Yahoo News Evangelos Marinakis' Nottingham Forest vision set out as new recruitment chief gets to work
Nottingham Forest’s new head of recruitment is on a mission to help fulfil the ambition of owner Evangelos Marinakis.
Pedro Ferreira has recently penned a three-year contract at the City Ground after leaving Benfica. He spent 17 years with the Portuguese outfit, most recently as head of scouting, and brings with him a wealth of experience.
The 41-year-old has admitted his new role with the Reds will not be without its challenges. However, the lure of working with head coach Nuno Espirito Santo and Marinakis’ vision for the club has him excited for the task ahead.
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In a translated interview with Portuguese media outlet Maisfutebol, Ferreira conceded it was not an easy decision to leave Benfica. He explained: “I felt that it was the right time, after 17 years of connection to the club, to leave what was also my comfort zone. That was it, it was the Premier League and it was Nottingham, who presented me with a very attractive project.
“The owners are very ambitious and want Nottingham to win a trophy again. I realised that I can help make this happen and the fact of working with Mr Nuno Espirito Santo and creating a relationship of trust made me think that there was something there that would make me leave my comfort zone, in a different country and that it would force me to continue to grow and use other tools to continue growing. I'm 41 years old and I also have expectations for my career and I feel that my move to Nottingham will help me grow.”
Ferreira said he previously turned down offers to leave Benfica, before Forest came calling. He spoke with Marinakis and his son Miltiadis, as well as George Syrianos, who has recently been promoted to the role of global technical director.
Ferreira said: “I received some invitations (in the past) and the truth is that I never managed to take that step. For what held me back, for my connection to the club, for my family connection, for being someone with many strong roots that held me back.
“But Pedro Ferreira, at 41 years old, with the life he has around him, felt he was prepared to take that step. And it was a challenge that I clearly found very attractive: Mr. Marinakis, his son, Miltiadis Marinakis and George Syrianos created challenges for me and understood that my work could add value to the club, also allowing me to grow and develop my skills. And that is very exciting, in addition to working in the Premier League with Nuno Espírito Santo. I felt like the time was right.”
On his first days Trentside, he said: "They have been very good and very intense. Meetings with the club's owners, meetings with colleagues, with the coach, with the technical team and at this moment it is up to us to work so that next season Nottingham can be comfortable in the table and not be fighting until the last round for maintenance."
