It was June 18, 2010, when Evangelos Marinakis assumed leadership of Olympiacos FC, steering it to the pinnacle of its history by winning two European trophies! In these 14 years, under his guidance, Olympiacos has ascended to new levels both domestically and internationally, not just in sporting terms but also socially, providing significant aid to those in genuine need.
Upon taking over the club, Evangelos Marinakis also propelled Olympiacos’ non-professional teams, establishing the club as the world’s leading multi-sport organization, now boasting 314 titles across all major team sports, including European trophies in sports like water polo and volleyball!
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The Five Stars on the Legend’s Emblem
During Evangelos Marinakis’ tenure, Olympiacos has won ten football league titles, four cups, and four doubles! The club’s growth and ultimate acclaim peaked in the 2023-2024 season. The youth team of the club won the UEFA Youth League, defeating teams like Inter, Bayern, and Milan. This was followed by a climax with the first team, which triumphed over Fiorentina at the “OPAP Arena” to win the UEFA Europa Conference League, preceded by a legendary comeback against Maccabi Tel Aviv and victories over Ferencvaros, Fenerbahce, and Aston Villa!
After winning the Conference League, Olympiacos’ emblem was updated, now featuring five stars above the laurel-crowned youth. Four stars represent the club’s 47 league titles, and the fifth, larger star symbolizes the first European title won by a Greek football team!
The Giants that kneeled before the “Red and White” Greatness
In the 14 years with Evangelos Marinakis at the helm, Olympiacos has achieved remarkable victories and qualifications in Europe, across all UEFA competitions. While the pinnacle was the triumph over Fiorentina, leading the club to a European trophy and thus making history, giants like Borussia Dortmund, Milan, Benfica, Manchester United, Juventus, Atlético de Madrid, West Ham, Marseille, and Arsenal have all bowed to the greatness of Olympiacos! Additionally, under Evangelos Marinakis’ leadership, Olympiacos reached its highest-ever position in European history, ranking 21st!
The Sky is the Limit
All these years, Olympiacos has managed to change its status in Europe, placing significant emphasis on infrastructure and organization beyond the competitive aspect. As a result, the Legend now boasts facilities comparable to those of Europe’s major clubs, as Olympiacos itself is among them. Evangelos Marinakis has invested in the “G. Karaiskakis” stadium and the Renti Training Center, which has been radically transformed into a top-class facility, now considered one of the top training centers in Europe
These facilities have been where Olympiacos’ academy players train and prepare for the future over the years, consistently bringing success to the club, most notably during the recent season. This includes winning the Super League U19 for the second consecutive year and the UEFA Youth League!
Additionally, the development of Olympiacos’ football school network continues, spreading across Greece and the world, with schools now in America, Canada, Australia, Dubai, and Europe
The World’s Leading Multi-Sport Club
From the outset, Evangelos Marinakis has supported the club’s non-professional divisions, offering tens of millions of euros! With his support, Olympiacos S.F.P. has become the ultimate powerhouse in Greece and has conquered Europe!
In the past 14 years, Olympiacos S.F.P. has won 17 titles, including ten European titles in major team sports! This includes seven European titles in women’s water polo and one each in men’s water polo, men’s volleyball, and women’s volleyball, making it the most successful multi-sport club in the world, with achievements at all levels. Under Evangelos Marinakis’ presidency, the club has also surpassed 300 titles in all team sports, reaching 314!
The consistency and hard work are evident not only through titles but also through investment and development. During Evangelos Marinakis’ tenure, other non-professional divisions were developed or even created, such as women’s basketball and men’s handball, which quickly brought new titles and successes to the club. The handball division, for instance, not only won the championship in the 2023-2024 season but also reached the final of a European competition, the European Cup, for the first time.
Always Supporting Others, Years of Lifesaving Contributions
Olympiacos has developed and expanded its social work in recent years, fulfilling Evangelos Marinakis’ desire for Olympiacos to stand by everyone and consistently prove it is more than just a sports club. The President of Olympiacos himself has long supported many Greek and international charitable organizations, both privately and as the leader and owner of Olympiacos. He has provided immense aid to those in need, and the Legend’s social contribution has become a daily reality for the club. Let’s look at some examples…
– In December 2010, Olympiacos, in collaboration with the UN, hosted the 8th Match Against Poverty at “G. Karaiskakis” Stadium, featuring Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo. The proceeds were donated to help the populations of Pakistan and Haiti who were in crisis. Olympiacos invited more than 50 footballers from teams around the world to play in a star-studded game, broadcast live in over 30 countries.
– In 2011, Evangelos Marinakis supported Japan’s rebuilding efforts following the devastating 2011 tsunami. Olympiacos was the first international football team to reach out to Japanese representatives, inviting the Japanese Ambassador to a special ceremony where he received a check from the team to aid the disaster relief.
– In 2012, through the NGO Greece Debt Free, 1,364,000 euros of Greek debt was bought out, with 168,590 euros donated on behalf of 55 Olympiacos FC players and staff.
– In 2013, Olympiacos and UNICEF announced their partnership in a global initiative, UNICEF’s 100% Campaign, to fund child vaccination programs in various countries facing severe health risks. That same year, Evangelos Marinakis significantly supported the Steven Gerrard Foundation, a well-known charity focusing on disadvantaged children and those suffering from serious illnesses.
– Annually since 2010, Olympiacos and Evangelos Marinakis have provided moral and financial support to the “Elpida” Association of Friends of Children with Cancer. They keep the flame of life burning for some very special individuals—children with neoplastic diseases.
– Since 2014, Evangelos Marinakis and Olympiacos have been major sponsors of the Nikos Kazantzakis Museum in Myrtia, Heraklion, actively supporting its daily operations and the events it organizes to promote the work of the great thinker and writer.
– Inspired and guided by Evangelos Marinakis, Olympiacos made a humanitarian intervention during the refugee crisis. From March 4, 2016, for two months until the state mechanism took over, Olympiacos provided food, water, clothing, and footwear to the refugees at the Piraeus port gates. Over 70,000 food portions were distributed, and clothing items and toys reached 150,000.
– Since 2016, Evangelos Marinakis has actively supported Harvard University’s project on the Right to Participate in Sports Without Discrimination on an international scale. That same year, he launched the program “Together in Life! – Together in Olympiacos!” Students with intellectual disabilities from Special Schools in Piraeus trained at the Olympiacos Academy. This program was recognized as European Best Practice in Ulster University’s research “The Engagement of Disabled People in European Football – Best Practice Cases” conducted for UEFA.
– In 2017, Evangelos Marinakis, through Olympiacos FC, made a donation in memory of his father, Miltiadis Marinakis, to the Northern Greece Association for People with Congenital Heart Defects “Children’s Hearts” for the purchase of equipment for the Adult Congenital Heart Disease Clinic of the First Cardiology Department of AHEPA Hospital. That same year, under the direction of Evangelos Marinakis, the entire Olympiacos organization provided substantial support to the flood victims in Mandra, Attica. Similarly, in 2021, Olympiacos supported the earthquake-affected areas of Arkalochori and Kastelli, as well as Elassona in Larissa. They also stood by the residents of Evia in 2021, who suffered from devastating summer fires.
– In April 2022, Olympiacos, led by Evangelos Marinakis, showed their support for Ukrainian refugees of the bloody war with Russia by hosting a friendly match with Shakhtar Donetsk at Karaiskakis Stadium. The proceeds from the “Match for Peace,” amounting to 102,000 euros, were dedicated exclusively to providing humanitarian aid to the victims and addressing the needs of war refugees.
– Starting from the 2022-23 season, Olympiacos became the first team in Europe to permanently install an audio description service for visually impaired individuals at all matches at “G. Karaiskakis” Stadium, in collaboration with Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences.
– For years, Vangelis Marinakis has been financially supporting the work of the Holy Metropolis of Piraeus, enhancing their soup kitchen programs that feed thousands of people daily.
– The devastating floods in September 2023 did not leave Evangelos Marinakis unmoved. On his initiative, trucks were sent to Volos with 30,000 bottles of water and to Karditsa with 25,000 bottles of water, boxes of dry food, and essential items for the elderly.
14 years of lifesaving contributions from Olympiacos and Evangelos Marinakis… 14 years of joy and pride!
