Nottingham Forest boss Oliver Glasner has revealed how a key dinner with Evangelos Marinakis helped convince him to take charge at the City Ground, despite initially having little interest in the job.
The Austrian arrived at Forest in July on a three-year contract after leaving Crystal Palace, where he had enjoyed a highly successful spell. Glasner said he originally wanted to remain in the Premier League but was attracted by clubs competing regularly in European football. Forest therefore did not immediately appear to be his obvious next destination.
That changed after a meeting with Forest owner Marinakis in Athens. Over dinner, the pair discussed the club, its squad and their ambitions for the future. Glasner came away convinced that Forest offered an opportunity worth taking.
Glasner Initially Said No to Forest
One of the most interesting aspects of Glasner’s move is that Forest apparently had to change his mind.
Glasner has explained that he was repeatedly approached but initially did not regard Forest as the right destination. European football was particularly important to him after experiencing continental competition with previous clubs.
The situation changed once he examined Forest’s potential more closely.
Two factors became particularly important: the quality he believes exists within the squad and Marinakis’s ambition for the club.
For Glasner, the second factor appears to have been decisive.
The Athens Dinner That Changed Everything
Glasner met Marinakis in Athens, where the two discussed Forest’s future over dinner. According to Glasner, the conversation demonstrated that Marinakis shared his determination to achieve something significant.
That mattered because Glasner is not looking merely to keep Forest comfortably in the Premier League.
He wants to build a side capable of competing towards the upper end of English football and regularly qualifying for European competition.
Marinakis has expressed similar ambitions. When announcing Glasner’s appointment, the Forest owner said the pair shared a vision and desire for success, adding that his objective was to establish Forest among England and Europe’s leading clubs.
That shared ambition appears to have transformed what initially looked like an unlikely appointment into an attractive project for both men.
Glasner Wants More Than a One-Off European Run
Forest have experienced dramatic progress since returning to the Premier League, but Glasner wants sustained success rather than occasional exceptional seasons.
His message is essentially that European qualification cannot be treated as a one-off achievement.
That represents an ambitious target considering the financial strength of clubs such as Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea.
Glasner nevertheless believes Forest can establish greater consistency. Recent interviews show him stressing that the club needs to create the right environment to compete at a higher level over time.
Glasner Arrives With a Strong Reputation
Forest’s appointment of Glasner is significant because of what he achieved before arriving at the City Ground.
The 51-year-old previously managed clubs, including Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt, before moving to Crystal Palace. His career includes success in European and English competition, and his Palace tenure considerably raised his reputation in the Premier League.
His teams are generally associated with energetic football, structured pressing and a system frequently built around three central defenders and attacking wing-backs.
Forest will therefore have to adapt to his tactical demands.
Glasner has also cautioned that supporters should not expect everything to work immediately. He has indicated that fully establishing his methods can take three to six months.
That patience could prove particularly important at Forest.
The Big Question: Will Glasner Get Enough Time?
This is arguably the biggest issue surrounding the appointment.
Glasner became Forest’s fifth head coach in less than 12 months, highlighting the extraordinary managerial turnover at the club.
A manager trying to implement a distinctive tactical identity usually needs time.
That means the relationship between Glasner and Marinakis could be just as important as formations, transfers and individual performances.
The Athens dinner established their shared ambitions. Maintaining that relationship when Forest inevitably experience difficult results will be the more meaningful test.
What Marinakis Sees in Glasner
Marinakis has been clear about why he wanted the Austrian.
The Forest owner praised Glasner’s leadership, personality, style of football and record of building successful teams. He also described him as a winner capable of competing against strong opposition.
That makes the appointment more than simply another managerial change.
Forest appear to have hired a coach they believe can take the club into a different phase—one in which expectations move beyond Premier League survival.
The challenge will be matching those expectations with recruitment, squad development and patience.
Recruitment Could Be Crucial
Glasner’s tactical system requires players with particular characteristics.
Wing-backs need the stamina to contribute in both directions. Central defenders must be comfortable defending space, while attacking midfielders need to operate effectively between the lines.
Recruitment will consequently be a major part of determining whether his Forest project succeeds.
A coach can have an ambitious plan, but he also needs a squad capable of executing it.
The relationship with Marinakis and Forest’s recruitment team will therefore be worth watching throughout the transfer window and beyond.
From Crystal Palace to Nottingham Forest
Glasner’s move inevitably attracted attention because of his successful association with Crystal Palace.
He has nevertheless made clear that he views Forest as a new chapter rather than an attempt to recreate his previous job.
Speaking at his Forest unveiling, he reflected positively on his time at Palace while emphasising that his focus has moved to the challenge at the City Ground.
For Forest supporters, that distinction matters.
They are not simply getting the former Palace manager. They are getting an ambitious coach who believes Forest have enough potential to build something of their own.
Why the Marinakis Dinner Matters
Football is full of stories about transfer negotiations and managerial interviews, but Glasner’s dinner with Marinakis is revealing because it explains the thinking behind the appointment.
Glasner initially had reservations.
He wanted European football. The forest was not initially his preferred destination. But a closer look at the squad—and particularly Marinakis’s ambitions—persuaded him that the club’s potential was greater than he had first thought.
That creates substantial expectations.
If Forest progress towards regular European qualification, the Athens meeting may eventually be remembered as an important moment in the club’s modern history.
If the relationship breaks down, supporters may instead wonder whether ambition was ever enough to overcome Forest’s recent instability.
Conclusion
The story of the Nottingham Forest Oliver Glasner Marinakis dinner offers a fascinating insight into why one of the Premier League’s most highly regarded coaches chose the City Ground.
Glasner initially had doubts about taking the job, particularly because Forest could not offer the regular European football he wanted. But his meeting with Marinakis changed his perspective. He saw potential in the squad and, crucially, encountered an owner whose ambitions matched his own.
Now comes the difficult part.
Forest must translate those ambitions into results while giving Glasner enough time to establish his methods.
The dinner in Athens helped get the partnership started. What happens on the pitch will determine whether it becomes a successful one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Oliver Glasner join Nottingham Forest?
Glasner said the potential of Forest’s squad and the ambition demonstrated by owner Evangelos Marinakis were important reasons for changing his mind about the job.
Where did Glasner meet Evangelos Marinakis?
The pair met in Athens, where they had dinner and discussed Forest’s future ambitions.
How long is Oliver Glasner’s Nottingham Forest contract?
Glasner joined Forest on a three-year deal in July 2026.
What does Glasner want to achieve at Forest?
He wants Forest to become consistent competitors rather than enjoying occasional successful seasons, with regular European football a major ambition.
Will Glasner need time at Nottingham Forest?
Glasner has suggested it can take roughly three to six months for his methods and habits to become properly established within a team.
