A “great” has arrived at Olympiacos, officially beginning the Imanol Alguacil era at the popular Piraeus club on Thursday, with the 55-year-old Basque coach taking charge of the Reds to commence a new chapter in his career.
His challenge is to build on the success he achieved at Real Sociedad, where he became a hugely respected figure in San Sebastián and created a team capable of competing at the highest levels of Spanish and European football.
That is where the “Imanol the Great” nickname comes from. During his time at the helm of the Spanish team, Alguacil transformed Real Sociedad into one of La Liga’s leading contenders and guided the club to the Copa del Rey title in 2020, its first major trophy in 34 years. He also led the club back to the Champions League, boosting his reputation as one of the leading coaches of his generation in Spain.
Alguacil’s work has earned praise from some of the game’s biggest names.
The “Special One” José Mourinho said of him: “It is difficult to find weaknesses in Real Sociedad. Imanol is a very good coach and prepares his team extremely well. Apart from their quality, they are also capable of changing systems from one match to another, even during the same game.”
Veteran Athletico Madrid skipper Diego Simeone has also praised his work: “He has done a tremendous and impressive job since taking over at Real Sociedad. He has clearly established the team’s identity and it is a pleasure to watch them play.”
Another Spanish great, Luis Enrique, was similarly emphatic: “Real Sociedad is the Spanish team that plays the best football, without a doubt. Imanol Alguacil deserves congratulations.”
A Real Sociedad legend
Alguacil restored Real Sociedad to the La Liga elite and became synonymous with the club. Essentially, he’s been a “soldier” of Real Sociedad throughout his career — as a player, assistant coach and manager.
He was not one of the club’s biggest stars as a player, holding down the right side of the defense and making 121 La Liga appearances for Real Sociedad and Villarreal. In 2014, he took charge of Real Sociedad B, remaining there for about four years and developing an ability to identify players before they became established first-team fixtures.
In 2018, he took charge of the senior team to begin his major football journey in San Sebastián.
Alguacil inherited a talented team that, however, lacked consistency. Over the following years, he built Real Sociedad into a powerful side. The Copa del Rey triumph in 2020 and the club’s return to the Champions League play in 2022-23, after a decade-long absence, were among his biggest achievements.
Real Sociedad finished fourth in La Liga to qualify for the Champions League and subsequently topped its group ahead of Inter Milan and Benfica before being eliminated by Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16.
Under Alguacil, Real Sociedad qualified for European competition for six consecutive seasons, a run that represented a major transformation for the club.
From 2018 to 2025, Alguacil spent six and a half seasons in charge of Real Sociedad before leaving Spain for Saudi Arabia to coach Al-Shabab. He ended his spell there last February.
An offense-minded football style in tandem with pressing everywhere on the pitch
Alguacil is an advocate of an attacking style of football, something that clearly influenced Olympiacos’ decision to appoint him, as he fits the club’s football identity.
His approach is built around possession, pressing the opponents high up the pitch, intensity, aggressive defending, quick recovery of the ball, vertical football, academy development and tactical flexibility.
He’s not interested in ball possession for its own sake. He wants the ball in order to attack.
That goes hand in hand with the intensity he demands from his teams. They press high on the field rather than wait passively for the opponent, while their defensive work begins with the attack.
Alguacil does not build his teams around a deep defensive backfield before looking for ways to switch to the attack. He wants his players high up the pitch, with several players around the ball, so that they can win it back immediately after losing it. Chasing down second balls are also an important part of his game.
Developing young players
Another defining aspect of Alguacil’s philosophy at Real Sociedad was his ability to improve and develop young players, turning them into top-flight footballers.
Players who worked under him include Mikel Merino, Martín Zubimendi, Robin Le Normand, Alexander Isak and Martin Ødegaard. His work with young players became a central part of Real Sociedad’s development model.
Why he fits Olympiacos
Tactically, Alguacil has used several formations, including 4-3-3, 4-1-4-1 and 4-2-3-1. He is not a coach tied to one system, although the 4-1-4-1 has been an important reference point in his approach.
That flexibility could make him a strong fit for an Olympiacos side where attacking and attractive football are considered non-negotiable.
Alguacil has the stature Olympiacos needs without being a stereotypical star coach. His career suggests a manager capable of operating within an organized football project, building a team over time and developing players while maintaining competitive standards.
His style of football also matches the demands of Olympiacos. In Greece, the club is generally expected to possess the ball more than its opponent; to attack, press, dominate, play high up the pitch and break down defenses. Alguacil wants precisely that.
He has experience turning possession into attacking pressure. Olympiacos does not simply need high possession figures; it needs possession, pressure, recovery and another attack.
Alguacil’s European experience and ability to build competitive teams make his arrival in Piraeus particularly significant at this stage of Olympiacos’ development. The Reds are looking to Alguacil to take an already powerful squad to another, higher level.
