Olympiacos F.C. facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Olympiacos

Full name	Ολυμπιακός Σύνδεσμος Φιλάθλων Πειραιώς Olympiakos Sýndesmos Filáthlon Peiraiós (Olympic Association of fans of Piraeus)
Nickname(s)	Thrylos (Legend) Erythroleykoi (Red-Whites)
Founded	10 March 1925; 100 years ago (1925-03-10)
Ground	Karaiskakis Stadium
Ground Capacity	33,334
Owner	Evangelos Marinakis
President	Evangelos Marinakis
Manager	José Luis Mendilibar
League	Super League Greece
2023–24	Super League Greece, 3rd of 14
Home colours Away colours Third colours

Olympiacos F.C. (which means "Olympic Association of Piraeus Sportsmen") is a famous Greek professional football club. It is based in Piraeus, a city in Greece. The club's name and its emblem, a laurel-crowned Olympic athlete, are inspired by the ancient Olympic Games. They represent the ideals of sportsmanship and fair play from ancient Greece. Olympiacos plays its home games at the Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus, which can hold 33,334 fans.

The club was started on March 10, 1925. Olympiacos is the most successful club in Greek football. They have won a record 47 league titles, 28 Cups, and four Super Cups. They also have three international titles. These include the UEFA Europa Conference League in 2023–24, the UEFA Youth League in 2023–24, and the Balkans Cup in 1963.

Olympiacos has won 132 titles in total. This makes them one of the top clubs in the world for total titles won. They hold the record for winning the Greek League seven times in a row, twice! This happened from 1997 to 2003 and again from 2011 to 2017. Because of their amazing success, Olympiacos is known as Thrylos, which means "The Legend". They are also one of only three Greek clubs that have never been relegated from the top league. When they won their 40th league title in 2012–13, they added a fourth star above their club badge. Each star represents 10 league titles.

Internationally, Olympiacos is the only Greek football club to win a major European trophy. They won the UEFA Europa Conference League in 2023–24. This made them the first club outside the biggest four European leagues (England's Premier League, Italy's Serie A, Spain's La Liga, and Germany's Bundesliga) to win a UEFA competition since 2011. They also added a fifth star to their crest for this European victory. Olympiacos is the highest-ranked Greek club in the UEFA rankings. They are also one of the founding members of the European Club Association.

Olympiacos is the most popular football club in Greece. They have strong support from Greek communities all over the world. In 2006, they had 83,000 registered members, making them one of the top clubs globally for paying members. Olympiacos has a long-standing rivalry with Panathinaikos. Their matches are called the "derby of the eternal enemies". It is one of the most famous football derbies in the world.

Club History

How Olympiacos Started (1925–1931)

The founders of Olympiacos (1925)

The legendary Andrianopoulos brothers: (from left) Yiannis, Dinos, Giorgos, Vassilis and Leonidas Andrianopoulos

Notis Kamperos inspired the name and the emblem of the club

Olympiacos was founded on March 10, 1925. It was created in the city of Piraeus, a major port. The club's main goal was to help athletes grow and compete. They also wanted to spread the Olympic spirit. This meant promoting good sportsmanship and love for sports among young people. Two older clubs, "Piraikos Podosfairikos Omilos FC" and "Piraeus Fans Club FC", decided to join together. They wanted to form one strong club with a new vision.

A naval officer named Notis Kamperos suggested the name Olympiacos. He also proposed the image of a laurel-crowned Olympic winner as the club's symbol. Michalis Manouskos, a well-known businessman, added to the name, making it Olympiacos Syndesmos Filathlon Pireos. Many important people helped start the club. Among them were the five Andrianopoulos brothers. They were a family of successful merchants from Piraeus.

The Andrianopoulos brothers played a huge role in making Olympiacos famous. Yiannis, Dinos, Giorgos, and Vassilis were the first to play. Leonidas, the youngest, joined later and played for eight years. The five brothers formed a legendary attacking line for the team. Soon, Olympiacos became very popular and the most successful club in Greece. Their early fans were mostly from the working class. The team first played at the Neo Phaliron Velodrome. Later, they moved to their current home, Karaiskakis Stadium. They won the Piraeus Championship in 1925 and 1926.

In 1926, the Hellenic Football Federation was formed. It started the first national championship in 1927–1928. Olympiacos won the Piraeus Championship many times in these early years. They won in 1926–27, 1928–29, 1929–30, and 1930–31. This showed they were becoming a leading force in Greek football. They even set a record by not losing any games against Greek teams for three years. This was from March 14, 1926, to March 3, 1929. They had 30 wins and 6 draws in 36 games. The Greek newspapers started calling Olympiacos Thrylos ("The Legend") because of these amazing results.

Olympiacos line-up in 1928

In the 1930–31 season, Olympiacos won the Greece national league title for the first time. This was a big moment for the club. It marked the start of a very successful period. They played very well, winning 11 games and drawing 2, with only one loss. They won all 7 home matches, often by a score of 3–1.

Dominating Greek Football and World War II (1931–1946)

Olympiacos fearsome trio of attackers during the 1930s (from left): Christoforos Raggos, Giannis Vazos, Theologos Symeonidis

The 1930s brought more popularity to the Panhellenic Championship. Giorgos and Yiannis Andrianopoulos, who were key players and founders, retired in 1931. But new stars appeared, like Giannis Vazos, Christoforos Raggos, and Theologos Symeonidis. Olympiacos won five championships in nine seasons during this time. By 1940, they had won six championships in the first eleven seasons of the Panhellenic Championship.

The attacking trio of Giannis Vazos, Christoforos Raggos, and Theologos Symeonidis was very strong. They scored many goals and became legends. Giannis Vazos played for Olympiacos for 18 years (1931–1949). He scored 450 goals in 364 games, making him the club's second all-time top scorer. He also won the Greek Championship top scorer award four times.

Olympiacos won the 1936–37 and 1937–38 Championship titles without losing a single game. In the Greek Cup, they had some great wins. One famous victory was 6–1 against Panathinaikos in 1932. This is still the biggest away win in that derby's history.

On October 28, 1940, Italy invaded Greece. Many Olympiacos players joined the Greek Army to fight. Some players were injured, like Christoforos Raggos and Nikos Grigoratos. Leonidas Andrianopoulos also suffered severe frostbite. After the German occupation, Olympiacos players joined the Greek Resistance. They fought bravely against the Nazis. Nikos Godas, a famous Olympiacos player, was a captain in the Greek People's Liberation Army. He fought against the Germans. Michalis Anamateros, another player, was also part of the Resistance and died in 1944. The war and its aftermath greatly affected the club's progress.

The Era of "The Legend" (1946–1959)

Andreas Mouratis captained Olympiacos and played in 295 games for the club (1945–1955)

Andreas Mouratis, Babis Kotridis, Ilias Rossidis, key players of the Olympiacos team of the 1950s

After World War II, many older Olympiacos players retired. New important players joined the team. These included Andreas Mouratis, Alekos Chatzistavridis, and Dionysis Minardos. The club quickly returned to its dominant position in Greek football. From 1946 to 1959, Olympiacos won 9 out of 11 Greek Championships. This brought their total to 15 championship titles in 23 seasons.

They also won the Greek Cup 8 times during this period. This included winning the "Double" (both league and cup) 6 times. Three of these Doubles were won in a row from 1957 to 1959. The famous Olympiacos team of the 1950s had key players like Andreas Mouratis, Ilias Rossidis, Thanasis Bebis, Ilias Yfantis, and Kostas Polychroniou. Their amazing success made Olympiacos incredibly popular across Greece. After their record-breaking performance in the 1950s, the club was officially nicknamed Thrylos, meaning "The Legend".

On September 13, 1959, Olympiacos played its first European match against Milan in the 1959–60 European Cup. They were the first Greek club to play in European competitions. Kostas Papazoglou scored the first goal for a Greek club in Europe. The match ended in a 2–2 draw. Milan won the second game 3–1 and moved on.

First International Success and Márton Bukovi (1960–1972)

Márton Bukovi coached Olympiacos to two consecutive Greek League titles (1965–66, 1966–67)

Olympiacos started the 1960s by winning the Greek Cup in 1960 and 1961. This meant they had won the Greek Cup five times in a row, which is a record! A strong team was built with players like Giannis Gaitatzis, Nikos Gioutsos, Pavlos Vasileiou, and the top scorer Giorgos Sideris. Sideris is the club's all-time leading scorer with 493 goals.

In 1963, Olympiacos became the first Greek club to win an international competition. They won the Balkans Cup. This was a popular competition for clubs from the Balkan region. Olympiacos won their group, beating teams like Galatasaray. In the final, they faced Levski Sofia. Olympiacos won the decisive third match 1–0 with a goal by Mimis Stefanakos. This was a historic moment for Greek football.

Aristeidis Papazoglou

The club continued to win Greek Cups in 1963 and 1965. However, they didn't win the Greek Championship for six years. To change this, Olympiacos hired the famous Hungarian coach Márton Bukovi. He was known for his new tactics and tough training. Bukovi transformed Olympiacos into a powerful, attacking team. Under his leadership, Olympiacos won two straight Greek Championships in 1966 and 1967. They won the 1966 title with 23 wins and 4 draws. Thousands of excited fans traveled to celebrate the win.

In the 1966–67 season, Olympiacos set a record by winning 12 of their first 14 league games. They won the title convincingly, including a big 4–0 victory against Panathinaikos. Bukovi became a legend for the fans. An anthem was even written for his team.

However, a military government took power in Greece. This had bad effects on Olympiacos. The club's president, Giorgos Andrianopoulos, was forced out. Márton Bukovi was also forced to leave Greece by the military government.

The Goulandris Era (1972–1975)

A new chapter began in 1972 when Nikos Goulandris became the club's president. He brought back important members to the board. He also signed top players like Giorgos Delikaris, Yves Triantafyllos, Julio Losada, and Milton Viera. Under Goulandris, Olympiacos won the Greek Championship three times in a row (1972–73, 1973–74, 1974–75). They also won the Greek Cup in 1973 and 1975, completing two "Doubles".

In the 1972–73 season, Olympiacos won the title by only letting in 13 goals in 34 matches, a Greek record. Their best year was 1973–74. They won the league with 26 wins and 7 draws, scoring a record 102 goals and only letting in 14.

In European competitions, they beat Cagliari in the 1972–73 UEFA Cup. They were the first Greek club to win in Italy. They also beat Tottenham Hotspur 1–0, ending Tottenham's long unbeaten run in Europe. Two years later, in the 1974–75 European Cup, Olympiacos faced Kenny Dalglish's Celtic. They drew 1–1 at Celtic Park, where Celtic had never lost in Europe. Olympiacos then won 2–0 in Piraeus to advance. They then played Anderlecht. Despite losing the first game 5–1, Olympiacos almost made a huge comeback, winning 3–0 at home.

Dominance in the Early 1980s (1975–1987)

Ajax's Marco Van Basten against Olympiacos' Stavros Papadopoulos in De Meer Stadion for the 1983–84 European Cup (0–0).

After Goulandris left in 1975, the team had a quieter period. But in 1979, Greek football became professional. Stavros Daifas became the club's owner. Olympiacos became dominant again, winning the league four times in a row (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983). Key players included the goalscorer Nikos Anastopoulos, Martin Novoselac, and Tasos Mitropoulos.

Famous Polish coach Kazimierz Górski led Olympiacos to three of these titles. He also won the "Double" in 1981. Alketas Panagoulias, who coached the Greek and US national teams, led them to the 1982 title. Olympiacos also won the 1986–87 title with Panagoulias as coach.

The "Stone Years" and European Cup Winners' Cup (1987–1996)

Oleg Blokhin

From the late 1980s to the mid-1990s, Olympiacos faced tough times. The club had financial problems and lacked strong leadership. This period is known as the "stone years". Despite these issues, many talented foreign players joined the club. These included Lajos Détári, Oleh Protasov, and Juan Gilberto Funes. Strong Greek players like Vassilis Karapialis and Kiriakos Karataidis also played for the club.

Even without winning the league, Olympiacos won the Greek Cup in 1990 and 1992. They also won the Greek Super Cup in 1992. Under Ukrainian coach Oleg Blokhin, the team reached the quarter-finals of the 1992–93 European Cup Winners' Cup. They beat Arsène Wenger's Monaco but were then eliminated by Atlético Madrid. In 1993, Sokratis Kokkalis became the club's president. He worked to pay off the club's debts and reorganize the team.

The Golden Era (1996–2010)

Seven Consecutive League Titles and Champions League Success (1996–2003)

Predrag Đorđević won a record 12 Greek League titles with Olympiacos

In 1996, Sokratis Kokkalis hired Dušan Bajević as coach. Olympiacos already had a strong team. Kokkalis bought more top players like Predrag Đorđević and Stelios Giannakopoulos. He also signed Refik Šabanadžović and Christian Karembeu. With these new players, Olympiacos won the 1996–97 league title easily. This ended the "stone years" and started a new era of dominance.

They won the 1997–98 Championship again. In 1998–99, Olympiacos had one of their best seasons ever. They won the Greek Championship and the Greek Cup, completing a "Double". In the 1998–99 UEFA Champions League, they won their group and reached the quarter-finals. They faced Juventus. Olympiacos scored a crucial away goal in Turin. In the second game in Athens, Olympiacos played very well and scored early. They were close to reaching the semi-finals but Juventus scored late due to a mistake. Despite the disappointment, reaching the Champions League quarter-finals and winning the domestic double made it a very successful season.

Over the next four seasons (1999–2003), Olympiacos signed more world-class players. These included Giovanni, Zlatko Zahovič, and World champion Christian Karembeu. Other top players like Pär Zetterberg and Nery Castillo also joined. Under coaches like Giannis Matzourakis and Takis Lemonis, Olympiacos won seven consecutive Greek Championships. This broke their own record of six titles. They won their seventh title in 2003 by beating rivals Panathinaikos 3–0 in a decisive match.

Five More League Titles and European Knockout Stages (2004–2010)

Rivaldo

Antonis Nikopolidis

In 2004, Dušan Bajević returned as coach. Olympiacos signed the 1999 World Footballer of the Year, Brazilian superstar Rivaldo, and European champion Antonis Nikopolidis. They won the domestic double that season. In the UEFA Champions League, they earned ten points in a tough group. They narrowly missed qualifying for the knockout stage in the last minutes of their final game against Liverpool.

After Bajević left, Trond Sollied became coach. The club signed players like Michalis Konstantinou and Yaya Touré. In the 2005–06 season, Olympiacos won all four derbies against Panathinaikos and AEK Athens. They also won the Greek Cup Final 3–0, securing their second straight double. They set a record with 16 consecutive wins in the championship.

In 2007, Olympiacos made expensive transfers, including Luciano Galletti and Darko Kovačević. They sold Nery Castillo for a record €15 million. In the 2007–08 UEFA Champions League, they qualified for the last 16. They finished second in their group, tied with Real Madrid, and eliminated Werder Bremen and Lazio. Despite this, coach Takis Lemonis was replaced. Olympiacos still won both the Greek Championship and Cup.

In 2008, Ernesto Valverde became the new coach. Olympiacos signed players like Dudu Cearense and Avraam Papadopoulos. They were eliminated from the Champions League qualifiers but entered the UEFA Cup. They won the Greek Championship and Cup, completing their 14th double. They had impressive wins in the UEFA Cup against Benfica (5–1) and Hertha BSC (4–0).

In 2009, Olympiacos signed Olof Mellberg and Enzo Maresca. Brazilian legend Zico became coach. They qualified for the Champions League last 16. They finished second in their group behind Arsenal. They lost to Bordeaux in the knockout stage. Domestically, they beat Panathinaikos 2–0. However, they lost the championship to Panathinaikos and finished 5th in the league playoffs. This was their worst ranking since 1988.

New Leadership and More Titles (2010–2017)

Ernesto Valverde

Kevin Mirallas

In 2010, Evangelos Marinakis became the new owner. He brought back popular coach Ernesto Valverde. The team signed international players like Albert Riera, Ariel Ibagaza, and Kevin Mirallas. Olympiacos won the Greek title for the 38th time, 13 points ahead of Panathinaikos.

In the 2011–12 season, the team added players like Jean Makoun and Pablo Orbaiz. With Valverde still coaching, Olympiacos had a very successful year. They won both the Greek league and the Greek Cup, completing their 15th "Double". In the Champions League, they had a strong campaign. They earned nine points in a group with Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund. They narrowly missed the knockout stage due to a controversial result in another match. They then played in the UEFA Europa League, reaching the Last 16.

Olof Mellberg

Valverde left in 2012, and Leonardo Jardim became coach. The team played well in the league and Champions League. They won against Arsenal and Montpellier. Jardim was later replaced by Real Madrid legend Míchel. The team went on to win their 16th "Double". They won their 40th Greek Championship and 26th Greek Cup. The 40th title meant they added a fourth star to their emblem.

The 2013–14 season was also very successful. They signed players like Javier Saviola, Joel Campbell, and Roberto. In the 2013–14 UEFA Champions League, Olympiacos finished second in their group. They qualified for the Last 16, beating Benfica and Anderlecht. They faced Manchester United and won the first game 2–0. However, they lost 3–0 in the second game and were eliminated. Despite this, reaching the knockout stage for the third time in six years was a great achievement. Domestically, Olympiacos won their 41st Greek Championship easily.

In the 2014–15 season, Olympiacos played in the 2014–15 UEFA Champions League. They beat Atlético Madrid 3–2 and Juventus 1–0 at home. But they missed out on the knockout stage in the last game. They finished third and moved to the UEFA Europa League, where they were eliminated. Domestically, they won their 17th "Double". They won their 42nd Greek Championship and 27th Greek Cup.

Kostas Fortounis

The 2015–16 season saw Marco Silva become manager. The team added experienced players like Esteban Cambiasso and Kostas Fortounis. In the 2015–16 UEFA Champions League, they earned 9 points in a tough group. They had a memorable 3–2 away win against Arsenal. They continued in the 2015–16 UEFA Europa League but were eliminated. Olympiacos broke the record for most European wins by a Greek club. Domestically, they had a fantastic season. They won their 43rd Greek Championship in February, a national record for how early a title was clinched. They finished 30 points ahead of Panathinaikos. They also set a national record with 85 points and 28 wins in 30 games. However, they lost the Greek Cup final to AEK.

The 2016–17 season was challenging. They were eliminated from the Champions League qualifiers early. The club changed managers five times that season. Despite this, they qualified from their Europa League group. They reached the Last 16 but lost to Besiktas. Domestically, Olympiacos won their 44th Greek Championship. This was their seventh consecutive title, a record they achieved for the second time.

European Successes and More League Titles (2017–2023)

Mathieu Valbuena

In the 2017–18 season, Besnik Hasi became manager. The team signed new players like Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe and Mehdi Carcela. They qualified for the 2017–18 UEFA Champions League group stage. They were in a very tough group with Barcelona, Juventus, and Sporting CP. After a poor start, Hasi was replaced by Takis Lemonis. Olympiacos was eliminated from Europe before Christmas. They only got one point in the Champions League group stage. This was a setback compared to previous years. Domestically, they lost the Greek Cup in the quarter-finals. They also lost the league title to AEK, ending their run of seven consecutive championships. Pedro Martins was then appointed head coach.

In the 2018–19 season, Olympiacos tried to recover. They qualified for the Europa League group stages. They faced AC Milan, Real Betis, and F91 Dudelange. They needed a two-goal win against Milan in the last match to advance. They won 3–1 and eliminated Milan. Their European journey ended in the Round of 32 against Dynamo Kyiv. Domestically, they had a better season but finished second to PAOK. They also lost in the Greek Cup, ending the season without a trophy.

Despite not winning a domestic title, Pedro Martins stayed as manager. The team kept key players and added Mathieu Valbuena, Youssef El-Arabi, and Rúben Semedo. This led to one of their greatest seasons in the last decade. They comfortably qualified for the Champions League group stage. They were drawn with Bayern Munich, Tottenham Hotspur, and Red Star Belgrade. They drew with Spurs at home. They then lost three games but won their last game to continue in the Europa League.

In the Europa League Round of 32, they had a memorable moment. They eliminated their rivals Arsenal on away goals, with a late goal by El Arabi. They reached the Last 16 but lost to Wolves. Domestically, Olympiacos won their first league title since 2017. They finished with a record 91 points, 18 points ahead of PAOK. They also won the "Double" by beating AEK Athens in the Greek Cup final. This was one of their most successful seasons.

Youssef El-Arabi

The 2020–21 season started well. Olympiacos qualified for the Champions League group stage again. They had one win and five losses in a group with Porto, Manchester City, and Marseille. They finished third and moved to the Europa League. They beat PSV Eindhoven to reach the Round of 16. They faced Arsenal again but lost on aggregate, despite winning one game. Domestically, they dominated the league again. They finished 26 points above second-placed PAOK. However, they lost the Greek Cup final to PAOK.

In the 2021–22 season, Olympiacos was eliminated from the Champions League qualifiers. They then secured a Europa League group stage spot. They finished second in their group and qualified for the knockout play-offs. They were eliminated by Atalanta. They won another Greek League title. But they failed to win the Greek Cup for the second year in a row, again losing to PAOK. Martins remained manager for a fifth year.

After four seasons, Martins was fired in August 2022. Carlos Corberán became the new coach. He was later replaced by Michel, who also resigned. José Anigo finished the 2022–23 season as coach.

UEFA Europa Conference League and UEFA Youth League Winners (2023–24)

Olympiacos became the only Greek football club to have won a major UEFA competition, after their 2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League triumph.

The 2023–24 Season saw several coaching changes. Diego Martinez started as coach, then Carlos Carvalhal, and finally José Luis Mendilibar. Domestically, the club finished 3rd in the league and was eliminated from the Greek Cup.

However, this season's European campaign was the best in Olympiacos history. They qualified for the Europa League group stage. They finished 3rd in their group and moved to the Europa Conference League. After beating Ferencváros, they faced Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Round of 16. They lost the first game at home 1–4. But in the return match, they made an incredible comeback, winning 6–1 in extra time! This was one of the greatest comebacks in European football history.

Olympiacos eliminated Turkish club Fenerbahçe (2–3 on penalties) in the quarter-finals of the 2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League.

Reaching a European quarter-final for the first time since 1998–99, they faced Fenerbahçe. Olympiacos won the first game 3–2. The second game ended 1–0 for Fenerbahçe, leading to a penalty shootout. Goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis saved three penalties, helping Olympiacos win 3–2. This sent them to their first-ever European semi-final.

Ayoub El Kaabi, top scorer of the 2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League with 11 goals, scored the crucial goal in the 116th minute of the extra time in the Final.

In the semi-final, Olympiacos played Aston Villa, who were having a great season. Despite being seen as underdogs, Olympiacos crushed Villa with a 6–2 total score. Ayoub El Kaabi scored 5 goals in the two games. This meant a Greek club reached a European final for the first time since 1971. Their opponent in the final was Fiorentina, who had been in the final the previous year.

The final was held in Athens on May 29. It was a very tense game with few chances. It ended 0–0 after 90 minutes. In the 116th minute of extra time, El Kaabi scored with a header, making it 1–0. After a VAR check, the goal was confirmed. Olympiacos made history by becoming the only Greek football club to win a UEFA competition. Many people called this the greatest achievement in Greek football history, after the Greek national team's Euro 2004 victory.

Just five weeks before, the Olympiacos Youth U-19 team also won a major title. They won the UEFA Youth League by beating Milan in the final. This meant Olympiacos won two UEFA competitions in the same season! The youth team later played in the U20 Intercontinental Cup final but lost 2–1 to Flamengo.

Club Colors and Emblem

When Olympiacos was formed in 1925, its name was inspired by the Ancient Olympic Games. These games represented morality, competition, splendor, sportsmanship, and fair play. The club chose a laurel-crowned adolescent as its emblem. This symbol represents an Olympic Games winner. The emblem has changed slightly over the years. Red and white were chosen as the club's colors. Red stands for passion and victory, while white represents virtue and purity.

The team's usual uniform is a shirt with red and white vertical stripes. They wear red or white shorts and socks. The shirt stripes have varied in width over time. The second most common uniform is all-red, followed by all-white. Olympiacos has also used other colors for away or third kits, such as black or silver.

Kit Manufacturers and Shirt Sponsors

Olympiacos historical shirts

Since 1979, when football became professional in Greece, Olympiacos has had specific companies make their kits. Since 1982, they have also had shirt sponsors. The table below shows the companies that made Olympiacos' kits and sponsored their shirts over the years.

Home Stadium

The Karaiskakis Stadium during a 2009–10 UEFA Champions League fixture against Arsenal

The Karaiskakis Stadium is in Neo Faliro, Piraeus. It is the current and traditional home of Olympiacos since 2004. It can hold 32,115 people. This makes it the largest stadium in Greece used only for football. It is also the second largest football stadium overall. The stadium was built in 1895 as the Neo Phaliron Velodrome. It hosted cycling events for the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens. Olympiacos started using it in 1925. In 1964, the stadium was renovated and renamed after Georgios Karaiskakis, a Greek military hero.

Olympiacos temporarily moved to the Athens Olympic Stadium in 1984. They played there for five years. Then they returned to Karaiskakis until 1997. From 1997 to 2002, they played at the Athens Olympic Stadium again. In 2002, the Olympic Stadium closed for renovations for the 2004 Summer Olympics. Olympiacos then moved to the Georgios Kamaras Stadium for two seasons.

By 2003, the Karaiskakis Stadium was in poor condition. Olympiacos was given permission to build a new football-only stadium there. This new stadium would also be used for the 2004 Olympics. In return, Olympiacos got to use the stadium exclusively until 2052. They also agreed to pay for all maintenance costs. The old stadium was torn down in 2003. The new one was finished on June 30, 2004, costing €60 million. Today, the Karaiskakis Stadium is one of Europe's most modern football grounds. It also has the Olympiacos museum and other facilities.

Fan Support

Olympiacos fans provide their support with extreme passion at home, as well as away matches. Here, at the Karaiskakis Stadium against Chelsea for the knockout stage of the 2007–08 UEFA Champions League.

Mural at the Stadion Crvena Zvezda, Belgrade, featuring the brotherhood between the fans of Olympiacos and Red Star Belgrade.

Olympiacos' main fan base comes from Piraeus, where the club is located. They also have many fans in other parts of Athens. The club became very popular in the 1950s after winning many titles. They became the most supported football club in Greece. Traditionally, Olympiacos was seen as representing the working class. However, the club now has fans from all social groups.

Olympiacos is the most popular Greek club, according to UEFA and many surveys. Polls show that between 30% and 40% of Greek football fans support Olympiacos. This means about three and a half million supporters in Greece. They are very popular in Piraeus, with almost half the population supporting them. In Athens, about 30% of fans support Olympiacos. They are also the most popular club among the working class and all age groups.

Friendships

• Red Star Belgrade
• Spartak Moscow

In 2006, Olympiacos was among the top ten clubs worldwide with the most paying members. They had about 83,000 registered members. Olympiacos and Red Star Belgrade fans have a strong friendship. They call themselves the "Orthodox Brothers". Fans often attend each other's matches. More recently, fans of Spartak Moscow have also joined this group.

Olympiacos fans are known for their passionate support. The atmosphere at their home matches is often described as intimidating. When Newcastle United played at Karaiskakis Stadium in 2004–05, a commentator said it was one of the most atmospheric stadiums he had ever visited. Players like Jaroslav Plašil and Zlatan Ibrahimović have also praised the amazing support of Olympiacos fans. Ibrahimović said, "I never saw it live, but now I understand. It's amazing."

The Gate 7 Tragedy

The history of Karaiskakis Stadium includes a sad event. On February 8, 1981, Olympiacos played AEK Athens. Olympiacos won 6–0. Near the end of the game, thousands of Olympiacos fans at Gate 7 rushed to leave. They wanted to celebrate with the players. But the exit doors were almost closed, and the turnstiles were still in place. This made it very hard to exit. As more people came down the stairs, they couldn't see what was happening. The stairs at Gate 7 became a dangerous trap. People were crushed, many were injured, and twenty-one young people died, mostly from suffocation.

Every year on February 8, a memorial service is held at the stadium. It honors the supporters who died. Thousands of fans attend and chant, "Brothers, you live, you are the ones who guide us." At the part of the stadium where Gate 7 is, some seats are black instead of red, forming the number "7". There is also a monument with the names of the 21 supporters who died that day.

This event mainly affected Olympiacos fans. However, other teams also show their respect. They see it as a tragedy for all of Greek sports. Even foreign teams like Liverpool and Red Star Belgrade have honored the victims.

Club Rivalries

Olympiacos fans in Karaiskakis Stadium during a 3–2 derby win against rivals Panathinaikos.

Olympiacos' biggest rival is Panathinaikos. Their matches are called the "derby of the eternal enemies". It is the most famous football match in Greece and well-known worldwide. These two clubs are the most successful in Greece. Together, they have won 67 league titles (Olympiacos 47, Panathinaikos 20). They are also the most popular football clubs in Greece.

The rivalry also involves social and regional differences. Olympiacos, from the port of Piraeus, was traditionally popular with working-class people. Panathinaikos, from downtown Athens, was seen as representing higher social classes. However, these differences are less strong today. Recent incidents include a fan's death in 2007 during a fight between hooligans. Also, a derby in 2012 was stopped because of riots and fires at the stadium.

Olympiacos also has a rivalry with AEK Athens. This is another local derby in the Greek capital. They are part of the "Big three" clubs. There is also a strong rivalry with PAOK. This is a fierce rivalry between the most popular clubs of Athens and Thessaloniki, Greece's two largest cities. This rivalry grew in the 1960s over a player named Giorgos Koudas.

European and International Performance

The UEFA Europa Conference League trophy won by Olympiacos in the 2023–24 season.

Olympiacos is the most successful Greek football club in European competitions. They are the only club from Greece to have won a major European trophy. They won the UEFA Europa Conference League in 2023–24. They beat Fiorentina 1–0 in the final. This made them the first club outside the biggest four European leagues to win a UEFA competition since 2011.

They are also the highest-ranked Greek club in the UEFA rankings. They have the most wins in all European competitions among Greek clubs. They also have the most home and away wins. Olympiacos has played the most games at the European level. They celebrated their 200th European match in 2010. Olympiacos also holds the record for the highest attendance for a Greek club in Europe, with 75,263 fans.

Olympiacos has a long history in UEFA competitions. They first played in Europe on September 13, 1959, against Milan. They were the first Greek club to compete in a European competition. Olympiacos was also the first Greek club to advance to the next round of any European competition.

Besides their 2023–24 UEFA Conference League triumph, other major European successes include reaching the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League in 1998–99. They almost reached the semi-finals but lost in the last minutes to Juventus. They also reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1992–93.

Olympiacos players arrayed in Stamford Bridge, in the second match for the 2007–08 UEFA Champions League first knockout round against Chelsea.

Olympiacos has eliminated many famous clubs in Europe. These include Milan, Arsenal, Ajax, Benfica, Porto, Borussia Dortmund, and Aston Villa. They are known for being a strong home team in the UEFA Champions League. They had a streak of 15 unbeaten home matches in the Champions League. They also had 15 wins in 19 Champions League home matches between 2009–10 and 2014–15. They have many home wins against top European teams. From 2007 to 2016, Olympiacos played in the Champions League Group Stage seven times. They earned at least 9 points in each group. They qualified for the knockout stage (Last 16) three times.

Olympiacos also won the Balkans Cup in 1963. At that time, this competition was considered the second most important in the region. This made them the first Greek club to win an international competition.

The UEFA Youth League trophy won by Olympiacos U-19 in the 2023–24 season.

Another big European success was achieved by the Olympiacos U-19 team in the 2023–24 season. One month before the main team won the Conference League, the U-19 team won the UEFA Youth League. They beat AC Milan in the final. This meant Olympiacos won two out of four official UEFA club competitions in the 2023–24 season. They became the only club in European football to do this in the same season. The youth team also played in the U20 Intercontinental Cup final in 2024.

UEFA Competition Record

Best European Campaigns

UEFA Ranking

Current Ranking.

Rank	Team	Points
42	Braga	49.000
43	Marseille	48.000
44	Olympiacos	48.000
45	Lille	47.000
46	Gent	45.000

5-year club ranking at the end of season 2018–19.

Rank	Club	Points gained in season					Total
		2019–20	2020–21	2021–22	2022–23	2023–24
42	Braga	10.000	9.000	16.000	7.000	7.000	49.000
43	Marseille	–	6.000	16.000	8.000	18.000	48.000
	Olympiacos	10.000	10.000	8.000	3.000	17.000	48.000
45	Lille	5.000	8.000	17.000	–	17.000	47.000
46	Gent	10.000	3.000	11.000	11.000	10.000	45.000

10-year club ranking at the end of season 2023–24.

Rank	Club	Points gained in season										Total
		2014–15	2015–16	2016–17	2017–18	2018–19	2019–20	2020–21	2021–22	2022–23	2023–24
30	Atalanta	–	–	–	11.000	2.500	20.000	17.000	16.000	–	28.000	94.500
31	Zenit St. Petersburg	17.000	19.000	12.000	14.000	10.000	9.000	5.000	8.000	–	–	94.000
32	Olympiacos	11.000	10.000	10.000	5.000	8.000	10.000	10.000	8.000	3.000	17.000	92.000
32	Dynamo Kyiv	16.000	18.000	8.000	12.000	11.000	6.000	10.000	5.000	3.000	2.500	91.500
33	Lazio	–	14.000	–	17.000	6.000	4.000	17.000	9.000	6.000	18.000	91.000

Club Achievements

International Titles (3)

• UEFA Europa Conference League
  • Winners (1): 2023–24
• UEFA Youth League
  • Winners (1): 2023–24
• Balkans Cup
  • Winners (1): 1963

National Titles (79)

• Super League Greece
  • Winners (47) (record): 1930–31, 1932–33, 1933–34, 1935–36, 1936–37, 1937–38, 1946–47, 1947–48, 1950–51, 1953–54, 1954–55, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1965–66, 1966–67, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1986–87, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22
• Greek Cup
  • Winners (28) (record): 1946–47, 1950–51, 1951–52, 1952–53, 1953–54, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1960–61, 1962–63, 1964–65, 1967–68, 1970–71, 1972–73, 1974–75, 1980–81, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1998–99, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2019–20
• Greek Super Cup
  • Winners (4) (record): 1980, 1987, 1992, 2007
• Doubles
  • Winners (18) (record): 1946–47, 1950–51, 1953–54, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1972–73, 1974–75, 1980–81, 1998–99, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2019–20

Regional Titles (25)

• Piraeus FCA Championship
  • Winners (25) (record): 1925, 1926, 1927, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1934, 1935, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959

Other Titles (25)

• Easter Cup
  • Winners (11) (record): 1928, 1929, 1934, 1936, 1943, 1945, 1946, 1949, 1951, 1953, 1959
• Christmas cup
  • Winners (11) (record): 1943, 1948, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1956, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962
• Greater Greece Cup
  • Winners (3) (record): 1969, 1972, 1976

Player Statistics

Greek Championship Records

Top Scorers

This table shows Olympiacos' top scorers in all official competitions.

This table shows Olympiacos' top scorers only in the Greek championship.

Olympiacos' top scorers in European competitions.

Images for kids

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  Olympiacos historical shirts

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  Olympiacos historical shirts

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  Olympiacos historical shirts

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  Olympiacos historical shirts

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  Olympiacos historical shirts

See also

In Spanish: Olympiakos Fútbol Club para niños

• Olympiacos B
• Olympiacos CFP
• Olympiacos F.C. Youth Academy
• European Club Association
• List of Olympiacos F.C. players
• Olympiacos F.C. in European football