 Ionikos reached the Greek Cup Final later that same season, where they came up against traditional power AEK, and, despite a valiant Ionikos effort, AEK won the match, 3–0.On 21 April 2004 Ionikos experienced the most tragic moment of his history, when Nikolaos Kanellakis, the club's chairman for 14 years, died.Hundreds of Ionikos supportersas well as other sports fansattended Kanellakis' funeral, where the flag of Ionikos covered the coffin of the late chairman.