Nottingham Forest sack Nuno Espirito Santo after 21 months in charge

• Nottingham Forest dismissed Nuno Espirito Santo just three games into the new season following growing tension with owner Evangelos Marinakis.
• Nuno guided Forest to seventh in the Premier League last season and secured European football, but disagreements over transfers overshadowed progress.
• Talks are ongoing about his successor, with former Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou among the names linked.

Nottingham Forest have parted company with head coach Nuno Espirito Santo, ending his reign after 21 months in charge and only three games into the new Premier League campaign.

The Portuguese coach arrived at the City Ground in December 2023 after the dismissal of Steve Cooper. He preserved Forest’s top-flight status despite a four-point deduction and followed that with a seventh-place finish last season, the club’s best league position since 1995. That success secured European football for the first time in 30 years and earned him a new three-year contract in June.

However, Forest released a late-night statement confirming his departure: “Nottingham Forest Football Club confirms that, following recent circumstances, Nuno Espírito Santo has today been relieved of his duties as Head Coach.

“The Club thanks Nuno for his contribution during a very successful era at the City Ground, in particular his role in the 2024/25 season, which will forever be remembered fondly in the history of the Club.

“As someone who played a pivotal role in our success last season, he will always hold a special place in our journey.”

Tensions with owner Evangelos Marinakis had been building for weeks. Nuno admitted in August: “I always had a very good relationship with the owner – last season we were very close and spoke on a daily basis. This season it is not so well. Our relationship has changed and we are not as close. Everybody at the club should be together but this is not the reality.”

Disagreements focused on recruitment, after Edu was appointed as Forest’s global head of football and assumed control over transfers. Nuno had criticised the summer business, insisting the club had “wasted a good chance.”

In total, Forest made 13 signings worth around £196m during the transfer window. Several senior players, including Anthony Elanga and Danilo, left the club.

Despite these additions, Forest lost 3-0 at home to West Ham before the international break, leaving them 10th in the table and raising doubts over Nuno’s future.

Nuno leaves with a record of 73 games in charge: 28 wins, 20 draws and 25 defeats. His tenure featured notable victories, including a 1-0 win at Anfield, home wins over Manchester United and Manchester City, and a run to the FA Cup semi-finals.

Talks are already underway about his replacement, with former Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou among the contenders.