Greek shipowner Evangelos Marinakis has been basking in the glory of taking his English football club back to the top division for the first time in 23 years.
Speaking on broadcaster Sky Sports, the tycoon described the 1-0 playoff win against Huddersfield Town at Wembley Stadium on Sunday as “a magic night”.
He said the victory was not only special for him but also for “thousands, even millions of supporters within the UK and all over the world.”
Forest are a famous old club that have faded from the top of English football since winning one league title and two European Cups in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
“Nottingham is back,” said Marinakis. “I said nearly five years ago … we had to bring Nottingham back where it belongs. Now we are back in the Premier League we want to be as high as possible.”
Asked about the impact of team manager Steve Cooper, he said he had met the prospective boss in Greece before giving him the job.
“I was impressed. I thought that this is the right guy to turn it around,” Marinakis added.
The shipowner also paid tribute to his son Miltiadis, an executive at the club and also the family shipping company Capital Ship Management.
“He has done a very good job,” Marinakis said.
“I need to congratulate everybody and we need to enjoy it now, because trophies are coming,” the owner continued.
More firepower needed
He pledged to give the team “ammunition” for next season by going for good players.
“We will go for the top,” the tycoon added.
A Marinakis-led consortium bought 100% of Forest in 2017.
The shipowner teamed up on the deal with compatriot businessman and investor Sokratis Kominakis.
The new owners formed an English company, NF Football Investments, in order to provide full transparency when they purchased the shares formerly owned by the Kuwaiti Al-Hasawi family.
Marinakis has been the majority owner of Greek football club Olympiacos FC since August 2010, during which time it has enjoyed one of its most successful periods.
