Nottingham Forest appoint Postecoglou after Nuno’s dismissal

Ange Postecoglou has been appointed as the new manager of Nottingham Forest, replacing Nuno Espírito Santo, who was sacked after just three games into the Premier League season.

Nuno’s 21-month tenure at the City Ground ended late on Monday night, despite guiding Forest to their best league finish in three decades last season. His final game in charge was a 3-0 defeat to West Ham before the international break.

Postecoglou, 60, returns to management just three months after being dismissed by Tottenham Hotspur, where he endured a difficult league campaign that saw Spurs finish 17th. However, he signed off with silverware, leading the north London club to a Europa League triumph — their first major trophy in 17 years.

Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis hailed Postecoglou’s track record: “We are bringing a coach with a proven and consistent record of winning trophies. His experience at the highest level and desire to build something special with us at Forest make him a fantastic person to help us achieve our ambitions.”

Forest currently sit 10th in the Premier League table. Postecoglou’s first assignment will be a daunting trip to Arsenal on Saturday.

Postecoglou’s two years at Spurs were turbulent. His first season ended with a respectable fifth-place finish, but his attacking principles and high defensive line came under fire the following year as Spurs lost 22 of 38 league matches. Despite clinching the Europa League with a 1-0 win over Manchester United, he was dismissed just 16 days later.

Tottenham acknowledged him as one of only three managers to deliver a European trophy for the club, but ultimately replaced him with Thomas Frank.

Known for his aggressive, possession-based football, Postecoglou’s methods contrast sharply with Nuno’s counter-attacking approach.

His system often relies on inverted full-backs, high pressing, and constant positional rotations, a style that demands technically proficient players and great stamina.

Forest’s summer transfer business suggests they may already be leaning toward a more ball-dominant identity, with the arrivals of Douglas Luiz, James McAtee, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Omari Hutchinson fitting his blueprint.

However, questions remain over how quickly the squad can adapt, particularly defenders like Nikola Milenković and wing-back Ola Aina, who thrived under Nuno’s deeper system.

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