Lina Souloukou had been linked with a role in the new-look Everton boardroom set to be created by The Friedkin Group, if and when their takeover of the club is approved
Lina Souloukou, then CEO of AS Roma, presents Paulo Dybala with the April player of the month award in May. Souloukou resigned from her post in September and had been linked to a role at Everton, but now appears destined for a job elsewhere. Photo by Luciano Rossi/AS Roma via Getty Images
Lina Souloukou, then CEO of AS Roma, presents Paulo Dybala with the April player of the month award in May. Souloukou resigned from her post in September and had been linked to a role at Everton, but now appears destined for a job elsewhere. Photo by Luciano Rossi/AS Roma via Getty Images
Former Roma CEO Lina Souloukou looks set for a move to the Premier League - but not to Everton. The experienced administrator resigned from her role at the Serie A giants earlier this year amid the fallout from the club’s sacking of legend Daniele De Rossi.
But her relationship with Roma’s owners The Friedkin Group, which is on the verge of completing a takeover of Everton, had led to speculation she could come under consideration for a boardroom role at the Blues.
That now looks unlikely with multiple outlets reporting she is instead set to join the football group that owns Nottingham Forest. Should the move be finalised, Souloukou would become CEO of the portfolio of clubs controlled by Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis. That network includes Portugal’s Rio Ave and Greek side Olympiacos. Souloukou has previously worked with Marinakis in Greece.
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Appointed CEO at Roma last year, Souloukou was the most prominent figure to lose out in the club’s dismissal of De Rossi. A club legend after his playing career in the Eternal City, he was appointed by the Friedkins to replace Jose Mourinho in January.
A superb start saw him lead Roma to the Europa League semi-finals and league qualification for this year’s tournament and he was backed in the summer, during which he became the final away boss to manage a pre-season friendly at Goodison Park when his side earned a 1-1 draw on Merseyside.
But a poor start led to his departure, a move that caused controversy among the club’s fanbase. The aftermath saw the resignation of Souloukou and the treatment of De Rossi was one of several factors in the supporter protests that challenged the running of the club earlier this season. De Rossi’s replacement, Ivan Juric has since been sacked - meaning Roma are now on their fourth manager of 2024, with the Friedkins bringing in Claudio Ranieri in a bid to find stability.
Their takeover of Everton is in its final stages and could yet be completed this year. An overhaul of the boardroom is expected once they take over and Souloukou was one name that had been linked to a prominent role.