Nottingham Forest have announced the appointment of Sean Dyche as their new head coach, signing him through to the summer of 2027. The move comes after a turbulent start to the 2025-26 season, which saw the club sack their previous coach, Ange Postecoglou, just 39 days into his tenure following a 3-0 home defeat to Chelsea FC that left Forest 18th in the Premier League.
Dyche, 54, brings a reputation for pragmatic, defensively-organised football. His most notable spell was at Burnley FC, where he achieved two promotions to the Premier League and guided the club to a European spot for the first time in more than 50 years.He most recently managed Everton FC before being dismissed in January 2025.
An interesting factor in this appointment is Dyche’s personal connection to Forest: he was once a youth player for the club and lives locally, giving him immediate understanding of the club’s identity and its supporters. The club’s statement praised his “perfect blend of character, tactical acumen and proven achievement” and highlighted his fit with the squad’s attributes, particularly the need for defensive organisation and resilience.
Forest are currently in a challenging position: after finishing seventh in the Premier League last season and qualifying for Europe, they are already in turmoil this term, having dismissed two head coaches within eight matches. With Dyche’s appointment the club hopes to recalibrate its strategy and avoid a full-blown relegation battle while balancing European commitments.
However, the decision has not been met with unanimous approval. One pundit, Simon Jordan, argued that while Dyche is a solid appointment for stability, his style does not match the progressive football ambitions of Forest’s owner Evangelos Marinakis, suggesting that the club’s focus may now be more on survival than silverware.
Dyche’s first assignment will be a Europa League clash against FC Porto, followed by a Premier League trip to face AFC Bournemouth. The verdict on his tenure will depend on how quickly he can steady the ship and restore confidence in the squad. Time will tell whether this appointment proves to be the turning point Forest need.
