Ange Postecoglou has reportedly agreed to take over as the new head coach of Nottingham Forest, succeeding Nuno Espirito Santo, who was recently dismissed. Postecoglou's appointment comes after Nuno's departure on Monday night, triggered by a deteriorating relationship with Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis.
Postecoglou, who was sacked by Tottenham at the end of last season despite winning the Europa League final, was eager to return to the Premier League. Despite the European triumph, Tottenham struggled in the league, finishing 17th. The Australian manager had been linked with other clubs, including Al Ahli, Brentford, Bayer Leverkusen and Fenerbahce, but ultimately chose to return to England.
Forest owner Marinakis has a personal connection with Postecoglou, who is of Greek heritage. Marinakis has previously praised Postecoglou for his pride in his Greek origins and even presented him with an award in July for being the first coach of Greek origin to win a major European trophy in men's football.
Nuno Espirito Santo's departure from Nottingham Forest came as a surprise to some, as he had recently signed a new contract in June after guiding the team to their first European qualification since 1995. However, tensions reportedly arose between Nuno and Marinakis over the summer. In a statement, Nottingham Forest thanked Nuno for his contribution during his tenure, particularly highlighting his role in the 2024-25 season.
Postecoglou's first match in charge of Nottingham Forest is expected to be against Arsenal on Saturday. He is expected to bring members of his former Tottenham coaching staff with him.
Nottingham Forest currently sit 10th in the Premier League, with four points from their first three matches. Last season, they finished 7th. This season, Forest will participate in the Europa League, where they will face teams such as Real Betis, Porto, Braga, Ferencváros, Sturm Graz, Midtjylland, Utrecht, and Malmö FF in the league phase. The club qualified for the competition due to Crystal Palace being demoted to the Conference League.
Postecoglou's contract with Nottingham Forest is expected to run until the summer of 2027. His appointment marks a swift return to management after his departure from Tottenham and a new chapter for Nottingham Forest as they aim to build on their recent success.