Ange Postecoglou to Replace Nuno Espírito Santo at Nottingham Forest

Published: 09 September 2025. The English Chronicle Desk

Nottingham Forest are set to usher in a new era under the guidance of Ange Postecoglou, with the former Tottenham Hotspur and Celtic manager confirmed as the replacement for Nuno Espírito Santo. The appointment comes after days of speculation and mounting tension behind the scenes at the City Ground.

Postecoglou has agreed terms on a deal that will keep him at Forest until the end of next season, with talks between him and club owner Evangelos Marinakis finalised late on Monday night. He is expected to take charge of training on Tuesday ahead of his first game, a daunting clash against Arsenal, who are fierce rivals of his former club Spurs.

The announcement followed the official dismissal of Nuno, whose position became increasingly fragile after his relationship with senior club figures, particularly global head of football Edu, deteriorated in recent weeks. A statement released shortly after midnight confirmed his departure, thanking him for his “contribution during a very successful era at The City Ground” and praising his achievements in the 2024/25 campaign, which included Forest’s highest league finish in three decades and a return to European football.

Despite those successes, Marinakis and the Forest hierarchy were left frustrated by the team’s faltering start to the new season and by Nuno’s own public remarks suggesting discord within the club. “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire,” he said recently, in reference to reports that his job was under threat, comments that many saw as sealing his fate.

Postecoglou, meanwhile, has remained a favourite choice for Marinakis throughout the search for a successor. The Greek-born Australian, who delivered Tottenham’s first trophy in 17 years by lifting the Europa League last season, was dismissed by Spurs in the summer despite that triumph. Marinakis is understood to value Postecoglou’s expansive, attacking philosophy, viewing him as the ideal candidate to restore dynamism to Forest’s play and maximise the considerable investment made in the squad.

Forest’s recent form hastened the decision. A home defeat to West Ham United before the international break left the club reeling and further highlighted growing cracks between Nuno and his employers. Although his tenure will be remembered for stabilising Forest in the Premier League and reviving their European pedigree, the owner’s ambition for Champions League qualification ultimately proved the bar by which Nuno was judged.

Postecoglou now takes on a challenging task: to unite the squad, revitalise their performances, and satisfy supporters who have grown restless with internal turbulence. His debut against Arsenal will be a stern test, but for Nottingham Forest, the move signals a decisive step towards both continuity and renewal, under a coach known for bold football and an uncompromising belief in his methods.