SEAN DYCHE is back in the Premier League and back working under the man he once clashed with in explosive fashion.
boss has history with Evangelos Marinakis, dating back to a fiery showdown in 2018.
Sean Dyche did not hold back when his Burnley team lost to Olympiacos in controversial circumstancesCredit: PA
Burnley’s Ben Gibson was shown a red card that eventually helped Olympiacos to a 3-1 winCredit: Reuters
Evangelos Marinakis still owns Olympiacos and Nottingham ForestCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
The pair locked horns when Dyche’s side took on Marinakis’ Olympiacos in a bruising play-off in Athens, a match marred by controversy, questionable officiating, and alleged pressure from the Forest owner’s camp.
Marinakis, a powerful figure in Greek through his ownership of serial winners Olympiacos, was accused of confronting officials at half, time in the tunnel, a move that left Dyche fuming.
The match was a feisty affair from the off with Kostas Fortounis curling home a free-kick after 19 minutes to give Olympiacos the lead.
levelled for the Clarets from the spot but the game turned on its head after the break.
Just four minutes into the second half, Andreas Bouchalakis nodded Olympiacos back in front.
Minutes later, Burnley’s saw red after a harsh handball decision inside the box, with Fortounis converting the resulting penalty to seal a 3-1 win for the Greeks.
Dyche didn’t hold back post-match. Speaking after the game, he said : “I don’t know how many people ran on the pitch and surrounded the referee and linesman.
“The feel of the game changed in the second half, you’re left scratching your head.
Marinakis will now hope Dyche brings the same level of passion and aggressiveness to help Forest stay upCredit: Instagram @officialnffc
“At half-time, there were plenty of people waiting for the ref in the tunnel.
“It wasn’t just the bench, it was people from the offices, even the tea lady! That’s a joke, of course, but it felt like everyone was piling on.”
Dyche insisted his side followed and Premier League protocols by heading straight to their and not confronting the officials.
But it was clear he believed the hosts’ conduct and that of Marinakis, had an impact.
Marinakis, no stranger to run-ins with refs, hit the headlines again last year after allegedly following Forest’s 1-0 home defeat to .
The Greek tycoon denied the act was aimed at anyone, blaming a “hacking cough” from cigar smoke but was hit with a five-match stadium ban and a fine by .
Now, Dyche and Marinakis will need to put their differences aside as they battle to keep Forest in the top flight, with the club sitting 18th in the table.
And there’s irony in Dyche’s new challenge, as Forest are playing in the Europa League, the very competition Marinakis’ Olympiacos side knocked his Burnley team out of seven years ago.
