Ange Postecoglou Appointed as Nottingham Forest Manager After Nuno’s Exit
Nottingham Forest have officially appointed Ange Postecoglou as their new head coach, just hours after parting ways with Nuno Espirito Santo. The announcement was made on Tuesday morning, bringing the experienced Australian manager back into the Premier League just three months after his departure from Tottenham Hotspur. Postecoglou takes over at the City Ground with big expectations and a squad full of potential, but also a number of challenges to navigate as the club transitions into a new era.
Nuno was dismissed late on Monday night after 21 months in charge of Forest. His reign began in December 2023, when he replaced Steve Cooper and guided the club to Premier League safety. The following season was even more impressive, as Forest finished seventh in the league—their highest finish since the 1994/95 campaign—and qualified for European competition for the first time in 30 years. However, despite that success, his relationship with club owner Evangelos Marinakis began to break down. Nuno publicly stated last month that things were no longer the same between them, and tension over transfer policy and squad changes appeared to play a role in his departure.
Postecoglou returns to the dugout after a rollercoaster spell at Tottenham. His time at Spurs ended with a Europa League triumph, where they defeated Manchester United 1-0 in the final, breaking a 17-year trophy drought. But despite the European success, Tottenham struggled in the league, finishing 17th and narrowly avoiding relegation. Postecoglou was sacked just 16 days after lifting the trophy. Still, his ability to deliver silverware and his attacking style of football impressed many, including the Forest board.
Forest owner Marinakis spoke highly of Postecoglou, calling him a coach with a “proven and consistent record of winning trophies.” He added that the new manager’s vision for building something special aligned perfectly with the club’s ambitions to compete with the best in England and Europe. With Forest currently sitting 10th in the table after three games, the foundation is solid—but all eyes are now on how Postecoglou will shape the team moving forward.
The 60-year-old brings with him a high-intensity, ball-dominant style of play that focuses on pressing and quick transitions. His system often features inverted full-backs, a compact midfield, and constant positional rotations to outnumber opponents and create space. This will mark a major shift from the more defensive, counter-attacking approach favored by Nuno. Whether Forest’s current squad can adapt to this aggressive and technical system remains to be seen. Players like Oleksandr Zinchenko and Douglas Luiz, both with Manchester City experience, may thrive under this new style, while others who excelled in deeper, more reactive roles might struggle to fit in.
The appointment has sparked mixed reactions among the Forest fanbase. While some welcome Postecoglou’s attacking philosophy and winning pedigree, others remain cautious due to his poor league campaign with Spurs. One fan even pointed out that despite the Europa League win, nearly relegating a club as rich as Tottenham was hard to overlook. There’s also concern about how quickly Forest can adapt to such a dramatic change in playing style, especially mid-season and without a full pre-season under the new coach.
Postecoglou’s coaching career spans continents. He has won league titles in Australia, Japan, and Scotland. At Celtic, he secured five out of six possible trophies in two seasons. Before that, he led Yokohama F. Marinos to their first J-League title in 15 years and guided Australia to an Asian Cup win and World Cup appearance. His experience is vast, and he has proven that he can build winning teams in different cultures and environments.
His first match in charge of Nottingham Forest will be a tough one—a trip to face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday. With little time to train and most of the squad away on international duty, Postecoglou will need to make quick decisions and hope for an immediate impact.
Whether this bold move by Forest brings immediate results or demands patience from fans, one thing is certain—Ange Postecoglou’s arrival marks the start of a fascinating new chapter at the City Ground. All eyes will be on what happens next.
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