Nottingham Forest sack Nuno Espirito Santo and appoint Ange Postecoglou within 13 hours
After public criticism of transfer delays and a run of poor performances, Forest moved swiftly to replace Nuno with the Australian who has an existing rapport with owner Evangelos Marinakis
Nottingham Forest parted company with head coach Nuno Espirito Santo after 21 months in charge and appointed Ange Postecoglou as his replacement within 13 hours, the club confirmed. The decision followed a period of mounting tension after a string of public outbursts from the Portuguese coach and a run of results that left his position increasingly untenable.
Nuno had publicly criticised the pace of Forest’s transfer business and indicated a deterioration in his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis. After a summer recruitment drive that saw the club spend around £180 million on 11 players, Nuno said the new signings had not arrived quickly enough to be integrated into his methods. Asked last month if his job was at risk, he replied, "Where there's smoke, there's fire." That public comment, and other complaints, were viewed internally as having eroded trust with the club hierarchy and created unnecessary disruption as Forest prepared for a first European campaign in 30 years.
Forest sources said the breakdown in trust with the owner and friction with global sporting director Edu made the situation difficult to repair. The decision to dismiss Nuno came after discussions during the international break and followed a 3-0 home defeat by West Ham, described by club insiders as the worst performance of his reign. A club statement announcing his exit was released shortly after midnight, at 00:15 on Tuesday, a timing Forest said was driven by news leaks in the manager’s native Portugal.
Within hours the club moved to appoint Postecoglou, who had been available after his departure from Tottenham Hotspur in June. The 51-year-old Australian arrives with a contrasting style to Nuno, favouring pressing and possession rather than the counter-attacking approach that delivered Forest safety and a surprise seventh-place finish last season. Owner Marinakis, who has known Postecoglou for several years, was quoted in Forest’s announcement as saying the new manager has the credentials to help the club challenge for trophies. Marinakis has previously praised Postecoglou’s achievements, noting his success in leading teams in Australia, Japan and Scotland.
Postecoglou arrives at the City Ground off the back of a mixed tenure at Tottenham. He led Spurs to Europa League silverware but was sacked after a season that ended with the club 17th in the Premier League. His domestic record includes winning multiple Scottish titles and cups during his time at Celtic. Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton told BBC 5 Live that Postecoglou had improved teams he inherited and had a proven record in delivering trophies.
Internally there was reported sadness at how Nuno’s exit unfolded. Sources described an almost perfect relationship with the club that lasted 18 months, taking Forest from relegation battles to European qualification, only missing out on the Champions League on the final day of the previous season. Squad members, many of whom remain on international duty, were surprised by the managerial change and have returned calls and messages to each other. Players had formed a close-knit group under Nuno; club staff noted the camaraderie evident at the training ground and believe one of Postecoglou’s early tasks is to harness that unity and maintain continuity.
Forest’s summer business included high-profile additions such as record signing Omari Hutchinson, James McAtee and Arnaud Kalimuendo, intended to complement established attacking options including Morgan Gibbs-White, Elliot Anderson and last season’s 20-goal striker Chris Wood. The new manager will inherit a squad bolstered for a campaign that includes domestic and European commitments.
The change of manager also follows broader challenges for the club. Forest served a four-point deduction for breaching Profit and Sustainability rules earlier in their recent progress up the league, and the club has been navigating the practical and political demands of rapid growth after returning to the top flight in 2022 under Steve Cooper.
Forest said the appointment of Postecoglou was made with the immediate aim of taking the club forward, building on the foundations established by Cooper and expanded under Nuno. The club has not outlined the length of Postecoglou’s contract or further details about Nuno’s departure.
Postecoglou must win over supporters who had grown fond of Nuno’s achievements, while adapting his methods to the squad assembled at the City Ground. The coming weeks will show whether the change in leadership produces a new chapter of progress and delivers the momentum the club seeks in both the Premier League and European competition.