Evangelos Marinakis, the owner of Nottingham Forest, has opened up about what inspired him to buy the historic football club during an interview with Rob Dorsett on Sky Sports.
Since taking over in 2017, the Greek billionaire has overseen a dramatic transformation of the club, from improving facilities to significant investment in the transfer market.
Under Marinakis’ stewardship, Forest have re-established themselves as contenders on the European stage.
With the January transfer window approaching, the owner has already signaled his intention to invest further to bolster Forest’s European push, a personal dream of his since acquiring the club.
Marinakis on Why He Bought Nottingham Forest
In the recent interview, Marinakis revealed his deep-rooted connection to Nottingham Forest and why the club held such significance for him.
“For me, that was the target from the beginning. When I first said it, people said it’s crazy or it’s b*. But, for me, this is important, otherwise I wouldn’t do it. If Forest weren’t a big team, I wouldn’t get involved. For me, it’s the memories that I have.
“It was when I was first visiting England and then I stayed in England. That was at the beginning of the 1980s and there were two teams at the time: Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. They wore the same colour as Olympiacos red. We’re talking about thousands or millions of supporters.
“You can see it with the teams that I’m involved with, these two teams in Greece and in England. Olympiacos is the biggest team, by far, in Greece. Half of the Greek population supports Olympiacos and Nottingham Forest is one of the very big teams in England, both in what we have achieved and also with the supporter base. For me, this is very important.”
Expanding the Multi-Club Model
Marinakis, who recently received the European Golden Boy Career Award, has his sights set on expanding his multi-club portfolio to include teams in Asia, Europe, and South America.
Among his latest targets is Brazilian club Vasco da Gama, although competition from Andrea Radrizzani may complicate matters.
To aid in his global ambitions, Marinakis has reportedly enlisted the help of Edu, whose Premier League experience could be invaluable not only for acquisitions but also for contributing to the success of Nottingham Forest.
Edu’s involvement could bring fresh expertise to the City Ground as Marinakis balances his plans for Forest with his broader vision for football.
Despite his global aspirations, Marinakis remains deeply committed to Nottingham Forest and their ongoing journey, emphasizing the club’s importance in his expanding football empire.
