Nottingham Forest have sacked manager Nuno Espirito Santo, making him the first Premier League manager to lose his job this season.
The decision comes after a dramatic breakdown in his relationship with club owner Evangelos Marinakis, which has been a major source of tension at the club for some time.
With the club in need of a new manager, former Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou has emerged as the "leading candidate" to take over at the City Ground.
Postecoglou, who was sacked by Tottenham at the end of last season, is seen as the perfect man to take over at Forest.
His free-flowing, attacking philosophy is exactly what the club’s hierarchy is looking for, and his experience of winning a major European trophy could prove invaluable for a club entering the Europa League for the first time in nearly 30 years.
🚨 Ange Postecoglou to be confirmed as Nottingham Forest head coach imminently after Nuno Espirito Santo departure. 60yo Australian will lead #NFFC for Saturday’s trip to Arsenal - joined by a number of staff worked with at Tottenham Hotspur @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/zOaGI5pzkO
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) September 9, 2025
The reasons for Nuno's sacking
The Portuguese manager's departure felt inevitable after he publicly admitted that his relationship with Evangelos Marinakis had deteriorated over the summer.
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He had also criticised the club's transfer strategy, stating that his squad was "unbalanced" and "very, very far" from being ready for the new season.
The public comments were seen as a major breach of trust by the club's owner, who decided to sack the manager after a 3-0 defeat to West Ham United.
Despite guiding the club to a seventh-place finish last season, Nuno's strained relationship with the club's hierarchy ultimately led to his departure.
Why Postecoglou is the right man for the job
The appointment of Postecoglou would be a major coup for Nottingham Forest.
The Australian manager, who has been out of work since leaving Tottenham, is a highly respected figure in the game.
His attacking philosophy and his experience of winning a major European trophy are seen as the perfect fit for a club with high ambitions.
Postecoglou has a clear track record of success, having won the Europa League with Tottenham and numerous trophies with Celtic.
His appointment would be a clear statement of intent from the club's owner, and it would be a major step forward for a team that has been in a period of transition for some time.
The manager is expected to be named as the new Nottingham Forest boss in the coming days.
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