Nuno Espirito Santo has been sacked by Nottingham Forest after just three games of the new campaign.
The Portuguese led Forest into Europe last season for the first time this century but his relations with the club hierarchy had become increasingly strained this summer.
Nuno criticised Forest’s transfer policy publicly and admitted his rapport with owner Evangelos Marinakis was not the same as it had been last term. Nuno, who joined Forest in December 2023, also struggled to work under the new structure with former Arsenal midfielder Edu installed as global head of football. Marinakis only days ago dismissed reports of a rift between him and his manager.
In a statement released at 12:15am on Tuesday morning, Forest said: ‘Nottingham Forest Football Club confirms that, following recent circumstances, Nuno Espírito Santo has today been relieved of his duties as head coach.
‘The club thanks Nuno for his contribution during a very successful era at The City Ground, in particular his role in the 2024/25 season, which will forever be remembered fondly in the history of the club.
‘As someone who played a pivotal role in our success last season, he will always hold a special place in our journey.’
And despite bringing huge success on the pitch for the club, Marinakis and his now-former manager certainly haven’t always seen eye-to-eye.
That had become apparent as early as last season when the Forest owner stormed onto the City Ground pitch to berate his coach following a 2-2 draw with Leicester City.
And they are evidently yet to put their differences aside, with Nuno making the incredibly honest revelation in a press conference last month that their relationship was ‘not so good’.
The comment sparked speculation that Marinakis could sack the former Wolves boss amid links to Ange Postecoglou, or even that Nuno could resign – something he strongly denied.
Daily Mail Sport revealed last week that club-record signing Omari Hutchinson had been omitted from Forest’s Europa League squad – another decision unlikely to please Nuno’s bosses.
Forest will turn their thoughts immediately to appointing a new manager, with former Tottenham boss Postecoglou the bookies favourite to replace Nuno. Jose Mourinho has also been linked with the role in overseas media outlets.
Marinakis has long admired Fulham boss Marco Silva and Athletic Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde, although hiring either would mean paying compensation.
Nuno’s final match in charge of Forest was a woeful 3-0 home defeat by West Ham before the international break, under the watchful gaze of Marinakis.
Marinakis broke his silence about the drama surrounding the club in recent days, claiming he and his manager maintain a ‘strong relationship’.
Speaking to TNT Sports from the Europa League draw in Monaco, the 57-year-old said: ‘Yes [Nuno can lead Forest forward], he has been successful and we have done things we have enjoyed. Now we can afford to do things that we enjoy.
‘Everything is solid. We all want Nottingham to succeed. We are here in the good days but we are even closer in the difficult days, so personally I don’t see a problem.
‘We are all together, united, and we’ll make some corrective actions and everything will be smooth and ready to go.
‘We have a solid relationship. Of course, sometimes we can be nervous, say one thing, say another, but what counts at the end of the day is the real relationship between me and Nuno, between Nuno and the players and between the players and ourselves.’
The former Porto boss dismissed reports claiming he was considering resigning as ‘nonsense’ after his side’s 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace in August – days after he had made the shock revelations about his relationship with the Forest owner.
‘It is absurd, never,’ he told reporters. And when asked whether he’ll be in charge beyond the international break, Nuno replied: ‘Yes, I think so. I don’t know how to answer that but I think so.
‘I’m totally relaxed in that sense. We need to have a talk about the future of the club and what is the commitment to the club. We want the same thing, we want the best for Forest, that’s for sure.
‘We have to talk. These kinds of things should be done in the right moment, and the right moment is after the game. Now we are focused on West Ham, then we have the international break and I think that is the right moment.’
