Nuno sacked by Nottingham Forest after relationship with owner breaks down | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest have sacked Nuno Espirito Santo after less than two years in charge, with the decision confirmed late on Tuesday night.

The Portuguese coach’s position had been under scrutiny since August when he admitted his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis was no longer as strong as it had been during his first season.

Speaking before the defeat to West Ham, Nuno said: “Last season we were very close, almost on a daily basis. This season, not so well.”

Forest announced the departure in a statement citing “recent circumstances” and thanked Nuno for his contribution, particularly during a campaign that secured their return to European football for the first time in nearly three decades.

The club said he would “always hold a special place” in their journey.

Nuno was appointed in December 2023 after the dismissal of Steve Cooper with the team struggling near the bottom of the Premier League.

He guided them to survival despite a four-point deduction for breaching financial rules, before overseeing a remarkable turnaround the following year.

His first full season brought a seventh-place finish, Forest’s best league position since 1995, and qualification for the Europa League after Crystal Palace’s demotion to the Conference League.

The club collected 65 points, more than double their tally from the previous campaign, and for much of the season were competing near the Champions League places.

That progress secured Nuno a new three-year contract in June, but internal tensions quickly surfaced. Edu, the former Arsenal executive, was appointed as Forest’s global head of football in July and took control of recruitment.

It was reported that Nuno’s relationship with him was strained and potentially irreparable, with disagreements over the club’s summer transfer business.

Forest signed 13 players for close to £200m in fees, while key figures including Anthony Elanga and Danilo departed. Nuno criticised the squad’s readiness before the opening weekend, warning that they were “very, very far from where we should be”.

Forest have taken four points from their first three league games but went into the international break after a 3-0 home defeat to West Ham. Talks are under way over a successor, with Ange Postecoglou among the contenders.

Nuno leaves with Forest sitting tenth in the Premier League and preparing for a first European campaign since 1996, but with instability behind the scenes once again defining events at the City Ground.