Marinos Ouzounidis

Hellenic Football Federation (EPO) President Vangelis Grammenos informed national coach Angelos Anastasiadis on Monday he is no longer needed at the national team set-up, but the two sides have not yet agreed on a way for the termination of their contract, nor has a successor been found yet.

Manolo Jimenez, the Spanish coach who led AEK to its first league title in 24 years last summer, is back at the helm of the Athens club for a third time.

AEK announced on Tuesday the resignation of coach Marinos Ouzounidis, with his successor remaining unknown for the time being.

In a statement on the official website of the Athens club the Greek manager said he was proud to have taken the team to the group stage of the Champions League, but conceded that the champion is nowhere near holding on to its title.

AEK completed the group stage of the Champions League without a single point after it went down to a late Benfica goal in Lisbon on Wednesday.

Benfica won 1-0, taking advantage of a needless freekick that cost AEK dearly two minutes from time. Costas Galanopoulos, who lost the ball and then conceded that freekick, also received his second yellow card to leave AEK with 10 men.

Two Robert Lewandowski goals sank AEK in Munich for the Champions League group stage on Wednesday, but the 2-0 loss and the fairly solid performance by the Athens team for most of the game will work wonders for the Greeks' spirit.

Three second-half goals condemned AEK to a 3-0 loss at Ajax in the Greek champion's opening night in the Champions League on Wednesday.

AEK's unbeaten run of 14 games in Europe came to a resounding end as the Athens team generally got what it deserved, particularly in the second half at Amsterdam.

The going is getting tougher for Greek clubs in Europe as the group stage draws for the Champions League and the Europa League have offered them serious challenges for the months to come.

Within a few hours on Friday Manolo Jimenez, who led AEK to the league title this season, left the Yellows of Athens, and was replaced by former Panathinaikos manager Marinos Ouzounidis.

Panathinaikos lost manager Marinos Ouzounidis as well as its last game of the season on Monday, although the Greek coach made sure he asterisked his resignation announcement.

Following the departure of Italian manager Andrea Stramaccioni earlier on Thursday, Panathinaikos announced the hiring of Marinos Ouzounidis as its new coach.

The Athens club stated the 48-year-old manager has signed a contract for a year-and-a-half, i.e. until the end of next season.