Former Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou appointed Nottingham Forest manager

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The Celtic Star

·9 septembre 2025

Former Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou appointed Nottingham Forest manager

Former Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has this morning been appointed as the new manager at Premier League club Nottingham Forest, following the sacking of Nuno Espírito Santo. Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Big Ange is back in business with this update…

🚨🌳 Ange Postecoglou has been appointed as new Nottingham Forest head coach. Contract approved now by lawyers on both sides as Postecoglou will sign deal until June 2027 at #NFFC. Clear favorite since last night and deal now in place with Marinakis.
– mardi 9 septembre 2025

Nottingham Forest, fresh off a seventh-place finish in the 2024-25 Premier League season that secured their first European qualification in 29 years, has today undergone a dramatic managerial change just three games into the 2025-26 campaign. The club sits with four points from their opening fixtures, including a 3-0 home defeat to West Ham on 31 August, 2025, which amplified existing tensions behind the scenes.

Ange Postecoglou, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur, lifts the UEFA Europa League Trophy after his sides victory in the UEFA Europa League Final 2025 between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at Estadio de San Mames on May 21, 2025 in Bilbao, Spain. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Vidéos OneFootball

Last night, Forest announced the dismissal of head coach Nuno Espírito Santo after 21 months in charge, making him the first Premier League managerial casualty of the season. Nuno, who replaced Steve Cooper in December 2023, had transformed the club from relegation strugglers to European contenders, overseeing 28 wins in 73 games (win rate: 38.4%). He signed a contract extension until 2028 in June 2025 following last season’s success.

The sacking appears to have been caused by deteriorating relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis. Back in August, Nuno openly stated his relationship with Marinakis had “changed” and was “not the same,” admitting “where there’s smoke, there’s fire” amid speculation about his position. Marinakis was reportedly “baffled” by these comments.

Nuno also clashed with global head of football Edu Gaspar over summer signings, describing the squad as “unbalanced” and “very, very far from where we should be” for the demands of Premier League, Europa League, and cup competitions. In a message very similar to Brendan Rodgers’ at Celtic during August, Nuno publicly questioned the club’s recruitment process, believing it to be ill-equipped for European football.

Ange Postecoglou, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur, talks during a press conference ahead of their UEFA Europe League 2024/25 semi final second leg match against FK Bodo/Glimt at Aspmyra Stadion on May 07, 2025 in Bodo, Norway. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Earlier tensions perhaps came to the surface. A heated on-pitch exchange between Nuno and Marinakis after a May 2025 draw with Leicester (over an injury to forward Taiwo Awoniyi) was downplayed by the club as “fake news,” but it highlighted underlying issues.

Forest’s official statement was brief: “Nottingham Forest Football Club confirms that, following recent circumstances, Nuno Espírito Santo has today been relieved of his duties as head coach.” Sporting director Ross Wilson delivered the news to Nuno, whose scheduled crisis talks with Marinakis never materialised. The move leaves Forest managerless ahead of their Europa League league-phase opener on 24 September, 2025, and a tough Premier League trip to Arsenal this Saturday.

Celtic v Aberdeen – Ange Postecoglou celebrates with the league trophy after the cinch Premiership match at Celtic Park, Saturday May 27, 2023. Photo Andrew Milligan

Former Celtic (2021-23) and Tottenham Hotspur (2023-25) manager Ange Postecoglou has emerged as the overwhelming frontrunner—and now confirmed successor—to replace Nuno, with reports indicating he could be in the dugout for the Arsenal match this weekend. The 60-year-old Greek-Australian has been out of work since his Spurs dismissal in June 2025, just 16 days after leading them to Europa League glory. That was Tottenham’s their first major trophy in 17 years, achieved despite a dismal 17th-place Premier League finish.

Reports claim that Ange Postecoglou has agreed to a contract until June 2027, with legal approvals finalised on both sides following overnight talks with Marinakis. He will bring several staff from his Tottenham tenure, including chief football officer Scott Munn potentially joining amid sporting director Ross Wilson’s expected move to Newcastle.

A five-year-old Ange Postecoglou on his arrival to Australia holding his immigration number.

Marinakis, a Greek shipping magnate, has long admired Postecoglou, publicly praising him at a July 2025 awards ceremony in Greece for his pride in his Greek roots and early managerial stint with Panachaiki, a third-division Greek club. Sources describe Postecoglou as “eager” for a Premier League return, viewing Forest as a chance to finish “unfinished business” in England. His high-energy, attack-minded style aligns with Marinakis’ vision for the club, especially with European commitments.

Links surfaced as early as August 2025 amid Nuno’s uncertainty, with Postecoglou holding informal talks during the international break. Betting markets quickly installed him as the odds on favourite, ahead of names like Jose Mourinho Fabrizio Romano confirmed the appointment today, calling it a “clear favourite since last night.”

Nuno’s sacking has divided opinions: Nuno was admired for stabilising the club and delivering European football, with many fans viewing his exit as “ingratitude mixed with incompetence.” Postecoglou’s appointment is seen as a “big roll of the dice”—his Spurs win rate (40.8% over 76 games) is similar to Nuno’s, but his high-line approach could expose Forest’s defence. On X , reactions range from excitement (“scenes when Ange wins back-to-back Europa Leagues”) to skepticism (“Couldn’t handle Spurs, now saviour for Forest? Relegation loading”). Supporters worry about adapting Nuno’s disciplined squad to Postecoglou’s risk-taking style, but optimism surrounds the “new manager bounce” for upcoming fixtures.

Celtic Manager Ange Postecoglou embraces former Celtic manager Martin O’Neill after Celtic were presented with the Cinch Scottish Premiership trophy on the final day of the season. Celtic v Motherwell, Cinch Scottish Premiership, 14 May 2022 . Photo by Stuart Walllace Shutterstock

Forest’s multi-club owner Marinakis (also Olympiacos) faces scrutiny for his hands-on style, but this appointment signals intent to push for top-half finishes and Europa League progress. An official announcement is expected imminently, with Postecoglou taking training within the next day or two.

Ange Postecoglou will join Martin O’Neill as managers who have been at both Nottingham Forest and Celtic. And of course this appointment sets up a possibility that Celtic and Forest could meet in the Europa League with Ange taking on Brendan Rodgers. That would be something!

Celtic in the Eighties – Out Now!…

Celtic in the Eighties by the late, great David Potter is out now on Celtic Star Books. Celtic in the Eighties is now available in the Celtic superstore and all other club shops. And don’t forget that you can still purchase your copy directly from Celticstarbooks.com for same day postage.