On September 9, Nottingham Forest officially announced the dismissal of Portuguese head coach Nuno Espírito Santo and, on the same day, appointed former Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou as his successor.
Nuno Becomes First Premier League Manager Sacked This Season
Nuno has thus become the first manager to be dismissed in the Premier League this season.
The 51-year-old Portuguese coach guided Forest to one win, one draw, and one loss in the opening three league games, collecting four points overall, not an entirely poor record.
Breakdown in Relationship with Owner Led to Exit
In June, Nuno extended his contract with Nottingham Forest until 2028. However, cracks soon appeared in his relationship with the club’s management.
Last month, he admitted in an interview that his relationship with club owner Evangelos Marinakis had broken down to the point where they hardly communicated anymore.
Reports suggested that after a match against Leicester in May, Marinakis and Nuno had a heated argument. The club quickly denied this claim, labelling it “fake news.”
More recently, Nuno publicly voiced his concerns about transfers, criticising the squad’s “imbalance” and stressing that key positions urgently needed strengthening.
Nottingham Forest’s Official Statement
In an official statement, Nottingham Forest said, “Given recent developments, Nuno has today been relieved of his duties as head coach.”
“We want to express our gratitude for his contributions during a successful period at the City Ground, particularly for his key role in the 2024/25 season. That period will be remembered as an important chapter in the club’s history.”
Nuno’s Coaching Record at Forest
Nuno was appointed Forest’s manager in December 2023. Last season, he led the club to an impressive campaign, securing 19 wins, eight draws, and 11 losses, which earned them a 7th-place finish in the Premier League and a place in European competition.
For Forest, such a finish was an outstanding achievement. However, surprisingly, Nuno has been dismissed this season despite that success.
Postecoglou Takes Over
Nottingham Forest has now announced that Australian coach Ange Postecoglou will take over as head coach, signing a contract that runs until June 2027.
Postecoglou previously managed Tottenham Hotspur for two seasons and, in May this year, guided the club to a Europa League title, their first major trophy in 17 years. However, after Spurs finished just 17th in the Premier League, he was dismissed in June.
Now, taking charge of Forest, Postecoglou’s first challenge will be away at the Emirates Stadium against Arsenal this Saturday, marking the beginning of a new chapter in his Premier League career.
