Nottingham Forest have parted ways with head coach Nuno Espírito Santo, just three matches into the new Premier League season. The decision, which makes Nuno the first Premier League manager to lose his job this season, comes after a public and acrimonious breakdown in his relationship with club owner Evangelos Marinakis. The official club statement, released on Tuesday, September 9, confirmed Nuno had been “relieved of his duties” following “recent circumstances.”
The turmoil began in the lead-up to the new campaign, with Nuno expressing public frustration over the club’s transfer strategy. He had openly criticized the squad as being “unbalanced” and “very, very far” from where it needed to be for the season. These comments reportedly angered Marinakis, who felt the head coach was speaking out against him and the club in public. The relationship between the two had reportedly soured since the arrival of Edu Gaspar, the former Arsenal technical director, as the new head of global football.
The fallout intensified after Nuno admitted in an August press conference that his previously close relationship with Marinakis had deteriorated, stating they were “not as close” as they were last season. Despite reports of a planned meeting between Nuno and Marinakis to mend the relationship, Sky Sports News reported the meeting never took place, and the Greek owner ultimately decided that a change in management was necessary to move the club forward.
Nuno's departure brings to an end a tenure that saw him achieve a remarkable feat last season, guiding Nottingham Forest to a seventh-place finish in the Premier League and securing European football for the first time in nearly 30 years. He was even handed a new three-year contract in June after his successful first full season. The club's statement thanked him for his "contribution during a very successful era" and noted his role in the 2024-25 season would "forever be remembered fondly in the history of the club."
Despite the success of last season, the off-field tension and a mixed start to the current campaign, which saw the club take four points from three games, ultimately led to the change. The club is now reportedly looking for a swift appointment, with names such as Ange Postecoglou, Oliver Glasner, and Andoni Iraola being mentioned as potential replacements.
Postecoglou, who won the Europa League with Tottenham last season, is reportedly a candidate held in high regard by Marinakis. The new manager will inherit a squad that Nuno described as a "mess" and will have the task of preparing them for their next Premier League fixture against Arsenal.