THE MENDILIBAR EFFECT AT OLYMPIACOS

Eurokinissi - Theodoros Christodoulakis

José Luis Mendilibar didn’t come to fix Olympiacos. He came to transform them.

When he landed in Piraeus, the club was still reeling from the whiplash of post-Pedro Martins trauma, technical director roulette, and enough underwhelming transfers to fill an entire highlight reel of what not to do in modern football. Olympiacos were a sleeping giant—angry, bloated, and badly in need of a spark.

Mendilibar didn’t bring fireworks. He brought fire. And it burned through the fog of mediocrity like only a man who’s stared down relegation battles in La Liga could.

“NOT TACTICS. MENTALITY.”

Ask fans what Mendilibar changed this season and most will skip the chalkboard talk. What they’ll tell you instead is simple: He brought back what it means to wear the shirt.

This team under Mendilibar fights. Not just in derbies—but everywhere. Against Fiorentina. Against Porto. Against AEK (6-0 says hi). Against bad weather, bad luck, and bad habits.

Karaiskakis is once again a castle, undefeated in all official matches this season. Let that sink in.

The passion on the pitch? That’s Mendilibar. The trust in youth? That’s Mendilibar. The restored pride in the badge? You guessed it.

It’s no accident that Panos Retsos looks like a general again. Or that Konstantis Tzolakis morphed into a top 10 U23 keeper in Europe. Or that Chiquinho, Santiago Hezze, and Velde (yes, Kristoffer Velde!) found form at the right time. Mendilibar’s not just selecting players. He’s resurrecting them.

LESS FLASH, MORE FORTRESS

He’s not a headline-hunter. He’s not giving TED Talks about inverted full-backs. And he sure as hell doesn’t care about "expected threat" or your favourite spreadsheet.

But what he does care about? Work. Structure. Character. In his world, star power never outshines sweat.

Just ask the players. Or better yet—ask their feet. Every single one of them runs more now. Presses harder. Tracks back like their next meal depends on it. Because under Mendilibar, it kind of does.

And the results?

• Conference League champions. 

• Greek Super League title, sealed weeks early. 

• Potential domestic double incoming.

• Undefeated at home in ALL competitions.

• Top 8 in the Europa League.

• Season tickets for next year? Already sold out.

  
  

This isn’t just a hot streak. It’s a blueprint.

WHY MENDILIBAR MATTERS MORE THAN EVER

Olympiacos fans have seen the carousel: the big names with bigger egos. The panic signings. The coaches who came to use the club, not lift it.

Mendilibar flipped that script. He demands respect, but earns it. He has charisma, but no cult. And perhaps most importantly—he gets it.

In a post-fiesta interview, when asked for his MVP, he declined. Said he couldn’t name one. “Everyone contributed. It was the team.” That’s the kind of guy who wins over dressing rooms and derbies.

And let’s not forget: this man had Sevilla in his rear view mirror less than 12 months ago. He could’ve waited. Taken a cushy job. Played the “elite manager” waiting game. Instead, he came to Greece. To us. To Olympiacos.

And he turned a club in disarray into a fortress, a family, and a force.

THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR: TRUST HIM

This summer is crucial. Champions League group stage (barring a miracle collapse by Arsenal). Big decisions on transfers. Youth promotions. Depth planning.

The temptation will be there: to chase old names, splash big or gamble on players like Correa...

But Mendilibar doesn’t need luxury. He needs players who fight. Who bleed for the club. Who see Olympiacos as the destination—not the detour.

So trust the man who earned it. Give him the keys. Back his instincts.

José Luis Mendilibar didn’t just restore Olympiacos. He's helped rebuild its soul.