Nottingham Forest sack Nuno Espírito Santo
Nottingham Forest have dismissed head coach Nuno Espírito Santo
This news comes just three games into the new season.
Author | Kieran M
How are you feeling Forest fans?
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Doubts over his future had lingered for a fortnight, ever since he admitted publicly that his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis had broken down.
Discussions are ongoing over his successor, with an appointment expected soon. Former Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou is among those under consideration.
From survival fight to European return
Nuno Espírito Santo took charge of Nottingham Forest in December 2023 with the club languishing in 17th place after five defeats in six matches.
Even with a four-point deduction for breaching Premier League profit and sustainability rules, he steered them to safety, finishing 17th and six points above Luton Town. He won six league matches during the remainder of that season, including a 3-1 victory at Newcastle and a 2-1 win over Manchester United in his first three games.
The following campaign brought a remarkable transformation. Forest finished seventh to secure European football for the first time since 1996. Along the way they claimed four points against Liverpool, including a 1-0 victory at Anfield, and beat Manchester United both home and away. They also defeated Manchester City 1-0 at the City Ground and reached the FA Cup semi-finals, losing 2-0 to City at Wembley.
Forest fans will always love him | The view of one supporter
In less than two years, Nuno Espírito Santo took us from a relegation fight to our first return to Europe in three decades.
He departs a popular figure among supporters, though his relationship with Evangelos Marinakis had clearly fractured. Nuno fostered a siege mentality that galvanised Forest, and for a time his force of personality seemed aligned with that of the owner.
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Last season’s surprise push for the Champions League ended in heartbreak on the final day, a near miss that may ultimately have sealed his fate. We still secured seventh place and a Europa League spot following Crystal Palace’s demotion, but Nuno felt the summer’s preparations were too slow.
In recent weeks he had grown increasingly pointed in his public remarks, criticising the club’s sluggish transfer business and conceding his bond with Marinakis was no longer the same.
