Don Hutchison and James Horncastle heaped praise on Olympiacos manager Jose Luis Mendilibar after the Spaniard helped his side win the UEFA Europa Conference League. The Thrylos made history by becoming the first Greek side to win a European trophy, and they did so despite a difficult start to the season. Mendilibar won the Europa League with Sevilla last term, having only joined in March 2023.
Don Hutchison praised Jose Luis Mendilibar’s ability to turn struggling sides into champions after Olympiacos beat Fiorentina 1-0 in extra time to win the UEFA Europa Conference League.
Mendilibar joined the Thrylos in February, going on to help them become the first Greek side to win a European trophy despite a difficult start to the 2023/24 campaign.
The Spanish manager pulled off an equally remarkable feat when he led Sevilla to the UEFA Europa League after joining the faltering La Liga side in March 2023.
Hutchison praised Mendilibar’s remarkable ability to turn a season around after the full-time whistle.
“Firefighter managers normally come in to keep a club up,” he said.
“Mendilibar’s a firefighter manager who comes in and wins you trophies.
“It is incredible the jobs that he has done.
“He did it at Sevilla when he was in charge for only a couple of months, and he has done it again.”
James Horncastle agreed, emphasising the resilience that Mendilibar has instilled in his team.
“Don referenced the Europa League final last year, no-one beats Jose Mourinho in European finals, Mendilibar did,” he said.
“On penalties, in extra time.
“You can see the resilience he has been able to instil into this team, not just tonight.
“When they came back from losing 4-1 against Maccabi Tel-Aviv, to win a shootout in Istanbul against Fenerbahce, to beat a Premier League team with the resources and the budget and a coach who won everything at Sevilla.
“It is an outstanding job that he has done.”
Ayoub El Kaabi struck four minutes from the end of extra time after a cagey contest in Athens.
This was the 30-year-old’s debut season in European competition.
Raised in Casablanca, El Kaabi left school at the age of 15 and worked several different jobs before signing professional terms with the Moroccan side Racing Athletique Club.
The pitch was littered with fascinating subplots, particularly in the case of Olympiacos forward Stevan Jovetic, who spent five years in Florence.
He could not wait to get the party started after full-time but was quick to praise his former side.
“It is a first for Olympiacos and a first for me,” he said.
“I am really proud of my guys, you saw the atmosphere here, I think we did great.
“I just want to compliment Fiorentina for making it into the final two years in a row.
“They are an amazing team, they gave their best and I wish them all the best.”