Nottingham Forest have sacked their head coach, Nuno Espírito Santo

Nottingham Forest have sacked their head coach, Nuno Espírito Santo, as of September 9, 2025, only three games into the new Premier League season.

Why Was He Sacked?

• The dismissal stems from a significant breakdown in relations with the club’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis, following several public criticisms from Nuno concerning transfer policy and communication breakdowns with the board.
• Earlier in the season, Nuno openly described the squad as “unbalanced” and “very, very far” from where it needed to be, and admitted that his relationship with Marinakis “is not the same,” remarks that reportedly upset the owner deeply.
• Tensions increased with the arrival of Edu Gaspar as the global head of football—Nuno felt his influence over transfers had diminished, further straining his position.
• A poor run in the opening stretch of the season—just four points from three league games, capped by a 3-0 home defeat to West Ham—likely added pressure.

What Comes Next?

Ange Postecoglou has been named as his replacement, bringing a winning pedigree and a reputation for attacking, high-energy football. He’s signed a contract lasting until mid-2027.

Marinakis explained Postecoglou’s appointment is rooted in his “winning pedigree and leadership experience” and his capacity to help Forest achieve their ambitious goals.

Context at a Glance

• Nuno was appointed in December 2023, rescuing Forest from relegation in his first partial season.
• In the 2024–25 season, he led Forest to a remarkable 7th-place finish, the club’s best in nearly 30 years, securing their first Europa League qualification since the mid-1990s.
• Despite signing a new contract in June 2025 that extended his tenure to 2028, the relapse in relations over the summer proved irreparable.