Inside Nottingham Forest's ambitious plan to recreate the golden era of Brian Clough, writes TOM COLLOMOSSE
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On a wall of his first-floor office at Nottingham Forest's training ground, Nuno Espirito Santo has a giant planner listing every first-team assignment in the 2024-25 season. Now, the entries relate exclusively to domestic football: Premier League, Carabao Cup, FA Cup. But this club is thinking bigger. Much bigger.
![[Nuno Espirito Santo is the person tasked with delivering that success on the pitch - which he has done well of late]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/20/00/93337199-14211565-image-m-18_1734654325725.jpg)
On the pitch, the ultimate target is the Champions League. Forest are fourth in the table and desperate to revive the spirit of 1979 and 1980, when Brian Clough led them to successive European Cups. Off it, they are attempting to conquer the world. Premier League financial rules have made it extremely difficult for ambitious clubs to break into English football's elite. Just ask Newcastle and Aston Villa, whose wealthy backers are permitted to spend only a fraction of what they have due to profitability and sustainability regulations.
![[Evangelos Marinakis is trying to achieve success differently with the Premier League side]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/19/23/93337201-14211565-image-a-16_1734650633721.jpg)
Forest are no different. If they qualify for European competition and make another move for a player like Omar Marmoush, the impressive Eintracht Frankfurt forward, they may have to sell a key man to keep the books healthy. That is why Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, who made his fortune in the global shipping trade, is trying to deliver success differently. Arsenal's former sporting director Edu will almost certainly join next year to oversee a stable that includes Greek giants Olympiacos – Marinakis' first love – as well as Rio Ave in Portugal and, eventually, a prominent club in Brazil. Marinakis has shown strong interest in Vasco Da Gama of Rio de Janeiro and, in recent days, there have been indications in Brazil that he is looking at Sao Paulo as a possible alternative.
![[Arsenal's former sporting director Edu will almost certainly join next year to oversee Marinakis' footballing stable]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/20/00/93338783-14211565-image-a-19_1734654615067.jpg)
