Nottingham Forest have appointed former Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou as their new head coach, replacing Nuno Espirito Santo, who was dismissed on Monday night following a breakdown in his relationship with club owner Evangelos Marinakis
Postecoglou, who left Spurs in June, returns to management less than three months after being sacked, just 16 days after guiding Tottenham to Europa League glory.
The Australian coach now has a chance to lead Forest in both the Premier League and European competitions at the City Ground, with Marinakis hoping he will deliver trophies.
“We are bringing in a coach with a proven and consistent record of winning trophies,” Marinakis said. “His experience at the highest level, combined with his desire to build something special at Forest, makes him perfect to help us achieve our ambitions. After promotion to the Premier League and securing European football, we now aim to compete with the very best, and Ange has the credentials to make this happen.”
Postecoglou is set to face his former stomping grounds in north London this weekend, as Forest travel to Arsenal in the Premier League. The 60-year-old spent two seasons at Spurs, ending their trophy drought last season, though their league form suffered, finishing 17th.
Nuno Espirito Santo, 51, had been given a new contract in June after leading Forest to their first European qualification since 1995. However, tensions with Marinakis and global head of football Edu Gaspar escalated over the summer, particularly over transfer policies. Nuno publicly questioned the club’s signings and hinted at his uncertain future, saying, “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.”
A scheduled meeting with Marinakis during the international break never took place before the Portuguese coach was relieved of his duties. Forest released a statement thanking Nuno for his contributions, particularly during the 2024/25 season, which they described as a memorable era in the club’s history.
Reflecting on the fallout, Nuno admitted the relationship with the owner had deteriorated. “Last season, our relationship was very close. This season, not so well. The reality is it is not what it used to be,” he said. “It used to be good and respectful, based on trust and sharing opinions, but now it’s different.”
Postecoglou now takes charge of Forest with the task of building on their recent successes and aiming for consistent top-level performances.
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