Three managers, one season, and no answers at Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest's 2025/26 season has become a study in instability. Following the sacking of Sean Dyche, the club has already cycled through and dismissed three managers before the campaign reached its final stretch. Supporters are frustrated, and the odds on latest football games remain in turmoil.

Nuno Espirito Santo, Ange Postecoglou, and Sean Dyche have all had spells in the City Ground dugout. Each arrived with a different philosophy and left with many of the same problems unresolved.

 

Nuno Espirito Santo

Nuno Espirito Santo began the season in a strong position. Since arriving in 2023, he rebuilt stability at the City Ground and guided Forest to a seventh-place finish and into European competition. This seemed to renew a sense of belief around the club and even sparked optimism among fans.

But the 2025/26 campaign began poorly. Forest took just four points from their opening three league games and suffered a heavy home defeat that piled on pressure. More damaging than the early results was the breakdown in relationships behind the scenes.

Tensions grew between Nuno and the club's hierarchy after Edu Gaspar arrived as global head of football. Disagreements over recruitment strategy and the club's direction became public. Nuno openly suggested his relationship with ownership had changed.

With performances dipping and trust eroding off the pitch, the situation became untenable. Forest acted early and brought an abrupt end to a tenure that had delivered progress but collapsed due to poor form and internal conflict.

 

Ange Postecoglou

Ange Postecoglou arrived at Nottingham Forest with a high profile and recent pedigree, having been sacked by Tottenham at the end of the 2024/25 season despite leading Spurs to Europa League success. Forest hoped his reputation and clear philosophy would deliver an immediate turnaround for the struggling side.

His time at the City Ground barely had a chance to settle. Postecoglou lasted just 39 days in charge and failed to win a single match during that period. Forest collected only three points and continued to slide towards the bottom of the table.

Performances were energetic but chaotic. Forest pushed higher up the pitch and committed numbers forward without the defensive structure needed to support such an aggressive style. Mistakes multiplied and confidence drained from a squad already low on belief.

Forest wanted a bold reset but got another short-term experiment instead. With results offering no signs of improvement, the club acted again.

 

Sean Dyche

Sean Dyche lasted just 114 days at Nottingham Forest before the club went searching for yet another manager. Appointed as the third boss of the season, Dyche was hired to restore structure, secure results, and pull Forest clear of relegation danger through experience and organisation.

There were small signs of improvement. Forest became harder to beat and moved out of the relegation zone for a brief period. But progress stalled. League form remained poor, with just two wins in ten matches. Forest continued to struggle in front of goal.

That lack of attacking threat showed in a goalless home draw with bottom-placed Wolves. Forest had 35 shots and still failed to score, leaving supporters frustrated and unconvinced.

Despite sitting just outside the bottom three, the club felt Dyche was unlikely to deliver the momentum needed to stay up. Forest made another change.