Nottingham Forest has extended manager Nuno Espirito Santo's contract, rewarding him for a stellar 2024-25 season that saw the club qualify for European competition for the first time in nearly three decades. The new three-year deal will keep the 51-year-old at the City Ground until at least 2028.

The club officially announced the contract extension on Saturday, recognizing Nuno's pivotal role in guiding Forest to their highest league finish in 30 years. This achievement secured a spot in the UEFA Conference League, marking their return to European football since the 1995-96 season.

"Nuno masterminded an incredible 2024-25 season for Forest, guiding the club to its highest league finish in 30 years and thus qualifying for UEFA European competition for the first time since 1995-96," the club stated.

Nuno's impact since arriving in December 2023, when he took over from the fired Steve Cooper, has been remarkable. He not only steered the team away from relegation danger but also instilled a winning mentality that led to memorable victories. Notably, Forest secured away wins against both Liverpool and Manchester United, a feat that had eluded them for 55 and 30 years, respectively. The team also put together their longest top-flight winning streak since 1967.

Despite a strong showing for most of the season, Nottingham Forest narrowly missed out on a Champions League qualification spot. A late-season dip in form, including a 1-0 home defeat to Chelsea, saw them finish seventh. Still, this was enough to secure a place in the UEFA Conference League.

Club owner Evangelos Marinakis expressed his admiration for Nuno's contributions. "Nuno has made a great impact and performed very well during his time with us so far," Marinakis said. "He has demonstrated that he maximizes player performance and is an expert at developing players, whilst also embedding our young talent into the first team set-up." Marinakis also highlighted the solid relationship built on a shared vision of crafting a new chapter for Nottingham Forest, competing in the Premier League and Europe, and ultimately winning trophies.

Nuno himself conveyed his delight at extending his stay. "I am delighted to be able to continue our journey at this fantastic football club," he said. "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." He also thanked Marinakis for his constant support.

Looking ahead, Nottingham Forest will begin the new Premier League campaign at home against Brentford on August 16. The first leg of their UEFA Conference League playoff is scheduled for August 21, with the second leg following on August 28. The team will discover their playoff-round opponent on August 4, when the draw is made.