Enough is Enough! Alafouzos must end his self crusade, he must sell and end the charade
Since assuming ownership in 2012 from the Vardinogianni family, Alafouzos holds a 74% stake in the club through his stake and through the company, Sortivo International Ltd. Despite this, questions persist about the true control of Sortivo, as the identities of its shareholders remain redacted see links below. There are suggestions that influence still lies with the Vardinogianni family, who are reluctant to relinquish their hold over the club.
Alafouzos has positioned himself as a crusader against corruption in Greek football, frequently granting interviews to international media outlets like Sky News UK and BBC, portraying himself as a savior figure to a global audience. However, locally in Greece, he faces significant backlash from Panathinaikos supporters. They criticise his management decisions, branding him inept and attributing poor footballing choices to his leadership.
At matches, chants against Alafouzos are common, reflecting widespread dissatisfaction among fans. Online, supporters continue to voice frustrations with his ownership, organising rallies to protest what they perceive as a disconnect between Alafouzos and the club's best interests. There is a strong sentiment among fans for the club to be sold to new owners who will prioritise its well-being.
During Alafouzos' tenure, Panathinaikos has gone through 17 different managers, including caretakers, reflecting a lack of stability due to poor management, recruitment, and youth development. One glaring example of his management shortcomings was the decision regarding Ivan Jovanovic. Jovanovic, a beloved figure among Panathinaikos fans, enjoyed the longest tenure as manager, lasting 2.5 years and securing one Greek Cup while building a squad that challenged for the championship and returned the club to European competition. Despite the team sitting in 2nd place, just one point behind the leaders, and a disappointing European campaign, Alafouzos controversially dismissed him in favor of a short-term success strategy under Terim.
Further issues include neglecting upgrades to youth infrastructure and failing to foster quality youth development. Alafouzos has allowed Sporting and Technical Directors significant autonomy in player recruitment, resulting in signings that did not meet the club's standards. Similar recruitment and retention issues persist under the current Technical Director.
The recent pursuit of high-profile coach Sarri by the club did not yield favorable results. Sarri initially showed little interest, causing the club to miss out on other primary targets who were unwilling to be seen as backups. Despite this setback, the club persisted in its pursuit of Sarri until receiving a final rejection, after which Diego Alonso was announced as the new coach. A similar situation unfolded recently in the pursuit of Giannoulis, a much-needed left-back for the team. Currently, the club relies on Mladenovic who is seen as a backup and has yet to join training due to Euro commitments.
It is evident that significant investment is needed from Alafouzos to strengthen the team, sign quality players, and enhance youth development—areas that have been neglected under his ownership. Instead of portraying himself as a crusader, he should prioritise the club's interests over personal image and consider passing ownership to someone who genuinely loves Panathinaikos and is committed to restoring it to its former glory.
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