Nottingham Forest have made a shock move early in the season by sacking head coach Nuno Espirito Santo after just three league games.
The Portuguese manager famously guided Forest into European competition last season, a feat the club hadn’t achieved in over a century.
Despite this success, tensions behind the scenes had been brewing all summer.
Strained Relationships Behind the Scenes
Reports suggest that Nuno’s relationship with club owner Evangelos Marinakis had soured.
The manager openly criticised Forest’s transfer policy and admitted that his rapport with Marinakis wasn’t what it had been last term.
Complicating matters further, former Arsenal midfielder Edu had been installed as the club’s global head of football, creating a new working structure that Nuno struggled to adapt to.
Even with these challenges, Marinakis publicly denied any rift between him and Nuno just days before the decision, claiming the pair were expected to hold constructive talks.
Official Statement from the Club
An early Tuesday statement confirmed the departure:
“Nottingham Forest Football Club confirms that, following recent circumstances, Nuno Espirito 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.”
Despite Nuno’s achievements on the pitch, it was clear that differences with Marinakis had persisted throughout his tenure.
Last season, the owner even stormed onto the pitch to berate Nuno after a 2-2 draw with Leicester City—a moment that highlighted their ongoing tension.
Controversial Moments and Public Comments
Nuno had been candid about the situation in recent press conferences, admitting that his relationship with Marinakis was “not so good.”
This sparked speculation that the manager could be sacked, or even resign, though he firmly denied any plans to walk away.
Adding to the tension, Daily Mail Sport reported that Forest’s record signing, Omari Hutchinson, was set to be omitted from the Europa League squad—another decision that may not have sat well with Nuno.
Who Could Replace Nuno?
Forest are now on the hunt for a new manager.
Former Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou is reportedly among the candidates, while Jose Mourinho has also been linked with the role in overseas media.
Other names under consideration include Fulham manager Marco Silva and Athletic Bilbao’s Ernesto Valverde, though hiring either could require compensation.
Nuno’s final game in charge ended in a disappointing 3-0 home defeat to West Ham before the international break, witnessed by Marinakis.
Marinakis Speaks Out
Despite the sacking, Marinakis attempted to downplay the tension in a statement to TNT Sports from the Europa League draw in Monaco:
“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 all together, united, and we’ll make some corrective actions and everything will be smooth and ready to go.”
Nuno Dismisses Resignation Rumours
Earlier, Nuno had dismissed rumours of his own resignation as “nonsense” following a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace. “It is absurd, never,” he said.
When asked about his future beyond the international break, he replied, “Yes, I think so … 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.”
Even in the wake of his departure, Nuno emphasized that discussions about the club’s future should happen at the right time, adding that the international break would have been the appropriate moment for such talks.