Nottingham Forest have confirmed the appointment of former Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou as their new head coach and he is in line to take charge of his first match against Arsenal in the Premier League.
The 60-year-old is understood to have penned a two-year contract at the City Ground and was swiftly identified as a successor to Nuno Espirito Santo, who was relieved of his duties at 12.15am on Tuesday morning.
The well-documented breakdown of the relationship between Nuno and Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis in recent weeks ultimately led to the former losing his job after 21 months in charge.
Forest have wasted no time in appointing Greek-Australian coach Postecoglou, who was identified as the leading candidate by Greek owner Marinakis, though the decision has not been met with overwhelming acclaim from the club’s supporters and the wider football community.
Postecoglou has been out of work since being sacked by Spurs in June, just 15 days after overseeing a narrow 1-0 victory over Manchester United in last season’s Europa League final, winning the club's first major trophy in 17 years.
Tottenham Hotspur head coach Ange Postecoglou pictured on April 17, 2025
Postecoglou still searching for first ever win over Arsenal
Just over three months on from his dismissal, Postecoglou will make a swift return to management with Forest and is expected to take charge of his first match against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday lunchtime.
Postecoglou will therefore renew acquaintances with an old enemy, having previously faced the Gunners four times in North London derbies as Tottenham manager.
Unfortunately for Forest, Postecoglou’s record against Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal does not make for good reading, as he has failed to win any of his previous four encounters in the Premier League, drawing one and losing three.
His first match against Arsenal took place at the Emirates in September 2023 when Spurs came from behind twice to rescue a 2-2 draw, courtesy of a brace from Son Heung-min.
Seven months later, the Gunners got their revenge against Postecoglou’s men as they secured a 3-2 away victory, although Spurs almost snatched a point after scoring two second-half goals to set up a nervy finish.
Last season, Arsenal did the double over Postecoglou and Spurs who suffered home and away defeats by a one-goal margin.
Gabriel Magalhaes headed home the only goal in a slender 1-0 success for the Gunners at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in September 2024, before Spurs let a one-goal lead slip to lose 2-1 at the Emirates in January of this year.
Dan Ndoye makes it 2-0 to Nottingham Forest with a header on August 17, 2025
How have Forest and Arsenal performed so far this season?
Postecoglou looks set to take over a Nottingham Forest side who will compete in this season's Europa League and have accumulated four points across their opening three Premier League games of the new campaign (W1 D1 L1).
After securing all three points in a 3-1 opening-weekend win over Brentford on home soil, Forest salvaged a point in a 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace before suffering a disappointing 3-0 defeat at home to West Ham United in what represents Nuno’s final match in charge of the club.
The Tricky Trees currently sit 10th in the Premier League table and just two points behind third-placed Arsenal, who have won two and lost one of their opening three league fixtures.
Arteta’s side edged past Manchester United by a 1-0 scoreline at Old Trafford on the opening weekend of the new campaign before securing a comprehensive 5-0 home victory over newly-promoted Leeds United, with summer signing Viktor Gyokeres netting twice.
However, the Gunners suffered an early blow in their quest to claim the title, as they were beaten 1-0 by reigning champions Liverpool at Anfield in their most recent match prior to the international break.
ID:581108:1false2false3false: from db desktop :LenBod:collect5991: