NOTTINGHAM FOREST SACK HEAD COACH NUNO AFYER RIFT WITH OWNER

Nuno Espirito Santo has been sacked by Nottingham Forest © Ben STANSALL / AFP

London (AFP) – Head coach Nuno Espirito Santo was sacked by Nottingham Forest early on Tuesday, becoming the first English Premier League manager this season to lose his job.

"The club thanks Nuno for his contribution during a very successful era," said a club statement released just after midnight.

The Portuguese had been in charge for 21 months at the City Ground, but two weeks ago said his relationship with the club's owner, the Greek billionaire Evangelos Marinakis, had deteriorated.

"Nottingham Forest Football Club confirms that, following recent circumstances, Nuno Espirito Santo has today been relieved of his duties as head coach," the club said.

The 51-year-old took charge in December 2023 after Steve Cooper was sacked and went on to save the club from relegation.

Last season the club finished seventh in the Premier League, their highest since 1994/95.

That secured a first European berth in 30 years, with a Europa League place handed to Forest instead of their initial Conference League spot, after Crystal Palace's demotion for breaching UEFA's multi-club ownership rules.

"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," said the statement

"As someone who played a pivotal role in our success last season, he will always hold a special place in our journey."

Postecoglou in frame

Forest sit 10th in the Premier League on four points after three games, but were soundly beaten 3-0 by struggling West Ham in Nuno's last match in charge.

British media reported that talks had begun to appoint a successor quickly, with former Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou said to be among the candidates along with Crystal Palace's Oliver Glasner and Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola.

Nuno Espirito Santo (right) appears to be confronted by Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis at the end of the match against Leicester City in May © JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP

Cracks between the owner and head coach began to show in May last season, when Marinakis appeared to confront Nuno on the pitch following a 2-2 draw against Leicester at the City Ground.

Forest later said the owner was frustrated that striker Taiwo Awoniyi had continued to play following an 88th-minute injury but added there was "no confrontation" and to suggest otherwise was "fake news".

Nuno, who also managed Tottenham in 2021, was publicly critical of Forest's transfer activity since the end of last season, which reportedly did not go down well with Marinakis.

Forest brought in 13 players as new sporting director Edu Gaspar took a more hands-on role in signings, but they let several others go, including Anthony Elanga, Danilo and Wayne Hennessey, leaving Nuno to complain his side had become "unbalanced".

"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," Nuno said last month of his dealings with Marinakis.

"Our relationship has changed and we are not as close. Everybody at the club should be together but this is not the reality."

Nuno later said he had spoken to Marinakis on the phone since and the two would meet during the international break to iron out their differences.

Sky Sports News reported that the meeting never materialised and Marinakis decided instead it was better to replace Nuno.

Edu and chief football officer Ross Wilson will oversee the appointment of a new head coach.

Forest's next match is away to third-placed Arsenal on Saturday.

© 2025 AFP

NOTTINGHAM FOREST OWNER EVANGELOS MARINAKIS BREAKS SILENCE AFTER STORMING PITCH TO CONFRONT NUNO ESPIRITO SANTO

Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has released a statement after storming onto the pitch and having a heated word with head coach Nuno Espirito Santo after Sunday's 2-2 Premier League draw with Leicester City.

The Tricky Trees guaranteed a spot in Europe for the 2025-26 season thanks to Sunday's stalemate, ending a 30-year absence from the continent since their participation in the 1995-96 UEFA Cup.

However, Forest threw away two potentially crucial points in the race for Champions League football, as Facundo Buonanotte stole a point for Leicester City in the 81st minute at the City Ground.

Santo's side are therefore one point off the top five with just two games to go, and Sunday's draw continued a worrying trend for the Garibaldi, who are winless in three Premier League games and have triumphed in just one of their last six.

The Forest boss then appeared to be target of Marinakis's frustrations at full time, as the Forest owner came down to seemingly remonstrate with Santo for a few seconds before they went their separate ways.

Marinakis explains Santo outburst in Forest-Leicester draw

Marinakis's actions did not go down well with Manchester United legend Gary Neville, who labelled the 57-year-old's conduct "scandalous" on his X profile, and Marinakis has now spoken publicly for the first time since the incident.

The Greek suggested that the late injury suffered by Taiwo Awoniyi was the source of his frustration, as the Nigerian striker collided with the goal-post and needed a few minutes of treatment before being allowed to continue.

"Today is a day for celebration, because after 30 years Nottingham Forest is now guaranteed to be competing on the European stage once again – a promise I made to our supporters when we achieved promotion!" he said in a statement.

"With two more games to go in the Premier League, we must keep believing and keep dreaming, right to the final kick in the final game. We are extremely proud and close to Nuno and the team, and we must all celebrate the historic achievements of this season.

"Everybody – coaching staff, players, supporters and including myself – we were frustrated around the injury of Taiwo and the medical staff's misjudgement on Taiwo's ability to continue the game This is natural, this is a demonstration of the passion we feel for our club. Let's all be grateful, passionate and keep on dreaming!".

Marinakis has a right to be angry, but he is angry at the wrong people

Santo confirmed after the game that Marinakis was vexed about the Awoniyi situation, as while the striker did see out the game, he was evidently not at 100% after clattering into the frame of the goal.

The Forest boss said that Awoniyi was given the green light by the medical team to keep playing, but by the time they realised a change would be the best course of action, there was no other break in play to make the alteration.

However, the whole situation could have been avoided had the lineswoman's flag gone up for an obvious offside in the counter-attack that led to Awoniyi's injury; it did eventually go up, but not until the move was over, in line with the laws of the game.

That is not Sian Massey-Ellis's fault whatsoever - she was simply following the rules that all officials have to follow - but when a player has so clearly gone early, what is the benefit in delaying raising the flag?

Awoniyi's impact injury may settle down quickly, but it is time to change this unnecessary rule before somebody else picks up a more serious problem in the same scenario.

- Ben Knapton

CRUCIAL ARSENAL TRIP TO NOTTINGHAM FOREST 'SET TO BE MOVED' TO EASE FROM FIXTURE SCHEDULE

Forest currently scheduled to face Newcastle and Arsenal in the space of a couple of days

MIKEL ARTETA’S SIDE HAVE STRUGGLED AT THE CITY GROUND IN RECENT SEASONS
ARSENAL FC VIA GETTY IMAGES

Arsenal’s pivotal trip to Nottingham Forest next month could be pushed back by a day.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are enjoying a superb season, sitting third in the Premier League and only two points behind the Gunners in second.

The two sides are scheduled to meet at the City Ground on February 25, but reports suggest a new date could be set for the fixture.

The Daily Mail report that the match is set to be pushed back to Wednesday February 26, to avoid Forest playing twice in a little over 48 hours.

As it stands, Forest will play away at Newcastle on the Sunday and then host Arsenal two days later. The Gunners would have an extra day of rest, as they take on West Ham at the Emirates Stadium on the Saturday.

Arsenal will have a weekend off after their trip to Forest in midweek, as they will not be involved in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Next month’s showdown could prove to have a significant impact on the outcome of the title race.

Forest have lost only twice at home this season and held Liverpool to a draw earlier this week. Arsenal beat Forest at home earlier this season, but have lost on three of their last four trips to the City Ground.

- MATT VERRI

ARSENAL AGREE MIKEL MERINO DEAL; NKETIAH TO FOREST -;SOURCES

Mikel Merino played an integral role in Spain's triumph at Euro 2024. Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Arsenal have reached an agreement in principle to sign Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad and are on the brink of finalising a deal to allow Eddie Nketiah to join Nottingham Forest, sources have told ESPN.

The north London side are set to pay a fee in the region of an initial £28 million ($36.6m) plus around £4m in add-ons to sign Merino, who will become the club's third summer signing after David Raya's loan deal from Brentford was made permanent and Riccardo Calafiori joined from Bologna.

Merino is now expected to undergo a medical and sources have suggested he is expected to sign a four-year contract with an option for a further year.

Talks have also progressed with Forest over Nketiah, with one source suggesting the Midlands club have made an improved offer of around £30m plus add-ons which Arsenal are poised to accept.

The source added that Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo had spoken with Nketiah to give him assurances over his game-time at the City Ground.

Arsenal denied both deals were concluded when contacted by ESPN.

However, sources have told ESPN that Mikel Arteta has personally pushed for Arsenal to pursue Merino in the belief his midfield options need strengthening.

Merino joined Sociedad in July 2018 and has scored 27 goals in 242 games for the club.

The 28-year-old has just one year remaining on his existing contract and rejected a proposal from the LaLiga club to extend. Merino played in all seven matches as Spain won Euro 2024, beating England in last month's final.

Nketiah is yet to finalise personal terms but sources say there is now optimism his move will be completed in the coming days.

- James Olley, Senior Writer, ESPN FC