Nottingham Forest Parts Ways with Nuno Espirito Santo
In a surprising turn of events, Nottingham Forest has dismissed head coach Nuno Espirito Santo as of September 8, 2025. The 51-year-old was recently awarded a new contract after leading the team to the Europa League. However, tensions have been brewing, with Nuno publicly stating that his relationship with co-owner Evangelos Marinakis had soured since last season.
Just weeks prior, Nuno openly criticized the club’s transfer strategy, referring to his squad as “unbalanced” and highlighting their lack of readiness for the upcoming season. His comments reportedly did not sit well with Marinakis, who had been contemplating the coach’s future after the public disputes.
Despite the turbulence, Nottingham Forest expressed gratitude for Nuno’s contributions during a successful period for the club. In a statement released in the early hours, they acknowledged his pivotal role in the memorable 2024/25 season.
The club is now on the lookout for a new head coach but has yet to announce a specific replacement. Among potential candidates are established figures like Oliver Glasner of Crystal Palace, Andoni Iraola of Bournemouth, and Mauricio Pochettino, the current head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team.
Marinakis spent the last week weighing the possibility of reconciling with Nuno but ultimately felt that a change was essential for the club’s progress. Reports indicate that no meetings took place between Marinakis and Nuno to address the underlying issues, leading the Greek billionaire to conclude that letting go of Nuno was in the club’s best interest.
With only four points from their first three Premier League matches, Forest faces a challenging upcoming fixture against Arsenal. Nuno’s farewell game resulted in a disappointing 3-0 defeat against West Ham, marking an unhappy ending to his time at the club.
Timeline of Events in Nuno’s Departure
- August 15: Nuno calls out the “unbalanced” squad, signaling concerns ahead of the new Premier League season.
- August 22: He admits to a strained relationship with Marinakis.
- August 31: After a Europa League draw, Nuno expresses a desire to remain at the helm.
- September 1: The club fulfills Nuno’s transfer requests.
- September 8: Nuno is officially relieved of his duties.
As Nottingham Forest transitions into a new chapter, fans and stakeholders alike will be keenly watching to see who will step into the managerial role and how the club will perform in the upcoming challenges.