AEK Athens: Marios Iliopoulos grants €2m bonus for qualification
Marios Iliopoulos announced a €2 million bonus for AEK Athens players following their qualification for the Champions League League Phase.
AEK Athens' historic qualification for the Champions League League Phase has been marked by a significant financial reward from the club's leadership. Following the dominant 4-0 victory over Levski Sofia, owner Marios Iliopoulos announced a massive bonus for the squad.
The scale of the bonus
Marios Iliopoulos visited the locker rooms immediately after the final whistle to congratulate the players and staff. During the celebrations, he informed the team that he would grant them a bonus of €2,000,000 as a reward for achieving their primary European objective.
Player reactions
The announcement was met with high enthusiasm from the AEK roster. The players celebrated both the financial reward and the sporting achievement alongside the club's owner, creating a festive atmosphere in the dressing rooms following the successful qualifying campaign.
Dominant performance on the pitch
The qualification was secured in an emphatic fashion, with AEK defeating the Bulgarian side 4-0. The match was effectively decided early on, highlighted by Varga’s double which put the "Union" 3-0 up by the 29th minute. Beyond the club's success, this result significantly boosts Greece's standing in the UEFA coefficient rankings, bringing the country closer to the top 10.