Ange Postecoglou has been dismissed as Nottingham Forest manager following a crushing 3-0 home defeat to Chelsea on Saturday, bringing an abrupt end to his brief 40-day tenure at the club.
The decision was confirmed shortly after full-time, following reports that Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis left his seat during the match—a move seen as a clear indication of impending change. Postecoglou’s sacking makes his spell the shortest managerial reign by any permanent Premier League manager during a season.
“Nottingham Forest Football Club can confirm that after a series of disappointing results and performances, Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties as head coach with immediate effect,” the club posted on its official X account.
“The club will make no further comment at this time.”
A Reign Marked by Struggles
Appointed on September 9, Postecoglou took over from Nuno Espirito Santo, becoming the second Forest manager to lose his job this season. However, the former Tottenham Hotspur boss failed to register a single win across eight matches in all competitions, with just one point from five Premier League games.
Forest now sit 17th in the Premier League table, hovering just one point above the relegation zone—an unacceptable position for a club that invested heavily in recent transfer windows.
Defiance Before the Fall
Despite mounting pressure, the 60-year-old Australian-Greek coach remained defiant ahead of the Chelsea clash. At his pre-match press conference on Friday, Postecoglou declared:
“If I’m given time at a club, it always ends with me and a trophy.”
That confidence stemmed from his recent success at Spurs, where he led the club to a Europa League triumph in 2024/25, even though a dismal domestic campaign ultimately led to his sacking in June.
What’s Next for Forest?
Postecoglou’s departure leaves Forest searching for their third manager in just two months, a situation highlighting the instability under Marinakis’ ownership. Former Burnley and Everton boss Sean Dyche has been linked as a possible successor, alongside other experienced Premier League tacticians.
The defeat to Chelsea proved a harsh final chapter in what was a turbulent and ultimately unsuccessful spell in charge for Postecoglou—a manager whose bold vision never found its footing at the City Ground.
