Nuno Espirito Santo
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Nottingham Forest have confirmed the dismissal of head coach Nuno Espirito Santo, just days before their Premier League fixture against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
The Portuguese manager, appointed in December 2023, leaves after a turbulent 21-month tenure marked by both highs and lows. Nuno secured Forest’s Premier League safety in successive campaigns and even guided the club into the Europa League, achievements that earned him a contract extension over the summer.
However, his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis deteriorated in recent months. In August, Nuno admitted publicly that his bond with Marinakis was “not the same” and “not so good as it was last season,” remarks that unsettled the club’s hierarchy and cast doubt over his long-term future.
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Forest’s poor start to the 2025/26 campaign compounded matters. The Reds have collected only four points from their opening three league matches, with a damaging 3-0 home defeat to West Ham last weekend proving costly. Despite significant late transfer activity, including the arrivals of Nicolo Savona, Oleksandr Zinchenko, John Victor, Dilane Bakwa, and Cuiabano, results failed to improve.
BREAKING: Nottingham Forest have sacked head coach Nuno Espirito Santo, Sky Sports News has been told. pic.twitter.com/puVoOBwY6f
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) September 8, 2025
In a statement, Forest stressed the need for “a fresh direction” to continue building on recent progress, though no interim replacement has yet been announced. The decision leaves the squad in limbo ahead of Saturday’s trip to Arsenal on September 13.
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For Mikel Arteta’s title-chasing Gunners, the timing of Forest’s upheaval is seen as a major boost. Arsenal will host a side rocked by managerial uncertainty, lacking stability and cohesion at a crucial point in the season.
Attention now shifts to who might take over at the City Ground. Speculation is already mounting around potential candidates, but for now, Forest’s immediate challenge is navigating a period of uncertainty while maintaining momentum in the Premier League.
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