Stacey Seaside

Red is the color of the day

Olympiacos football team

won the European League soccer championship last night!

The Greek team won their first European trophy in their first final.

 

This post was supposed to be dedicated to the color blue.

But I’ll save that for next week.

You can’t ignore the events of the day

as the entire country is celebrating in euphoric  RED today,

Olympiacos’ team colors.

Olympiacos made history as they became the first ever Greek side to win a European trophy after beating Fiorentina 1-0 in extra time of the UEFA Conference League final. 

Mykonian pals witness historical victory

At least 30 Mykonian friends had travelled to Athens for the match. Game fever had caught early on as they posted photos on Instagram and Facebook. And although I am not a big sports fan, I couldn’t help getting caught up in their enthusiasm. Hope for a win was contagious across the country no matter where your loyalties were on the national football field.

The game was decided by the late winning goal of striker Ayoub El Kaabi, scoring his 10th Conference League goal in eight games played in Europe this season. 

With just four minutes of extra time remaining, El Kaabi turned home the only goal of the game, taking place in the stadium of the team’s national rivals. AEK Athens.

Win at 118 minutes of play

The stadium, fans at home and folks in the street watching the game erupted into euphoria at the 118th minute of play.

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Olympiacos’ victory marks a significant moment in Greek football history, with previous attempts by Greek teams to win a major European trophy ending in failure.

Olympiacos has secured advancement to next season’s Europa League competition. The renowned Greek team has successfully reached the league phase of the tournament, eliminating the need for qualifiers for the Piraeus outfit this summer.

Piraeus went RED!

Celebrations went on all night long in Athens where the historic game was staged. The skies and streets of Piraeus, Olympiacos’ base, filled with celebratory red smoke and fireworks. The smoke and lights could be seen across the water in the port city.

The joy of a championship win is a complex mix of personal investment, community bonding, emotional release, and shared celebration, creating an unforgettable experience for sports fans.

Fans make an emotional investment

Fans often invest significant emotional energy into their team, following games, tracking statistics, and discussing the team with friends and family. My god daughter’s husband, Menelaos, has been to every game this season–in and out of Greece.  I joked yesterday that once the season was finished he might get backed to his real job! For Olympiacos fans, winning yesterday was a personal victory.

I am not an Olympiacos fan; there might be murder in my house if I was. But I too was very happy for the team because it meant a victory for Greece. (My son’s have a pricey carved marble frieze in the entry of our home with a two-headed eagle, the embolic symbol of AEK–the gold and black team, who hosted yesterday’s match. And when we lived in Athens they were season ticket holders.)

Community fostered with victory

Sports fandom creates a sense of community. Fans share the joy with others who understand the depth of their passion, strengthening bonds with family, friends, and even strangers who support the same team. Today, all of Greece is an Olympiacos fan.

And the reward comes with victories such as last night’s. Long-time fans who have supported Olympiacos through ups and downs feel validated. Their loyalty is rewarded, and they can proudly celebrate their unwavering support.

Celebrating a championship is often a communal event–and in this case, it crosses the nation.  Last night’s win amplified that joy.

Olympiacos will celebrate a century as the new season begins. Winning this championship has secured a solid place in sports history. Fans take pride in knowing their team has achieved greatness and will be remembered.

The Olympiacos victory has created a lasting personal memory.  Everyone who followed the game will remember the goal in the 118th minute with exuberant emotion.

Team dates back almost a century

Olympiacos is one of Greece’s most successful and popular soccer teams in Greece. The club was established almost 100 years ago on March 10, 1925, in Piraeus, Greece, by a group of locals, including members of the Andrianopoulos family. The team quickly became one of Greece’s leading clubs, winning its first Panhellenic Championship in 1931. By 1940, Olympiacos had already secured six national championships.

Interrupted by World War II and the subsequent Greek Civil War,  Olympiacos re-established itself as a dominant force in Greek soccer. The club won numerous league titles during the 1950s and 1960s, often regarded as the “Golden Era.  Olympiacos began participating in European competitions, gaining international experience and exposure.

Olympiacos dominates league

The club maintained its dominance in the Greek league, although the 1970s and 1980s saw increased competition from other Greek teams such as Panathinaikos and AEK Athens.

Olympiacos has continued to be a powerhouse in Greek soccer, regularly winning the Super League Greece title. The team has claimed numerous domestic cups and league titles. The club has sought greater success in European competitions, including the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League. While not as dominant in Europe as domestically, Olympiacos has achieved notable victories against major European clubs.

And after last night, Olympiacos’ history is marked by a tradition of excellence, a passionate fan base, and a commitment to maintaining its status as a leading club in both Greek and European soccer.

Bravo!!!