Nottingham Forest dismissed head coach Nuno Espírito Santo on Tuesday, September 9, 2025. The club released a brief statement saying he had been “relieved of his duties following recent circumstances,” confirming days of speculation after the Portuguese manager publicly acknowledged a deteriorating relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis in late August.
Nuno, appointed in December 2023, first steered Forest clear of relegation before delivering a breakout 2024/25 campaign in which the team spent weeks in the top three and ultimately finished seventh — their best top-flight finish in roughly three decades — earning a first European berth in 29 years. On the back of that surge, he signed an extension in June 2025 running to 2028. Despite the progress, fault lines with the hierarchy widened over the summer, with Nuno criticizing recruitment and calling the squad “unbalanced.”
The trigger came early in the new season. Forest took four points from their first three league matches but were beaten 3–0 at home by West Ham on August 31; they sat 10th when the decision was made and are due to face Arsenal next.
Strains with ownership had been visible for months. After a 2–2 draw with Leicester in May, Marinakis confronted Nuno on the pitch, an episode Forest later downplayed as “fake news.” Nuno also said he and the owner “rarely speak” now. Meanwhile, the club’s summer business — including moves for James McAtee, Omari Hutchinson, Arnaud Kalimuendo and Douglas Luiz — did not fully address gaps Nuno had flagged.
Attention has turned immediately to successors. Reporting in the UK links Forest with Ange Postecoglou, while other names admired by the club include Oliver Glasner, Andoni Iraola, Mauricio Pochettino and Marco Silva. Forest are expected to move quickly to make an appointment.
By the numbers: Nuno departs three league games into 2025/26; multiple outlets note his tenure included Forest’s strongest league showing in about 30 years and a return to Europe. Some tallies put his Forest record at 32 wins, 15 draws and 26 losses in 73 matches.