Nottingham Forest set to part company with manager Nuno Espirito Santo amid reported tensions

Nottingham Forest are reported to be preparing to relieve Nuno Espirito Santo of his managerial duties after two years in charge, with national media saying the Portuguese coach will leave the club following a run of poor results and growing tensions with the hierarchy. The club has not issued an official statement confirming the move.

Nuno, who was appointed in December 2023, guided Forest into European competition for the first time this century last season, but is said to have fallen out of favour after a summer in which he publicly criticised the club's transfer policy and acknowledged his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis "was not so good". Reports also point to friction around the club's restructured football operations after former Arsenal midfielder Edu was installed as global head of football.

The reported decision follows a 3-0 home defeat by West Ham United before the international break, a match attended by Marinakis. The result was Forest's third game of the 2025-26 season. Earlier this month, Nuno dismissed speculation that he would resign as "nonsense" after a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace, and said he expected to remain in charge beyond the international break while stressing the need for talks about the club's future and mutual commitment.

Marinakis, speaking from the Europa League draw in Monaco days earlier, publicly defended the relationship between owner and manager, saying: "We have a solid relationship. Of course, sometimes we can be nervous, say one thing, say another, but what counts at the end of the day is the real relationship between me and Nuno." He added that the club would make "corrective actions" and that everyone at Forest wanted the club to succeed.

Tensions between Marinakis and Nuno have been visible to supporters and observers. Marinakis once walked onto the City Ground pitch to confront the coach after a 2-2 draw with Leicester City last season, an episode widely reported at the time. Media outlets also reported last week that club-record signing Omari Hutchinson had been set to be omitted from Forest's Europa League squad, a decision described as unlikely to please the manager.

With the managerial position believed to be vacant, national and international outlets have linked several candidates to the role. Former Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has been mentioned in British reports, while overseas coverage has referenced Jose Mourinho. Marinakis has reportedly admired Fulham's Marco Silva and Athletic Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde, though hiring either would require compensation to their current clubs.

Forest were promoted to the Premier League in 2022 and have seen a rapid rise in profile and expectations since Marinakis took ownership. Nuno's arrival in late 2023 culminated in the club qualifying for European competition in 2024-25, a milestone that increased scrutiny of transfer decisions and long-term structure.

Club sources and the parties involved had not issued formal statements at the time of reporting. Forest are expected to begin the process of appointing a replacement promptly if the reports are confirmed, given the demands of domestic and European competition in the coming weeks. Managers, players and the broader football community may await an official announcement from the club to clarify the situation and any contractual or sporting implications.