AEK Athens — overview (around the 2020/21 season)

• Club: AEK Athens FC (Athlitiki Enosi Konstantinopouleos), one of Greece's biggest clubs, based in Nea Filadelfeia, Athens. Founded 1924; traditional colors yellow & black.
• Home ground (during 2020/21): AEK were using Athens Olympic Stadium (OAKA) and other venues while their new Agia Sophia / OPAP Arena was under construction.
• Competitions: Participated in the Super League Greece and the Greek Cup during the 2020/21 cycle; European participation varied by qualification route and prior season results. The 2020/21 period was strongly affected by COVID-19 restrictions (matches with limited or no supporters, scheduling changes).

Massimo Carrera — short profile (role at AEK around 2020/21)

• Nationality / background: Italian coach, formerly an assistant at Juventus and head coach at Spartak Moscow before joining AEK.
• AEK appointment: Carrera took charge of AEK in the winter period of 2019 and was the club's head coach through the 2020/21 timeframe.
• Coaching style & tactics: Carrera emphasized defensive organization and compactness, often setting up teams to be disciplined out of possession and to exploit quick transitions and set-pieces. Lineups frequently aimed for structure across defense and midfield while relying on creative players to unlock opponents.

Squad & key players (around 2020/21)

• AEK's squad around that season combined experienced Greek internationals and foreign signings. Petros Mantalos was a central figure and club captain in that era, providing leadership and creativity from midfield.
• Marko Livaja had emerged as an important attacking presence for AEK around this period, contributing goals and forward play.
• The squad saw regular turnover typical for the club at the time (incoming and outgoing transfers), influenced by sporting and financial planning amid the pandemic.

Season context & notable factors

• The 2020/21 season was marked by COVID-19 restrictions across Greece and Europe: matches played with limited or no crowds, compressed schedules, and health protocols that affected training and match preparation.
• AEK’s objectives typically included contesting for top places in the Super League Greece and competing for the Greek Cup; managerial decisions, injuries and the pandemic environment shaped their results that season.

Summary

Around the 2020/21 season AEK Athens was managed by Massimo Carrera, an experienced Italian coach who prioritized defensive organization and pragmatic game plans. The club remained a leading Greek side with key figures such as captain Petros Mantalos and attacking contributors like Marko Livaja, navigating a season disrupted by the pandemic while aiming to compete domestically for high league placement and cup success.