The PAO Spanish revolution that lasted 6 months.

The PAO Spanish revolution that lasted 6 months. 

By John Koutsogiannis



The inevitable happened on July of this year with Giorgos Donis agreeing to part ways with Giannis Alafouzos as the Panathinaikos FC head coach after the Super League playoffs concluded. In two years Donis was able to introduce several young Greek players from their youth teams on to the first team Panathinaikos side that finished in 4th place after the 2019 season. 


This exit left Xavi Roca the Panathinaikos Technical Director in need of a coach. Many names were mentioned, ultimately Dany Poyatos was hired this past summer. The hope was that he along with Roca could develop the existing Panathinaikos youth as well as bring players which could blend in. 


Panathinaikos fans were salivating that perhaps these two Spaniards can bring in players that could perform as well as get Panathinaikos back to Europe. 


They both said what Panathinaikos fans wanted to hear but unfortunately the talk was bigger than the walk. 


In short, the beginning of the 2020-2021 season has been a huge failure with Panathinaikos getting only 1 point in its first three Super League matches. 


The pressure mounted and Giannis Alafouzos this past week “mutually” ended ties with both Poyatos and Roca.


Legendary Romanian footballer Laszlo Boloni was immediately appointed by Giannis Alafouzos as Panathinaikos FC’s new head coach. This will be Boloni’s second stint in Greece having coached PAOK during the 2011-2012 campaign. 


Boloni guided PAOK to an undefeated Europa Group Stage result highlighted with a historic victory versus Tottenham at White Hart Lane. PAOK was then defeated by Udinese in the second leg 0-3 in Toumba after managing a draw in Italy during the first leg.

 

What Panathinaikos fans worldwide are hoping to see is a sense of consistency for 3-5 years with coaching and players. 


Develop the youth and make the correct decisions of what the best starting 11 will be each week for the club. The summer friendlies and the first three games of the Super League left a lot to be desired. In this case I applaud the quick decision making of Giannis Alafouzos and the decision to bring in an experienced huge name in Boloni with large amounts of success coaching in Europe. 


The young midfield stars of Panathinaikos will have a legendary player at the midfield position coaching them. Another plus for Panathinaikos fans is that Boloni has given chances historically for young players to shine for their senior club teams. 


None greater than what he did at Sporting Lisbon with Christiano Ronaldo, Ricardo Quaresma and Hugo Viana.

 

Instant credibility is what Boloni has given Panathinaikos with his hire. Now the difficult part is getting the players to buy in with his methods and coaching styles. 


The core Panathinaikos players will now have their 3rd coach since July of 2020, the job will not be an easy one but it is one that Boloni will take by the horns. Boloni will join the club this weekend or early next week while Sotiris Siliadopoulos is at the helm in Crete vs OFI FC this weekend. 


Time will tell but Laszlo Boloni has the experience and the knowledge to get Panathinaikos back to where its faithful expects it to be, at the top of the Greek League standings and playing in Europe for many years to come.


Hellas Football 


Follow @jkoutsogiannis

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