The Party's Over - All Eyes on the Road Ahead | OneFootball

Olympiacos vs Bodo Glimt, Europa League Rd of 16 2nd Leg: Giorgos Matthaios/EUROKINISSI

Last Thursday night saw the humbling of Olympiacos. Winning 2-1 on the night was not enough to overturn the 3-0 defeat suffered a week earlier just outside the Arctic Circle. The European journey is currently at an end for this Thrylos senior side. The party is over. For now.

As odd as it is to suggest, this could prove to be a blessing. The club now returns to domestic matters at the business end of the season. Coaching staff, players, and even fans can sharpen their minds and focus solely on the task at hand: claiming the domestic double. At this stage, it is not suitable to discount the cup as meaningless. This is Olympiacos. Olympiacos means titles. Two seasons have passed without lifting the Super League title, and there has been no cup win since 2020. The record needs to be set straight. Domestic superiority must be restored. Taking both trophies on offer would leave no question unanswered—if it wasn’t already clear: Olympiacos are top of the pile in Greece.

Exiting Europe allows for this focus to take place. Ten months ago, this club experienced its greatest-ever moments. The UEFA Conference League was won just days after the youth side clinched the UEFA Youth League. Olympiacos were kings of Europe. Well, this is something all associated with the club had always known, but now it was fact. The world had witnessed it. At club level, these were the first European trophies to be won by a Greek club. History was made. It was an incredible achievement—at the time of victory, Greece ranked 15th in UEFA’s club coefficient. In the Champions League era, this was the first time a competition wasn’t won by a club from the Big 5 + Portugal.

The scenes in Piraeus and across Greece in the immediate aftermath of the Conference League final were incredible. A fitting celebration for a marvellous feat. Such was the spectacle of the festivities that they were broadcast and reported on across the globe. Soon after came the trophy tour. The trophies zig-zagged across the mainland and hopped from island to island, ensuring there wasn’t a platia in the nation where fans of all ages and backgrounds didn’t have the opportunity to share in the moment. Last season’s achievement, combined with 2025 marking the club’s centenary, has resulted in 2024-25 being a season of celebration. Festivities continued right up until the weekend before the second Bodø tie. The club’s official centenary celebrations were held—another visually spectacular event, again garnering global coverage. Attica glowed red. There was round-the-clock coverage in Greece. This great club celebrated turning 100 years old. 100 years of greatness. 100 years of being the best. The people were out in force, more united over the past ten months than ever before.

The second-leg tie quickly sold out in the wake of the weekend’s celebrations, ensuring a full house for the decisive match. The pre-match tifo display bore a single word: ‘faith’—a show of unity among the fanbase and its growing belief that this club can achieve great things in the face of adversity. It wasn’t to be on the night. In many ways, the game was a microcosm of the season as a whole—ruing a lack of efficiency in front of goal. Thrylos had 27 attempts on goal to Bodø’s two, yet managed only a single-goal winning margin, on a night when at least three were needed. This exit isn’t a failure, however. Quite simply, a side that managed the tie better across both legs prevailed. José Luis Mendilibar’s staff and players can hold their heads high as they bow out of Europe for this season. On the whole, it was a strong campaign. Securing a top-eight finish with the competition’s best-performing defence and just a single defeat—in France on the opening night—is a record to be proud of. Olympiacos are hard to beat in Europe now. This hasn’t always been the case—far from it. This is Mendilibar’s work. But ultimately, the club has been knocked out of the 2024-25 Europa League.

Now is the right time to put all the celebrations of the past year to bed. The club has had monumental achievements and wild celebrations—all justified and rightful at the time. European glory is a rare experience, and reaching 100 years old only happens once. But that is now history. A couple of great chapters have been added to the story of the greatest club to emerge from Greece and the wider Balkans. But that is just what they are now—history. It is important to reflect on past achievements, but the time for looking back in celebration is over. A new chapter has begun. It is time to look forward once again.

As the next 100 years begin, a new Olympiacos steps forward. Olympiacos the behemoth. Olympiacos have always claimed the largest share of support in its homeland and its wider diaspora, but recent successes have earned it respect and admirers from further afield. The first step on this journey is to ensure the job is done in Greece between now and May. A 6-0 lead in the cup semi-final against AEK should surely be enough to prevent a second-leg comeback and secure a very winnable final against OFI or Asteras. A final likely to be contested in the national stadium, in front of fans—another opportunity for the Red & White faithful to celebrate en masse, as only they know how.

The league situation is also primed for success. Amid the centenary celebration weekend, the regular season culminated with a routine 1-0 win over OFI. A win that secured Thrylos top spot, with a crucial seven-point lead, the joint-best defence in the league, and the biggest goal difference. Olympiacos are now just six games away from securing a 48th Greek league title. The new playoff format sees only the top four sides compete against each other—six derbies to end the season. Twelve months ago, this would have been a cause for concern, as the side often struggled in derby matches. This season, however, Mendilibar has righted that wrong. In fact, it is some of the ‘lesser’ games that have caused the most concern, where the team has borne the cost of a lack of efficiency. The derby performances this season are night and day compared to last year. The regular season saw the Reds undefeated in derby matches, with goals—particularly against PAOK and AEK—steadily supplied. A seven-point buffer going into these final six games means AEK (currently second) must outperform Olympiacos by well over a point per game—a three-result swing. Based on this season’s form, that is simply unlikely to happen. 48 league titles in 100 years—this is superiority. This is authority. The club is in a great position; it just needs to stay focused with the finish line in sight. It is set up to be a dream finish for fans—seven hotly contested derbies, a cup final, and two more titles to add to the club’s honours.

Elsewhere, the U19 side ensures there is still a chance for European success this season. Romain Pitau’s side secured a penalty shootout win over Sturm Graz in Austria, setting up a UEFA Youth League quarter-final with Salzburg U19. The academy continues to go from strength to strength. A significant number of last season’s successful side have moved on—some internally, some to new clubs. Yet, this season’s continued success proves the 2024 victory was no fluke. Solid foundations are being laid at academy level.

Looking ahead to next season brings great optimism. The club has once again acted decisively, ensuring the coaching situation is settled before the off-season. José Luis Mendilibar has signed a new contract for another season, keeping him in charge for 2025-26. This consistency is key to stability and continued growth.

There is a strong possibility that Olympiacos will gain direct entry to the Champions League in 2025-26. To secure this, they must win the Super League and hope that the eventual Champions League winners qualify through their domestic league—both very realistic scenarios.

Automatic qualification would be massive for the club, demonstrating clear progression—from winning the Conference League to a solid Europa League campaign, and now a potential return to the Champions League.

For Olympiacos, this European exit marks a moment to reflect on an incredible first 100 years. But now, it is time to take stock of the club’s mantra: “We keep on dreaming.” Written in the future tense: we keep on dreaming. Eyes on the road ahead. Focused on what is to come.