Imanol Alguacil joins Olympiacos after Mendilibar's dismissal

Imanol Alguacil is back on a European touchline. The former Real Sociedad manager has reached an agreement to take over at Olympiacos, one of the most demanding clubs in Greece, replacing José Luis Mendilibar after the Basque coach's surprising dismissal. Following a short and difficult spell at Al-Shabab in Saudi Arabia, the Spanish manager returns to continental competition with a project built to win silverware.

• Imanol Alguacil takes over from José Luis Mendilibar at Olympiacos.
• The coach from Orio returns to Europe after his time at Al-Shabab in Saudi Arabia.
• Sporting director Antonio Cordón has played a key role in bringing the Basque manager to Greece.
• Mendilibar leaves after winning the historic Conference League and three domestic trophies.
• Owner Evangelos Marinakis forces an exit that fans see as inexplicable on sporting grounds.

Imanol Alguacil returns to European football

Imanol Alguacil's career took an unexpected turn when he decided to try his luck in Saudi football. At Al-Shabab he failed to find the results or the ideal environment to implement his working methods, and his stay in the Middle East ended much sooner than expected. Now the coach from Orio is betting on a destination with far more pressure and a direct route into European competitions.

Olympiacos offers what Saudi Arabia could not guarantee: a competitive league, a squad built to dominate domestic football, and the chance to test himself against the best in UEFA tournaments. The Basque coach arrives in Piraeus with the task of keeping a winning club on the right track, season after season.

Mendilibar leaves Olympiacos after a historic run

José Luis Mendilibar departs Greece with a legacy that will be hard to match. During his time in charge, he lifted a Greek Super League title, a Greek Cup and a Greek Super Cup, as well as the first European trophy in the club's history: the UEFA Conference League. His connection with the stands was total, and his farewell comes amid public affection from supporters who disagree with the club's decision.

The coach from Zaldibar leaves the Greek club to the sound of applause after a glorious cycle that included the Conference League, Olympiacos' only continental trophy.

The dismissal has nothing to do with a run of poor results. It comes from the breakdown in the relationship between the manager and the ownership. Evangelos Marinakis, known for his volcanic temperament and low tolerance for internal disagreements, has shown once again that patience is in short supply at Olympiacos, even for history-making coaches.

Antonio Cordón, the architect of Imanol's arrival

Imanol Alguacil's move to Athens carries the signature of Antonio Cordón. The Spanish sporting director returns to Olympiacos to replace Darko Kovacevic and has made the former Real Sociedad coach his first-choice appointment. This is not the first time Cordón has tried to work with the Basque manager: he previously wanted him at Sevilla before the coach accepted the Saudi offer.

That move never materialised, but now their paths cross in a very different scenario. Cordón knows Greek football and understands the type of coach a club like Olympiacos needs: someone with personality, used to European demands and capable of handling the pressure of a dressing room that refuses to settle for second place.

What Imanol Alguacil has at stake in Greece

For Imanol, Olympiacos represents a chance to rebuild his reputation. After a forgettable chapter in Saudi Arabia, he needs to show once again that his style of play can compete away from San Sebastián. At Real Sociedad he left a clear identity: high pressing, courage on the ball and a remarkable ability to guide the team into Europe. In Greece he will have to apply those ideas with immediate results.

There is very little room for error in Piraeus. Olympiacos fans celebrate trophies, not long-term projects. Imanol takes on a challenge that is both exciting and risky, with a squad stronger than most domestic rivals and an obligation to fight for everything from day one.

Imanol Alguacil's record at Real Sociedad

Before his adventure in Saudi Arabia, Imanol Alguacil became a key figure in understanding Real Sociedad's recent era. He repeatedly guided the San Sebastián club back into European competitions and won the Copa del Rey in a final marked by the pandemic. That trophy in La Cartuja, lifted in front of the historic txuri urdin supporters, put the club back on the road to silverware and established the coach as a reference point at Anoeta.

That background is what Olympiacos wants to recover. A coach used to fighting on three fronts, developing young players and maintaining the identity of a team with a clear playing style. In Greece, Imanol will now aim to add to a trophy cabinet that already includes one of the most celebrated titles in Real Sociedad's modern history.

The challenge of replacing a fan favourite in Piraeus

Taking over from Mendilibar is no easy task. The Basque coach leaves with the respect of the dressing room and the affection of the stadium, something Imanol will have to earn from his very first training session. At Olympiacos there is no adaptation period: results set the agenda and any slip in the Super League quickly turns into a crisis.

Imanol arrives with experience in high-pressure situations. At Real Sociedad he knew how to survive difficult spells and come out stronger. That ability will be vital at a club where the owner's demands and the passion of the crowd turn every week into a test.