Olympiacos have held discussions with candidate head coaches as the Greek club evaluate the future of manager José Luis Mendilibar, according to reporter Vasilis Konstantopoulos on protothema.gr broadcast The Football Show by Stoiximan.
Describing the mood inside the Piraeus club as the calm before the storm, Konstantopoulos reported that internal contacts with alternative managers have taken place in recent days to prepare for potential changes on the bench.
The coaching uncertainty comes amid a major administrative restructuring in the football department following the departure of sports executive Darko Kovacevic and the return of Antonio Cordón.
Restructuring of football department
Cordón, a Spanish executive who previously stepped down from his role at Olympiacos due to personal reasons, returns to assume a significantly enhanced and centralized role across the entire football division.
Konstantopoulos explained that club decision makers intend for Cordón to oversee overall operations and hold direct responsibility for transfer business, streamlining management into a single authoritative voice.
Olympiacos, based in the port city of Piraeus, are Greece's most successful domestic football club. Cordón previously built a strong executive reputation across European football during tenures at Spanish sides Real Betis and Villarreal as well as French club Monaco before his initial stint in Greece.
Former Serbia international striker Kovacevic had served in technical and advisory roles for the red-and-whites across multiple periods following his playing career at the Karaiskakis Stadium.
Pressure mounts ahead of upcoming fixtures
Mendilibar took charge of Olympiacos in February 2024 and guided the team to historic victory in the UEFA Europa Conference League later that season, becoming the first manager to lead a Greek club to a major European trophy.
However, recent domestic and European performances have placed the Spanish coach under severe pressure, with upcoming match results expected to prove decisive for his tenure.
Konstantopoulos highlighted that Olympiacos face an upcoming fixture against OFI Crete in Piraeus, adding that time for Mendilibar to reverse the situation is now extremely narrow.
Speculation surrounding the manager has intensified, with reports indicating Mendilibar could potentially be replaced before Olympiacos take on Polish outfit Jagiellonia Białystok in the UEFA Europa League.
Addressing the prospect of a managerial change, Konstantopoulos said any departure should be handled in a fitting manner, suggesting a formal meeting between Mendilibar and Cordón take place before a new head coach is presented.
