The championship win in 1968 was accompanied by the departure of Jenő Csaknády and the arrival of an equally capable coach was deemed imperative.

They acquired a couple of young footballers from smaller clubs, while also counted on players such Lavaridis, Stathopoulos, Simigdalas, Sevastopoulos, Ventouris, who were previously decommissioned.

However, due to the players had not yet adapted to the new way of working to fully respond, the several injuries that limited the options and the advanced age of some of them, AEK started very badly in the championship.

[4] At the rematch in the frozen Copenhagen, AEK started the match very offensively and managed to take the lead early on with Stamatiadis.

The Danes started to press unbearably to equalize, but thanks to Konstantinidis and Vasiliou, AEK went for the half time break with their lead intact.

At the first match at Spartak Stadium The yellow-blacks played in order to maintain a favourable score for the rematch and after they withstood the pressure of the Czechoslovaks despite conceding two goals, they managed to reduce their lead with Sevastopoulos, achieving their target.

[6] The rematch in Athens, AEK seemed ready to respond to their challenge and take the qualification, but unfortunately, a quick goal by the Czechoslovaks forced the yellow-blacks to chase the score, as Spartak closed all spaces behind.

Even though the team pressed intensively for another goal the ball would not go in the net and AEK left the tournament[7] with pride, as they made one of their greatest ever achievements reality.

At the end of the season, Stanković planned a big renewal of the team's roster in order to improve their weaknesses and make their comeback in claiming titles.