Olympiacos women's water polo team

Olympiacos Women's Water Polo Club is the women's water polo department of the major Greek multi-sport club Olympiacos, based in Piraeus. The department was founded in 1988 and they play their games at the 1000-seated Papastrateio "Petros Kapagerof" Pool in Piraeus.[2]

Olympiacos
NicknameThrylos (The Legend)
Gorgones (The Mermaids)
Erythrolefkes (The Red-Whites)
Founded1988
LeagueA1 Ethniki Water Polo
LEN Euroleague
Based inPiraeus, Greece
ArenaPapastrateio Pool Piraeus
Colors    Red, White
PresidentGreece Michalis Kountouris
Head coachGreece Dimitris Kravaritis
Championships3 LEN Champions League
3 LEN Super Cup
1 LEN Euro Cup
2 Quadruple Crowns[1]
1 Continental Treble
15 Greek Championships
5 Greek Cups
1 Greek Super Cup
Websiteolympiacossfp.gr

European trophies and successes

Olympiacos is one of the most successful clubs in European water polo, having won 3 LEN Euro Leagues in 2015, 2021[3] and 2022, 3 LEN Super Cups in 2015, 2021, 2022 and 1 LEN Trophy in 2014[4] and having overall a commanding presence in European competitions. Besides the 3 LEN Euro Leagues, 3 LEN Super Cups and 1 LEN Trophy titles, they were runners-up of the LEN Euro League in 2017 and 2019, runners-up of the LEN Super Cup in 2014, runners-up of the LEN Trophy in 2008 and 2018[5] and they have participated, altogether, in 9 Champions' Cup / Euro League Final Fours (1996, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022),[6] as well as in 5 LEN Trophy Final Fours (2001, 2007, 2008, 2014, 2018), being semi-finalists of the same competition in 2009 and 2012.[7] [8]

In 2014 Olympiacos won the LEN Trophy in the Final Four in Florence, beating home team Firenze 10–9 in the final. One year later, Olympiacos were crowned European Champions,[9] winning the LEN Euro League in the 2015 Final Four in Piraeus, after a 10–9 win in the final against the then-reigning champions Sabadell, who were undefeated for more than 3 years with 115 consecutive wins in all competitions.[10] Olympiacos lifted the LEN Euro League title undefeated and having won 8 straight matches without even a single draw. Subsequently, Olympiacos won the 2015 LEN Super Cup as well, defeating Plebiscito Padova, thus completing a continental Treble[11] in 2015 (LEN Euro League, LEN Super Cup, Greek Championship), winning season's all three available titles.[12]

In 2021 Olympiacos won their second LEN Euro League title in Budapest, beating home teams UVSE (9–8 in the semi-final) and Dunaújvárosi (7–6 in the final) with a roster composed entirely of Greek players. They went on to win the Greek League and the Greek Cup, thus completing the first ever Triple Crown for a Greek club in the sport's history, which eventually became a Quadruple Crown after winning the 2021 LEN Super Cup.

In 2022 Olympiacos were crowned back-to-back European Champions in Piraeus, beating UVSE (18–11 in the semi-final) and Sabadell (11–7 in the final). They went on to win the Greek League, the Greek Cup and the 2022 LEN Super Cup, thus completing the second (back-to-back) Quadruple Crown in their history.

After the 2015 LEN Euroleague win of Olympiacos women's water polo team, Olympiacos CFP became the only multi-sport club in European water polo history after Pro Recco to have been crowned European Champions with both its men's and women's departments,[13] and the only club with both its departments currently active (Pro Recco Women's department has been dissolved since 2012).[14]

Domestically, Olympiacos is the most successful Greek club, having won a record 14 Greek Championships, a record 5 Greek Cups, a record 1 Greek Super Cup and a record 5 Doubles. They also hold the all-time record for the most consecutive Greek Championships, as they are the only team to have won 10 consecutive Greek Championship titles (2014–2023). They won their first two titles in 1995 and 1998, but their best performance in the league came after coach Charis Pavlidis' arrival in 2007. Beginning from season 2010–11, Olympiacos has won eleven Greek Championships in thirteen seasons (2011, 2014–2023). In the 2015–16, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons, Olympiacos won the Greek Championship undefeated, winning every game in both the regular season and the play-offs. They won the first-ever Greek Cup which was held in 2017–18 season and the first-ever Greek Super Cup held in 2020.[15][16]

History

Some of the greatest players in the world (many of them Olympic medalists and World Champions) have played for Olympiacos over the years including: Iefke van Belkum, Alexandra Asimaki, Yasemin Smit, Lauren Wenger, Ashleigh Southern, Bronwen Knox, Roberta Bianconi, Giulia Emmolo, Kami Craig, Jordan Raney, Triantafyllia Manolioudaki, Alkisti Avramidou, Eleftheria Plevritou, Margarita Plevritou, Chrysi Diamantopoulou, Vaso Plevritou, Nikoleta Eleftheriadou, Stavroula Antonakou, Ilektra Psouni, Angeliki Karapataki, Antonia Moraiti, Evi Moraitidou, Anthoula Mylonaki, Dimitra Asilian, Eftychia Karagianni, Maria Kanellopoulou, Christina Tsoukala, Eleni Xenaki, Ioanna Stamatopoulou, Kyra Christmas, Brigitte Sleeking, Kyriaki Liosi, Patricia del Soto, Blanca Gil, Barbara Bujka, Ágnes Valkai, Vaso Mavrelou, Maria Balomenaki, Ann Dow, Camila Pedrosa, Sun Yating, Eszter Tomaskovics, Maria Tsouri and Assel Jakayeva.

Charis Pavlidis era and absolute domination (2007–2021)

Roster

2024–2025
Squad as of June 2024

NumberNationalityPlayerHeightDate of Birth
Goalkeepers (3)
1 - Divina Nigro1.7713/11/1997
17 Stavroula Doureka1.6205/04/1997
Defense (3)
8 Margarita Plevritou (C)1.7817/11/1994
9 Sofia Tornarou1.7423/07/2004
Offense (2)
12 Maria Myriokefalitaki1.8408/01/2001
Midfield (7)
4 Nikoleta Eleftheriadou1.7417/01/1998
5 Foteini Tricha1.7426/04/2005
7 Christina Siouti1.8001/09/2004
10 Vasiliki Plevritou1.7908/06/1998
14 Stefania Santa1.7815/04/2004
Head Coach
Dimitris Kravaritis

Honours

Alexandra Asimaki, 2011 FINA World Player of the Year
Ashleigh Southern scored 4 goals in Olympiacos' 10–9 win against Sabadell in the final of the 2014–15 Euro League
Alkisti Avramidou played for Olympiacos from 2007 to 2021

Domestic competitions

  • Greek League
    • Winners (15) (record): 1994–95, 1997–98, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022-2023, 2023-2024
  • Greek Cup
    • Winners (5) (record): 2017–18, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23
  • Greek Super Cup
    • Winners (1) (record): 2019–20

European competitions

Individual club awards

International record

SeasonAchievementNotes
LEN Champions' Cup / LEN Euro League
1995–96Final 84th place
2009–10Final Four4th place. Defeated 11–12 by Kinef Kirishi in the semi-final and 12–13 by Orizzonte Catania in the 3rd place game
2010–11Final Four3rd place. Defeated 13–14 by Orizzonte Catania in the semi-final, won 14–12 against Kinef Kirishi in the 3rd place game
2014–15European Championswon 10–8 against Kinef Kirishi in the semi-final and 10–9 against Sabadell in the final in Piraeus
2015–16Final Four4th place. Defeated 11–12 by UVSE in the semi-final and 9–10 by Kinef Kirishi in the 3rd place game
2016–17Finalwon 11–9 against Sabadell in the semi-final, defeated by Kinef Kirishi 6–7 in the final in Kirishi
2018–19Finalwon 8–7 against Vouliagmeni in the semi-final, defeated by Astralpool Sabadell 11–13 in the final in Sabadell
2020–21European Championswon 9–8 against UVSE Hunguest Hotels in the semi-final and 7–6 against Dunaújváros in the final in Budapest
2021–22European Championswon 18–11 against UVSE Hunguest Hotels in the semi-final and 11–7 against Astralpool Sabadell in the final in Piraeus
LEN Trophy
2000–01Final Four4th place
2006–07Final Four4th place. Defeated by Roma 4–7, by ZWV Nereus 6–7 and tied 7–7 against ΟSC Budapest
2007–08Finalwon ΟSC Budapest 13–12 in the semi-final, defeated by Roma 9–10 in the final
2008–09Semi-finalseliminated by Dunaújváros, drew 5–5 in Dunaújváros, lost 10–13 in Athens
2011–12Semi-finalseliminated by WC Yugra, won 9–8 in Athens, lost 8–11 in Khanty-Mansiysk
2013–14Winnerswon 13–12 against Kinef Kirishi in the semi-final and 10–9 against Firenze in the final in Florence
2017–18Finalwon 10–4 against Plebiscito Padova in the semi-final, defeated by Dunaújváros 11–13 in the final in Mataró
LEN Super Cup
2014Finallost 8–9 to Sabadell in Barcelona
2015SuperCup Championswon 10–6 against Plebiscito Padova in Piraeus
2021SuperCup Championswon 14–11 against Kinef Kirishi in Piraeus
2022SuperCup Championswon 11–4 against Ethnikos Piraeus in Piraeus

The road to the 2020–21 LEN Euro League victory

RoundTeamHome Away 
Group Stage
(Group C)
Plebiscito Padova10–7
BVSC Zugló11–4
Lifebrain SIS Roma12–13
Olympic Nice10–0
Quarterfinals Astralpool Sabadell12–1410–5
Semifinal UVSE Hunguest Hotels9–8
Final Dunaújváros7–6

The road to the 2014–15 LEN Euro League victory

RoundTeamHome Away 
Group Stage
(Group D)
Firenze14–4
ZVL Leiden16–8
Vouliagmeni9–5
Târgu Mureș39–2
Quarterfinals Szentes10–615–10
Semifinal Kinef Kirishi10–8
Final Sabadell10–9

Notable players

Roberta Bianconi
Iefke van Belkum

Notable coaches

Personnel

Management, coaching and technical staff

Management
President Michalis Kountouris
Director Nikos Skandalakis
Coaching and technical staff
Head Coach Aleksandar Ćirić
Assistant Coach Stergios Torosiadis
Team Manager Alexandra Kalogera
Physio Panagiotis Adamopoulos

See also

References