In the heart of the Olympiakos Piraeus camp, Jose Luis Mendilibar might not ring a bell for many football enthusiasts in Scotland, but his recent exploits have certainly turned heads as he crafts a captivating narrative in the twilight of his managerial career.
Mendilibar’s career, marked by a stint in the Spanish lower leagues, has seen him navigate through the ranks of smaller clubs like Eibar, Valladolid, Osasuna, and Levante. Though his resume featured a mere one fourth-tier and one second-tier championship, the Spaniard was a seasoned boss.
Then, at 62, destiny had a surprise in store for him.
When Sevilla parted ways with Argentine Jorge Sampaoli, Mendilibar was summoned to take the reins, and he not only met expectations but exceeded them dramatically. Within a week of his appointment, he led his new squad to a major upset, eliminating Manchester United from the Europa League quarter-finals. His side pulled off a stunning 2-2 draw at Old Trafford with two late goals, then triumphed 3-0 in the second leg in Andalusia.
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The momentum carried them past Juventus in the semis, where they triumphed after extra time, ultimately culminating in a penalty shootout victory over Jose Mourinho’s Roma in the final.
However, this honeymoon phase was brief, as Mendilibar was dismissed after just four months due to a shaky start to the following season.
Yet, fate intervened once more, and a year later, he received a call from Greece. Olympiakos were in desperate need of a manager, and Mendilibar embraced the opportunity. Almost instantly, he was back on the European stage, steering the Greek giants to their first European final.
In a remarkable journey, he outsmarted renowned tactician Unai Emery, knocking out his Aston Villa side in the Conference League semi-finals before making history by defeating Fiorentina in the final held in Athens.
With this triumph, Mendilibar became the second manager after Rafa Benitez to clinch back-to-back European trophies with different clubs, solidifying his place in football history.
