Nottingham Forest have ended Nuno Espirito Santo’s time in charge, just weeks into the new season. The club confirmed his dismissal late Monday night, with reports suggesting a replacement will be named quickly.
For fans, the timing may feel harsh, but behind the scenes the tension had been building for months.
As per reports (via Daily Mail), the Portuguese coach clashed with the club’s hierarchy over transfers, squad size, and his role under new football chief Edu Gaspar.
By the time Forest lost 3-0 at home to West Ham, the writing was already on the wall.
Last season, Nuno was hailed for guiding Forest to Europe and lifting spirits at the City Ground. Yet this summer, things changed.
Edu arrived in July to oversee football operations, shifting power away from the head coach. Some of the club’s biggest signings — including Omari Hutchinson and Douglas Luiz — were said to be Edu’s choices, not Nuno’s.
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The coach reportedly felt sidelined, even as Forest spent over £200 million in the transfer market.
What caused the sacking?
Nuno’s frustrations became public when he criticized the club’s recruitment strategy before the season even began.
His preference for a smaller, tighter squad did not align with the ownership’s plan to build depth for domestic and European football.
That divide grew wider when new arrivals were left unused. Hutchinson, a record signing, did not even make the Europa League squad, while Luiz has yet to play a minute.
Add in failed pursuits — like Nuno’s push for Adama Traore — and the disconnect became impossible to ignore.
“It is what it is,” Nuno reportedly told close contacts, as disagreements mounted. By the international break, Forest had decided a change was needed.
Who could replace Nuno Espirito Santo at Nottingham Forest?
According to multiple reports (via The Telegraph), former Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou will be confirmed as the new head coach.
The Greek-Australian is expected to sign a deal running until 2027, with his first game coming against Arsenal this weekend.
The appointment may divide opinion among supporters. Nuno gave Forest one of their most memorable seasons in decades, but the ownership believes Postecoglou’s style can take the club further.
Whether his high line and attacking philosophy will suit Forest’s current squad remains to be seen.
For now, what’s clear is that Forest’s project is moving in a new direction. Nuno may have been the man to steady the ship, but reportedly Postecoglou will be tasked with steering it toward bigger waters.
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