Nottingham Forest appoint Ange Postecoglou as Manager after Nuno Espírito Santo exit
Ange Postecoglou has been named the new Nottingham Forest manager, replacing Nuno Espírito Santo after the Portuguese coach’s fallout with owner Evangelos Marinakis. Nottingham Forest confirmed on Tuesday that Ange Postecoglou has signed on as head coach, taking charge for the first time in Saturday’s Premier League clash away at Arsenal.
The Greek-born Australian, 60, inherits a Forest side sitting 10th in the Premier League with four points from three games. His appointment comes less than three months after his shock dismissal from Tottenham Hotspur, despite winning the Europa League and ending Spurs’ 17-year trophy drought.
Recommended: Spurs beat Manchester United in Europa League final to end 17-year trophy drought
Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis praised Postecoglou’s track record, stating: “We are bringing a coach to the club who has a proven and consistent record of winning trophies. His experience of coaching teams at the highest level, along with his desire to build something special with us, makes him a fantastic person to help us on our journey.”
Nuno’s short but historic reign ends
Nuno was sacked after tensions with Marinakis boiled over, making him the first Premier League manager to lose his job this season. The Portuguese coach had only taken charge in December 2023, guiding Forest to safety before masterminding their seventh-place finish last season, a result that secured European football at the City Ground for the first time in 30 years.
Despite the achievement, relations soured after Forest fell short of Champions League qualification. Marinakis was seen confronting Nuno after a draw with Leicester in May, and disagreements over transfer strategy intensified during the summer.
Forest’s new sporting director Edu Gaspar brought in 13 new players, but Nuno publicly described the squad as “unbalanced” and admitted he was “worried” about the season ahead. The club released a late-night statement confirming his dismissal, thanking him for delivering “a very successful era” that would be “forever remembered in the history of the club.”
Recommended: Tottenham sack Ange Postecoglou despite Europa League glory, eye Brentford’s Thomas Frank as replacement
A coach who demands attacking football
Postecoglou arrives with a very different philosophy to Nuno’s cautious, pragmatic approach. Known for his aggressive, attack-minded style, the Australian has built a reputation for transforming teams into bold, front-foot sides.
His résumé includes:
- Europa League triumph with Tottenham (2025)
- Multiple trophies at Celtic, including back-to-back Scottish Premiership titles
- J-League success with Yokohama F. Marinos
- 2015 Asian Cup victory with Australia
Despite Tottenham’s 17th-place Premier League finish last season, their lowest since 1976/77, Postecoglou remains a proven winner. Marinakis believes he is the man to turn Forest into a genuine contender in both the Premier League and Europa League, where Forest are tipped as outsiders to challenge for the title.
What Next for Forest?
Postecoglou’s debut will be a stern test at the Emirates Stadium against Arsenal, before Forest turn their attention to European competition. The key challenge will be blending 13 summer signings into a balanced squad while maintaining Forest’s steady domestic progress.
For fans, there’s hope that Postecoglou can replicate the attacking football that brought him success across four countries and build on Nuno’s European breakthrough.
SportsLigue