The managerial roller-coaster for Nuno Espirito Santo at Nottingham Forest has come to an end with his sacking today, the fractious relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakas finally becoming too much, although The Telegraph says it was really the arrival of Edu Gaspar from Arsenal that was the primary catalyst.

His departure comes despite leading Forest to European football for the first time in 30 years on the back of a good season and a strong 7th-place finish in the Premier League last season.

The replacements under consideration supposedly include ex-Everton manager Marco Silva, who we are told would give up his current very successful spell as manager of Fulham to work under the irascible owner. Such a move seems highly unlikely.

Nuno Espirito Santo was in the hat as a potential replacement for Carlo Ancelotti back in September 2021, according to journalist Paul Brown: 

“Nuno thought he had the job at Everton and then suddenly didn’t. I think one of the reasons for that is because Nuno wanted James (Rodriguez) to stay and would have made him more of a key part of his plan.”

David Moyes was under consideration at that time too but somehow Farhad Moshiri selected Rafa Benitez for what was to become one of the darkest and mist forgetable periods in the club's recent history.

Reader Comments (17)

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Robert Tressell
1 Posted 09/09/2025 at 08:30:23
Interesting to see what happens to Forest from here. Whilst their fans will have been delighted with the progress made under Marinakis, it has not been plain sailing with very heavy spending and points deductions, the shenanigans with Olympiakos and now the sacking of Nuno (despite doing a good job). The owner appears to be gambling with the club, spending in the hope of Champions League football. At some point this unravels - as West Ham and Villa are now finding out (and their spending was more measured in any case). It wouldn’t surprise me if Forest end the season with a different manager to the one they appoint now as Nuno’s replacement
Ray Robinson
2 Posted 09/09/2025 at 08:56:25
Robert, it wouldn’t surprise me if Forest were at some point given another hefty points deduction or even demoted. Some of the goings on at that club appear highly dubious.
Robert Tressell
3 Posted 09/09/2025 at 09:28:39
Good for us if that happens Ray. Our rightful / natural place in the short to medium term under sensible owners is alongside Spurs, Newcastle and Villa - putting pressure on the more established players of Arsenal, Chelsea, the RS, City and United.

We’re a window or two off that now - but it should mean Champions League runs in better seasons, Europe most seasons and regular cup trophy contention too.

Getting rid of upstarts like Forest helps to speed up the transition back to the upper echelons

Eric Myles
4 Posted 09/09/2025 at 09:49:27
Got to object to the use of 'upstarts' Robert as I think every club deserves their place in the sun (RS excepted of course), however fleeting it may turn out to be.

Remember, we are largely considered by the corrupt authorities and their favourites as being upstarts.

Brian Harrison
5 Posted 09/09/2025 at 09:58:15
The expectations last season before a ball was kicked is Forest may struggle, but unbelievably Nuno produces a miracle of a season and within weeks of the start of a new season he is gone. I would imagine any serious manager already employed in the Premier league would have serious mis giving's about going there.
Seems the bookies favourite is Postecoglu and Mourhino as another possible candidate. I cant see the Forest fans being happy with a change of manager, and wonder if there will be a kick back from them.
Ian Jones
6 Posted 09/09/2025 at 09:59:52
Well, I think the smart money would be on Ange Postecoglou. Widely being reported as being the most likely replacement.
Andy Crooks
7 Posted 09/09/2025 at 10:23:47
Eric, think that was tongue in cheek from Robert. Soon we will be upstarts!
Robert Tressell
8 Posted 09/09/2025 at 10:28:06
I’m expecting us to be part of the establishment soon enough. It’s our rightful place under proper owners
Dave Abrahams
9 Posted 09/09/2025 at 10:52:37
Brian (5), looks like you are correct Brian with some reports saying Postecoglu will be appointed today.
Brian Harrison
10 Posted 09/09/2025 at 12:43:33
Dave apparently Postecoglu is at the Forest training ground so would imagine sometime this afternoon he will be officially appointed.
Jack Convery
11 Posted 09/09/2025 at 13:21:45
Postecoglu has been appointed the new Manager. Nuno must be as sick as the proverbial parrot.
Ian Jones
12 Posted 09/09/2025 at 13:28:00
Jack, I imagine Nuno will be disappointed but also pleased he's escaped the mad house. He won't be short of job offers...it's just picking the one with a stable owner/board
Martin Mulrooney
13 Posted 09/09/2025 at 13:30:52
Totally polar opposite styles of football, from what I know of the managers

Nuno liked to sit back, soak pressure and explode on the counter attack. Didn’t care about possession of the ball

Ange likes to get his defence extremely high up and play in the oppositions half, press high and force turnovers

This could be a catastrophe for forest if players don’t adapt quickly or they simply don’t have the players capable to pull it off

Spurs seemed to struggle even more whenever their quickest defenders was missing.

Not sure of forests overall pace in the back line to play ange ball

Christy Ring
14 Posted 09/09/2025 at 13:39:32
Postecoglu two year deal supposedly, his Greek hereditary probably helped. I don't like the owner, a Greek bully, as we saw when he confronted Nuno last season. He also got his speak in with UEFA over Palace, which didn't go down well with the Palace fans. I hope it backfires on him this season.
Ian Jones
15 Posted 09/09/2025 at 13:47:01
It's all Greek to me...
Frank Crewe
16 Posted 09/09/2025 at 14:00:07
So the manager that got Forest to 7th place last season is replaced by one that got Spurs to 17th.
Welcome to the crazy world of football management. This is what happens when you have an overbearing billionaire owner who really wants to manage the team himself but doesn't have the qualifications.
Paul Kossoff
17 Posted 09/09/2025 at 14:51:15
Postecoglou replaces Nuno as Forest manager

Is he any better than Nuno? I doubt it. Nuno was sacked plainly because the owner didn't like him. Seems it dosn't matter how much you fk up in football, the merry go round is all inclusive. even to failures. I wonder if they all have the same agent?

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