The Mosaic of Olympic Coach Candidates: The Criteria, Priorities and Options

The past is not only instructive. It is also a trajectory indicator. Especially if it’s new. Seven weeks ago, Olympiacos had to undergo a coaching change and hit the market in search of the longest-serving player in their history. Pedro Martins. And now, in mid-September, after surviving eleven games on the bench, the “Red-Whites” are being asked to make another change after Corberan’s “out”.

Through Carlos Corberan The champions were in contact (directly or indirectly) at least two weeks prior to his enlistment. No, nobody stirred up Pedro Martins. This is how (should) clubs work. Be aware of who is on the market at all times. And if possible, they have the same perception.

So after the shock of the crash and Maccabi Haifa’s departure, not much time was wasted. The Spaniard… dozed off on Friday as the undisputed favorite to take the lead and although he spent about a day and a half in various contacts and words of wisdom, on Saturday night, not even 48 hours later, he was finally there to take the anointing.

And now the intention for similar speeds is given. Whoever sits next on the championship bench has time during the break to take advantage of the last break before the World Cup. This is exactly what Olympiacos staff are asking for. And now the relevant “wire” in the market – of course – didn’t fall last night.

As discussed at Game Night on Sunday, the football market has known for at least a week that the Greek champions are looking for a coach, with the relevant policy calling for significantly better salaries than Corberan, bordering on what Pedro Martins, according to his last update, “purely ” was offered.

After all, agents from Gestifute – the company of Jorge Mendes (via Rodríguez’s agency), ROOF (via Samasekos) and Stellar (via Bakabou) – were brought to Athens in midweek, in the impressive finale of the transfer window. These companies alone are enough to sort through – for starters – more than 20 available trainers, either with direct or indirect influence.

So there are options. For every taste, for all needs, for all demands and plans. Of course, given the conditions and the specific status quo that has emerged, the ideal is that Olympiacos not only choose whoever it deems appropriate, but also that they… choose him.

It may have taken a few hours, less than two twenty-four hours – officially – for the “Reds and Whites”‘ recent similar search before the final selection of Corberan, but the doors were knocked on – and for various reasons not opening – also underline the difficulty of current ambitions, at least those that defy the strictest framework of realism.

Bakshes has it all: Blanc, Stankovic, Mitchell and others

Laurent Blanc, from the day after the home defeat against Freiburg, emerges as the front runner. Reminiscent of… Corberan (in terms of timing and methodology followed). And as of last night, reports of his candidacy are plentiful and everyone seems to be trying to go one step further.

The 56-year-old Frenchman is undeniably the personality at the center of Olympiacos’ current search, he’s available, he’s choosy but doesn’t turn down talks (in the recent past he’s heard offers from the international, after all, with teams from Morocco and Tunisia but also Toronto in the MLS) he is doable with the scenario for Lyon daily interest in France and is obviously a prime salary option as if his case is in and he agrees he becomes the highest paid manager in the Super League and fittingly takes on the most expensive team in its history.

The “Red-Whites” are said to offer manager James Rodriguez, who runs until February, a contract with Al Rayyan until the summer of 2024, with the proviso of a further extension of one year. Surpassed his earnings in Qatar three million euros a yearIn doing so, he kept his record at the highest level, although then, when he took charge of the Qatar team, he returned to the bench after 4.5 years and his tenure in Paris (June 2013-June 2016), where he was paid with 3.5 million euros per year.

He’s not the only one. According to others, he may not even be the main candidate. But it is certainly a sign of instances of available techniques of proportional band, impact and CV.

Quique Setien, who had charmed Olympiakos managers by introducing Betis, who faced the ‘Red-Whites’ in the Europa League groups four years ago (and who was essentially his own pass to take over Barcelona), Paulo Souza, Jorge Sampaoli, Marcelo Bielsa, Frank de Boer, Jurgen Klinsmann, Rafa Benitez (although he was the one who essentially opened the door to the exit of Goodison Park around this time last year for James Rodriguez as Everton manager at the time) only some of the corresponding… shelf height (and… wallet depth) options.

There are also Corberan-like solutions. Younger, more developing, fresher. Anyway, coaches. Existing ones and not someone who declares that they will become one, whereby for them coaching is still a work in progress, without additional professional beliefs. Corberan was accused, among other things: inexperience, his successor will hardly be anyone who has even less on the bench.

So when selecting from the specific category, the younger ones, Dejan Stankovic is legendary among the main options. He won three consecutive championships on the Red Star bench, and in the last two “zvezda” scored 209 (!) Goals and suffered only one defeat, but his (third) consecutive failure propelled them into the Champions League groups to lead, knew he was eliminated the playoffs of … Maccabi Haifa, prompted him to resign twenty days ago.

However, indicative of the difficulties of even such a case is the fact that the 44-year-old Serbian coach has been a subject of controversy in the Italian media for at least a week among the (very serious) candidates to succeed Simone Inzaghi on the Inter bench (after all, switched Stankovic to Milan a decade ago as a Nerazzurri player).

After all, Mitchell is a special case. He combines the personality that the champion is looking for with the (successful) previous service on the club bench. The 59-year-old Spaniard has rejected several offers from other Greek sides in the past, making it clear to those who approached him that he would only return to the Super League for Olympiakos. Last but not least, a clear sign of intentions for Ibera, who has been unemployed for a year (he left Getafe’s bank last October).

To be fair, something that moves a lot and seems to be gaining ground as a compelling movement. After the failure of negotiations with Julien Fournier, the idea of ​​”Red-Whites” is supposed to be in the second year, that is, after the agreement with the new coach (but not long after that…) and someone who will play the role of manager at the club organically covers.

What epithet will accompany this manager – technical, athletic, executive – is still up for debate, but given the need for manpower has been recognized and the direction is right there, possibly even with someone he (rather than the new coach) example) who has previous experience and knowledge of Olympiakos.

Watch the game night with all the developments at Olympiakos: