Imanol Alguacil, the new head coach of Olympiacos, has qualities that should suit the club's organization and demands, according to Rafa Munguia, a journalist with Radio Vitoria who covers Real Sociedad, the Basque club Alguacil left to join the Greek side.
Speaking on protothema.gr's show The Football Show by Stoiximan, Munguia said Alguacil arrives with a clear tactical plan, a strong personality and a marked ability to manage footballers.
Munguia said Alguacil's teams always play with a back four and two central midfielders, and that he is an ideal fit for Olympiacos because of his intense personality. He said the coach wins his players over, works closely with them and helps them develop.
Munguia pointed to Alguacil's record at Real Sociedad as proof he can improve players and build an environment for growth. He said Alguacil helped players such as Alexander Isak, Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Oyarzabal progress, while developing himself as a coach in the process. He noted that Alguacil won a cup title nobody expected and has built a philosophy that suits Olympiacos.
Real Sociedad, based in San Sebastian in Spain's Basque Country, won the Copa del Rey under Alguacil, the club's first major trophy in decades.
Munguia also highlighted the work Alguacil puts into academy football, calling it a key part of his coaching philosophy. He said Alguacil is heavily involved with academy sides, which is why he inspires young players, and that he wants to give them opportunities and help them develop.
Question Mark Over Olympiacos Pressure
Munguia acknowledged there is a question mark over how Alguacil will handle the demands of a club the size of Olympiacos, since he has never worked at such a demanding organization before.
He said they had never seen Alguacil at a club of this level, calling it a question mark for them too. But he said that because Alguacil is a workaholic who wins over players immediately and lives the game intensely, he believes the coach will have an immediate effect on the Olympiacos squad because of his personality.
Munguia singled out Alguacil's communication with players as one of his biggest strengths going into the new job.
Compared to Valverde, Different From Mendilibar
Munguia compared Alguacil to Ernesto Valverde, the experienced Spanish coach, though he stressed the two have different characters. He said Alguacil resembles Valverde in some respects but has a calmer temperament, and that on the pitch he is far more modern and more attacking than Jose Luis Mendilibar, the outgoing Olympiacos coach.
Munguia said Alguacil places greater emphasis on possession, pressing and attacking football, aiming to build a team that takes the initiative and tries to impose its own rhythm on matches.
He also addressed Alguacil's ability to handle pressure, which he called especially important for the Olympiacos bench. He said Real Sociedad also carries intense pressure, and that Alguacil has shown his character can withstand it mentally. Munguia said Alguacil is a coach who believes in his own work and passes that belief on to his players.
