Nottingham Forest fans woke up on September 9, 2025, to the seismic news that manager Nuno Espirito Santo had been sacked after a turbulent summer and a public breakdown in his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis. The decision, while not entirely unexpected given recent events, still sent shockwaves through the City Ground and the wider Premier League. For a club that had just returned to European football after nearly three decades, the timing and circumstances of the sacking have left many supporters both anxious and intrigued about what comes next.
Nuno’s journey at Forest began in December 2023 when he was tasked with steering the club away from relegation. Against the odds, he not only kept Forest afloat but also guided them to a remarkable seventh-place finish in the 2024-25 Premier League season—Forest’s best top-flight campaign in 30 years. That achievement secured Europa League qualification for the first time since 1996, reigniting dreams of European nights at the City Ground. The club moved swiftly to reward Nuno with a contract extension until 2028, and fans dared to believe that a new golden era was on the horizon.
But football rarely follows a simple script. Despite the optimism, cracks had begun to show by the start of the 2025-26 season. Nuno’s relationship with club owner Marinakis and, crucially, sporting director Edu Gaspar, became increasingly strained. The Portuguese manager was forthright in his public comments, telling reporters in August, “My relationship with the owner is not the same. The reality is that it is not what it used to be. What it used to be was a good, respectful relationship, but was more based on trust and sharing opinions, and now it’s not so good.” According to Sky Sports News, Marinakis was ‘baffled’ and deeply hurt by Nuno’s willingness to air grievances in public, especially regarding the club’s transfer dealings and internal communication.
Transfer policy was a particular flashpoint. Nuno was openly critical of Forest’s summer recruitment, describing the squad as “unbalanced” and “very, very far” from being ready for the new season. While the club invested over £200 million on new signings—including James McAtee, Omari Hutchinson, Arnaud Kalimuendo, and Douglas Luiz—Nuno was reportedly not on board with all the arrivals. As reported by multiple outlets, he did not want Hutchinson, Luiz, or Cuiabano, the latter of whom was sent on loan back to Botafogo just days after signing. Hutchinson, meanwhile, was left out of the Europa League squad, and neither he nor Luiz had started a Premier League game by early September.
These disagreements left Forest’s board puzzled. Nuno had initially requested two players for every position, only to later change his stance and express a preference for a smaller squad. Such mixed signals, combined with his public criticism, made it increasingly difficult for Marinakis and Edu to see a way forward. The situation came to a head after a 3-0 home defeat to West Ham on August 31, a result that left Forest 10th in the Premier League and further fueled doubts about the club’s trajectory under Nuno.
The tension wasn’t limited to the boardroom. After a 2-2 draw with Leicester City in May, Marinakis stormed onto the pitch to confront Nuno, though the club dismissed reports of a heated exchange as “fake news.” Still, the writing was on the wall. Nuno himself acknowledged the precariousness of his position, telling reporters, “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire, so I know how things work, but I’m here to do my job. I understand, because I’m worried. I’m the first one to be worried. I’m the first one to be concerned.”
As the international break approached, the club faced a daunting run of four away games in 12 days, starting with a trip to Arsenal on September 13 and culminating in a Europa League clash with Real Betis in Seville. Whoever took over would inherit a squad brimming with talent and ambition but would have precious little time to impose their vision or steady the ship. The club’s statement, released at 12:15am on Tuesday, struck a respectful tone: “Nottingham Forest Football Club confirms that, following recent circumstances, Nuno Espirito Santo has today been relieved of his duties as head coach. The club thanks Nuno for his contribution during a very successful era at the City Ground, in particular his role in the 2024/25 season, which will forever be remembered fondly in the history of the club.”
Attention quickly turned to Nuno’s likely successor. Multiple sources reported that Ange Postecoglou, the former Celtic and Tottenham Hotspur manager, had agreed to take over as head coach, with a contract running until the summer of 2027. Edu Gaspar and chief football officer Ross Wilson were tasked with overseeing the appointment, and an official announcement was expected before the Arsenal fixture. Postecoglou’s reputation for attacking football and building cohesive squads made him an attractive option, but the challenge would be immense: Forest’s schedule was relentless, and expectations were sky-high following the club’s recent resurgence.
For the supporters, the abrupt end to Nuno’s tenure is a bittersweet moment. There’s no denying the progress made under his leadership—after all, he delivered European football and the club’s best league finish in a generation. Yet, the manner of his departure is a reminder of the volatility that often lurks behind the scenes in modern football. As one supporter put it, “Until that first pre-match news conference of the season, supporters were enthusiastic about the forthcoming campaign and the prospect of European football for the first time in three decades. Yes, there were a few worries about the size of the squad, but there was confidence from most people that that would be sorted before the end of the transfer window.”
Now, with a new manager set to take the helm and a daunting fixture list ahead, Forest fans are left to wonder whether the club can build on last season’s success or if more turbulence lies ahead. The next chapter begins at the Emirates Stadium, where all eyes will be on the dugout as the Postecoglou era—if confirmed—gets underway. One thing is certain: at Nottingham Forest, the only constant is change, and the coming weeks promise plenty of drama both on and off the pitch.
