On 9 March 1974, after the resignation of the then president Ioannis Theodorakopoulos from the previous December, he became democratically elected as the new president of
AEK Athens with 58%. The team had won the championship since 1971 and were struggling, with many of their former stars were either retiring or leaving for other clubs. Barlos immediately invested much of his own money and brought the manager
František Fadrhonc to the club, as well as players such as
Christos Ardizoglou,
Giorgos Skrekis,
Giorgos Dedes,
Walter Wagner and
Timo Zahnleiter. In 1976, he further improved AEK by acquiring
Thomas Mavros,
Takis Nikoloudis and
Nikos Christidis.
Dušan Bajević and
Milton Viera joined the following year making the team even more powerful. These moved lead to AEK Athens to winning two successive
Greek championships, a double in 1978 and an impressive course to the semi-finals of the
UEFA Cup in 1977. In addition to the team's competitive renaissance, Barlos also became their benefactor in matters of facilities, since during his days the club's indoor basketball court and the two-story "covered" stands of the
Nea Filadelfeia Stadium were founded. He did not hesitate to mortgage his property and his house to help the club financially. On 9 June 1981, his dire financial situation that came from his involvement with the club, but also due to his inability to follow the new model of professional football, fearing alienation through the professionalism that was entering into the field of football, Barlos resigned from the presidency of AEK. Despite his departure, he remained close to the club. ==Death==