“A Completely Different Team Because of Corona” – Theodoros Vlachos on Olympic Dreams and Youth Development
“A Completely Different Team Because of Corona” – Theodoros Vlachos on Olympic Dreams, Youth Development & the New Reality at Olympiacos (Part 2)
In the second part of the conversation on the Waterpolo Expert Talk, Theodoros Vlachos, head coach of Olympiacos Piraeus and the Greek national team, speaks openly about how deeply the Corona pandemic has changed his club team, the Greek league and the preparation for the Olympic Games.
Vlachos explains that due to financial limitations caused by the pandemic, Olympiacos had to completely rebuild its roster. Several international top players left the club, and the team now consists of eight new and significantly younger players. For Vlachos, this radical change is not only a sporting challenge, but also a great opportunity to develop future leaders and to give young Greek players real responsibility at the highest level.
A major focus of the episode is the Olympic Games and what they truly mean to players and coaches. Vlachos shares his emotional memories from Rio 2016, describing the opening ceremony in the Maracanã Stadium as one of the most impressive moments of his life. At the same time, he reflects critically on key matches, especially the quarterfinal loss against Italy, which still occupies his thoughts today. For him, the Olympics are not just another tournament – they are the highest dream of every athlete.
The episode also gives a very honest insight into the dramatic training conditions during Corona. Vlachos explains that Greece, together with Germany, was one of the very few countries where no official water polo matches were played for months. Teams trained every day without matches in between, which made mental freshness, motivation and competitive sharpness extremely difficult to maintain.
At the same time, the Greek league suddenly became more competitive than ever before. For the first time in many years, Olympiacos had to fight seriously for the national title, especially against a strengthened rival with experienced international players. Vlachos clearly states that he does not enjoy winning titles without resistance – he prefers tough battles, because only strong opponents truly improve players and teams.
Another important topic is youth development and the center position in modern water polo. Vlachos explains why young center players need much more than physical strength today. They must be fast swimmers, tactically intelligent and able to play in multiple positions. He also highlights the importance of individual position-specific training, especially for centers, defenders and goalkeepers.
The conversation further touches on the new water polo rules and video assistant referee. Vlachos sees positive effects in terms of fairness and goal-line decisions but also criticizes the time delays that can interrupt the flow of the game. In his view, water polo is still in a transition phase where players, referees and coaches must continue to adapt.
In the final part of the episode, Vlachos talks about the long period without competitions, the hope of returning to a normal sports life and the wish that the next seasons will finally take place without pandemic restrictions.
This second part of the interview offers a deep, emotional and very realistic insight into elite coaching during Corona, between Olympic ambitions, financial uncertainty, youth responsibility and the constant fight to keep water polo alive at the highest level.
