GREEK SUPER LEGUE
AEK Athens Mexican duo looking make an impact in Greek Super League
The Greek Super League champions will have two Mexican players in their ranks for the new season with both Pineda and Pizarro working under coach, Matías Almeyda.
AEK Athens, current champions of the Greek Super League are looking to maintain their domestic dominance next season as Rodolfo Pizarro joins Orbelín Pineda with the Athens based club.
As the squad prepares for their Champions League preliminary round action ahead of the start of the 2023-24 Greek Super League, the Mexican duo were highlighted by the club’s social media account and heralded as ‘Los Mexicanos’.
Pineda moved to Greece in July 2022 and his performance’s season were key in the ‘Double Headed Eagles’ securing a domestic league and cup double. The 27-year-old played 40 games bagging 10 goals and four assists. The effort was rewarded with the national title, the team’s first since 2018.
Pineda will be joined in the 2023-24 season by Pizarro who moves to AEK after parting ways with MLS side Inter Miami. Almeyda, who worked with Pizarro during his time as head coach at Chivas, immediately recruited the striker to build a forward line similar to the one he had in the ‘Sacred Flock’. Pizarro failed to make an impact in MLS and only managed seven goals and provided 10 assists in 62 games spread over three seasons. His time at the Florida club was broken up with a one season loan deal at Monterrey.
Pineda and Pizarro, Clausura 2017 Liga MX champions with Chivas de Guadalajara (led by Almeyda), will have the opportunity to play in the Champions League for the first time in their careers. To do this, AEK must overcome the third qualifying round, against an unknown opponent. As Greek champions, AEK qualified directly to the last preliminary round before the group stage of the top club tournament through the ‘champions route’.