In the build-up to Wednesday’s great friendly against Athletic Bilbao, the Legend made also on Monday the official presentation of the club’s new signing Eric Abidal in the Vʼ Ammos hall of “G. Karaiskakis Stadium”.
The club’s Communication Officer Mr. Kostas Karapappas welcomed all attendants to the Press Conference and commented on the illustrious encounter against Ernesto Valverde’s Athletic Bilbao; he also made reference to the club’s goal that, apart from the pre-season training ahead of the new season, is to underpin UNICEF’s work “with which our side keeps on walking hand-in-hand for another year down the path of humanitarianism and solidarity”, as he distinctively stated, since all match proceeds will be donated to this charitable cause.
Mr. Karapappas, for his part, welcomed Eric Abidal and pinpointed his great value as a football player, but also his significant social work enhanced furthermore during his Barcelona spell, with which our side is linked by means of UNICEF’s sacred mission.
Then, an OlympiacosTV video was displayed dedicated to Wednesday’s notable fixture and the floor was given to the Club’s Managing Director Mr. Ioannis Vrentzos, who stressed:
“For us, it is very important that our first 2014-2015 fixture before our fans is dedicated to our partnership with UNICEF. This is our second year of collaboration, which has been crowned with success until now and made a buzz worldwide. This partnership is entering its 2nd year and the UNICEF logo will be gracing our side’s jersey for one more year both in Greece and abroad. We believe that everyone in the Olympiacos family has lots of reasons to attend the match on Wednesday. One of them is that all proceeds will be given to UNICEF to be used for our partnership’s objectives.
The second reason is that we will face a really strong side of Champions League caliber, namely Athletic Bilbao. At this point, I would like to thank Athletic Bilbao’s management since they contribute themselves, by means of their participation, to our partnership’s objectives. Athletic is a great side, with its own unique football philosophy, having a t the end of its bench a certain individual who has made history with Olympiacos, Ernesto Valverde. 4 years ago, when Ernesto was to return to Olympiacos, when the side was out of all European contests, facing various problems and with Greece entering a major crisis, very few expected the way Olympiacos evolved within 4 years. Now, Olympiacos stands as a paradigm Europe-wide as also indicated by our presence in the US and has become a member of world football elite. I believe that Ernesto, like all people who love Olympiacos, is proud of how Olympiacos, after his spell, continued to grow and achieve more and more things. I think that Ernesto’s return is another important reason for everybody to attend Wednesday’s match.
Last but probably most important of all, this is a chance for our fans to watch our players in live action for the first time this year; this is a side that keeps on improving, as a result of Mr. Michel’s hard work together with his staff, the players and all people involved with the team, and carries on delivering our master plan. Of course our fans will have the opportunity to watch our club’s new signings who add more to the side’s quality and seem ready to help us continue down a path filled with moments of success.
Talking about new signings, I can’t help but make reference to Eric Abidal; a fantastic football player, an incredible athlete, but most of all a remarkable individual. His attitude is a living example for all of us. He is nothing sort of a jewel for our club”.
Then, the floor was given to the Strategic Advisor to the Administration, Mr. Christian Karembeu:
“Today is a great day, because we present to you two events of major importance; the arrival of a great player, Eric Abidal, who is most welcome in the Olympiacos family, and the forthcoming match against Athletic Bilbao.
I will not give you a thorough presentation of Eric Abidal, since you all know his background and contribution to football history. However, it is very important that we will share with Eric Abidal and all of you this notable friendly against Athletic Bilbao; I also have to mention the fact that another great Barcelona player is joining our side, following Giovanni and Rivaldo; this time it is Eric Abidal.
Both events are significant: both the match for UNICEF and the signing of Eric Abidal who as of today is an official member of our club; of equal importance has been the side’s presence in the US, in Chicago, which provided our side with a brand new dimension. Why do I make reference to Chicago? Because via Chicago, our partnership with UNICEF becomes global. The work we started with Mr. Marinakis continues and we will continue our work by means of the Olympiacos Foundation.
Today, I want to state how proud we, all members of the Olympiacos family, are for presenting to you such a great player. Personally and on behalf of Olympiacos, I would like to welcome him in this big family of Olympiacos. He certainly has many things to offer; not just his football skills, but also his advice. I am certain that such an individual of great charisma will help our side, which is young, by means of his advice, moral teachings and support both in terms of football and of our venture launched with UNICEF. I would like to particularly focus on the Barcelona issue, since they also bear the UNICEF logo on their jersey. We know that Abidal has played in other major sides, like Lyon, Monaco, and it is not accidental that he decided to join another great club, Olympiacos. He is equally very active in social matters and, thanks to his football caliber, he will offer everything to support Olympiacos efforts to this cause.
In any case, I would like to thank Mr. Vrentzos and everyone who helped bring Abidal to the club. I want to thank Ernesto Valverde for the Wednesday match and to show you, by means of this match and based on respect earned, that we can gradually build strong foundations for a great future Olympiacos.
Welcome to the club, Eric!”
Then Eric Abidal said a few words:
“It is truly a great joy for me to have signed with such a top club like Olympiacos. I really wanted join a side known to everyone and that remains always in the forefront of European football. For my part, I want to stress that I will try really hard to contribute with my knowledge and experience and help the club grow more into a construction, as Christian stated, with strong foundations. I want to thank the team staff, especially the President, who did everything possible to bring me here and for his trust on me. I am not the type of player who joins a club and stands around. In any club I have been, I try to give everything and my sweat will be proof of that.
I am really glad for being part of this effort for UNICEF which I have started when I was in Barcelona and being able to keep it rolling here in Olympiacos. I am twice as happy because this effort is concentrated on children and we have to do everything for them”.
Then, Mr. Vrentzos and Mr. Karembeu presented Abidal with his new, number 22 jersey.
Following that, Mr. Karapappas presented the special line of t-shirts available from Wednesday onwards at the Red Store with the “Olympiacos for life” slogan printed both in Greek and English; all revenues from their sales will go to UNICEF.
Then, it was time for the Press to submit their questions to Abidal:
On his goals under Olympiacos flag given his experience in top clubs and on how he can assist the club take the next step and improve furthermore its game:
“During my football career, I have won many titles, but this doesn’t mean that I won’t do anything for my next club to achieve its own. There is already a project going and I will add my bit to that. I know that I joined an ambitious club that is thirsty for more victories. As Christian said, this is a new team and I want but to help, by means of my experience, the side follow the path already selected. I always seek to win, I am a professional and to win is always my goal. I love my job, I am 34 years-old and I am still thirsty for more football. Rest assured that when my thirst is quenched, I will quit football. But this is not the case today”.
On whether he believes that he may get another European title under his belt and whether his Barcelona teammates’ decision to let him lift first the 2011 Champions League trophy was the most particular moment of his career:
“In 2011 I experienced a great moment, it is very-very important for anyone to lift such a trophy high in the air. I was really lucky I was part of such a great team. What my teammates did for me is something I will never forget; I don’t think it has ever happened before. However, many other things also happened behind the curtain that you don’t know of and it was something extraordinary. As for whether I will win another European title, I am not interested in lifting the cup myself; I came here to contribute to a team effort and, why not, help the side win such a trophy. It is something that we will do all together and we will fight together to help the club achieve its goals”.
On his first impressions of the team and his contact with the Legend’s fans in the US:
“I am really happy to be here. I am happy to be a member of the Olympiacos family. One of the main reasons that makes our profession more beautiful is when one gives joy to the fans. This is what breathes life and happiness also in us. One of the few things that apparently I have to do, is to adapt. I want to learn Greek, no matter how complicated and difficult it may sound!
I was surprised by the love and received and the number of Olympiacos fans in the US. Greece is a country that loves football. What I want to do is to make sure that this side, wherever it plays, will get this kind of welcome and expression of love by the people; thus, we will all be able to reach our objectives both in terms of football, and society”
The Press Conference ended with a question addressed to Mr. Vrentzos on how difficult it is to sign such top players, like Eric Abidal and Ibrahim Afellay in a Greek club and whether this proves that Olympiacos has grown in Europe over the past years:
The campaigns of Olympiacos and the club’s activities both inside and outside the pitch, do help a lot in bringing such important players, like Eric, to Greece. Great figures like Eric and individuals like Mr. Michel and Christian help too and this is another important reason why great players come to Olympiacos. Great football players now understand that, when signing to Olympiacos, they will be able to perform at top level in Europe. They are aware of the fact that they join a side filled with ambition also in European contests that may claim and achieve significant qualifications; this proper course of ours in Europe will be stepping stone for those players to go the extra mile in European football. Maybe, this is not the case for Eric with such an illustrious career, and other important players who join us at a great age and feel ready to offer. One has to admit that the generic image of Greek football, the state of affairs in other clubs –not in Olympiacos- do not help to this end. However, our concern will be to help Greek football reach even further since this will help Olympiacos’ efforts to bring some important players even closer and to build an ever more glorious team”.
Click HERE for photos from the presentation.
