Olympiakos: The Legendary European Adventure
Olympiakos: The Legendary European Adventure
Say it with me now….Olympiakos are champions of Europe. Thrylos’ became the first Greek senior men's football team to win a major European trophy, in dramatic fashion on the 29th of May 2024, after claiming the UEFA Europa Conference League over Fiorentina. Never in the 12 years of supporting this club did I think I would ever see us lift a European title.
We were the nearly men of the international stage, always missing out in the big moments, being dumped out by smaller clubs or succumbing to the mercy of poor refereeing decisions.
But Jose Luis Mendilibar, this wonderful man, who came into a club on the verge of having nothing to play for, in three months not only turned everything around but gave us the ultimate gift as football supporters.
The mantra for Olympiakos supporters was always, “We Keep On Dreaming”. Well, the Basque coach helped us dream bigger and made them a reality. But before I get into the final, first we must of course go back to where it all began.
The early start in the qualifiers
After winning the first leg in Piraeus 1-0, Genk levelled the tie in Belgium and it looked as though the match could go to extra time. A late equaliser from loan signing Sotiris Alexandropoulos meant that Thrylos just edged past their opponents to reach the playoffs.
Ironically the playoffs were much more straightforward, with Olympiakos comfortably dispatching the Serbian club Čukarički 6-1 on aggregate over the two legs to reach the Europa League group stages.
Europa League group stages: The highs, the lows and narrow qualification
The draw handed Thrylos a fairly difficult group containing then Conference League champions West Ham United, a familiar foe in Freiburg and European debutants TSC Baka Topola. Throughout these six matches, there were certainly the highest highs and the lowest lows.
Thrylos ended the undefeated streak of the Hammers in Piraeus with a 2-1 win at home and only narrowly lost 1-0 in London.
The 2-3 defeat to Freiburg in Piraeus in the opening game of the European campaign was a tough pill to swallow. That was of course until the 5-0 loss away in Germany, which ultimately cost Diego Martinez his job at the club.
TSC Baka Topola proved to be a tougher opponent than expected, with the Serbian side returning from 0-2 to old Thrylos to a 2-2 draw in Belgrade. Under the brief stint of Portugues manager, Carlos Carvalhal, Olympiakos managed to win the return match 5-2, claiming third place in Group A and a spot in the Conference League knockout stages.
Conference League knockout stages: The miracles against Maccabi, Fener and Villa
In the time between qualification to the Conference League and the start of the knockout stages, things in Piraeus continued the trend of instability. Olympiakos got rid of Carlos Carvalhal, after a poor return to the league in 2024, with the club in 4th, almost out of the title race. With European football beckoning, the chances of being eliminated by Hungarian side Ferencvaros felt inevitable. In steps Jose Luis Mendilibar.
The Basque manager, who won the Europa League last season with Sevilla before he was sacked due to a poor start to their season, became the fourth manager of the season for Thrylos. The turnaround under him paved the way to eventual glory.
After two professional victories home and away against the Hungarian side, the Piraeus side drew Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Round of 16. A side that had caused grief for Thrylos in the past, it left like history was repeating itself when the Israeli side ran out 1-4 winners during the first leg in Karaiskaki.
The players and Mendilibar rallied, however, and performed a miracle during the return leg in Serbia. A famous 1-6 victory saw Olympiakos progress to their first European quarter-finals since 1998/99.
Fenerbahce was the next opponent on this historic run and despite boasting the likes of Edin Dzeko, Fred and a handful of other former Premier League players, Thrylos ran out 3-2 winners in Piraeus. A match that was almost a perfect display from Mendilibars men, the Turkish side pulled the tie back, after going 3-0 down, to score twice in the second half, making Thrylos's lead that much smaller going into the return match.
An expected baptism of fire awaited Olympiakos in Konstantinopoli, with no away fans allowed in either leg. Fenerbahce scored early and levelled to make it 3-3 on aggregate but were unable to fully turn the tie in 120 minutes. Penalties proceeded, with Konstantinos Tzolakis the hero on the night, saving three shots and booking his team's place in the first European semi-finals in the club's history.
Premier League side and tournament favourites Aston Villa were by far the toughest opponents the Piraeus side had faced yet. But this was perhaps the tie that really got people all over the world to notice the capabilities and potential of this Olympiakos side. Thrylos shocked the villains by running out 2-4 winners at Villa Park with Ayoub El Kaabi scoring the first hattrick in the process.
A 2-0 win in Piraeus followed with El Kaabi coming back to haunt Villa, who looked down and out from the first whistle. The elimination of a side with the biggest budget, highest squad wage bill and who many thought were guaranteed to win the Conference League, sent shock waves around the footballing world.
As for Olympiakos, they had done something that many would have said was impossible a mere couple of months before, having reached the first final in their near 100 years of existence also becoming the first Greek side to reach a European final since 1971.
The final and eternal glory
The build-up to the final was gut-wrenching for me personally. Even with the Greek Super League title lost in the last few matches of the season, as PAOK ran out as deserved winners, a European final beckoned Olympiakos and it was all I could think about.
For the neutral admittedly, the match was not a classic in the Agia Sofia Stadium. A cagey affair against losing finalists of last season Fiorentina saw few chances taken by either side over the first 90 minutes. Danial Podence was perhaps the most lively Olympiakos player in the period, with two massive chances missed and Iborra's header smartly saved by keeper Pietro Terracciano.
The Serie A side, after being second best but having an early goal ruled out for offside in the first half, started to gain momentum after the break and pressed Olympiakos for an opener but Thrylos stood firm. Extra time beckoned and even after the 105th minute, it felt like penalties awaited both teams. It was during that final half an hour that Thrylos really started to pressure the tired legs of Fiorentina more.
Then it happened. The deadlock was broken. The biggest and most important goal in the history of Olympiakos was scored. Santiago Hezze’s cross found the head of El Kaabi and the Moroccan scored to make it 1-0 in the 115th minute. After a nail-biting check for a potential offside, the goal was mercyful given and Thrylos fans wildly celebrated again.
The full-time whistle went, and all the tension, all the anxiety I had felt for over a week was washed away as I attempted to process what I had just witnessed. Olympiakos, the team I have supported for over a decade, that I had put so much time and investment into, were champions of Europe and the first senior men's side from Greece to win a continental trophy. Not only that but to win it in AEK's own backyard, admittedly made the victory that much sweeter. The wild celebrations followed, in Piraeus and all over the world from supporters of the new UEFA Conference League winners.
Celebration and self-reflection
Even writing this now, I still can’t quite believe it. It feels like a scenario you could only devise in fantasy or on FIFA Career Mode or Football Manager. But all the hopes and dreams of Olympiakos supporters have become a reality. Huge congratulations must be given to the players and the coaching staff who all helped contribute to this achievement.
But the biggest thank you we can give, as fans of this amazing club, is to Jose Luiz Mendilibar. The Basque coach in just a few short months has delivered us the greatest victory in our history that will be immortalised forever.
He might have also become the greatest manager we have ever had in Piraeus, despite the short space of time he has been with us. But such is the achievement that it is not an unjustifiable title to give him. So thank you, General Mendi.
Now we can celebrate, rest and brag to our friends and family that we witnessed Olympiakos win the biggest trophy in our history. Whatever next season brings, we will be there as always to support what is, in our eyes, the best club in the world.
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