In a shocking turn of events that has sent ripples through the footballing world, Nottingham Forest Football Club announced the immediate departure of their head coach, Nuno Espírito Santo, following a reported fallout with the club’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis. The decision, confirmed on Monday, September 8, 2025, marks the end of Nuno’s tenure at the City Ground, a stint that began with promise but ultimately unraveled due to a combination of on-pitch struggles and off-field discord. The sacking has sparked intense debate among fans, pundits, and analysts, raising questions about the club’s direction, Marinakis’s leadership style, and the pressures of managing in the ultra-competitive Premier League.
A Promising Start Under Nuno
Nuno Espírito Santo’s appointment as Nottingham Forest’s head coach in December 2023 was met with optimism. The Portuguese manager, renowned for his tactical acumen and ability to organize teams, brought with him a wealth of experience from his successful spells at Wolverhampton Wanderers and earlier in his career at Porto and Valencia. At Wolves, Nuno had transformed a newly promoted side into a formidable Premier League outfit, securing consecutive seventh-place finishes and reaching the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa League. His reputation as a manager who could instill discipline, defensive solidity, and a clear playing identity made him an attractive choice for Forest, a club desperate to establish itself in the top flight after decades of languishing in the lower divisions.
When Nuno arrived at the City Ground, Nottingham Forest were in a precarious position. The club had returned to the Premier League in 2022 after a 23-year absence, a historic achievement that reignited the passion of their loyal fanbase. However, their first season back in the top flight was a turbulent one, marked by a chaotic transfer strategy that saw over 20 players signed in a single window. Under Nuno’s predecessor, Steve Cooper, Forest narrowly avoided relegation in the 2022-23 season, finishing 16th. Cooper’s departure in December 2023, despite his popularity among fans for leading the club to promotion, was a controversial decision driven by Marinakis’s ambition to push Forest into the upper echelons of the Premier League.
Nuno’s arrival brought a sense of calm and structure. His pragmatic approach, characterized by a compact 4-2-3-1 formation and a focus on counter-attacking football, steadied the ship. In the second half of the 2023-24 season, Forest improved significantly, finishing in a respectable mid-table position. Players like Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi, and Anthony Elanga thrived under Nuno’s guidance, while the defense, anchored by Murillo and Nikola Milenković, showed greater resilience. Fans began to dream of a brighter future, with some even speculating about a push for European qualification in the 2024-25 season.
The 2024-25 campaign started with cautious optimism. Forest invested heavily in the transfer market, with Marinakis sanctioning significant spending to bolster the squad. High-profile signings, such as striker Eddie Nketiah from Arsenal and midfielder James Ward-Prowse on loan from West Ham, signaled the club’s intent to compete with the Premier League’s established sides. Early results were mixed but encouraging, with Forest securing a memorable victory over Tottenham Hotspur and a hard-fought draw against Manchester City. However, inconsistencies crept in, and by early September 2025, the team found itself hovering just above the relegation zone, with only two wins from their opening six matches.
The Rift with Marinakis
While on-pitch results played a role in Nuno’s departure, the root cause of his sacking appears to be a deepening rift with Evangelos Marinakis, Nottingham Forest’s ambitious and often polarizing owner. Marinakis, a Greek shipping magnate who also owns Olympiacos, has developed a reputation as one of football’s most hands-on owners. Since acquiring Forest in 2017, he has invested heavily in the club, funding stadium renovations, youth academy improvements, and an aggressive recruitment strategy. His passion for the game is undeniable, but so is his penchant for making bold, sometimes impulsive, decisions.
Sources close to the club suggest that tensions between Nuno and Marinakis had been simmering for months. The owner’s high expectations clashed with Nuno’s methodical approach to management. Marinakis, known for his desire for immediate results, reportedly grew frustrated with Forest’s inconsistent performances, particularly their inability to convert promising displays into consistent victories. A 2-1 defeat to newly promoted Ipswich Town in early September 2025 proved to be a flashpoint, with Marinakis allegedly confronting Nuno in the aftermath of the match.
The disagreement reportedly centered on several key issues. First, Marinakis was said to be unhappy with Nuno’s team selections and tactical decisions, particularly his reluctance to integrate some of the club’s big-money signings into the starting lineup. For instance, Nketiah, signed for a reported £30 million, had struggled to displace Taiwo Awoniyi as the first-choice striker, leading to speculation that Marinakis felt Nuno was not maximizing the squad’s potential. Second, there were disagreements over transfer strategy. Nuno, who preferred to work with a compact group of players he could mold into a cohesive unit, reportedly clashed with Marinakis’s desire for a more aggressive recruitment policy, which saw Forest sign multiple players in positions Nuno felt were already adequately covered.
Off the pitch, Marinakis’s hands-on approach extended to areas traditionally reserved for the manager. Reports suggest that the owner occasionally intervened in training ground matters, offering input on tactics and player management. For Nuno, a manager known for his professionalism and desire for autonomy, such interventions were a source of frustration. The situation reached a breaking point in the days leading up to the announcement, with Nuno and Marinakis reportedly engaging in a heated exchange that left their working relationship irreparable.
The Announcement and Immediate Fallout
On the morning of September 8, 2025, Nottingham Forest released a brief statement confirming Nuno’s departure. The statement read: “Nottingham Forest Football Club can confirm that Nuno Espírito Santo has left his role as head coach with immediate effect. The club thanks Nuno for his efforts and wishes him well in his future endeavors. An announcement regarding an interim head coach will follow in due course.”
The abrupt nature of the announcement caught many by surprise, particularly given that Nuno had been in charge for less than two years and had overseen a period of relative stability. Social media platforms, particularly X, erupted with reactions from fans and pundits. Some expressed dismay at the decision, arguing that Nuno had been making steady progress and deserved more time. One fan posted, “Sacking Nuno is madness. He kept us up comfortably last season and was building something. Marinakis needs to let managers do their job!” Others, however, sided with the owner, citing Forest’s inconsistent start to the season and the need for a fresh approach to avoid another relegation battle.
The media response was equally polarized. Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville described the decision as “short-sighted,” arguing that Nuno’s track record suggested he was capable of turning things around. “Forest are a club with potential, but they need stability,” Neville said on his podcast. “Sacking a manager like Nuno, who has a proven pedigree, after a few bad results is a risky move.” Conversely, TalkSPORT’s Simon Jordan defended Marinakis, stating, “If you’re an owner who’s invested hundreds of millions, you’re entitled to demand results. Nuno’s football was too cautious, and Forest need a spark to push on.”
The Bigger Picture: Nottingham Forest’s Identity Crisis
Nuno’s sacking is not an isolated incident but rather a symptom of broader challenges facing Nottingham Forest. The club’s rapid rise from the Championship to the Premier League has been accompanied by growing pains, both on and off the pitch. Under Marinakis’s ownership, Forest have embraced an ambitious vision, aiming to reestablish themselves as a force in English football. The club’s history, which includes two European Cups under the legendary Brian Clough, looms large, and Marinakis has made no secret of his desire to restore Forest to their former glory.
However, this ambition has often translated into impatience. Since Marinakis took over, Forest have cycled through multiple managers, including Aitor Karanka, Martin O’Neill, Sabri Lamouchi, Chris Hughton, Steve Cooper, and now Nuno. Each sacking has been accompanied by promises of a new era, yet the club has struggled to find a consistent identity. The revolving door of managers has led to a lack of continuity, with each new appointment bringing a different playing style and recruitment strategy. This has made it difficult for the squad to gel, despite the significant financial investment.
The transfer market has been another area of contention. While Marinakis’s willingness to spend has allowed Forest to attract players of a higher caliber, the sheer volume of signings has created challenges. In the summer of 2022, Forest signed 22 players, a strategy that was widely criticized for its lack of coherence. While the club’s recruitment has become more targeted under Nuno, with a focus on quality over quantity, there have still been questions about whether the squad is balanced. For example, Forest have an abundance of attacking midfielders but lack depth in central defense, a problem that has been exposed in key matches this season.
Moreover, Marinakis’s hands-on approach has raised concerns about the club’s governance structure. In modern football, successful clubs often rely on a clear division of responsibilities, with owners providing financial backing, directors overseeing strategy, and managers focusing on coaching. At Forest, however, Marinakis’s involvement in day-to-day operations has blurred these lines, creating tension with managers who value autonomy. This dynamic was evident in the departures of both Cooper and Nuno, both of whom reportedly felt undermined by the owner’s interventions.
What’s Next for Nottingham Forest?
In the immediate aftermath of Nuno’s departure, Nottingham Forest face the challenge of finding a suitable replacement. The club’s statement indicated that an interim head coach would be appointed, with assistant manager Rui Pedro Silva expected to take charge for the upcoming match against West Ham United. Silva, who worked with Nuno at Wolves and followed him to Forest, is a respected figure within the coaching staff, but his lack of experience as a head coach makes him an unlikely candidate for the permanent role.
The search for a new manager is already underway, with several names being linked to the vacancy. Former Brighton and Chelsea boss Graham Potter is reportedly a frontrunner, given his reputation for implementing an attractive, possession-based style of football. Potter, who has been out of work since leaving Chelsea in April 2023, is seen as a manager who could bring stability and a long-term vision to Forest. Other potential candidates include Marco Silva, currently at Fulham, and Carlos Corberán, who has impressed at West Bromwich Albion in the Championship. However, prising either manager away from their current clubs would likely require significant compensation.
Whoever takes over will inherit a talented but unsettled squad. Players like Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, and Elanga have the potential to shine, but they will need clear direction to fulfill their potential. The new manager will also need to navigate the complex dynamics of working under Marinakis, a task that has proven challenging for his predecessors. The owner’s willingness to invest is a double-edged sword, providing resources but also creating pressure to deliver instant results.
The Premier League’s Relentless Pressure
Nuno’s sacking is a stark reminder of the relentless pressure faced by managers in the Premier League. The English top flight is widely regarded as the most competitive league in the world, with vast financial rewards and global exposure. However, it is also unforgiving, with managers often judged on short-term results rather than long-term progress. In the 2024-25 season alone, several managers have already faced scrutiny, with Erik ten Hag at Manchester United and Sean Dyche at Everton among those under pressure.
For Nottingham Forest, the challenge is particularly acute. As a club still finding its feet in the Premier League, they lack the financial muscle and infrastructure of the “Big Six” clubs or even mid-tier rivals like West Ham and Aston Villa. Avoiding relegation remains the primary objective, but Marinakis’s ambitions mean that mere survival is not enough. This creates a paradox: Forest need stability to build a sustainable project, but the owner’s impatience risks perpetuating a cycle of upheaval.
Fan Reaction and the Road Ahead
The Nottingham Forest fanbase, known for its passion and loyalty, has been left divided by Nuno’s departure. For many, the sacking feels like a step backward, undoing the progress made under a manager who brought a degree of stability. Supporters who remember the club’s struggles in the Championship and League One are wary of returning to those dark days. At the same time, others share Marinakis’s ambition and believe that a new manager could unlock the squad’s potential and propel Forest up the table.
The coming weeks will be critical for Nottingham Forest. The appointment of a new manager, the team’s performance in upcoming matches, and Marinakis’s ability to strike a balance between ambition and patience will shape the club’s trajectory. For now, the City Ground remains a place of hope and uncertainty, as Forest navigate the high-stakes world of Premier League football.
Conclusion
The sacking of Nuno Espírito Santo is a pivotal moment in Nottingham Forest’s ongoing journey in the Premier League. It reflects the challenges of balancing ambition with stability, a dynamic that has defined the club’s recent history under Evangelos Marinakis. While Nuno’s departure has sparked debate and uncertainty, it also presents an opportunity for Forest to redefine their path. Whether the next manager can succeed where Nuno and others have struggled remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Nottingham Forest’s quest to reclaim their place among English football’s elite is far from straightforward.
As the club prepares for its next chapter, the eyes of the footballing world will be watching. For fans, players, and the new manager, the challenge is to harness the potential of a talented squad and navigate the pressures of an owner whose ambition knows no bounds. Only time will tell if Nottingham Forest can rise above the chaos and fulfill their lofty aspirations.