Nottingham Forest have confirmed the dismissal of Portuguese head coach Nuno Espirito Santo after 21 months in charge, marking the end of an eventful tenure.
The club announced the decision in a midnight statement, thanking the 51-year-old for his “contribution during a very successful era” while pledging lasting appreciation.
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Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou is expected to take over as Forest’s next head coach.
He will be joined immediately by Nigeria internationals Ola Aina and Taiwo Awoniyi, who return from international duty to work under the new manager.
Nuno was appointed in December 2023 following the dismissal of Steve Cooper and successfully guided Forest to Premier League safety.
Last season, he remarkably steered the club to a seventh-place finish, their highest since 1994-95, and secured European qualification after decades. His achievements earned him a new three-year contract in June.
However, optimism quickly faded as tensions grew between Nuno and club owner Evangelos Marinakis.
Disputes over recruitment strategy and transfer dealings intensified following the arrival of Edu as global head of football, who consolidated control of player signings.
Nuno openly criticised wasted opportunities in the transfer market, creating friction with senior management.
Despite Forest sitting tenth in the Premier League, a 3-0 home defeat to West Ham before the international break further heightened pressure.
Marinakis’ frustrations were evident last season when he appeared to confront Nuno after a 2-2 draw with Leicester, though the club later dismissed reports of a confrontation as “fake news.”
Forest’s strong campaign ended disappointingly, with only eight points taken from their last eight matches, costing them Champions League qualification.
While they eventually secured a Europa League spot for 2025-26, Nuno admitted in August that his relationship with Marinakis had “changed,” describing communication as fractured and trust broken.
Postecoglou now inherits a squad with significant talent but lingering internal challenges, as Forest prepare for the resumption of the season after the international break.
