Glasner: Marinakis ambition and European ‘sweet honey’ sealed Forest move
Oliver Glasner has revealed that a seafood platter in Athens with owner Evangelos Marinakis convinced him to become Nottingham Forest's new head coach, as the Austrian set his sights on bringing the “sweet honey” of European football back to the City Ground.
Glasner, who signed a three-year contract after leaving Crystal Palace, becomes Forest’s fifth manager in less than 12 months. He met the squad on Monday and is enthused by the club’s potential following a season that saw them avoid relegation and reach the Europa League semi-finals.
Marinakis sold his grand vision over lunch
Speaking at his unveiling, Glasner said he “found one of the few people who is more ambitious than I am” in Marinakis. The meeting in Greece sealed the deal: “When we had talks, I probably found one of the few people who is more ambitious than I am so I think we will challenge each other with ambition.”
“These players felt the sweet honey of playing European football and this year it’s just butter – no honey – on the toast. Hopefully, next year it will be sweeter.”
Glasner, who won the FA Cup, UEFA Conference League and Community Shield during his two years at Palace, warned that success would not come overnight. “My personal history shows that what we are asking them to do – the habits we want them to do – it takes three to six months to see it for the first time,” he said.
Transfer plans taking shape
Forest are pushing to make Lucas Bergvall their club-record signing from Tottenham as they seek to replace Elliot Anderson, who was sold to Manchester City. Glasner is also hopeful that two new signings will join next week’s training camp in Portugal, with midfielder Xaver Schlager close to arriving on a free transfer after leaving RB Leipzig.
Stability is the aim – but no quick fixes
Forest sacked Vítor Pereira because they felt the opportunity to appoint Glasner was too good to miss. The 51-year-old acknowledged the club’s need for stability, using a frank analogy: “Nobody wants to get divorced … I don’t know how it is here in England, but in Austria it [the divorce rate] is 50%. At the wedding, you would say ‘no, not us’, but it happens.”
Glasner is determined to build for the long term. “We want to get stability and consistency because the owner and I are convinced that is the foundation for success,” he said. “We hope now that this is the starting point.”
He added: “I’m no magician. I didn’t find the button players can press and all of sudden we win the Premier League. Our goal is to come closer and closer to European places.”
Forest’s rich history as two-time European champions was another draw, but Glasner insisted the club must focus on the future. “I see a lot of potential in this club and a lot of ambition … probably you can do it again,” he said.
The Guardian contributed to this report.
