Euphoric first session at AEK

Thousands of excited fans attend; Serb striker Savo Milosevic being considered by club

Swamped by fans yesterday, Brazilian star Rivaldo, who made an unexpected move to AEK from Olympiakos in the pre-season, is expecting success at AEK this season, including a Champions League berth.

AEK soccer club held its opening pre-season training session yesterday with the club’s new signings on board, plus the prospect of another addition as the work began. Club officials said over 6,000 fans attended the team’s first session.

The Athens club, hoping to reach the Champions League’s group stage through a home-and-away playoff later this summer, has approached Serb striker Savo Milosevic of Spanish club Osasuna, the Spanish press reported. Milosevic, 34, was preparing to move to Qatar, but AEK’s interest may lead to a two-year contract with the Greek club, local media reported.

The Serb had been approached by AEK early in his career, in the mid-90s when compatriot Dusan Bajevic was in charge of the Athens club. But Milosevic’s club at the time, Partizan Belgrade, chose to trade the player to English club Aston Villa, where he spent three seasons as a regular starter scoring 12, nine and seven goals, respectively.

The 1.87-meter Milosevic, who has scored 35 goals in 101 international appearances, spent the past three seasons with Osasuna in Spain. Last season, he scored four goals in 23 games following 11 goals in 32 games in the 2005-06 season. The player’s manager told Greek sports press that AEK’s coach Lorenzo Serra Ferrer had contacted him inquiring about the striker’s condition.

Brazilian star Rivaldo, who made an unexpected move to AEK from Olympiakos in the pre-season, told reporters yesterday that he was expecting success at AEK this season. “We’re going to do our best to qualify for the Champions League group stage. I have faith in my teammates and the coaching staff. I believe we will manage to do great things,” said Rivaldo, who was mobbed by scores of adoring fans at yesterday’s training session.