA Cup Final the following season.
After an impressive World Cup in the summer of 2002, club record signing Ulises De La Cruz was sold to Aston Villa in the English Premier League for a reported £2 million. He is now an elected member of the Ecuadorian National Assembly, representing the democratic socialist PAIS party.
Hibs would wait four more years before returning to Europe.
P.S. Our chaperone and designated driver for that night, Terry, is sadly no longer with us. Even though I never did get my winnings from the bookies(!), what he led three young friends into that night – the noise, the passion, the art, the drama, the memories – is something you can’t put a price on.
This is dedicated to him.
Header image credit Hibernian FC.
The East Stand 