Nottingham Forest has just parted ways with their head coach, Nuno Espirito Santo, after a dramatic 21 months at the helm. The Portuguese manager, who took over in December 2023 on a two-and-a-half-year deal following Steve Cooper’s exit, oversaw 73 matches, securing 28 wins, 20 draws, and 25 losses.
The decision comes after tensions boiled over between Nuno and club owner Evangelos Marinakis. For the past two weeks, Nuno’s future looked shaky, especially after he openly admitted their once-close relationship had soured. “I always had a very good relationship with the owner—last season we were very close and spoke daily. This season, it’s not so well,” Nuno had shared in August, adding that everyone at the club needed to pull together, but reality was different.
In a fresh statement, Nottingham Forest confirmed the move: “Following recent circumstances, Nuno Espírito Santo has today been relieved of his duties as Head Coach.” The club praised his impact, especially in the 2024/25 Premier League season, where he led them to a stunning seventh-place finish—their best since 1994-95. That success earned them a spot in Europe for the first time in 30 years and even prompted Nuno to sign a new three-year contract in June.
Forest highlighted his special role in their journey, noting that last season’s achievements at the City Ground will be remembered forever. “As someone who played a pivotal role in our success last season, he will always hold a special place in our journey,” the statement read. They thanked him for his contributions during what they called a “very successful era.”
Despite the on-pitch triumphs under Nuno’s Premier League management, off-field issues mounted. Back in August, he voiced fears about his job security and slammed the club’s summer transfer window dealings, calling it a missed opportunity to build on their momentum. Even though Forest enjoyed European qualification and a high league position last term, these strains proved too much, leading to this Nottingham Forest sacking.
Fans and followers of English football will be watching closely to see who steps in next for the Tricky Trees as they aim to keep that European dream alive.
