A fire chief who arrives and leads your team to victory.

In a stunning turn of events, Olympiacos emerged victorious in the UEFA Europa Conference League final, defeating Fiorentina 1-0 in extra time. The triumph was made even more remarkable by the fact that Olympiacos had a challenging start to their 2023/24 campaign.

Jose Luis Mendilibar, the Spanish manager who joined the Thrylos in February, played a pivotal role in transforming the struggling side into champions. Mendilibar’s ability to turn a season around has been widely praised by pundits. Don Hutchison, in particular, commended the manager’s remarkable achievements.

“Firefighter managers usually come in to save a club from relegation,” Hutchison said. “But Mendilibar is a firefighter manager who not only keeps the club up but also wins trophies. It’s incredible what he has accomplished, both at Sevilla and now at Olympiacos.”

James Horncastle echoed Hutchison’s sentiments, highlighting the resilience that Mendilibar has instilled in his team. Horncastle pointed out the team’s comeback from a 4-1 deficit against Maccabi Tel-Aviv and their shootout victory against Fenerbahce in Istanbul. He also acknowledged the challenge of defeating a Premier League team with a formidable coach and resources. Overall, Horncastle described Mendilibar’s job as outstanding.

The hero of the night was Ayoub El Kaabi, who scored the winning goal four minutes before the end of extra time. This was El Kaabi’s debut season in European competition, and his performance was nothing short of impressive. Raised in Casablanca, El Kaabi had humble beginnings, leaving school at a young age and working various jobs before signing professional terms with Racing Athletique Club in Morocco.

The final was not without its intriguing subplots, one of which involved Olympiacos forward Stevan Jovetic. Jovetic, who spent five years at Fiorentina, couldn’t contain his excitement after the victory but was quick to acknowledge his former team. He praised Fiorentina for reaching the final two years in a row and commended them as an amazing team.

Overall, it was a night of celebration for Olympiacos and Mendilibar, who proved once again his ability to turn struggling sides into champions. The victory marked a historic moment for the Greek club and showcased the resilience and determination instilled by their manager. As the team revels in their success, they can look forward to a bright future under Mendilibar’s guidance.