Nottingham Forest has secured the services of their highly-rated manager, Nuno Espirito Santo, with a new three-year contract, extending his stay at the City Ground until at least 2028. The announcement comes as a reward for the impressive performance Santo has delivered since joining the club in December 2023, following the departure of Steve Cooper.
The 51-year-old Portuguese manager guided Nottingham Forest to a commendable seventh-place finish in the Premier League during the 2024/25 season. This achievement marked their highest league finish in 30 years, securing European qualification for the first time since the 1995-96 season, a feat celebrated by fans and club management alike. While the team showed promise for a Champions League spot for a significant portion of the campaign, a late-season slump saw them miss out on the top four, but they still secured a spot in the UEFA Conference League.
Santo's impact extended beyond league performance, as he also led the team to the semi-finals of the FA Cup, where they were eventually defeated by Manchester City. His tactical prowess was evident in notable victories against top teams, including away wins against Liverpool and Manchester United, the first time in 55 and 30 years respectively. He also oversaw the club's longest top-flight winning streak since 1967. His outstanding performance earned him three Premier League Manager of the Month awards during the 2024/25 season – in October, December and March.
Beyond the pitch, Santo has embraced the community spirit of Nottingham Forest. He and owner Evangelos Marinakis welcomed the local learning disability team, Warriors United, to the City Ground for an open training session, providing them with a unique behind-the-scenes experience. Santo also participated in Marinakis' "Home For Christmas" campaign, visiting Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre and attending a Christmas party to distribute gifts to local children.
"I am delighted to be able to continue our journey at this fantastic football club," Santo stated. "Since we arrived at Forest, we have worked extremely hard to create a special bond between the players, the fans and everyone at the Club, which helped us achieve great things last season. I would like to thank our owner, Mr. Marinakis, for his constant support and backing. It is important to me to share a strong relationship with our ownership and we have thoroughly enjoyed working together ever since I arrived at Forest. Now is the time to work harder than ever as we strive for more special memories together.”
Marinakis also expressed his satisfaction with Santo's performance: "Nuno has made a great impact and performed very well during his time with us so far. He has demonstrated that he maximises player performance and is an expert at developing players."
Before joining Nottingham Forest, Santo managed Wolverhampton Wanderers, Tottenham Hotspur, and Al-Ittihad, among others. His experience and proven track record have made him a valuable asset to the club, and the new contract reflects the confidence that Nottingham Forest has in his ability to lead them to further success in the coming years. With Santo at the helm, Nottingham Forest aims to build on their achievements and establish themselves as a consistent force in the Premier League and in European competitions.
