Ange Postecoglou appointed new manager of Nottingham Forest | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest have moved swiftly to appoint Ange Postecoglou as their new head coach following the abrupt dismissal of Nuno Espírito Santo, with the Australian returning to Premier League management just three months after leaving Tottenham.

Postecoglou’s arrival, reported by BBC Sport, underlines owner Evangelos Marinakis’ intent to bring silverware to the City Ground. “We are bringing in a coach who has a proven and consistent record of winning trophies,” the owner said. “His experience at the highest level and his desire to build something special with us makes him the right person to take Forest forward.”

Postecoglou’s track record: trophies and turbulence

Postecoglou’s time at Tottenham was filled with highs and lows. His attacking Ange-ball philosophy thrilled supporters in his debut season, guiding Spurs to fifth, but unravelled in his second. The club lost 22 league matches and finished 17th, their worst ever Premier League showing, though the Australian salvaged pride by delivering Spurs’ first major trophy in 17 years, a Europa League triumph over Manchester United. That European success secured Champions League qualification, yet did not save his job. Tottenham dismissed him just 16 days later, appointing Thomas Frank as his successor.

While critics point to the chaos of his final league campaign, Postecoglou’s track record is undeniably impressive, and he is a manager who has consistently delivered the silverware that Marinakis covets.

A tactical shift for Forest under Postecoglou.

Nuno built Forest on discipline and counter-attacking strength, often deploying one of the league’s deepest defensive lines. Postecoglou is likely to attempt the opposite. His 4-3-3 system presses high, involves full-backs drifting inside, and demands technical quality in possession, raising questions about how suitable Postecoglou’s style is for the current players. The likes of defender Nikola Milenković, at his best in a low block, and wing-backs like Ola Aina, who could be forced into unfamiliar inverted roles, may struggle under the new system. However, Forest’s recruitment over the summer, including the likes of James McAtee, Douglas Luiz, and Oleksandr Zinchenko, suggests an intention to play a more possession-oriented game.

Postecoglou showed pragmatism during Spurs’ Europa League run, occasionally abandoning his principles to defend deep. A similar approach may be necessary early at Forest, where results will matter as much as philosophy, and only time will tell whether the surprise decision to change managers so early into the new season was the correct one.

Postecoglou’s first game in charge of the club will be a difficult one as Forest make the trip to Arsenal.

GFN | Finn Entwistle