Olympiacos SFP (men's water polo)

Olympiacos Men's Waterpolo (, ), 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, having won 2 LEN Champions Leagues (2001–02, 2017–18), 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 67 domestic titles (71 overall) are the most out of any Greek club. They have won 40 League titles, a record 26 Cups, a record 5 Super Cups and a record 23 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.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), 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)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)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)http://www.contra.gr/Soccer/Europe/230473.html , Περισσότερους φιλάθλους η Μπαρτσελόνα, πρώτη ελληνική ομάδα ο Ολυμπιακός (in Greek)

Some players who have played for Olympiacos over the years include: Filip Filipović, Gergő Zalánki, Josip Pavić, Maro Joković, Kostas Kakaris, Giannis Fountoulis, Loren Fatović, Andro Bušlje, Márton Vámos, Paulo Obradović, Marko Bijac, Luka Lončar, Konstantin Kharkov, Thodoris Chatzitheodorou, Alexandros Papanastasiou, Stelios Argyropoulos, Petar Trbojević, Slobodan Nikić, Stefan Mitrović, Ivan Buljubašić, Konstantinos Mourikis, Teo Đogaš, Mlađan Janović, Nikola Rađen, Dániel Angyal, 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 Doskas, 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 coaches like Nikola Stamenić, Zoltán Kásás, Boris Popov, Dragan Matutinović, Mile Nakić, Thodoris Vlachos, Igor Milanović and Elvis Fatović 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).

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.Water Polo legends, Olympiacos water polo team in 1927

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.Αθλητικός Tύπος, pages 326 and 382, 25-26/09/1933 (in Greek)Aθλητικά Χρονικά, page 280, 25/09/1933 (in Greek)

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.Αθλητικά Χρονικά, page 406, 17/09/1934 (in Greek)Αθλητικός Xρόνος, pages 49 and 52, 17/09/1934 (in Greek)

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.Εφημερίδα "Αθλητισμός" page 365. (in Greek)

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.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)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) 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.Freivogel, p. 363; Smith, pp. 192–99Athlitiki 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)Λίστα των νεκρών του Βασίλισσα Όλγα: Επ. Σημαιοφόρος (Οικ.) Παναγιώτης Κονταράτος (in Greek)

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.Athlitiki Icho "Αθλητική Ηχώ" newspaper archive, 5 September 1949, page 1 and 6: "Ο Ολυμπιακός Πειραιώς κατέκτησε το Πρωτάθλημα Γούοτερ Πόλο." (in Greek)Athlitiki Icho "Αθλητική Ηχώ" newspaper archive, 30 November 1949, page 4: "Ο Ολυμπιακός ετίμησε τους πρωταθλητάς του." (in Greek) 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.Athlitiki Icho "Αθλητική Ηχώ" newspaper archive, 21 September 1951, page 4: "Οι αγώνες υδατοσφαιρίσεως." (in Greek)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) 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.Athlitiki Icho "Αθλητική Ηχώ" newspaper archive, 24 September 1952, page 1: "Η ομάδα του Ολυμπιακού με το Πρωτάθλημα Ελλάδος." (in Greek)

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.

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.

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. 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.

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.