Who is Carlos Corberan?

 Who is Carlos Corberan?

By Stephen Kountourou

For supporters of Olympiakos, this is a question that many have asked since the Spaniard's arrival, at the expense of long-serving Portuguese tactician Pedro Martins. Many snippets of the 38-year-olds career have been discussed over the last few weeks since he took on the tough task of managing the biggest club in Greek football. “He did well with Huddersfield”, “he worked under Bielsa and plays his teams in a similar style to the Argentine.” 

While of course, this information is very relevant, not many have delved deeper into his early career as a coach and just how he honed his play style to where it is today. For example, many fail to state that his managerial career did not start in the north of England with Championship side Huddersfield Town. But the Spaniard began his managerial career on the Island of Cyprus in 2016.

There he coached both Doxa Katokopias and Ermis Aradippou albeit for not very long as he was in both jobs in the space of the 2016/17 season and only managed 23 games in total. But still, these details are missed. After being sacked by Doxa, Ermis took the punt on him and he helped them finish 7th. This would pave the way for his appointment with Leeds United U23s where he would meet the man who many said inspired Pep Guardiola himself, Marcelo Bielsa.  

This is where Corberan really developed his coaching identity. As an under 23s coach and Technical Coach for Bielsa, the Spaniard found a similar style to the all-action rigger and attacking nature of his mentor but fashioned it with a more practical approach. 

Having watched his Huddersfield side play and now him at the helm at Olympiakos, Corberan is a very animated manager. He is always passionate throughout a game and encourages his team not only to attack but do so with a sense of freedom and creativity while also having a shape that is organised and constantly changes during the period of a game. Whether his sides start in a 4-3-3 or 3-4-3 that is merely the start point of the game to suit the situation. This is what Olympiakos desperately needed after the conservatism and lack of expansion from Pedro Martins in the last couple of years of the Portuguese coach's tenure. 

The Spanish tactician also values rotation. After the first game of the domestic season against PAS Giannina, it almost felt alien that Corberan put out a rotated side to rest key players for the upcoming UEL playoff second leg against Apollon Limassol. 

After a handful of games, it is clear to see Olympiakos’ performances are improving. While there is still a long way to go with Corberan and the club needs to support the new manager by signing players that fit his system, it feels as though Thrylos is heading in the right direction again. 

The end of Pedro Martin's reign as head coach was bittersweet and he will always be remembered for the best of times rather than how it ended, but Corberan is the breath of fresh air the club seems to have needed for the last 18 months. With a moral boosting penalty shoot-out victory over Slovan Bratislava and a strong win in the first game of the Super League season under Olympiakos player's belts, there is also the hope of getting over the line against Apollon this Thursday evening to reach the Europa League group stages. Supporters of Olympiakos are certainly in for a season of change. But change can be, a very exciting prospect.    

@stevekountourou

Hellas Football