Who is Burnley: Profiling Olympiacos’ Europa League opponents

Olympiacos were slick in their thrashing of FC Luzern, but a much tougher test is expected against dogged English outfit Burnley. AGONAsport takes a closer look at the Thrylos’ opponents in the UEFA Europa League playoff round.

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BACKGROUND

Since 1961, Burnley hadn’t been involved in any UEFA competition, only participating in the 1966/1967 Inter-Cities’ Fairs Cup. However, following a fantastic 2017/2018 Premier League season in which Burnley claimed an impressive seventh position with 54 points from 38 matches, the club earned the right to compete in the UEFA Europa League. Joining in the second qualifying round, Burnley required extra time to defeat Aberdeen and Istanbul Basaksehir, winning the ties 4:2 and 1:0 respectively. 

Incredibly, the organisation was originally founded on May 18, 1882, making Burnley one of the oldest football clubs in England. Burnley have won the English Premier League on two occasions in 1921 and 1960, but they generally float between divisions and have experienced numerous relegations in their long, fascinating history. In cup competitions, Burnley tasted glory in the 1914 FA Cup final with a 1:0 win over Liverpool and twice raised the FA Charity Shield (1960, 1973).

Just like the majority of English clubs, Burnley play a gritty, determined style of football, but under intelligent manager Sean Dyche they have developed into a team which is capable of derailing the country’s best with textbook defensive play and a knack to take advantage of goalscoring opportunities. 

Full name: Burnley Football Club

Founded: May 18, 1882

Stadium: Turf Moor (Capacity 21,944)

Chairman: Mike Garlick

Manager: Sean Dyche

Major honours: 2 English Premier Leagues (1921, 1960), 1 FA Cup (1914), 2 FA Charity Shields (1960, 1973)
 

MANAGER

After taking charge of Burnley in October 2012, 47-year old Sean Dyche has driven the organisation to new heights, culminating in qualifying for the Europa League. Nevertheless, it was a long road to success, as Dyche managed to take Burnley to the Premier League from the Championship, suffer subsequent relegation and earn promotion back to the top flight again in 2016. Highly regarded in England, Dyche is a clever tactician, possessing the ability to get the best out of a relatively modest squad and budget. In March 2018, he was named the Premier League’s manager of the month.
 

Dyche previously managed at Watford and only finished his playing career in 2007 with Northampton Town. As a player, he also represented Nottingham Forest, Chesterfield, Bristol City, Luton Town, Millwall and Watford in the English lower leagues.
 

KEY PLAYERS

Burnley’s main attacking threat comes through talented 27-year old Icelandic winger Johann Berg Gudmundsson. Boasting a large 69 national team caps to his name, Gudmundsson is at the heart of everything which Burnley do right in the final third of the pitch, whipping the ball in and contributing with plenty of assists. Olympiacos will have to watch out for his raids on the right flank.
 

With Nick Pope injured, Burnley signed former England number one goalkeeper Joe Hart this summer from Manchester City, and he’s made a positive start. In the duel with Istanbul Basaksehir, the Turks created a range of inviting chances at Turf Moor, but Hart expertly denied them. The ageing 31-year old is on a mission to prove his doubters wrong.
 

New Zealand striker Chris Wood is their biggest source of goals after he bagged 10 in his debut campaign with Burnley in the 2017/2018 English Premier League. Standing at 191 cm tall, Wood is potent in the air, so the Olympiacos defence needs to keep an eye on his movements. Wood has scored 24 goals in 56 matches with the national team and participated at the 2010 FIFA World Cup as a teenager.
 

2018/2019 SEASON SO FAR

Asides from the Europa League victories against Aberdeen and Basaksehir, Burnley have made a sluggish start to the Premier League in England, drawing 0:0 away to Southampton and dropping a disappointing 1:3 home defeat against Watford on Sunday. 

HISTORY AGAINST GREEK CLUBS

In competitive matches, Burnley have never met a Greek opponent, but Olympiacos have played with English clubs 26 times and picked up a mere seven wins:
 

By Shaun Nicolaides

Image Source: to10.gr

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