Nottingham Forest sack Nuno after 21 months despite on-field success, following disputes with owner Evangelos Marinakis over transfers

Nottingham Forest sack Nuno Espirito Santo after 21 months in charge, ending a tenure that revived the club’s fortunes but was ultimately undone by off-field tensions.

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The 51-year-old Portuguese tactician was appointed in December 2023 following Steve Cooper’s dismissal.

He steered Forest away from relegation in his first season and guided them to a remarkable seventh-place finish last campaign their highest since 1995 securing European football for the first time in 30 years.

Despite those achievements, Nuno’s relationship with club owner Evangelos Marinakis deteriorated. He admitted recently that their bond had “changed,” with disagreements over transfer policy cited as a key source of conflict.

Forest released a late-night statement confirming his departure, thanking him “for his contribution during a very successful era at the City Ground” and noting that he would “always hold a special place” in the club’s history.

The club sits 10th in the Premier League, following a 3-0 defeat to West Ham before the international break. Discussions are already advanced over a replacement, with former Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou among the leading candidates.

During the summer window, Forest invested nearly £196 million on 13 new signings while parting ways with Anthony Elanga, Danilo and Wayne Hennessey.

Nuno openly criticised the recruitment strategy, saying the club had “wasted a good chance” to strengthen properly.

The situation escalated after reports of a confrontation between Marinakis and Nuno during a 2-2 draw with Leicester in May, though the club dismissed those claims as “fake news.”

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While internal divisions proved decisive, Nuno departs with credit for restoring Forest as a Premier League force. His legacy rests on rekindling belief at the City Ground, even if his time was cut short.