“It Was Brutal”: Postecoglou recalls Nottingham Forest sack

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·26 mars 2026

“It Was Brutal”: Postecoglou recalls Nottingham Forest sack

Ange Postecoglou has lifted the lid on the chaotic and “brutal” afternoon he was sacked by Nottingham Forest.

In an exclusive SEN interview, the veteran manager described the immediate aftermath of Forest’s 3-0 October loss to Chelsea.

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Many managerial exits occur behind closed doors, days later. Conversely, Postecoglou’s brutal dismissal happened minutes after the final whistle.

“I haven’t told the story, but it was brutal. I was sacked straight after the game,” Postecoglou told Gerard Whateley.

He added: “I was in the coaches’ room, I knew it was coming, but they sacked me straight after the game. I hadn’t done the presser yet, but the press knew.”

Postecoglou details the afternoon he was sacked

The Australian described a truly surreal scene. He navigated stadium corridors filled with knowing media members.

Consequently, he faced them before addressing his own staff. A logistical nightmare further complicated his sudden stadium exit. Blocked roads trapped Postecoglou inside his car for half an hour.

“I got stuck at the traffic lights for 15 minutes,” he recalled. “I had Chelsea fans giving it to me, Forest fans weren’t much kinder, and then I had little kids coming up and asking for a selfie.”

This intense public scrutiny felt deeply uncomfortable. Postecoglou described the painful traffic light wait as “paying for my penance.”

Despite the harsh dismissal, the 60-year-old maintains a stoic perspective. Moreover, he took full responsibility, refusing to let the Forest hierarchy “hurt” him.

He boasts nearly three decades in football management. Therefore, he views the Forest episode as a minor career setback.

Postecoglou remains entirely focused on his next managerial move. However, he will be highly selective regarding future ownership groups.