Olympiacos CFP (men's water polo) explained

Team:Olympiacos Water Polo
Nickname:Thrylos (The Legend)
Erythrolefkoi (The Red-Whites)
Founded:1924
League:A1 Ethniki Water Polo
LEN Champions League
Arena:Papastrateio Pool Piraeus
(Capacity: 1000)
City:Piraeus, Greece
Colors: Red, White
President:Michalis Kountouris
Coach:Hrvoje Koljanin
Championships:2 LEN Champions Leagues
1 LEN Super Cup
2 Quadruple Crowns
38 Greek Leagues
25 Greek Cups
5 Greek Super Cups
Website:olympiacossfp.gr

Olympiacos Men's Waterpolo (Greek, Modern (1453-);: Ολυμπιακός, in Greek, Modern (1453-); pronounced as /olimbiaˈkos/), commonly referred to as Olympiacos, Olympiacos Piraeus or with its full name as Olympiacos CFP, is the professional men's water polo department of the major Greek multi-sport club, Olympiacos CFP, based in Piraeus, Greece. The department was founded in 1925, one of the founding members of the Hellenic Swimming Federation, and their home ground is the Papastrateio Pool in Piraeus.

Olympiacos is one of the most successful teams in Europe and a traditional powerhouse of continental water polo,[1] [2] having won 2 LEN Champions Leagues (2001–02, 2017–18),[3] [4] 1 LEN Super Cup (2002) and 2 Triple Crowns (2002, 2018), the only Greek club to have been crowned European Champions. They have also been six times runners-up (counting nine European finals overall), three in the LEN Champions League (2000–01, 2015–16, 2018–19), two in the LEN Cup Winners' Cup (1997–98, 1998–99) and one more in the LEN Super Cup (2018). In 2001–02, Olympiacos became the first club ever in waterpolo history to win all four competitions they claimed (LEN Champions League, LEN Super Cup, Greek League and Greek Cup), completing a Continental Quadruple. They won their second Continental Quadruple in 2017–18 season (LEN Champions League, Greek League, Greek Cup, Greek Super Cup). After the 2014–15 LEN Euro League win of the women's department, parent club Olympiacos CFP became the second sports club in continental waterpolo history to have been crowned European Champions with both its men's and women's teams and the only one in Europe with both these departments currently active.

Domestically, Olympiacos is the most titled club in Greek water polo history, as the club's 66 domestic titles (69 overall) are the most out of any Greek club. They have won 38 League titles, a record 25 Cups, a record 5 Super Cups and a record 21 Doubles. They are the dominant force since 1992, having set a number of records including a winning streak of 163 straight wins in both the Greek League's regular season and play-offs, which lasted from May 2013 to May 2019. The men's waterpolo department receives great support from the club's large fanbase, as Olympiacos is the most popular sports club in Greece.[5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]

Some of the greatest players in the world have played for Olympiacos over the years including: Filip Filipović, Gergő Zalánki, Josip Pavić, Maro Joković, Kostas Kakaris, Giannis Fountoulis, Andro Bušlje, Márton Vámos, Paulo Obradović, Marko Bijac, Luka Lončar, Thodoris Chatzitheodorou, Alexandros Papanastasiou, Stelios Argyropoulos, Petar Trbojević, Slobodan Nikić, Stefan Mitrović, Ivan Buljubašić, Konstantinos Mourikis, Teo Đogaš, Mlađan Janović, Nikola Rađen, Dimitris Nikolaidis, Makis Voltirakis, Antonis Vlontakis, Nikos Deligiannis, Thodoris Kalakonas, Themis Chatzis, Giannis Thomakos, Giorgos Psychos, Sakis Platanitis, Dimitris Kravaritis, Dimitris Skoumpakis, Vangelis Delakas, Manolis Mylonakis, Tasos Schizas, Giorgos Afroudakis, Christos Afroudakis, Giorgos Ntoskas, Kyriakos Giannopoulos, Nikos Venetopoulos, Chris Humbert, Gavin Arroyo, Albert Español, Jesse Smith, Andrija Komadina, Blai Mallarach, Manolis Zerdevas, Christodoulos Kolomvos, Angelos Vlachopoulos, Dimitris Mazis, Alexandros Gounas, Giorgos Dervisis and Konstantinos Genidounias. Such players, under the guidance of world-class coaches like Nikola Stamenić, Zoltán Kásás, Boris Popov, Dragan Matutinović, Mile Nakić, Thodoris Vlachos and Igor Milanović have made Olympiacos one of the most successful teams in European water polo the last 25 years (only Pro Recco, Jug and Posillipo have won more LEN Champions League titles than Olympiacos since 1993).

History

1925–1945: Early years

Olympiacos men's water polo team was founded in 1925, being one of the first sports departments of Olympiacos CFP that was founded right after the Football team (along with the Athletics and Swimming departments).[12]

In 1927 Olympiacos won the first League title in its history, by defeating Ethnikos Piraeus by a 3–2 scoreline in the final, with players like Nikolaos Kaloudis, Nikolaos Baltatzis - Mavrokordatos, Emmanouil Baltatzis - Mavrokordatos, Ioannis Papadakis, Andreas Athanasianos, Siadimas, Kivotos and Kordopatis.[13]

In 1933 Olympiacos secured their second League title, after a 4–2 win against Ethnikos in the final, with players such as Andreas Kourachanis (goalkeeper), Nikolaos Baltatzis - Mavrokordatos, Takis Provatopoulos, Ioannis Papadakis, Ioannis Isigonis, Andreas Athanasianos and Kivotos. Provatopoulos scored 3 goals and Athanasianos one.[14] [15]

The next season the Red-Whites won a back-to-back League title, by defeating Ethnikos once again with the same 4–2 scoreline in the final. The goals were scored by Provatopoulos (2 goals), Leonidas Alexiou and Isigonis.[16] [17]

In 1936 the team secured their fourth Greek Water Polo League title, this time by defeating K.O. Piraeus with 5–1 in the final.[18]

On 28 October 1940, Fascist Italy invaded Greece, and several Olympiacos players joined the Hellenic Armed Forces to fight against the Axis invaders in World War II. Olympiacos water polo goalkeeper and swimming champion Andreas Kourachanis, was killed in a battle against the Italians.[19] [20] Hellenic Navy Ensign Takis Kontaratos, who was both an Olympiacos water polo player and a midfielder of Olympiacos F.C. as well, was one of the 72 Greek soldiers who were killed in the sinking of Greek destroyer Vasilissa Olga by Junkers Ju 88 bombers of LG 1 of Nazi Germany's Luftwaffe in Lakki harbor of Leros on the morning of 26 September 1943.[21] [22] [23]

1946–1992

After the war, Olympiacos created a very strong team that won 4 Greek League titles from 1947 to 1952 (1947, 1949, 1951, 1952). The 1949 title was won by players like Takis Provatopoulos, Alekos Monastiriotis, Manolis Papadopoulos, Leonidas Alexiou, Christos Oikonomou, Asimakis, Kleoudis, Maragoudakis, Dimitropoulos and Chalas, after a 3–1 win against Ethnikos Piraeus.[24] [25] In 1951 under the guidance of coach Christos Svolopoulos and players like Takis Provatopoulos, Alekos Monastiriotis, Manolis Papadopoulos, Nikos Teleionis, Babis Gerakarakis, Vasilis Ontrias and Asimakis secured the Greek League title after a 6–2 against N.O Mitilinis in the final.[26] [27] [28] The next season, they won their 4th title in 6 years with key players such as Alekos Monastiriotis, Leonidas Alexiou, Nikos Teleionis, Babis Gerakarakis, Nikos Bistis, Vasilis Ontrias and Asimakis.[29] [30]

In 1969, after a 17-year drought, Olympiacos was crowned Greek champions again, under the guidance of coach Makis Charitos and players like Ioannis Palios, Takis Michalos, Periklis Damaskos, Georgios Palikaris, Stathis Sarantos, Vangelis Koskinas, Spyros Tsiminos, Giorgos Venardos, Spyros Ioannidis, Ilias Damaskos and Omiros Polychronopoulos.[31]

In 1971, Olympiacos board hired the world-class head coach Ivo Trumbić (Hall of Fame inductee in 2014), under whose guidance Olympiacos won the League title in 1971, the 10th Greek League title in the club's history, with a roster of solid Greek players like Ioannis Palios, Takis Michalos, Periklis Damaskos, Georgios Palikaris, Stathis Sarantos, Vangelis Koskinas, Giorgos Venardos, Spyros Ioannidis, Sarantis Sarantos, Ilias Damaskos and Omiros Polychronopoulos.[32] [33]

After the 1971 title, Olympiacos created several strong teams in the following years, like the 1979 team coached by Mile Nakić with players like Stathis Sarantos, Spyros Kapralos, Andreas Gounas, Giorgos Venardos, Spyros Tsiminos, Babis Charalambidis, Nikos Beristianos, Christos Daras and Antonis Karavanos.[34] and later on with solid Greek players like Michalis Kouretas, Giorgos Katsoulis, Giannis Ladas, Andreas Miralis, Giorgos Michailidis, Thanasis Katsoulis and Manolis Psarros but nevertheless, the Red-Whites spent twenty-one years without a League title.[35]

1992–2019: The Golden Era

Domestic domination, first European final (1992–1998)

In 1992 Olympiacos finally returns to the top of Greek water polo in an impressive fashion, winning both the Greek League and the Greek Cup to complete the first Double in its history. Under the guidance of coach Nikos Loukatos and players like Kyriakos Giannopoulos, Nikos Venetopoulos, Antonis Aronis, Thodoris Vlachos, Kostas Loudis, Dimitris Kravaritis, Themis Chatzis, Sakis Platanitis, Charis Pavlidis και Zafeiris Tzinis, Olympiacos clinched their history's eleventh Greek League title and their first ever Greek Cup after a 9–8 win against NO Patras in the final.[36]

The next season Olympiacos hired Boris Popov, one of the world's greatest water polo coaches, who was head coach of the Soviet Union men's national water polo team that remained undefeated from 1980 to 1986 and won the gold medal at the 1980 Olympics and the gold medal at the 1982 World Championship.[37] Under Popov's guidance, the Red-Whites won a second consecutive domestic Double, securing their history's 12th League title, as well as the Greek Cup after an 8–4 win against ANO Glyfada in the final.

The next three seasons (1994–95, 1995–96 and 1996–97), Mile Nakić came back for a third successful stint in Olympiacos and coached the Red-Whites to two consecutive Greek League titles (1994–95, 1995–96),[38] beating Ethnikos Piraeus in 1995 (3–0 wins in the finals) and NO Vouliagmeni in 1996 (2–1 wins in the finals) and one Greek Cup (1996–97), beating NO Patras 9–8 in the Cup final.[39] Key players of this Olympiacos team were Thodoris Chatzitheodorou, Nikos Venetopoulos, Kostas Loudis, Makis Voltirakis, Themis Chatzis, Sakis Platanitis, Thodoris Vlachos, Dimitris Kravaritis and Charis Pavlidis.

In season 1997–98, Nikos Loukatos, the coach of the 1992 Double, was hired as head coach and players like Giannis Thomakos, Antonis Vlontakis and Gavin Arroyo joined the team. Under Loukatos guidance, the Red-Whites won the Greek Cup after a 10–8 win against NO Patras in the final[40] and the Greek Super Cup, beating Vouliagmeni 10−5 in the final.[41] Most importantly, Olympiacos reached a European final for the first time in its history; after an impressive campaign, the team qualified for the LEN Cup Winners' Cup two-legged final, where they played against Ferencváros. Olympiacos won the first leg in Piraeus by 7−6, but lost the second leg 8−6 in Budapest after a thrilling game.[42]

European powerhouse: twice European champions, Super Cup champions, twice Quadruple winners, domestic dynasty (1998–present)

From 1998 to 2005 Olympiacos won 7 consecutive Greek League titles which is a record for the A1 League, which was established in 1987, and a record as well for the club.

In season 1998–99 Nikola Stamenić, one of the greatest coaches in the history of the sport, became the team's new head coach.[43] [44] Under Stamenić guidance, Yugoslavia men's national water polo team had won the gold medal in both the 1991 World Championship in Perth[45] and the 1991 European Championship in Athens, becoming World and European Champions in the same year. Stamenić imposed strict professional conditions in Olympiacos, establishing a very demanding training program, iron-fisted discipline and meticulous tactical analysis.

Under Stamenić, Olympiacos players improved significantly in both mental, physical, technical and tactical level, and in two years they managed to win 2 Greek League titles, 1 Greek Super Cup, and reach the final of the LEN Cup Winners' Cup in 1999, where they lost to Mladost, despite coming close to an amazing come-back in the second final leg, where they led the score by 10−2 at some point in the game (10−6 final score). Stamenic became a legend for the club and his contribution to Olympiacos and to Greek water polo in general is considered enormous. His training methods, his tactics and his deep understanding of every aspect of the game of water polo exerted a great influence on this generation of Olympiacos players.

Stamenić left Olympiacos in the summer of 2000 and Dragan Matutinović became the team's new head coach. Olympiacos had a very successful season, winning both the Greek League and the Greek Cup and becoming the first ever Greek club to reach the LEN Champions League final. In the semi-final of the LEN Champions League 2000-01 Final Four in Dubrovnik, they beat Italian powerhouse CN Posillipo with 7–6 and reached the final of the competition. There, they faced home team VK Jug and lost 8–7 after two overtimes in a thrilling game which was marked by a highly controversial decision of referee Boris Margeta. With the score at 5–5, Olympiacos scored a goal with a spectacular backhand shot by Thodoris Chatzitheodorou with only 4 seconds left in the game, a goal that was disallowed by Margeta as a foul.[46] [47] [48]

Despite the great season, Matutinović left the club and Olympiacos board signed the great Hungarian coach Zoltán Kásás to replace him. Under Kásás guidance in 2001–02 Olympiacos had the most successful season in their history. They became the first club ever in water polo history (since the establishment of the modern Champions League format in 1996) to win four out of four competitions in a single year, thus completing the Continental Quadruple, comprising the Triple Crown (LEN Champions League, Greek Championship, Greek Cup) and the LEN Super Cup.[49] [50] They won both the 2002 LEN Champions League and the 2002 LEN Super Cup in Budapest, beating home teams Honvéd and Vasas respectively.[51] [52] Key players of this historical Olympiacos team were Makis Voltirakis, Thodoris Chatzitheodorou, Petar Trbojević, Giannis Thomakos, Themis Chatzis, Antonis Vlontakis, Giorgos Psychos, Thodoris Kalakonas, Nikos Deligiannis, Sakis Platanitis, Dimitris Kravaritis and Arsenis Maroulis.

In season 2002–03 with Kásás as head coach Olympiacos went on to win the Greek League and the Greek Cup and the next two seasons (2003–04 and 2004–05) under Veselin Đuho's guidance the club managed to win 7 consecutive Greek League titles, an all-time record.

From 2006 to 2011 Olympiacos under the guidance of Greek coach Vangelis Pateros, won 5 consecutive domestic Doubles, two of which (Greek League and Greek Cup 2009, Greek League and Greek Cup 2010) undefeated and with 31 wins in 31 matches in both seasons, completing 11 Greek League titles in 12 seasons. In European competitions, they reached 2006–07 LEN Euroleague Final Four in Milan, where they lost 10–9 to eventual European Champions Pro Recco in a thrilling semi-final that was decided in the last seconds of the game.

In 2011, Thodoris Vlachos (who had a long and successful career in Olympiacos as a player) became the new head coach of the team. From 2011 to 2019 under the guidance of Vlachos, Olympiacos have won 1 LEN Champions League, 7 Greek League titles, 6 Greek Cups, 1 Greek Super Cup, 1 Continental Quadruple, and 6 domestic Doubles. In 2018, they won the 2017–18 LEN Champions League in Genoa, beating once again a home team in the final, the Italian powerhouse Pro Recco, the most successful club in the competition with 8 titles. Olympiacos dominated the final game and won the title with a 9–7 scoreline against the Italian side inside their home ground.[53] Along with their second LEN Champions League title, they also completed the second Quadruple Crown in their history (LEN Champions League, Greek Championship, Greek Cup, Greek Super Cup). Key players of this Olympiacos team that was crowned European Champion for the second time in the club's history were Josip Pavić, Giannis Fountoulis, Andro Bušlje, Konstantinos Genidounias, Manolis Mylonakis, Paulo Obradović, Konstantinos Mourikis, Vangelis Delakas, Giorgos Dervisis, Alexandros Gounas, Stelios Argyropoulos and Dimitris Nikolaidis. Under Vlachos, Olympiacos have also reached the final of the 2015–16 LEN Champions League in Budapest, where they lost 6–4 to VK Jug, and the final of the 2018–19 LEN Champions League in Hannover, where they lost in the penalty shootout to Ferencváros.

Overall, from 2006–07 through the 2022–23 season, Olympiacos domestically won 15 Doubles (Greek Championship and Greek Cup) in 17 seasons, five of them straight (2007–2011), and six more undefeated and having won every game (without even a single draw) in both the Greek League and the Greek Cup (2008–09, 2009–10, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18). The club also holds many more unique records in the domestic competitions. They have achieved an all-time record of 163 straight wins in both the Greek League's regular season and play-offs, which lasted from May 2013 to May 2019. Additionally, Olympiacos holds the record for the fewest losses (overall), the most goals scored in a season (446 goals in season 2017–18, beating their previous record of 444 goals in season 2015–16), and the fewest goals conceded in a season (100 goals in season 2015–16).

Honours

International (3)

Domestic (68)

Champions (38) (share record): 1927, 1933, 1934, 1936, 1947, 1949,1951, 1952, 1969, 1971,1992, 1993, 1995, 1996,1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

Winners (25) (record): 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

Winners (5) (record): 1997, 1998, 2018, 2019, 2020

Individual club awards

International record

SeasonAchievementNotes
LEN Champions League
2000–01Finaldefeated Posillipo 7–6 in the semi-final, lost to Jug 7–8 in the final in Dubrovnik
2001–02European Championsdefeated Jug 8–5 in the semi-final, defeated Honvéd 9–7 in the final in Budapest
2006–07Final Four4th place in Milan, lost to Pro Recco 9–10 in the semi-final, lost to Partizan 13–15 in the 3rd place game
2015–16Finaldefeated Szolnok 8–7 in the semi-final, lost to Jug CO 4–6 in the final in Budapest
2016–17Final Six6th place in Budapest, lost to Jug CO 8–11 in the quarter-final, lost to Brescia in the 5th place game
2017–18European Championsdefeated Atlètic-Barceloneta 6–4 in the semi-final, defeated Pro Recco 9–7 in the final in Genoa
2018–19Finaldefeated Pro Recco 12–11 in the semi-final, lost to FTC Telekom Budapest 10–10 (3–4 p) in the final in Hanover
2020–21Final Eight7th place in Belgrade, lost to Atlètic-Barceloneta 9–22 in the quarter-final, defeated CN Marseille 13–12 in the 7th place game
2022–23Final Eight5th place in Belgrade, lost to Novi Beograd 11–13 in the quarter-final, defeated Jug CO 14–5 and FTC–Telekom Budapest 9–4 in the fifth place games
LEN Cup Winners' Cup
1997–98Finallost to Ferencváros, 7–6 (W) in Piraeus, 6–8 (L) in Budapest, in double finals
1998–99Finallost to Mladost Hrvatska Lutrija, 4–13 (L) in Zagreb, 10–6 (W) in Piraeus, in double finals
LEN Super Cup
2002Championsdefeated Vasas 6–5 in the final in Budapest
2018Finallost to FTC Telekom Budapest 7–7 (9–11 p) in the final in Budapest

The road to two LEN Champions League victories

2001–02 LEN Champions League victory

RoundTeamHome Away 
Group stage
(Group 5)
Dynamo Kyiv12–5
Dynamo Moscow4–5
Atlètic-Barceloneta6–5
Quarter-finals
(Blue Group)
Spandau 0414–48–6
Olympic Nice7–78–7
Telemarket Posillipo11–77–9
Semi-final Jug8–5
Final Honvéd9–7

2017–18 LEN Champions League victory

RoundTeamHome Away 
Group A
Jug CO8–68–10
Atlètic-Barceloneta14–107–7
Brescia13–67–6
Dynamo Moscow17–913–9
Waspo'98 Hannover11–712–7
Orvosegyetem10–710–6
Partizan16–87–4
Quarter-final Spandau 046–5
Semi-final Atlètic-Barceloneta6–4
Final Pro Recco9–7

Supporters

Olympiacos fans are renowned for their ardent support to the men's water polo team, with the atmosphere at home matches in Papastrateio Hall regarded as raucous and passionate to such an extent that is rarely seen in water polo matches.[54] [55] Papastrateio is widely considered one of the most fearsome and strong home grounds in Europe.[56] [57] Starting from season 2015–16, Olympiacos has won 19 out of their last 20 LEN Champions League home games in Piraeus (losing only to Szolnoki in the 2016–17 season), while their last defeat in the domestic competitions was recorded on 8 May 2013, with the Red-Whites counting more than 5 and a half years with nothing but straight wins at home in both the Greek League and the Greek Cup.

In 2016 Olympiacos fans carried out the largest fan movement in the history of the sport in the European continent,[58] [59] [60] [61] as more than 1000 Olympiacos supporters travelled to Budapest for the 2016 LEN Champions League Final in the Alfréd Hajós Swimming Pool.[62] [63] [64]

The large Alfréd Hajós pool was filled with Olympiacos fans from Greece and many other European cities,[65] who provided a passionate support to the team in both the semi-final and the final game of the competition.[66] [67]

Olympiacos fans have created a very popular chant to describe the atmosphere they usually create in Olympiacos water polo matches in Papastrateio Hall. They sing: "For your glory Legend, we're gonna turn Papastrateio Hall into a madhouse" (Greek: Θρύλε για το δικό σου μεγαλείο, το Παπαστράτειο τρελοκομείο).[68] [69]

Current roster

2023–24

width=5%Numberwidth=5%Nationalitywidth=67%Playerwidth=5%Height width=18%Date of birth
Goalkeepers (2)
1Marko Bijač2.011991-01-12
13Emmanouil Zerdevas1.831997-08-12
Defense (3)
6Kostas Gouvis1.871994-03-10
7Georgios Dervisis1.951994-03-10
8Andro Bušlje2.001986-01-04
Offense (2)
2Luka Lončar1.951987-07-26
9 Dimitris Nikolaidis1.941999-07-10
Midfielder (5)
3Márton Vámos1.991992-06-24
4Konstantinos Genidounias (C)1.831993-05-03
5Giannis Fountoulis1.861988-05-25
10Takis Dimou1.852000-09-28
12Alexandros Papanastasiou1.941999-02-12
14Nikos Gkilas1.952004-04-20
Coach
Hrvoje Koljanin
Assistant coach
Vangelis Delakas

Notable players

Source:[28] [30] [70] [71] [31] [33] [32] [72]

Notable coaches

Statistics

Greek League records

OutlineRecord
Most goals scored in a season446 (2017–18)
Fewest goals conceded in a season100 (2015–16)
Longest sequence of wins163 (2nd match of the 2012–13 play-offs on 11 May 2013 – 3rd match of the 2018–19 play-offs on 23 May 2019)
Longest sequence of unbeaten matches163 (2nd match of the 2012–13 play-offs on 11 May 2013 – 3rd match of the 2018–19 play-offs on 23 May 2019)

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Predstavljamo Olympiacos. 21 January 2019 . VK Jug official website. hr. 22 January 2019.
  2. Web site: https://www.fosonline.gr/polo/eyropi/article/38241/apotheosi-toy-protathliti-eyropis-olympiakoy-apo-toys-kroates. el:Αποθέωση του πρωταθλητή Ευρώπης Ολυμπιακού από τους Κροάτες. fosonline.gr. el. 21 January 2019.
  3. Web site: Stories - Onsports.gr . el:Όταν η Ευρώπη υποκλίθηκε στον Ολυμπιακό. onsports.gr. el. 14 June 2012 .
  4. Web site: https://www.gavros.gr/article/polo/275116-ymnoi-gia-ton-prwtathlhth-eyrwphs-olympiako. el:Ύμνοι για τον Πρωταθλητή Ευρώπης Ολυμπιακό. gavros.gr. el. 21 January 2019.
  5. Web site: Concentration of people supporting the most popular club (page 41), Greece: Olympiacos 26%. 2014-04-20 . 2014-04-17 . UEFA sixth club licensing benchmarking report on European club football . . PDF .
  6. Web site: http://www.sport24.gr/newspapers/Sport/goal_news/goal_news.2747025.html . el:Βαμμένα Κόκκινα....Μυαλά - Απίστευτη η υποστήριξη του Ολυμπιακού εντός ελληνικών συνόρων καθώς οι "Ερυθρόλευκοι" βρίσκονται στην ενδέκατη θέση σε ολόκληρη την Ευρώπη από πλευράς δημοφιλίας ενός συλλόγου στη χώρα του. 2014-04-19. "GOAL" newspaper. el.
  7. http://www.sport24.gr/football/ellada/article344370.ece, Περισσότερους οπαδούς ο Ολυμπιακός. Σε πρόσφατη έρευνα σχετικά με τους περισσότερους οπαδούς, ο ΟΣΦΠ είναι 1ος, 30/06/2009 SPORT24, 15ετής έρευνα του Παντελή Κυπριανού (in Greek)
  8. Web site: SPORT 24 - Στέλιος Μαρκάκης » Πόσοι είναι οι οπαδοί Ολυμπιακού, Παναθηναϊκού, ΑΕΚ, ΠΑΟΚ, Αρη και… πόσο τους αρέσουν οι ομάδες τους εφέτος . 2013-07-28 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130727181650/http://markakis.yooblog.gr/2008/03/14/259/ . 2013-07-27 ., το 36% (2.016.000) δηλώνουν Ολυμπιακοί, το 30% (1.680.000) Παναθηναϊκοί, Έρευνα της Focus, Οκτώβριος 2005 –Φεβρουάριος 2006, SPORT24, επίσημο blog του sport24 και του αθλητικού συντάκτη Στέλιου Μαρκάκη (in Greek)
  9. http://www.tanea.gr/news/greece/article/4524106/?iid=2, Έλαβον: ΟΣΦΠ 39%, ΠΑΟ 30%, ΑΕΚ 15%, ΠΑΟΚ 11%, Άρης 5%. Ύστερα από 15ετή έρευνα δύο πανεπιστημιακοί στο βιβλίο τους καταγράφουν την ιστορία και γεωγραφία του ελληνικού ποδοσφαίρου, 30/06/2009, ΤΑ ΝΕΑ – tanea.gr (in Greek)
  10. http://www.sportdog.gr/article/111831/oi-pio-polloi-einai-oi-olubiakoi, Πιο πολλοί είναι οι Ολυμπιακοί!, 26/06/2012 sportdog από έρευνα του ΣΚΑΙ (in Greek)
  11. http://www.contra.gr/Soccer/Europe/230473.html, Περισσότερους φιλάθλους η Μπαρτσελόνα, πρώτη ελληνική ομάδα ο Ολυμπιακός (in Greek)
  12. Web site: Ιστορία. 7 June 2016. www.osfp.gr. https://web.archive.org/web/20160617035608/http://www.osfp.gr/page/istoria. 17 June 2016. dead.
  13. http://www.waterpololegends.com/2007/04/1927-team-of-olympiacos-piraeus.html Water Polo legends
  14. http://srv-web1.parliament.gr/display_doc.asp?item=46296&seg=0 Αθλητικός Tύπος
  15. http://srv-web1.parliament.gr/display_doc.asp?item=43502&seg=0 Aθλητικά Χρονικά
  16. http://srv-web1.parliament.gr/display_doc.asp?item=43503&seg=0 Αθλητικά Χρονικά
  17. http://srv-web1.parliament.gr/display_doc.asp?item=44007&seg=0 Αθλητικός Xρόνος
  18. http://srv-web1.parliament.gr/display_doc.asp?item=43493&seg= Εφημερίδα "Αθλητισμός" page 365
  19. Athlitiki Icho "Αθλητική Ηχώ" newspaper archive, 29 October 1950, page 2: "Οι ΗΡΩΕΣ: Κουραχάνης, o τερματοφύλαξ της πρωταθλήτριας του ουώτερ-πόλο, του δοξασμένου Ολυμπιακού. Κλείνοντας μέσα του τον ηρωισμό της ομάδος του, σκοτώθηκε στην Αλβανία." (in Greek)
  20. Athlitiki Icho "Αθλητική Ηχώ" newspaper archive, 11 September 1955, page 4: Ο Ολυμπιακός διοργανώνει τουρνουά πόλο εις μνήμην του υδατοσφαιριστού Κουραχάνη. Ο Κουραχάνης υπήρξε ρέκορντμαν της Ελλάδας στα 200μ και τερματοφύλαξ της ομάδας πόλο του Ολυμπιακού, σκοτώθηκε δε στον Ελληνοϊταλικό πόλεμο." (in Greek)
  21. Freivogel, p. 363; Smith, pp. 192–99
  22. Athlitiki Icho "Αθλητική Ηχώ" newspaper archive, 29 October 1950, page 2: "Οι ΗΡΩΕΣ: Κονταράτος: Tό φόρο του αίματος τον πλήρωσε ο Ολυμπιακός και με άλλον έναν παίκτη του: Τον δεξιό χαφ και παίκτη του πόλο, Κονταράτο. Πολεμιστής τής θάλασσας, σκοτώθηκε ναυμαχώντας με τους Γερμανούς πάνω στο αντιτορπιλικό Όλγα." (in Greek)
  23. [:el:Αντιτορπιλικό Βασίλισσα Όλγα (D-15)#Επίλογος|Λίστα των νεκρών του ''Βασίλισσα Όλγα'']
  24. Athlitiki Icho "Αθλητική Ηχώ" newspaper archive, 5 September 1949, page 1 and 6: "Ο Ολυμπιακός Πειραιώς κατέκτησε το Πρωτάθλημα Γούοτερ Πόλο." (in Greek)
  25. Athlitiki Icho "Αθλητική Ηχώ" newspaper archive, 30 November 1949, page 4: "Ο Ολυμπιακός ετίμησε τους πρωταθλητάς του." (in Greek)
  26. Athlitiki Icho "Αθλητική Ηχώ" newspaper archive, 21 September 1951, page 4: "Οι αγώνες υδατοσφαιρίσεως." (in Greek)
  27. Athlitiki Icho "Αθλητική Ηχώ" newspaper archive, 23 September 1951, page 1: "Ο Ολυμπιακός αναδείχθη Πρωταθλητής Ελλάδας εις το ουώτερ πόλο επιβληθείς του Ν.Ο. Μυτιλήνης με 6–2." (in Greek)
  28. Web site: 1951: The Champions of Olympiacos Piraeus. waterpololegends.com.
  29. Athlitiki Icho "Αθλητική Ηχώ" newspaper archive, 24 September 1952, page 1: "Η ομάδα του Ολυμπιακού με το Πρωτάθλημα Ελλάδος." (in Greek)
  30. Web site: 1952: The winners of Olympiacos Piraeus. waterpololegends.com.
  31. Web site: 1969: The team of Olympiacos Piraeus. waterpololegends.com.
  32. Web site: 1971: The Champions of Olympiacos Piraeus – Olympiacos Piraeus, winner of the Greek National Championship in 1971 coached by the legendary Ivo Trumbic. waterpololegends.com.
  33. Web site: 1971: The winners of Olympiacos Piraeus . waterpololegends.com.
  34. Web site: 1979: The team of Olympiacos Piraeus with coach Mile Nakić. waterpololegends.com.
  35. Web site: Οι θρύλοι των πέτρινων χρόνων. gavros.gr. el.
  36. Web site: Ιστορική ματιά του φάιναλ φορ. novasports.gr. 10 May 2014. el.
  37. Web site: Θα περπατάτε στο νερό. gavros.gr. 12 May 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140417205552/http://www.gavros.gr/article/72261/tha-perpatate-sto-nero/. 17 April 2014. dead.
  38. http://issuu.com/m.12/docs/hvs_monografija__eng/126 Ante Mile Nakić career highlights, bio and interview
  39. Athlitiki Icho "Αθλητική Ηχώ" newspaper archive, 20 May 1996, page 37: "Το Πρωτάθλημα στον Πειραιά. Ο Ολυμπιακός νίκησε τη Βουλιαγμένη με 8–7 στη δεύτερη παράταση. Μορφή του αγώνα ο Χατζηθεοδώρου που πέτυχε 4 γκολ" (in Greek)
  40. http://www.koe.org.gr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8233:2014-05-07-11-22-32&catid=312:eidisis&Itemid=677 Κύπελλο Ελλάδας: Η διαδρομή και οι αριθμοί του
  41. Athlitiki Icho "Αθλητική Ηχώ" newspaper archive, 12 October 1997, page 38:, Πιο έτοιμος ο Ολυμπιακός 10–5 τη Βουλιαγμένη στο Σούπερ Καπ. (in Greek)
  42. Athlitiki Icho "Αθλητική Ηχώ" newspaper archive, 3 May 1998, page 41: Ανοιχτούς λογαριασμούς άφησε ο Ολυμπιακός μετά το χτεσινό 7-6 με τη Φερεντσβάρος κι όλα θα κριθούν στον επαναληπτικό τελικό της Βουδαπέστης. (in Greek)
  43. Web site: Νίκος Δεληγιάννης: "Είχα την τύχη να έχω στη Γλυφάδα τον κορυφαίο προπονητή του κόσμου, τον Νίκολα Στάμενιτς. Θεωρώ ότι ήταν πολύ μετριόφρων που είχε πει ότι είναι 100 χρόνια μπροστά, ήταν πολύ παραπάνω. sport24.gr. 10 March 2014. el.
  44. Web site: Με τη συμμετοχή 12 ομάδων αρχίζουν το ερχόμενο Σάββατο οι ναυμαχίες της πισίνας. Ο Στρατηγός Νίκολα Στάμενιτς, όπως τον αποκαλούν οι Γιουγκοσλάβοι συμπατριώτες, του θεωρείται από πολλούς ο καλύτερος, με βάση τους τίτλους των ομάδων στις οποίες έχει εργαστεί, προπονητής πόλο στον κόσμο. 24 November 2008 . tovima.gr. 12 March 2014. el.
  45. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQ9JqOReVks Yugoslavia–Spain 8–7 1991 World Championship in Perth
  46. Athlitiki Icho archive, 21/05/2001, σελ. 42: "Πρωταθλητής στη συνείδηση όλων ήταν ο Ολυμπιακός. Η φάση του γκολ του Θοδωρή Χατζηθεοδώρου που τόσο άδικα ακύρωσε ο Σλοβένος ρέφερι Μαργκέτα στον προχθεσινό τελικό του Τσάμπιονς Λιγκ θα καταδιώκει τους παίκτες του Ολυμπιακού για πολλούς μήνες. Η αδικία σε βάρος των Πρωταθλητών Ελλάδας, κάτι που παραδέχθηκαν και όλοι όσοι βρέθηκαν προχθές στο Ντουμπρόβνικ, ήταν το κοινό σημείο αναφοράς στις δηλώσεις των πρωταγωνιστών (...). Όλοι οι παίκτες έκαναν λόγο για κλοπή του τίτλου από τους διαιτητές, που ίσως τελικά είχαν οριστεί από τη LEN στον αγώνα για να προσφέρουν το τρόπαιο στους γηπεδούχους.(...) Μέχρι και ο ομοσπονδιακός προπονητής της Κροατίας Κοβάσεβιτς μου είπε μετά το ματς ότι δεν υπήρχε φάουλ δήλωσε ο Χατζηθεοδώρου που πρόσθεσε ότι όλοι, Σέρβοι, Ιταλοί και Κροάτες παραδέχτηκαν πως δεν υπήρχε παράβαση." (in Greek).
  47. http://www.rizospastis.gr/storyPlain.do?id=797135&action "Κρίμα κι άδικο. Διά χειρός του διαιτητή, ο φετινός τίτλος του πρωταθλητή Ευρώπης στο πόλο, πέρασε στην κατοχή της Γιουγκ Ντουμπρόβνικ."
  48. http://www.onsports.gr/Polo/Afierwmata/item/197415-Gyrisame-ton-hrono-me-ton-Antoni-Blontaki Γυρίσαμε το χρόνο με τον Αντώνη Βλοντάκη
  49. Web site: http://archive.sport.gr/news/021229/polo.asp. el:Έγραψε ιστορία ο Θρύλος. sport.gr. el. 18 December 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131213190337/http://archive.sport.gr/news/021229/polo.asp. 13 December 2013. dmy-all.
  50. Web site: http://www.newsnow.gr/article/105413/san-simerakokkinise-ton-dounavi-protathlitis-evropis-sto-polo-o-thrylos-vinteo.html. el:Σαν σήμερα κοκκίνησε τον Δούναβη, Πρωταθλητής Ευρώπης στο πόλο ο Θρύλος. newsnow.gr. el. 11 January 2013.
  51. Web site: http://www.redplanet.gr/polo/evroligka/otan-shkwse-to-eyrwpaiko-to-2002.874634.html. el:Όταν σήκωσε το Ευρωπαϊκό το 2002. redplanet.gr. el. 25 May 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130303015848/http://www.redplanet.gr/polo/evroligka/otan-shkwse-to-eyrwpaiko-to-2002.874634.html. 3 March 2013. dmy-all.
  52. Web site: Coppa dei Campioni (Results). cnposillipostory.net. it. 20 April 2013.
  53. Web site: Olympiacos is back to the Olympos after 16 years. LEN. 10 June 2018.
  54. Web site: https://www.gavros.gr/article/polo/90437-to-parti-sto-papastrateio-sto-gavros-gr. el:Το πάρτι στο Παπαστράτειο. gavros.gr. el. 3 June 2015.
  55. Web site: https://www.to10.gr/sport/polo/265406/kaike-papastratio-sti-fiesta-ton-ntablouchon-vidpics/. el:«Κάηκε» το Παπαστράτειο στη φιέστα των νταμπλούχων. to10.gr. el. 26 May 2018 . 26 May 2018 .
  56. Web site: https://fws.gr/mpiliaka-i-pio-dyskoli-edra-stin-eyropi-einai-to-papastrateio/. el:Μπιλιάκα: «Η πιο δύσκολη έδρα στην Ευρώπη είναι το Παπαστράτειο». fws.gr. el. 7 December 2018 . 7 December 2018 .
  57. Web site: https://www.gavros.gr/article/polo/271906-h-pio-dynath-edra-sthn-eyrwph. el:Η πιο δυνατή έδρα στην Ευρώπη. gavros.gr. el. 7 December 2018.
  58. Web site: https://www.redking.gr/content/o-laos-mas/7504-h-megalyterh-ekdromh-sthn-istoria. el:Η μεγαλύτερη οπαδική εκδρομή στην ιστορία. redking.gr. el. 3 June 2016 . 3 June 2016 .
  59. Web site: https://www.redking.gr/content/football/7533-oi-kalyteroi-toy-kosmoy. el:Οι καλύτεροι του κόσμου. Η μεγαλύτερη οπαδική εκδρομή στην ιστορία του πόλο. redking.gr. el. 3 June 2016 . 3 June 2016 .
  60. Web site: Γαύροι εδώ, γαύροι εκεί, γαύροι και στην Βουδαπέστη. Οι οπαδοί περιμένουν την κούπα -στην μεγαλύτερη εξόρμηση Ελλήνων οπαδών για ευρωπαϊκή διοργάνωση στο πόλο- για να πανηγυρίσουν μαζί με τους παίκτες.. gavros.gr. el. 4 June 2016.
  61. Web site: https://www.redking.gr/content/waterpolo/7505-oloi-rwtoyn-gia-ton-kosmo-toy-thryloy. el:Όλοι ρωτούν για τον κόσμο του Θρύλου. Η εκδρομή των φίλων του Ολυμπιακού αποτελεί την μεγαλύτερη κινητοποίηση οπαδών στην ιστορία του Ευρωπαϊκού πόλο.. redking.gr. el. 3 June 2016 . 3 June 2016 .
  62. Web site: http://www.sport-fm.gr/article/ta-ekane-thalassa-o-olumpiakos/3172485. el:Ο Ολυμπιακός εμφανίστηκε αγχωμένος και έχασε 6-4 από τη Γιούγκ στον τελικό του Champions League μπροστά σε 1000 οπαδούς του.. sport-fm.gr. el. 4 June 2016.
  63. Web site: https://www.waterpolonews.gr/osfp-fans-budapest/. el:Αύξησαν τη χωρητικότητα λόγω οπαδών του Ολυμπιακού! Η ζήτηση από τους οπαδούς του Ολυμπιακού είναι στα όρια της τρέλας και αναμένονται τουλάχιστον 1000 Έλληνες στην Βουδαπέστη.. waterpolonews.gr. el. 26 May 2016.
  64. Web site: Europe looks for a winner in the LEN Champions League. biwpa.com. 1 June 2016.
  65. Web site: https://www.redking.gr/content/o-laos-mas/7551-pairnoyn-thesh-sthn-eksedra. el:Παίρνουν θέση στην κερκίδα. redking.gr. el. 3 June 2016 . 3 June 2016 .
  66. Web site: https://www.gavros.gr/article/polo/151685-panta-dipla-ston-thryloi-oi-gayroi-pics. el:Πάντα δίπλα στον Θρύλο. gavros.gr. el. 4 June 2016.
  67. Web site: https://www.gavros.gr/article/polo/151694-pyrinos-o-laos-toy-thryloy-2. el:Πύρινος ο λαός του θρύλου. gavros.gr. el. 4 June 2016.
  68. Web site: https://www.gavros.gr/article/polo/132431-laquo-to-papastrateio-trelokomeio-hellip-raquo-vids. el:«Το Παπαστράτειο τρελοκομείο…». gavros.gr. el. 20 November 2015.
  69. Web site: https://www.redking.gr/content/o-laos-mas/33031-to-papastrateio-trelokomeio. el:Το Παπαστράτειο τρελοκομείο. redking.gr. el. 16 March 2018 . 16 March 2018 .
  70. Web site: 1959: The team of Olympiacos Pireaus. waterpololegends.com.
  71. Web site: 1968: The Juniors of Olympiacos Piraeus. waterpololegends.com.
  72. Web site: 1979: The team of Olympiacos Piraeus. waterpololegends.com.