Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis still has one promise to keep with fans
Ironic cheers echoed around Old Market Square as a sea of Garibaldi Red whooped and applauded on a grey May afternoon.
“I’m hoping this won’t be the last time we stand on this balcony,” Matt Forde said as he turned to Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis with a cheeky grin. “How soon do you think we’ll be back here as Premier League champions?!”
The thousands packed in below the Council House enjoyed that one. The Reds fan and comedian perhaps wasn’t being entirely serious when he quizzed the club chief as he hosted that special celebratory event. But now? They couldn’t, could they?
Marinakis’ response to Forde’s question was telling. Barely 24 hours earlier Forest had secured promotion back to the top flight after an agonisingly-long absence, but already the Greek’s mind had turned to what happens next.
“It would be fantastic,” he replied, without a hint of satire. He gave the impression he hadn’t entirely ruled it out.
"We need to write a new history for this club,” Marinakis continued. “We respect our history, but now is the time to write a new history even brighter. I promise you, you will see a lot of victories and trophies to come.”
Less than three years on and the first part of Marinakis’ pledge has already been fulfilled. The Reds have notched up plenty of victories - certainly this season. Memorable ones, too.
Few would bet against the shipping magnate from delivering on the second half of his promise, either. Whether it be this term or further down the line, there is absolutely no reason why fresh silverware of some form cannot be added to the club’s already glittering trophy cabinet. As Marinakis himself said after that glorious day at Wembley in 2022: “The sky is the limit.”
Forest are third in the Premier League table, below second-placed Arsenal on goal difference and only six points adrift of leaders Liverpool. Back in the summer they had been tipped for relegation after two years of battling to stay afloat. Even in the early stages of this term many pundits predicted the Reds’ form would tail off and they would drop down the table.
But Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are the real deal. They have already proved that several times over this season.
That doesn’t necessarily equate to winning the title, of course. By general consensus, first place is Liverpool’s to lose. It would be quite the upset for them to miss out now, particularly as they have a game in hand. They are not yet running away with the league, though, and Forest (as well as the Gunners) are right on their coattails.
The Reds are right there in the mix with 22 games gone. Whatever happens between now and May, this has the makings of being a very special campaign. Fans are daring to dream of digging out their passports, of trips to Barcelona, of Real Madrid rocking up Trentside, of magical European nights under the lights.
Securing European football is a distinct possibility, and that would mark a quite incredible achievement. But don’t expect Marinakis and Forest to stop there. Not a bit of it. If anything, a return to playing in Europe would be viewed as a springboard to further success by the shipping magnate.
Marinakis’ sense of ambition seeps into every corner of the club. He sets the standard and drives the Reds on.
“We have an owner who wants more and keeps pushing us. And we have to go,” Nuno said last month. “It’s good. This is life.”
Marinakis has enjoyed plenty of success with Olympiacos, where he has been at the helm since 2010. Last season they became the first Greek side to win a European trophy when they beat Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final. That triumph has only fuelled the owner’s desire to have Forest competing on a similar stage.
“Why not? Nottingham Forest have a very good team,” he said at the time. “If we perform well in the Premier League and we get into a European competition, then why not?
“We have what is needed to go all the way. I really believe that. But the first target is to perform well in the Premier League, and then if Europe comes we will look forward to performing (in it).”
For Marinakis, it will not be enough for this season to be a one-off. He wants it to be a regular occurrence, for the Reds to repeatedly hold their own at the top end of the table and be competing with the traditional big six. Only last month he described that as a “realistic” goal in an interview with Sky Sports.
Marinakis is not one for standing still. The recent appointment of Lina Souloukou as chief executive at the City Ground is another building block in his long-term goals, with the pair having worked together at Olympiacos.
Likewise, the expected link-up with former Arsenal sporting director Edu and the push to expand his stable of clubs into South America speaks of the owner’s grand plans. He has described it as a “global project”.
Securing European football would not only boost Forest’s coffers by bringing in plenty of cash, it would also act as a considerable lure for recruiting top players. And for retaining those already on the books. The opportunity would be there to kick on again.
This season has already seen Nuno’s men notch up plenty of significant milestones. A first win at Anfield since 1969, a first victory at Old Trafford for 30 years, the first time ever triumphing away to Liverpool and Manchester United in the same season. A Merseyside double by winning away at both Liverpool and Everton in the same league campaign for the first time since 1898/99. In the top four of the top-flight at the turn of a year for the first time since 1987/88. And so the stats just keep on coming.
The most important one, of course, will be Forest’s position in the table come the end of May. But regardless of where they sit, expect this to just be the start.
Marinakis has long spoken about his “big dreams” and "bold ambitions" for the club. Indeed, when he took over in May 2017, he outlined his goal of bringing back “the glory days” to the banks of the Trent.
“We want to rekindle Forest’s past success,” Marinakis said back then. Strap yourselves in, this journey has a long way to run yet.
