Nottingham Forest’s Greek billionaire owner, Evangelos Marinakis, always does things his own way. His hands-on, sometimes chaotic, management style? A Forest legend, whose identity hasn’t been revealed, sees it as a strength.
He compares Marinakis to another eccentric owner, one who embraced ‘craziness’ as a positive trait. This view, highlighting Why Evangelos Marinakis on the pitch and in the tunnel is a good thing, challenges the usual idea of Premier League club ownership.
Most chairmen keep their distance. But for Forest, this direct engagement might be just what they need.
Marinakis’s Intense Involvement
Marinakis isn’t one to sit quietly in the directors’ box. He’s been known to be right there, pitchside, or even in the tunnel during and after matches.
This isn’t new for him. He’s owned Olympiacos since 2010. Then he completed his takeover of Nottingham Forest in May 2017. Since then, especially this ongoing 2025/26 season, his visible presence during heated moments has been notable.
The legend’s comments come right after a few of these incidents. And it suggests this isn’t a problem. Instead, it’s a sign of passion.
A recent Goal.com article framed his direct engagement as beneficial for the club. It’s not just about money, you see. It’s about being there, in the thick of it all.
The Eccentric Owner Archetype
Football has seen these kinds of owners before. Billionaires who get involved beyond just signing checks. They influence team morale, sometimes even tactics, through sheer visible presence.
This “eccentric” archetype, as the legend describes it, often brings a different energy. It can be polarizing. But for a club like Nottingham Forest, trying to cement its place back in the Premier League, that fire can sometimes be motivating.
Forest got promoted to the Premier League in 2022. They’re sitting mid-table in the 2025/26 season. That stability, it probably comes from somewhere. It’s not just the players on the field. It’s the atmosphere Marinakis creates.
He sets a tone. This kind of hands-on leadership might just be what keeps the players on their toes. Makes them feel like the owner is right there with them, feeling every win and loss.
Forest’s Stability and Future Under Marinakis
Marinakis’s investment since 2017 has been crucial for Forest. They’re not just surviving; they’re competing. We hear talk of them being mid-tier Premier League contenders now.
There’s even chatter about Champions League odds this season. This kind of progress, it ties back to the commitment from the top. And that commitment involves more than just transfer funds. It’s the emotional buy-in.
His approach, even if it causes a few raised eyebrows, might be part of Forest’s identity now. It’s a high-stakes league, the Premier League. Owners getting involved in matchday events, even tunnel confrontations, isn’t unheard of. It just shows how much it means to them.
For Forest fans, knowing their owner is that passionate? That means something. As Goal.com reports often show, fan connection to ownership is a big deal in football. And Marinakis, he delivers that connection.
