Olympiacos have confirmed that head coach Hrvoje Koljanin will leave the club with immediate affect, bringing to an end a tenure that began in June 2023.
The club announced that the decision was made “by mutual consent” and came in “a spirit of absolute respect and appreciation,” but the timing has inevitably sparked speculation over whether the Croatian coach was truly given the choice.
Olympiacos have already confirmed Koljanin’s successor, one of his former teammates, Giorgios Doskas.
Koljanin, once a player for Olympiacos and later an assistant coach during the club’s historic 2018 Champions League title under Theodoros Vlachos, returned to Piraeus last summer to take over the reins from Igor Milanović. Seen by many as a rising star in coaching, Koljanin brought with him experience from his time as head coach of Vouliagmeni, assistant coach at Jug Dubrovnik, and manager of Croatia’s U18 national team.
However, this season hasn’t quite lived up to Olympiacos’ lofty ambitions. With the team’s progression to the Champions League Final Four now in serious doubt, it appears that the club’s management has opted to make a change sooner rather than later—a move that suggests Koljanin’s departure was more of a dismissal in disguise than a peaceful farewell.
In their official statement, Olympiacos thanked Koljanin for his “passion, professionalism, and absolute dedication,” noting his deep commitment in both training and competition. “He will always be a part of the red-and-white family,” the club concluded.
Despite the club’s gracious words, the writing may have been on the wall since the end of last season’s Final Eight in Belgrade, where whispers of discontent and a potential coaching change began to circulate. With Olympiacos demanding not only domestic dominance but also European success, anything short of a Champions League podium can often be seen as falling short.
As Olympiacos look ahead to a new chapter under the leadership of Giorgios Doskas, Koljanin will undoubtedly remain a respected figure in European water polo. His next move will be closely watched.