Panathinaikos lines up Baldini as football advisor amid reshuffle
News from Athens suggests that Panathinaikos has moved beyond discussions with Italian executive Franco Baldini and may appoint him as a football advisor as part of a larger restructuring. The announcements come as the Green Club’s owner, Yannis Alafouzos, signals a willingness to implement bold changes across the club’s organizational chart, not only in the dugout but also in the club’s football operations.
According to insiders cited by Greek outlets, Baldini and Panathinaikos have found common ground and “closed the deal” on a consultancy role that could shape transfer strategy, player development pathways, and long-term football planning. The development follows the club’s recent coaching upheaval, which saw Rui Vitória depart and the reins temporarily handed to manager Chriso Konstantinidou (note: in the original report the interim coach is named differently; this article uses the Greek source’s description and focuses on the Baldini agreement).
The question now is whether Baldini will move quickly to activate his role and, crucially, whether he will attempt to recruit other high-profile figures to the Greek club, including the possibility of bringing in a coach who aligns with his philosophy.
Franco Baldini is a figure whose career spans some of European football’s most respected institutions. The 64-year-old Italian has held senior roles at Roma, Real Madrid, the England national team, and Tottenham Hotspur. His experience includes a first stint at Roma as director of football (1999-2005), a stint at Real Madrid (2006-2007), overseeing England’s football operations (2007-2011), and a return to Roma as CEO (2011-2013). He later served as Tottenham’s technical director (2013-2015) and had a third spell with Roma as a coach (2016-2018). This breadth of experience is precisely the type of background Panathinaikos appears to be seeking as it recalibrates its sporting strategy.
While the timing remains provisional, the potential for Baldini to have a direct influence on staffing decisions is clear. The most talked-about scenario is a collaboration with Baldini to target a high-profile coach who could implement a tactical framework and dress room culture aligned with his track record of building or stabilizing European clubs.
Baldini’s career arc: a resource for Panathinaikos
The kind of expertise Baldini brings goes beyond scouting networks and transfer negotiations. His experience across top European clubs and a national team has given him a unique perspective on building sustainable football programs, aligning recruitment with long-term club goals, and navigating the pressures of big-stage football. In Panathinaikos’s case, that could translate into structured scouting, clearer player development pathways, and a more coherent football operations department.
Why this matters now is tied to Panathinaikos’s ambition to re-establish its status domestically and re-position on the European stage. A figure like Baldini, with a history of driving organizational change and working with high-caliber coaches, might help the club craft a more professional, data-informed approach to transfers and player development—an area that is increasingly pivotal in modern football.
Could De Rossi follow Baldini to Athens?
Italian media have speculated that Baldini may seek to extend his influence by recruiting a high-profile coach, with Daniele De Rossi frequently mentioned as a potential candidate. De Rossi, a legendary figure in Italian football and a coach with extensive Serie A experience, would fit a plan that aims to blend European football know-how with Panathinaikos’s long-term growth strategy. It remains to be seen whether the initiative will materialize into a concrete offer or if it will be the subject of exploratory talks in the coming days.
For Panathinaikos, the success of any such move will hinge on how swiftly the club translates discussions into concrete appointments, how clearly Baldini’s role is defined, and how the new leadership aligns with existing staff. While optimism among supporters is natural, stakeholders should await official confirmation before deriving concrete expectations from these early reports.
What to watch next
Observers will be looking for definitive statements from Panathinaikos’s board about the scope of Baldini’s responsibilities, whether a formal advisory title is issued, and the timeline for potential coaching and recruitment decisions. In the meantime, fans can expect continued coverage of the club’s strategic direction as the Green Club seeks to merge global expertise with its local ambitions.
