AEK Athens have been singing about Real Madrid for more than half a century, thanks to a friendly draw and a forward who also recorded the club’s anthem. The line translates roughly as “And your name became the terror of Real.” Its origins lie in Madrid’s visit to Nea Filadelfeia on May 12, 1965, when the teams drew 3–3.
Ferenc Puskás featured for Madrid, but AEK’s Mimis Papaioannou caught the visitors’ attention in that game. Puskás was sufficiently impressed to want Papaioannou at Real Madrid. According
to Giannis Lambiris’s report for SPORT24, which reproduced the forward’s recollections from an interview with Kathimerini journalist Christos Kontos, Puskás approached him at a dinner hosted by AEK for Madrid’s delegation. He praised Papaioannou’s ability, told him Madrid would sign him, and offered advice on improving his movement without the ball. Madrid’s interest developed into an offer, but AEK refused to let him leave.
AEK recalled his performance in a 2021 anniversary post, describing the match as the inspiration for their anthem. Greek broadcaster Sport FM reproduced the club’s account.
Papaioannou later provided the vocals for the recording. According to a Greek publication, in.gr, the song began taking shape in 1965 during a tour of Germany involving the footballer and singer Stelios Kazantzidis. The publication credits Christos Kolokotronis with the lyrics and Kazantzidis with the music, and reports that the anthem was recorded and adopted in 1971.
The dates rule out a common assumption that the Madrid reference came from AEK’s better-known European results against them. AEK won 1–0 in Athens in the first leg of their 1985 UEFA Cup tie, before Madrid overturned the deficit with a 5–0 home victory. Their Champions League meetings in 2002 were closer. Madrid recovered from 3–1 down to draw in Athens, while AEK came from two goals behind to earn a 2–2 draw at the Bernabéu.
