Nottingham Forest sack Nuno Espirito Santo after just three games into the new season.

Nottingham Forest Sack Nuno Espírito Santo After Just Three Games Into the Season

Nottingham Forest have confirmed the dismissal of head coach Nuno Espírito Santo, just three matches into the 2025/26 Premier League season. The decision comes despite the Portuguese manager recently signing a new contract this summer, following his remarkable achievement of guiding the club into European competition for the first time in three decades.

The 51-year-old, who played a pivotal role in Forest’s historic run last season, had publicly admitted in August that his relationship with co-owner Evangelos Marinakis was “not the same” as it once was. Tensions reportedly escalated further with the arrival of Edu Gaspar, Forest’s new head of football and former Arsenal director, with Nuno conceding they were “not as close” as before.

Forest released an official statement in the early hours of Tuesday morning, at 12:15am, confirming the termination:

“Nottingham Forest Football Club confirms that, following recent circumstances, Nuno Espírito Santo has today been relieved of his duties as head coach. The club thanks Nuno for his contribution during a very successful era at the City Ground, in particular his role in the 2024/25 season, which will forever be remembered fondly in the history of the club. As someone who played a pivotal role in our success last season, he will always hold a special place in our journey.”

Nuno’s departure comes in the wake of open criticism of the club’s transfer policy. The Portuguese boss described his squad as “unbalanced” and “very, very far” from being ready for the new season, sparking speculation over his future. Speaking candidly, he also remarked that “when there’s smoke, there’s fire” regarding rumours of his potential exit.

Despite his criticism, Nuno’s achievements at Forest cannot be overlooked. Last season, he took a team battling relegation and steered them to a seventh-placed Premier League finish, securing a long-awaited return to European football. That turnaround had earned him a new three-year contract in June, a sign of what many thought was long-term faith from the club’s board.

However, results at the start of the current campaign told a different story. Forest picked up just one point from their opening three fixtures, drawing 1-1 with Crystal Palace before suffering a 3-0 defeat to West Ham United at the City Ground. His exit comes just days before Forest’s daunting trip to face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

With Nuno gone, Nottingham Forest now face the challenge of appointing a new head coach quickly, as they aim to steady their season and build on the progress of the previous campaign.