In the 2023/24 UEFA Europa Conference League final, Olympiacos clinched their first-ever European title with a 1-0 victory over Fiorentina in extra time, becoming the first Greek team to achieve this feat.
Olympiacos 1-0 Fiorentina
As the team’s head coach, 63-year-old Jose Luis Mendilibar led Olympiacos to victory, a milestone that will be etched in the club’s 99-year history.
After the match, Mendilibar celebrated the triumph with the team.
Celebrated with team
Despite being a powerhouse in the Greek Super League, Olympiacos had previously underperformed in European competitions.
This season, after a disappointing performance in the Europa League, they were relegated to the Europa Conference League, where they emerged as the tournament’s underdog.
Kaabi scored the winning goal
In the semifinals, Olympiacos defeated Unai Emery’s Aston Villa with an aggregate score of 6-2, reaching a European final for the first time in the club’s history, thanks to Mendilibar’s leadership.
Olympiacos became the first non-top-five league team to win a European title since Porto in 2011.
As a head coach, Mendilibar has won consecutive European titles in two seasons.
Back to back European titles
The last coach to achieve this was Zinedine Zidane, who led Real Madrid to three consecutive Champions League titles.
Before Zidane, it was Jose Mourinho, who won back-to-back Europa League and Champions League titles with Porto.
Last season, Mendilibar led Sevilla to a Europa League victory, defeating Mourinho’s Roma in a penalty shootout in the final.
Olympiacos qualify for next season’s Europa League
With the Europa Conference League title, Olympiacos will qualify for next season’s Europa League.