Nottingham Forest Sack Nuno Espírito Santo After 21 Months Despite Historic Season
Nottingham Forest have dismissed head coach Nuno Espírito Santo after 21 months in charge — and just three games into the new Premier League season.
Nuno’s departure comes after weeks of speculation over his future, fueled by his own admission that his relationship with club owner Evangelos Marinakis had broken down. The tension reportedly stemmed from disagreements about the club’s transfer strategy, despite heavy spending that saw 13 new signings worth nearly £200m come through the door this summer.
The 51-year-old Portuguese coach joined Forest in December 2023 following Steve Cooper’s exit. He immediately steadied the ship, keeping the club in the top flight, before masterminding a stunning turnaround last season.
Under his leadership, Forest finished seventh in the Premier League, their highest finish since 1994-95, and qualified for European competition for the first time in three decades.
His success earned him a new three-year deal in June, making his early dismissal all the more surprising. However, Forest’s start to the new season has been mixed, with a 3-0 home defeat to West Ham before the international break raising concerns.
Behind the scenes, the relationship between Nuno and Marinakis continued to deteriorate. Nuno openly expressed frustration with the club’s recruitment, arguing they had “wasted a good chance” in the summer transfer market. Marinakis, meanwhile, took a firmer grip on operations, appointing Edu as Forest’s global head of football to oversee transfers.
Tensions also boiled over last season, when Marinakis confronted Nuno on the pitch after a 2-2 draw with Leicester. While the club dismissed talk of a confrontation, the cracks in their partnership became more apparent.
In a late-night statement, Forest thanked Nuno for guiding the club through “a very successful era” and confirmed that talks are already underway to appoint his successor. Former Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou has emerged as a strong contender.
Nuno’s departure is bittersweet for the fans: while his time ended abruptly, his legacy includes restoring Forest’s status in English football and bringing European nights back to the City Ground.
Tags: Epl Nottingham Forest Nuno Espirito Santo
