Radical makeover starts to pay dividends for Olympiacos

Every summer, Olympiacos are always busy on the transfer market, but owner Evangelos Marinakis has gone to the extreme this year. Following the huge overhaul of the squad, AGONAsport takes a closer look at the new Thrylos.

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Without any shadow of a doubt, the 2017/2018 campaign was the worst season in recent memory for the Piraeus outfit. Despite boasting a seemingly strong squad with real depth, Olympiacos fell flat on their faces in all competitions, missing out on the Super League title for the first time in eight years, finishing in last place of their UEFA Champions League group and knocked out of the Greek Cup in the quarter-finals. As a result, club owner Evangelos Marinakis promised change, and he’s certainly stuck by his word.

Keeping to his promise, Marinakis shifted dead wood out of the team, while bringing in quality replacements and creating a long-awaited Greek core. With their brand new roster, Olympiacos have made a flying start to the new season, qualifying for the UEFA Europa League group stages and winning the two opening Super League games. Let’s analyse each position in detail:

Goalkeepers (Andreas Gianniotis, Jose Sa, Lefteris Choutesiotis)

Veteran goalkeeper Silvio Proto was probably one of Olympiacos better players last season, but instead of keeping him, he was allowed to join Lazio on a free transfer and 25-year old Andreas Gianniotis was recalled from Atromitos Athens. Gianniotis, now a fully fledged Greek international, is a talented shot stopper and he will be the Olympiacos number one for the season. Portuguese goalkeeper Jose Sa signed on loan from Porto and will provide competition alongside Lefteris Choutesiotis.

Right-backs (Vasilis Torosidis, Omar Elabdellaoui, Giannis Masouras)

Norwegian right-back Omar Elabdellaoui struggled in the 2017/2018 season, but under the guidance of manager Pedro Martins, he’s finally displaying his potential again and is useful when bombing up and down the flanks. The experienced Vasilis Torosidis has returned to Piraeus from Italy’s Serie A and is a flexile player across all defensive positions. Young Giannis Masouras departed AE Larissa for Olympiacos, but he will spend the majority of his time warming the bench.

Centre-backs (Yassine Meriah, Pape-Abou Cisse, Jagos Vukovic, Vasilis Torosidis, Roderick Miranda, Dimitris Nikolaou)

Olympiacos’ shaky, unreliable defence was an overwhelming feature of the previous season and when he agreed to take over the Erythrolefkoi, Martins immediately set the task of making vast improvements in that particular area. Bjorn Engels was sent out to Reims in France and the club signed Yassine Meriah, Torosidis and Roderick Miranda to strengthen the back line.

Promising defender Dimitris Nikolaou was originally supposed to join Udinese on loan, but at the last minute, the move fell through and he will be on the fringes of the team. Serbian international Jagos Vukovic is a rejuvenated player with Martins at the helm.

Left-backs (Konstantinos Tsimikas, Leonardo Koutris, Nikolaou)

Rhodes born Leonardo Koutris caught the eye with his showings, but this year, his place in the team has come under serious threat from the up-and-coming Konstantinos Tsimikas. Recalled from a successful loan spell in the Netherlands with Willem II, 22-year old Tsimikas is proving his worth, giving Olympiacos an added attacking threat with his forades on the left wing. He’s also a key player for the under 21 Greek national team and scored the winning goal in a crucial European Championship qualifier against the Czech Republic.

Defensive midfielders (Torosidis, Mohamed Camara, Guilherme, Yaya Toure)

The African midfield king has returned. Yaya Toure, the well-known ex-Barcelona and Manchester City player, was snapped by Olympiacos on a free in one of the biggest transfers witnessed by Super League fans in quite some time. The Ivorian started to make his name when playing for the Thrylos back in the 2005/2006 season and he brings star quality.

Mohamed Camara ditched AC Ajaccio and he’s settled into life in Piraeus with ease. Brazilian Guilherme transferred from Deportivo, but given the Toure factor and Camara’s superb form, he will have to be patient for his chance.

Midfielders (Andreas Bouchalakis, Bibars Natcho, Toure, Guilherme, Athanasios Androutsos)

At Nottingham Forest, Andreas Bouchalakis was gradually falling into oblivion, but Olympiacos agreed to take him back to Greece and his decent start was rewarded with a call-up to the Ethniki Omada for the UEFA Nations League. 30-year old Israeli midfielder Bibars Natcho adds depth to the squad and is a set-piece specialist.

Athanasios Androutsos has progressed through the Olympiacos academy, but according to reports in the media, Martins does not have him in his plans for the season.

Attacking midfielders (Konstantinos Fortounis, Giannis Fetfatzidis)

To be honest, it appeared that Konstantinos Fortounis had lost all motivation and hunger for the game, but he’s practically a new signing for Olympiacos. Pedro Martins has discovered the key to getting the best out of the attacking midfielder and Fortounis has repaid his faith by scoring vital goals. Fortounis is once again showing why he was regarded Greek football’s main hope.

Giannis Fetfatzidis was pinched from Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli, however he’s being used as an impact substitute.

Wingers (Lazaros Christodoulopoulos, Fetfatzidis, Daniel Podence, Matias Nahuel, Marios Vrousai, Felipe Pardo)

No one thought that Lazaros Christodoulopoulos would leave AEK Athens, but in a shock move, he packed his bags and opted to pen a two-year deal with Olympiacos and create history by becoming the first footballer to play for all of Greece’s big four (PAOK, Panathinaikos, AEK, Olympiacos). Christodoulopoulos is making the headlines at the Karaiskakis Stadium and already has five goals in six competitive matches.

Portuguese winger Daniel Podence has flair in abundance and Argentinian national Matias Nahuel was signed on deadline day from Villarreal. Marios Vrousai and Felipe Pardo are still on the club’s books, but they’re reportedly surplus to requirements.

Forwards (Miguel Angel Guerrero, Ahmed Hassan, Dimitris Manos)

Surprisingly, Iranian striker Karim Ansarifard was sent packing from Olympiacos after scoring 17 Super League goals, and the trio of Miguel Angel Guerrero, Ahmed Hassan and Dimitris Manos have been acquired to replace him. Guerrero has made an instant impact at the club and netted four goals in five games.

Dimitris Manos was simply unstoppable with OFI in the 2017/2018 Football League, but he will be a benchwarmer in Piraeus, not even included in the Olympiacos roster for the Europa League group phase.

by Shaun Nicolaides

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