Nottingham Forest have confirmed the appointment of Ange Postecoglou as their new head coach following the sacking of Nuno Espírito Santo.
In a statement issued this afternoon, Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis waxed lyrical about Postecoglou's 'consistent record of winning trophies'. In the early hours of Tuesday morning Forest had announced Nuno's exit with a blunt 80-word statement and no personal comment from the owner.
Postecoglou is thought to have signed a deal until the end of next season and will take charge of Saturday's trip to Arsenal – the bitter rivals of his former club Tottenham.
Marinakis moved to dismiss Nuno following the Portuguese's outspoken remarks about the club during the early weeks of the campaign. Postecoglou, 60, will be leant upon to match Nuno's seventh-placed finish last term, and at least go close to repeating last season's Europa League triumph with Spurs.
Marinakis said: 'We are bringing a coach to the Club who has a proven and consistent record of winning trophies. His experience of coaching teams at the highest level, along with his desire to build something special with us at Forest, makes him a fantastic person to help us on our journey and achieve consistently all our ambitions.
'After gaining promotion to the Premier League, then building consistently season after season to secure European football, we now must take the right step to compete with the very best and challenge for trophies. Ange has the credentials and the track-record to do this, and we are excited he is joining us on our ambitious journey.'
Speaking in July, Marinakis heaped praise on Postecoglou for leading Spurs to European glory.
Postecoglou – who is of Greek heritage – was presented with an award by the Greek Super League, to recognise his achievements with Spurs.
‘What I want to say about Ange is that he has spoken about Greece many times, he is proud to be Greek, and in the great success he had with Tottenham by winning the Europa League, he spoke about Greece,’ said Marinakis at the ceremony.
"[He is] a man who not only does not hide his origin but is also proud of it. What he achieved, he did with a team that has not won any titles, it has had a very difficult time in recent years. In this huge success that the whole world saw, he promoted Greece.
‘We must thank him especially for this, and we wish him well, although we are sure that he will do well as he has the ability. Wherever he goes, the successes will come.’
There was no mention in Forest’s announcement of the make-up of Postecoglou’s backroom staff. Nuno’s team were expected to leave with him.
Mile Jedinak, Nick Montgomery and Sergio Raimundo left Spurs with Postecoglou and may rejoin him at the City Ground ahead of the trip to Emirates Stadium.
Club legend Garry Birtles, a two-time European Cup winner with the club, has defended Marinakis and highlighted his continued investment to drive the team forwards.
‘I don't think it is fair (the criticism),' Birtles told talkSPORT. 'Every club would love to have an owner like Mr Marinakis because he has put his money where his mouth is every season since he's taken over the club,’ Birtles said.
‘During Covid he was unbelievable - the money he kept investing during that time was incredible and he cares deeply about what goes on.
‘The Awoniyi injury, that got all misinterpreted. People just make their own minds up and they got it wrong.
‘He was doing things not for the reasons they were saying but for different reasons, concern.
‘When he bought the football club he bought it for the two stars on the shirt and he wanted to improve things. He's gradually doing that and he keeps investing, you've got to give him so much credit for doing that.
‘He's a very quietly spoken man but he gives that impression when he's on the pitch, people think he's that sort. But off the pitch he seems very quiet, very humble.
‘He's just a fabulous thing for the football club because he is continually willing to invest to try and take the club forward.’
- TOM COLLOMOSSE
