Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, who also owns Greek club Olympiacos and Portuguese side Rio Ave, is a strong advocate of the multi-club ownership model. This approach, which involves overseeing a network of clubs, is gaining traction in European football and beyond. Marinakis is reportedly considering expanding his portfolio to include a Brazilian club, further diversifying his football investments.
Lina Souloukou said: “There are more than 300 clubs involved in the multi-club investment structure. We’re talking about approximately 17% of the clubs in the top divisions at UEFA level. European football clubs attract investment; they have a perfect mix. In our group, one of the first challenges I faced was precisely this. After Marinakis’ acquisition of Nottingham, Olympiacos returned to winning ways and we (Forest) were promoted to the Premier League then we qualified for the Europa League, so this model works.”
She added: “At group level, there are many synergies in the sporting side, from scouting to recruitment. Some smaller clubs can gain access to some players that they wouldn’t be able to have if they weren’t part of this model. This certainly creates many operational efficiencies, having the same needs at the group level.”
The multi-club ownership model, as highlighted by Souloukou, offers several advantages, including shared scouting and recruitment resources, which can be particularly beneficial for smaller clubs within the network. This model has already shown success under Marinakis’s leadership, with Nottingham Forest achieving promotion to the Premier League and qualifying for the Europa League. Although they narrowly missed out on a Champions League spot last season, finishing seventh in the Premier League, the experience has been deemed valuable for future endeavors.
Marinakis’s strategy reflects a broader trend in football where investors seek to capitalize on the synergies and efficiencies that come with managing multiple clubs. The model not only enhances operational capabilities but also increases the potential for player development and talent acquisition across the network. As the football world continues to evolve, the multi-club ownership model is likely to play an increasingly significant role in shaping the future of the sport.
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