Fortounis is the greatest modern Greek captain of Olympiacos! He fulfilled ALL his football dreams with the "red and whites", he accepted the challenge, he felt the love, he did not hesitate to clash for his competitive ego and now he is preparing for a new football adventure that will bring him a huge monetary reward. Fortounis is a football "capsule" for many members of the beautiful game. One of them is Giorgos Donis, who has tried many times to include him in the potential of the team he manages. Last summer, as the coach of AL Wenda, he laid out a "golden carpet" for Fortounis, who seriously thought about it more than once or twice. However, Fortounis preferred not to "hang" Olympiacos in the middle of the preparation, while at the same time some problems arose in the release of the money proposed to him by the experienced Greek coach. Fortounis, as a true leader, closed the transfer chapter, focused on Olympiacos and took him by the hand on a rather peculiar path. Until and after the holidays, Fortounis was the point of reference for Olympiacos, while he "slowed down" (in the physical part, not in the competitive contribution) when Jose Luis Mendiliber took over the team (Vaskos loved his style and gave him a more specific role), while other capable units appeared, either existing on the roster and returning, or helping out as new additions. In total in the season he counted 49 games, 11 goals, 19 assists.
The fairy-tale path of Olympiacos to the conquest of the UEFA Europa Conference League had the signature of Fortounis as well. "Fortou" counted in the Conference 9 appearances, 2 goals and 3 assists and the soul of the friends of the team... rejoiced when he saw the captain lifting the cup after the victorious final of the "OPAP Arena". It was the absolutely "Olympic" image, as well as the tears that rolled down his cheeks, during the victories that followed and were clearly captured in one of the photos from the 20th anniversary! His contract ended on June 30 and he discreetly kept his distance from Olympiacos, wanting to be absolutely clear in the negotiation phase. The renewal of Giorgos Masouras sounded like a harbinger of Fortunis staying. However, the two cases are very different. Fortounis had a... cartload of flirtations and proposals all these years, even from teams that the Greek football mind can't fit!
On his scales there were two counterweights. On the one hand, there was a hegemonic contract offered to him by Vangelis Marinakis, but also the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the foundation of Olympiakos next March (and he would find him with the armband on his arm). On the other hand, there was the prospect of an even more "golden" contract from Al Kalij of Doni, but mainly the lure of the new football adventure, in his last chance to realize it, as the years have passed relatively for him as well. Fortounis seems to be leaving, not mainly for the big money. Since his tenure at Olympiakos, he has won a lot. He is leaving to try a new environment, as he needs it football-wise. It has nothing to do with Olympiakos and the good or bad things he experienced at the port, but with his internal motivation.
In Olympiacos he lived 2 football lives. There was room for a third, but he decides to end it here as a friend, leader, fan of the Piraeus team. He "cut" his knees in the "red and white" jersey twice, but just as many times he fought to come back stronger. Not by miracle, but by work and determination, he did not lose anything of his rare plasticity and technical perfection. It was always the "7" that Olympiacos' friend wanted to see. Airy in the grass, simple character, old fashioned balladeer. The kid who on his days off chose to spend them at SEF, who lost the "7" and rightfully got it back, who participated in Group B matches with his soul, who won comments of acceptance from huge personalities of the world football scene. This is the Fortune of Olympiacos. He leaves behind shocking appearances, beautiful goals, many trophies, a "bag" for Messi and of course he says "see you again" and not "goodbye"! For the record, his career from 2014 until today stopped at 343 appearances, 94 goals and 106 assists.
Source: NOVASports
