How Olympiacos accumulated 50 international finals
The club’s first international final came in 1963 when the football section won the Balkan Cup against Levski Sofia after a decisive third match in Istanbul. Subsequent decades brought additional finals in five team sports. Basketball produced 13 finals and five titles, including four EuroLeague crowns in 1997, 2012, 2013 and 2026 plus the 2013 Intercontinental Cup. Men’s water polo reached nine finals for three titles. The women’s section appeared in 14 finals and collected eight trophies. Volleyball teams combined for ten finals and four titles. Handball reached its first final in 2024. The 49 completed finals produced 23 titles before the 50th match in Abu Dhabi.
Breakdown by sport: football and basketball
Football delivered three finals and three titles: the 1963 Balkan Cup, the 2024 UEFA Youth League win over Milan and the 2024 UEFA Europa Conference League victory over Fiorentina after extra time. Basketball finals span from the 1994 EuroLeague final loss in Tel Aviv to the 2026 title win against Real Madrid. Other basketball finals include the 1995 EuroLeague loss, the 1997 McDonald’s Championship loss to Chicago Bulls, the 2010 EuroLeague loss, the 2015 EuroLeague loss, the 2017 EuroLeague loss and the 2023 EuroLeague loss. The upcoming SuperCup final against Real Madrid would mark the 14th basketball final and the sixth possible title in that sport. The full basketball record also lists the 1997 EuroLeague triumph over Barcelona, the 2012 final win against CSKA Moscow, the 2013 EuroLeague and Intercontinental Cup double, plus the 2026 EuroLeague victory over Real Madrid 92-85. The source records no further basketball finals between 2017 and 2023, leaving open whether additional appearances occurred outside the listed competitions.
Water polo dominance in European competitions
Men’s water polo secured two LEN Champions League titles in 2002 and 2018 plus one Super Cup in 2002. The section also reached finals in 1998, 1999, 2001, 2016, 2018 and 2019. The women’s team won four LEN Champions League titles in 2015, 2021, 2022 and 2026, one LEN Trophy in 2014 and three Super Cups in 2015, 2021 and 2022. Their next Super Cup match against EPLUS CN Catalunya on 3 October offers the chance for a ninth European trophy and the club’s 51st overall final. Women’s water polo also reached finals in 2008, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2024. The women’s section has therefore contested more finals than any other Olympiacos team and holds the majority of the club’s European trophies. The source does not specify outcomes for every listed final beyond the titles counted, leaving the exact margin of some defeats unstated.
Volleyball and handball contributions
Men’s volleyball reached eight finals and won three titles, most recently the 2023 CEV Challenge Cup. Earlier titles came in the 1996 Cup Winners’ Cup and the 2005 CEV Cup. Additional finals occurred in 1992, 1997, 1998, 2002 and 2018. Women’s volleyball claimed one Challenge Cup title in 2018 after a final loss in 2017. Handball reached its first European final in 2024 but lost on penalties to Valur in the EHF European Cup. The men’s volleyball record shows two appearances in the CEV Champions League final in 1992 and 2002, while the women’s side reached consecutive Challenge Cup finals in 2017 and 2018. The source records no further handball finals, so the section’s total remains one appearance without a title.
Upcoming fixture and historical context
The 50th final takes place in Abu Dhabi against Real Madrid. A win would raise the trophy count to 24. The next scheduled European final is the women’s water polo Super Cup on 3 October, confirming the total will soon exceed 50. The distribution of titles shows three in football, five in basketball, three in men’s water polo, eight in women’s water polo, three in men’s volleyball and one in women’s volleyball. The record began in 1963 and continues 63 years later. The source material leaves open whether further finals will be added in handball or men’s volleyball before the women’s water polo fixture, yet the October date already guarantees the count will move past 50 regardless of the Abu Dhabi result. No additional context is given on possible new competitions that could insert extra finals before that date.
Frequently asked questions
In which sports has Olympiacos reached the most finals?
Women’s water polo leads with 14 finals, followed by men’s basketball with 13 finals.
How many titles has each section won?
Football holds three titles, basketball five, men’s water polo three, women’s water polo eight, men’s volleyball three and women’s volleyball one.
When is the next final after Abu Dhabi?
The women’s water polo team plays the European Super Cup against EPLUS CN Catalunya on 3 October.
Which sport produced the club’s first international final?
Football achieved the first final and title in the 1963 Balkan Cup.
Has Olympiacos won a title in every sport it reached a final?
No. Handball reached one final without winning, and several other sections have lost finals.
