Forest dismisses Nuno Espirito Santo following criticism of the club's owner

Nottingham Forest FC has announced the appointment of Ange Postecoglou as the new head coach, following the departure of Nuno Espirito Santo. The announcement came at 00:15 in a brief statement.

Santo's departure was due to recent events, including his public criticism of owner Evangelos Marinakis. The volatile Greek owner reportedly took offense to Santo's comments, according to Sky Sports.

Santo had been critical of the club's organization, specifically the increased role of Edu Gaspar. His departure comes after 21 months at the club, during which Nottingham Forest FC achieved their goal of securing the club's survival and had a remarkable 2024-2025 season, finishing seventh in the Premier League and qualifying for Europe.

However, the club's current position in the Premier League table may have influenced the club's decision in selecting a new head coach. Nottingham Forest FC is currently 10th in the table after a 3-0 defeat to West Ham on Sunday.

The search for a new head coach at Nottingham Forest FC has begun, with multiple candidates being considered. Ange Postecoglou is reportedly the front-runner to replace Santo, but other candidates include Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace), Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth), Mauricio Pochettino (US national team coach), Marco Silva (Fulham), and José Mourinho (ex-Fenerbahçe).

Under Santo, Nottingham Forest FC achieved their goal of securing the club's survival. However, the team suffered a defeat in their most recent Premier League match against West Ham, which may have contributed to Santo's departure.

Nuno Espirito Santo had expressed his desire to be joined by Adama Traoré, who was once linked with a move to the club. It remains to be seen whether Postecoglou will pursue this transfer target.

The departure of Santo leaves a vacancy for the head coach position at Nottingham Forest FC. The search for a new head coach is ongoing, and the club will no doubt be hoping to find a replacement who can help them build on their successful 2024-2025 season and push for even higher finishes in the future.