Olympiakos, Bringing the Boys Home!

Olympiakos, Bringing the Boys Home!

By Steve Kountourou,

As the international break draws everyone’s attention to their respective national sides, all of whom have begun the fight to reach the World Cup in 2022, there is always space to still talk about club football as it is a constant amongst fans during this supposed 'break'. That is certainly the case for me as this week I am going to blog about something a little different, still about Olympiakos though so don't worry nothing too different. A scout from the Thrylos camp recently came out and said that the club needed more Greek players as a core part of the squad, something a lot of supporters have cried out for in seasons gone by. Links to former Olympiakos players and a couple of former and current wonder kids have sprung up over the last few weeks, some have been brewing throughout this season, others come up every single transfer window. So I thought it would be fun to compile a top 5 list of Greek players who have been linked with the club most recently and discuss the validity of their return and if so what their role at the Piraeus side as well as who they would be replacing. 

Kostas Manolas

Let’s start with the first and definitely biggest player linked with a return to Piraeus, Kostas Manolas. Currently still plying his trade in Serie A with Napoli, the fast-paced, physically gifted defender has always expressed his love for the club since leaving in the summer of 2014 even being quoted as saying that he would want to retire by returning to Olympiakos. Still being 29 years old which is an excellent age for a centre back, especially competing in Italy, it is unlikely that Manolas will be returning any time soon. Serie A is a fantastic place for players hitting their peak as he is and older players to extend their career in a top league so this is a place where he can maintain a very high level as a player for the rest of his time in the game if he chooses to stay. His contract still runs until the 30th of June 2024 which is still three years away from happening and in football so much can change in a shorter space of time than that. 

 

But theoretically, if he chose to remain at Napoli, stayed on his current contract without extending it and decided to leave on a free transfer by the time he is 33 years old, there is the possibility he would choose to return to his native country and play for Thrylos. Even at that age he would be a fantastic signing for the Ethryolefki and would mirror fellow Greek international Sokratis Papastathopoulos choice of rejecting the chance to go find that last bumper contract and return home to play for a club. He would not only be welcomed back with open arms by the supporters, players and club staff but would be a definite starter in the backline. I could see if he does return, maybe being the heir to replace Sokratis as a first-choice defender at the club and much like his compatriot take the team to the next level and would be a great statement signing in Greece and Europe.      

Andreas Samaris

Now for one that has been popping up every transfer window for the last couple of seasons, but who knows, the more it is rumoured it might just happen. Benfica bench warmer Andreas Samaris moved from Olympiakos to the Portuguese side in the same summer as former teammate Manolas way back when in 2014. The defensive midfielder has struggled for consistent game time over the last few seasons since arriving for 10 million Euros and has not made more than twenty League appearances since 2015/16. The 31-year-old was previously linked to several sides in Europe's top five leagues but always turned them down to stay in Portugal instead extended his contract in 2019 in a four-year deal. Having only made nine appearances in all competitions this campaign and being close to turning 32, his time in Liga NOS is surely numbered. 

 

If there was anywhere that he could realistically end his career upon either the cancelling or expiration of his contract, maybe Thrylos could be the right place for the next stage of his career. While some supporters are sceptical at his lack of effort to play for his current club may be returning to the club where he made a name for himself would be the change Samaris requires. I imagine if Olympiakos were to resign him in the next couple of years then he would more than likely play more of a Holebas/Avraam role by being a veteran player who knows what it means to play for the club and can come in when called upon to pull on the red and white shirt once more.      

Dimitris Pinakas

Now for one of two players who have not previously played for Olympiakos and who is the only player currently competing in the Greek Super League. Step forward young prospect Dimitris Pinakas. The Larissa born and bred forward is making a big impression this season at AEL having scored seven in twenty-three appearances this campaign while playing in a variety of different attacking roles. Naturally, when a 19-year-old Greek prospect performs to the level of Pinakas, it’s only a matter of time before links to the biggest clubs in Greece begin to surface, one of them being Thrylos. Being a much younger player and at an earlier stage in his career than the other players in this list, a move to Olympiakos would more than likely not result in a termination/or natural ending of his contract.

AEL owner Alexis Kougias has stated that if the Greek champions want to take the under 21s international, they would have to pay a fee over 3 Million Euros, a fee that Evangelos Marinakis could certainly afford but may not want to risk on Pinakas this early despite his evident talent and potential. I would personally like to see him either stay at AEL to develop properly before making that next step in his career or if he were to join Olympiakos go back out on loan to Larissa, as keeping him in the team where he would undoubtedly be behind in the pecking order would be a waste for a player that has shown so much in such a short space of time and could go on to be a huge player for the Ethniki in the future.     

Tasos Donis

The second Greek on this list who has not previously played for Thrylos, pacey forward Tasos Donis has had a turbulent couple of seasons in the professional game. The former Panathinaikos and Juventus youth player is currently out on loan to Dutch side VVV-Venlo where is playing with brother Christos and compatriot Giorgos Giakoumakis, from parent club Stade de Reims in Ligue 1. Links to the Blackburn born Greek international first cropped up after Donis proclaimed that if he were to return to Greece the only team that he would play for is Olympiakos. Would this move happen? Well, that's still up for debate and it would probably be a situation of a deal being agreed between the Donis and Marinakis, with Pedro Martins getting the final say on whether it goes over the line or not. If a move to Piraeus was on the cards, Donis could most realistically be a loan move considering his contract expires in the summer of 2024. If Stade de Reims did not see Donis as part of their plans then terminating his contract is always a possibility. 

 

In terms of the players, raw ability and what he can bring to the team tactically there is in theory a lot to offer. Donis can play up front as well on both wings with the right side of the attack, an area Olympiakos have needed to properly strengthen since the departure of Daniel Podence. The biggest risk when bringing in a player like Donis is whether he is capable of showing the talents that first had him on the books of Juventus. His work ethic has been questioned in recent seasons and his natural ability alone has not been enough to show what Donis is truly capable of on the field. Maybe under Martins at Olympiakos that could change but it is a riskier move than others on this list. 

Dimitris Siovas

Firstly one of the current Thrylos players Ruben Semedo or Ousseynou Ba would have to depart over the summer to free up the wage bill and a gap in the squad. Secondly, Huesca would have to be relegated at the end of the season and for Siovas, whose side would then be in the Segunda Division to depart the club for a new top tier side. Thirdly if Siovas was to desire a move away from his current club and Olympiakos wished to re-sign him, there would be the negotiation with Huesca and the player to cancel his contract. This can be tough to negotiate as the Spanish side would possibly prefer to see Siovas leave with a fee during these testing financial times with Covid still very prevalent in Europe.  

 

If the near 6ft 4 defender was to return to the Greek Champions he would certainly have an interesting role at the club. Certainly, he would play a key leadership figure to other players in the squad as he, like other Greeks on the side, knows what it means to play for Thrylos. He may not play every single game, possibly to give Sokratis a rest and fill that position in defence, or he would start more consistently as the nonsense centre back next to more of a ballplayer like Semedo. Either way Siovas returning would only be a bonus for Olympiakos as he may be older, but he has proved he has been fantastic insides that have struggled in better quality leagues than the Super League and that experience is vital at the other end of the table when competing for both titles and playing those European nights.

Hellas Football 

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