EPL Index
·12 February 2026
Report: Nottingham Forest Turn to Pereira After Dyche Exit at City Ground

In partnership with
Yahoo sportsEPL Index
·12 February 2026

Nottingham Forest have turned once more to change, confirming that Vitor Pereira has agreed to become the club’s new head coach, replacing Sean Dyche after a brief and turbulent spell at the City Ground. For Nottingham Forest, this decision reflects urgency as much as ambition, with the club seeking renewed clarity in both results and identity as the season moves towards its decisive stretch.
Dyche’s tenure lasted only 114 days, ending shortly after a 0-0 draw with Wolves. That result left Nottingham Forest three points above the relegation zone with 12 league fixtures remaining, a precarious position that ownership deemed insufficient given the squad’s attacking resources.
Forest’s hierarchy acted within hours of the stalemate with Wolves, underlining the extent of their concern. The timing speaks to a broader dissatisfaction, not solely with results but with the trajectory of performances.

Photo IMAGO
Despite Dyche’s reputation for structure and resilience, Forest struggled to distance themselves from danger. Matches often felt tight, controlled yet lacking incision. Ownership frustration centred on the club’s inability to maximise its forward options and convert promise into points.
That backdrop framed the decision to act swiftly, ensuring a successor would be in place ahead of a defining run of fixtures across domestic and European competition.
Pereira arrives with both Premier League experience and an established relationship with Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis. The Portuguese coach previously worked under Marinakis at Olympiacos, delivering a league and cup double in 2015, success that strengthened mutual trust.
His most recent English assignment came at Wolves, where he secured top flight survival after taking charge in December 2024. Though dismissed following a difficult start to the subsequent campaign, his capacity to organise a side under pressure remains part of his managerial profile.
“Vitor Pereira has agreed to become the next Nottingham Forest head coach.” according to Sky Sports News
That agreement, while pending final contractual details, is understood to be close to completion, with formalities now the final step.
Forest’s decision to accelerate the appointment process is shaped by the fixture calendar. A Europa League play off clash with Fenerbahce looms next Thursday, offering Pereira little time for adaptation.
Domestic challenges will follow quickly, including demanding league encounters against Liverpool, Brighton and Manchester City. Those matches carry weight not only in points but in confidence, particularly for a squad seeking momentum.
A seven day gap before the European tie offers Pereira a narrow preparation window, yet also a chance to imprint immediate tactical adjustments.
Pereira becomes Nottingham Forest’s fourth head coach of the season, a statistic that illustrates instability but also the club’s determination to find the right formula.
His task is clear, lift Forest away from relegation peril while unlocking the attacking potential that ownership believes remains underused. The margins are slim, the schedule unforgiving, yet the opportunity significant.
For Nottingham Forest and Pereira alike, the appointment represents both risk and renewal, a calculated gamble taken in pursuit of security and progress.









































