Here’s your requested news-style article on the sad announcement from **Nottingham Forest**:

 

—

 

### **Heartbreak at City Ground: Nottingham Forest Mourns Owner’s Mother Irini Marinakis**

 

Nottingham Forest Football Club has today been plunged into sorrow as it announced the death of **Irini Marinakis**, the beloved mother of club owner **Evangelos Marinakis**. The club confirmed that Irini passed away on **Monday, December 15, 2025**, surrounded by family, prompting an outpouring of sympathy from across the footballing world. ([The Sun][1])

 

In an emotional statement shared on the club’s official social media channels, Forest said:

*“Everyone at Nottingham Forest Football Club extends its deepest condolences to Evangelos Marinakis and his family following the very sad news of the passing of his beloved mother, Irini. Our thoughts and heartfelt sympathies are with Mr Marinakis and his loved ones at this difficult time.”* ([The Sun][1])

 

The announcement briefly paused celebrations and frustrations around City Ground, reminding supporters that even the most public figures are deeply human, bound by the joys and pains of family life.

 

Irini Marinakis was the wife of the late **Miltiadis Marinakis**, a figure well-known in Greek football circles for his involvement with **Olympiacos FC** during the 1980s. Her son, Evangelos, has carried that legacy into his own remarkable journey — growing up in Piraeus before becoming a shipping magnate, media figure and the owner of two major European clubs: **Olympiacos** and **Nottingham Forest**. ([Wikipedia][2])

 

Funeral arrangements will take place in Piraeus, Greece, with a service scheduled at the **Church of St Nicholas** on **Wednesday, December 17**. Relatives, friends and members of Greece’s football community are expected to pay tribute to a matriarch whose influence, though often quiet and behind the scenes, shaped the upbringing of one of the sport’s most high-profile figures. ([tovima.com][3])

 

Messages of condolence quickly flooded in from Forest supporters around the world. On social platforms fans wrote simply yet powerfully: *“Big love to the Marinakis family — the Forest family are behind you,”* and *“RIP Irini, thoughts are with all the Marinakis family and friends.

For many in the Forest community, the news has been a reminder of the deep emotional ties that bind clubs and supporters. While the fortunes of any football team may rise or fall with results on the pitch, moments like this underscore a shared vulnerability — that behind every boardroom and badge are people who love, remember and grieve.

Evangelos Marinakis has been a prominent figure in club football since acquiring Nottingham Forest in 2017, guiding the historic English club back to the Premier League and supporting its evolution on and off the field. In recent seasons, Forest have drawn admiration for their resilience and competitive spirit, qualities that have often been attributed to Marinakis’ passionate leadership.

Yet in the wake of today’s announcement, the focus has rightly shifted from sport to solidarity — fans and football professionals alike offering thoughts for a grieving family. As Nottingham Forest prepares for its next fixtures, the club will first take a collective moment to mourn and remember a life that meant so much to one of football’s most visible figures.

Rest in peace, Irini Marinakis.