Olympiacos: Mendilibar departs after a historic tenure
José Luis Mendilibar leaves Olympiacos after two and a half years, having delivered major successes and the historic Conference League title.
José Luis Mendilibar
is no longer the head coach of
Olympiacos
, with the club officially announcing the end of its cooperation with the Basque coach after two and a half years
.
The end of the cooperation between Olympiacos and Mendilibar
Olympiacos announced the end of its cooperation with Mendilibar. In its statement, the club mainly focused on the successes achieved during his tenure, with particular reference to the
Conference League
and the three domestic titles that followed.The development came less than a year after the two sides had reached a new agreement. In
December 2025
, Olympiacos had extended Mendilibar’s contract until the summer of 2027
, showing at the time its intention to keep the Basque coach on the bench for another season. However, the cooperation ultimately ended earlier.Mendilibar had taken over as head coach on
11 February 2024
, after winning the Europa League
with Sevilla. He departed having completed 127 official matches, with 79 wins, 28 draws and 20 defeats
, while winning four trophies
with Olympiacos.
Mendilibar’s most important successes at Olympiacos
The most important moment of José Luis Mendilibar’s tenure was winning the Conference League in
2024
, just a few months after taking charge. Olympiacos eliminated Ferencváros, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Fenerbahçe and Aston Villa in succession, before defeating Fiorentina 1-0 after extra time
in the final in Nea Filadelfeia. It was the first major European title won by a Greek men’s team and the achievement that largely defined the Basque coach’s time in Piraeus.The successes continued the following season. Olympiacos won the
48th league title in the club’s history
and the Greek Cup
, completing the club’s 19th domestic double
, while at the beginning of 2026
they also added the Super Cup
. At the same time, the team enjoyed a strong presence in European competitions, reaching the Europa League round of 16
and returning to the Champions League
the following year.Beyond the trophies, his tenure was associated with a period of stability and significant results in Greece and Europe, securing him a special place in the club’s history.
The personality that earned respect at Olympiacos
Mendilibar’s relationship with Olympiacos was not limited to results and trophies. From the early stages of his time in Piraeus, he stood out for his low-key approach, work ethic and simplicity in dealing with both easy and difficult situations. He avoided excessive statements and public attention, choosing instead to focus on his work and the demands of the team.
This approach helped him earn the appreciation of the players, the people within the club and a large section of the Olympiacos supporters. His composure on the bench and consistency in his decisions were defining features of his presence. Even after major successes, he maintained the same attitude, without placing himself above the team.
This sentiment was also reflected in Olympiacos’ announcement regarding his departure, in which the club made particular reference to the appreciation, respect and affection felt towards him. The end of the cooperation does not change the relationship that was built during those
two and a half years
, as Mendilibar departs having left a strong mark both through what he achieved and through the way he represented the club.
The next day for Olympiacos
The change in the coaching position appears to have been prepared quickly, as Greek reports state that
Imanol Alguacil
has reached an agreement with Olympiacos and is expected to arrive in Greece to take charge of the team.
Alguacil has spent most of his coaching career with Real Sociedad. He started in the academy and with the second team before taking charge of the first team in
2018
. Under his guidance, Sociedad won the Copa del Rey
for the 2019-20
season, while also securing consecutive appearances in European competitions and returning to the Champions League after a decade. By November 2024
, he had already reached 300 matches
as head coach of the first team.After leaving Sociedad in the summer of
2025
, he worked at Al Shabab in Saudi Arabia until February 2026
, when the two sides ended their cooperation following a period in which the expected results were not achieved. His potential appointment by Olympiacos would mark his return to European football, with his first priority being to adapt to the new team and to the demands of a season that has already begun.Will the coaching change give Olympiacos the boost they need for new successes? At
Fonbet
, you will find a wide variety of markets for all Super League matches
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