Nuno Espirito Santo sacked by Nottingham Forest just three games into Premier League season - 'He will always hold a special place in our journey'
Updated 09/09/2025 at 08:14 GMT+1
Nottingham Forest have dismissed manager Nuno Espirito Santo just three matches into the 2025/26 season. The Portuguese coach led Forest to a seventh-placed finish in the Premier League last season, which saw them qualify for the UEFA Europa League. The announcement follows Nuno's comments in which he said his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis "has changed".
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Nottingham Forest have sacked manager Nuno Espirito Santo just three matches into the new Premier League season.
The Portuguese took charge of 71 Forest matches since being hired in December 2023, guiding them to seventh in the league last season and a place in the UEFA Europa League as a result.
He also oversaw Forest’s run to the FA Cup semi-finals last season, giving Forest fans a memorable trip to Wembley.
Last season's brilliant performance saw Nuno sign a three-year contract to stay at the City Ground.
Forest began the season with a 3-1 win over Brentford and a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace, before losing 3-0 to West Ham United at the City Ground in his final game in charge.
There had been uncertainty over whether the 51-year-old would be in the dugout for Forest following the international break, after he made public the details of his souring relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis.
They return from the break with a trip to Arsenal this Saturday, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
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A club statement read: "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."
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Nuno came to the City Ground with Forest sitting 17th in the table and having lost five of their previous six matches.
He took over from Steve Cooper just before Christmas, with a reputation for overperforming, having twice steered Wolverhampton Wanderers to seventh-place finishes.
Immediately, the former Tottenham Hotspur manager made his mark, with a stunning 3-1 win over Newcastle United at St. James’ Park on Boxing Day 2023, with Chris Wood scoring a hat-trick against his old club.
A win over Manchester United at home followed, before vital victories late in the season against fellow strugglers Sheffield United and Burnley ensured the club maintained their Premier League status.
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Last season, Forest began solidly, before enjoying an almost perfect December, losing only to Manchester City. They then went on a remarkable eight-game unbeaten streak of seven wins and a solitary draw against Liverpool at Anfield.
That form left the club on the brink of a surprise UEFA Champions League place and they continued to take down the top sides, with memorable home wins over City and United, as well as a credible draw against Arsenal.
A slight stutter towards the end of the season, paired with the improved form of Chelsea, Newcastle and Aston Villa, saw Forest finish seventh, their highest league finish in 20 years, and qualify for the Europa League, by virtue of UEFA's ruling that Crystal Palace had broken multi-ownership rules.
This season, though, there was a shift in the Forest hierarchy, with former Arsenal technical director Edu appointed as Forest’s global head of football.
That role saw him take firm control over all transfer dealings and the relationship with Marinakis began to break down.
Just 17 days ago, Nuno said: "I always had a very good relationship with the owner - last season we were very close and spoke on a daily basis. This season it is not so well.
"My concern is the squad and the season we have ahead of us. Our relationship has changed and we are not as close."
"Our relationship has changed and we are not as close. Everybody at the club should be together but this is not the reality."
An appointment for Nuno’s successor is likely to be named imminently.
Forest return from the international break with a trip to Arsenal, live on TNT Sports and discovery+, before a League Cup trip to Swansea.
They then play Burnley and Sunderland, either side of their much awaited return to European action and an away clash with Real Betis, which can also be watched live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Watch the Premier League, Men's and Women's FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League on TNT Sports and discovery+
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