Best coaches halfway into the 2019/20 Super League season
Surprise packages and heavyweights boast the best coaches at the halfway point of the 2019-20 Greek Super League season.
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We have approached the halfway point of the 2019-20 Super League season, and things are starting to heat up at both ends of the ladder. As always, this season boasts a couple of surprise packages in OFI and Larissa, and it is no coincidence that the coaches of these sides are among the best in the Championship to date. Meanwhile, heavyweights Olympiacos and PAOK are yet to lose a game and sit tied in first place, with the Reds ahead on goal differential.
Here are the coaches that have caught the eye so far this season.
Michalis Grigoriou (Larissa)
Still relatively young compared to other Greek coaches, the 45-year-old boasts a considerable amount of experience as he has been coaching in the Championship for close to the entire decade at various clubs. He took over at Larissa a mere 20 days before the new season began and had literally no time at all to prepare or sign players of his choice. However, he has worked wonders with what he has at his disposal and has built a well-drilled outfit that sits among the top sides and well on track to at least challenge for a European berth. The fighting spirit is evident in the team as they have twice come from behind to win games after trailing by two goals.
Pedro Martins (Olympiacos)
The Portuguese manager was given the time he wanted at Olympiacos, and he has delivered on his promise to improve the team. Positive signs were evident from the summer as the club booked their spot in the UEFA Champions League with relative ease. On top of this, the Reds are flying domestically with nine wins out of 13 matches (and four draws). They currently sit on top of the League due to boasting a better goal difference over PAOK, courtesy of a strong attack and the best defence (they have only shipped a miserly five goals in 13 matches).
Giorgos Simos (OFI)
Somewhat of a journeyman as a player, the 41-year-old is well and truly thriving in his first-ever job as a head coach. OFI barely avoided relegation last season, but he has transformed this team into a dynamic and entertaining unit. They are among the top-scoring teams of the League, thanks to possessing a cutting edge up front and much like Larissa, are on track to challenge for a spot in Europe for next season. After 13 matches, he is perhaps the best performing coach, especially given the club’s predicament last season.
Abel Ferreira (PAOK)
His PAOK outfit may not be as dominant as last season’s record-breaking unit, however, the Portuguese manager is still yet to lose a game at the halfway point and has his side very well positioned for a bid to clinch successive titles. Things could have fallen apart after not even qualifying for Europe during the summer, but he steadied the ship. The scary thing for rivals to consider is that they have not reached their best yet but are still winning matches. Some would even say it is advantage PAOK in the title race as they held Olympiacos to a draw away and welcome the Reds to Toumba in the second half of the season. They have scored the most goals with 25 so far this season.
