The football world was left reeling after Nottingham Forest’s abrupt decision to sack Ange Postecoglou just 39 days into his tenure.
Micah Richards, known for his sharp wit on and off the pitch, described the dismissal as “ridiculous,” while lamenting what he sees as a growing impatience in modern football.
Postecoglou’s tenure ended within 20 minutes of Forest’s 3-0 loss to Chelsea on Saturday.
In just five Premier League games, the Australian-Greek manager suffered six defeats, drew twice, and failed to impress in key fixtures, including surprising losses to Swansea City and Midtjylland.
A Confusing Appointment Comes to a Sudden End
Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis had initially shocked fans by replacing Nuno Espirito Santo—who had guided the club to the Europa Conference League—with Postecoglou, whose attacking style starkly contrasted with Nuno’s defensive approach.
Many had questioned the decision from the start, and now it ended bitterly.
Richards reflected on the situation during BBC’s Match of the Day, saying, “Five Premier League games, 39 days in the top flight, and you’re getting sacked—it’s just ridiculous. Managers need time to implement their philosophy.
We knew Nuno played a defensive style, now Ange wanted to go on the front foot.”
Support From Fellow Pundits
Alan Shearer echoed Richards’ sympathy, pointing out the owner’s role in the predicament.
“You can’t just hire someone with a completely different system and expect immediate success.
Five games is hardly enough to judge a manager,” he said.
Despite their support, both pundits acknowledged the harsh reality of modern football, where immediate results are often prioritized over long-term strategy.
Setting Unwanted Records
Postecoglou now holds the unfortunate distinction of being the shortest-serving permanent manager in Premier League history.
While Sam Allardyce lasted just 30 days at Leeds in 2023, that was for the final four matches of the season.
Frank de Boer managed four games at Crystal Palace in 2017, lasting 77 days, showing just how rare such brief tenures usually are.
Richards noted that managerial instability has accelerated in recent years: “Of the ten shortest managerial reigns in Premier League history, eight have come in the last 12 years. The game has become brutal.”
A Tough Task From the Start
Taking over a squad accustomed to defensive, counter-attacking football made Postecoglou’s job even more difficult.
He had arrived after winning the Europa League with Tottenham but had also struggled domestically, finishing 17th last season—a high-ceiling, low-floor appointment.
With a Premier League win rate of just 26 percent over his last 50 matches, Postecoglou leaves behind a side in need of a new direction.
Names like Roberto Mancini, Sean Dyche, and Pedro Martins are reportedly being considered to take the reins at Forest.