In a surprising turn of events, Nottingham Forest is set to appoint Ange Postecoglou as their new head coach following the departure of Nuno Espirito Santo. The move comes after a reported breakdown in the working relationship between Nuno and club owner Evangelos Marinakis.
Nuno Espirito Santo's exit, just three games into the new Premier League season, was unexpected, especially considering he had led the team to a seventh-place finish last season, securing them continental football for the first time since 1996. However, a growing rift with Marinakis, reportedly stemming from disagreements that occurred late last season, ultimately led to his dismissal. Despite Nuno's accomplishments, Marinakis is known to favor his own judgment, a situation Postecoglou is familiar with from his own departure from Tottenham.
Ange Postecoglou, the former Tottenham Hotspur manager, is now poised to take the reins at Nottingham Forest. Postecoglou's arrival is expected to be officially announced soon, with reports suggesting he will bring members of his Tottenham backroom staff with him. His first match in charge is slated to be against Arsenal.
Postecoglou's appointment marks a swift return to the Premier League after his departure from Tottenham. Despite winning the Europa League title with Tottenham, he was sacked after the team finished 17th in the Premier League. Before the Forest offer, Postecoglou was linked to other clubs, including Turkish side Fenerbahce, but he reportedly awaited offers from top-five league teams.
Marinakis has publicly expressed his admiration for Postecoglou, even presenting him with an award in Greece following his Europa League triumph. He lauded Postecoglou's Greek heritage and his success with Tottenham, highlighting his ability and predicting continued success in his future endeavors.
It remains to be seen whether Postecoglou can replicate his success at Tottenham with Nottingham Forest. Some reports suggest that fans are against this appointment, meaning Postecoglou won't get much leeway if results go badly.