Evangelos Marinakis interacting with Nottingham Forest players on the pitch
Nottingham Forest fans have come to expect the unexpected with owner Evangelos Marinakis, and former Reds striker Rob Earnshaw believes the Greek billionaire’s high-profile involvement at the City Ground is a positive for the club and the Premier League.
Since completing his takeover in May 2017, Marinakis has overseen Forest’s remarkable return to the English top-flight after a 23-year absence, injecting ambition, investment, and a unique personality into the club.
Earnshaw, reflecting on his own experiences at Cardiff City under eccentric owner Sam Hammam, explained why seeing Marinakis on the pitch or in the tunnel should be embraced:
“When Mr Marinakis comes on the pitch and he’s greeting players in the tunnel, for me there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Also, in Greece, when you are the owner, you are entitled to go in the dressing room, to go on the pitch, it’s part of the game. You speak with the players and you are the man in the middle. As the owner, you get a better feeling of what’s going on inside the football club.”
Earnshaw highlighted that this involvement is not just theatrics: it’s a reflection of Marinakis’ commitment to fully investing himself in the club’s success, something fans have seen through Forest competing in the Premier League and European competitions.
“He hasn’t just invested in the football club, he has fully invested himself in order to take the club to be successful. It has been a hell of a journey, a hell of a few years, but it wouldn’t be Forest if it was boring and we didn’t have personalities,” Earnshaw said.
The ex-Forest striker likened Marinakis to Cardiff City’s former owner Sam Hammam, who famously mixed craziness with footballing ambition:
“Sam Hammam came in and bought the club, said he is going to try and take the team to the Premier League, he invested. He did things that were out of the ordinary… There was a bit of craziness in it, a bit of theatrics, but it was also about enjoying the football club with the fans.”
Earnshaw praised the approach, saying passionate and involved owners like Marinakis add excitement to football:
“Football is about personalities, so I love that. They shouldn’t just be sat there and you never hear from them in the box. They are part of the football club and their personality comes out.”
From heavy recruitment to big European nights, Marinakis has reshaped Nottingham Forest’s trajectory, earning admiration from former players and fans alike. Earnshaw concluded:
“I enjoy it. I enjoy him being involved. I think it’s been unbelievable and he deserves a lot of credit because he hasn’t just invested financially, he has invested himself. Those moments are what every Forest fan wants to happen.”
For Forest supporters, the presence of Marinakis – on the pitch, in the tunnel, and in the dressing room – is a reminder that football is more than results: it’s about passion, personalities, and the full footballing experience.
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