Olympiacos appoint former Sporting coach Silva

Olympiacos FC have appointed former Sporting Clube de Portugal coach Marco Silva, their third Portuguese tactician in as many years, to replace Vítor Pereira.

Silva – who has reportedly signed a deal until 2017 with an option for a further season – moves to the Piraeus-based outfit after leading Sporting to the Portuguese Cup last term, ending their seven-year wait for silverware.

Lisbon-born Silva, who will celebrate his 38th birthday on Sunday, is the third Portuguese coach to take the reins at the Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis. Former FC Porto boss Pereira replaced ex-Real Madrid CF midfielder Míchel at the helm in January before guiding Olympiacos to their 17th domestic double. Current AS Monaco FC coach Leonardo Jardim was in charge from July 2012 until January 2013.

Silva established himself as one of the up-and-coming coaches in European football at Estoril Praia and then Sporting CP. He spent the last six years of his playing career as a right-back at Estoril and immediately after hanging up his boots he was appointed head coach of the Canaries – a club who had been in the second tier for six consecutive seasons.

WIth the 2015 Portuguese Cup©Getty Images

In his debut season, Silva guided his new side to promotion to the Liga while also winning the coach of the league award. Two more successful seasons followed in the top flight as the Lisbon-based club finished fifth in 2013/14 – qualifying for the UEFA Europa League group stage via the play-offs – before surpassing that feat by finishing a club-best fourth in 2014/15 to book another group stage berth. Last summer, Silva left to join Lisbon giants Sporting as they prepared to return to the UEFA Champions League group stage for the first time since 2008/09. He left the Lions last month after ending their trophy drought.

His main asset – and perhaps the main reason that Olympiacos turned to him – is his reputation for nurturing tomorrow's stars. The champions have acquired some of the best prospects in Greek football in recent years and have signed youngsters Giannis Gianniotas, Fanis Tzandaris and Bruno Chalkiadakis this summer. The Thrylos hope their investment will be rewarded under the tutelage of the Portuguese.

He says
"I am proud to be here because Olympiacos are a very important European club and the biggest in Greece. I want to thank everyone for the trust bestowed in me. I know that just winning titles isn't enough here – we must also produce attractive football. I have a winning mentality and I am lucky to be at a club that matches it. Olympiacos provide me with the opportunity to improve. My aim is to create an attacking, pacy team that will work hard."