Edited by Alex Smith
A few years ago, the Greek Super League table would’ve looked very different. Volos have been surprising all this season and, with a top of the table clash against AEK Athens this week, will be looking to continue its upward trajectory.
At the start of the week, it seemed that the biggest upset of the Greek football season was about to come to an end. Volos FC began the season in top form, taking 12 points from their first five league matches, up next however, was a trip to European stalwarts PAOK.
The Greek Super League’s official refresher. Volos FC (Photo: via Volos FC official website)
The difference between the sides was clear, after 42 minutes the scoreboard presented PAOK’s lead, 4-1. But, when the teams returned from the half time break, things were different.
Two Volos goals came quickly and, with the help of a penalty save by their Israeli goalkeeper, Boris Klaiman, they were back in the game. Cue the 83rd minute equaliser, from centre back Jean-Pierre Rhyner, that caps off an unbelievable comeback and, securing a 4-4 draw, keeping Volos near the top of the table.
FT: PAOK 4-4 Volos
— Hellas Football (@HellasFooty) October 17, 2021
Goals galore in Toumba with the top of the clash ending in a draw. PAOK were 4-1 up at the break but Volos fought their way back with 3 goals in the second half to deny the home side the win.#PAOKVOL | #SLGR pic.twitter.com/usFGiUGflL
What Volos is all about?
Volos FC is a new club in Greek football, but it’s not the first from the city to feature in the Greek top flight.
Niki Volos were once up there too, but now languish in the second division. The city’s new team was established in 2017 and, within two seasons, had gone from the third tier to the Super League.
After promotion to the top flight, two seasons of mid-table obscurity followed, but something different has happened this year. Volos have risen to third, tied with PAOK and AEK Athens, and only one point behind current leaders Olympiakos.
Volos’ squad is composed almost entirely of foreigners, but one local on their books is getting special attention. More than a decade ago, Sotiris Ninis was considered the next big Greek talent. As a youngster, he played in the Panathinaikos senior team, and got his first international call up when he was just 18 years old. But, as time went by, things faltered. Unsuccessful spells at Parma, Charleroi, and Mechelen followed, then a return to Panathinaikos which was, ultimately, another failure, followed by rock bottom, when he signed for Israeli second tier side Hapoel Ashkelon. The 31 year old took one last shot, and returned to Greece with Volos last year.
Top scorer this season is Tom van Weert, a Dutch striker who has impressed since he took his first steps on the pitch back in his homeland. He was close to joining Sporting CP in 2018, but a financial crisis at the club blocked the move. Instead he spent three seasons at Aalborg, keeping up his strong scoring record in Denmark. Leaving for Greece in the summer, he said that he was “looking for a new challenge” and that, whilst “it wasn’t easy in the beginning, we got used to it quickly.” And he really has. Leading his team’s scoring charts, and second in the league overall, with five goals so far this season.
🇬🇷 Done deal! Tom van Weert gaat zijn doelpunten vanaf nu maken voor FC Volos. De Avonturier gaat dus in Griekenland aan de slag, na de afgelopen jaren in Denemarken te hebben gespeeld. Op naar veel goals, Tom! 👏 pic.twitter.com/PFIkdJSmK6
— FC De Avonturiers (@FCDeAvonturiers) June 25, 2021
Guillermo Abascal: a young leader
Behind the scenes, the one taking Volos forward in its sensational start to the season is also a surprising one. Spanish manager Guillermo Abascal is only 32 years old but has already managed in Switzerland and Italy. “We don’t need to be afraid of the top clubs,” he said in an interview with Gazzetta this week, “in the Champions League, those who play as a team are those who reach the further stages.” Abascal has spent time at Barcelona’s La Masia, and began his coaching career with Sevilla’s youth teams, and these brought him to his coaching philosophy. “Sevilla is an example for a club that keeps its place at the top, they always aim to win,” and it’s this philosophy that he is taking to Volos.
“We don’t need to be afraid of the top clubs; in the Champions League, those who play as a team are those who reach the further stages.”
They’re slowly making their spot at the top their own, but this week will face another big test, at home to AEK Athens. Do they have what it takes to stay there? Right now they are confident something special, that we haven’t seen in Greek football for a long time, could be coming.
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