Ange Postecoglou's disastrous spell as Nottingham Forest manager is over after Evangelos Marinakis brutally sacked the Australian minutes after a 3-0 defeat to Chelsea at the City Ground.
The 60-year-old was in charge for just 39 days, which is the shortest managerial reign in Premier League history. His side went eight games without a win, losing six times, including the home loss on Saturday afternoon.
Forest owner Marinakis and his right-hand man, Edu Gaspar, will now be searching for yet another coach after Postecoglou replaced Nuno Espirito Santo in September. They got it completely wrong then, but they can get the Tricky Trees back on track if they manage to lure one of the most respected tacticians in European football history.
Sean Dyche is linked with the job, but the English coach wouldn't be an exciting appointment, nor one that screams ambition. He did a fine job at Burnley, but as shown by David Moyes' return at Everton, where he immediately turned things around after Dyche's dismissal, he isn't likely to guide the Nottinghamshire outfit back into European contention.
Mancini The Man For Forest
Roberto Mancini Man City 2012
Another name in the frame for the Forest job is Roberto Mancini, who has been out of management since leaving the Saudi Arabia national team in October 2024. The Italian has Premier League experience; in fact, he steered Manchester City to the title in 2012 at the expense of Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United.
Mancini reportedly wants the job and has been in contact with the club following Postecoglou's sacking, per Graeme Bailey. If the 60-year-old is ready to return to the English top-flight, then Marinakis must pounce at the opportunity to appoint a winner.
It wasn't just at City where Mancini has found success as he led Inter Milan to three Serie A titles before arriving at the Etihad. He oversaw Italy's Euro 2020 triumph, which included a win over England in the final at Wembley.
Mancini's availability makes him a must-have over Dyche, who has mostly spent his time in the Premier League fighting against relegation. The Italian said "I miss English football" back in 2016 when Leicester City pulled off an astonishing title win.
It's been 12 years since he was in the Etihad dugout, and he's toured the globe during that time with spells in charge at Galatasaray, Inter, Zenit St-Petersburg, Italy and Saudi Arabia's national team.
Mancini is focused on the defensive side of his team and often uses a 3-4-2-1 formation, which could suit the current Forest side. Micah Richards, who played under him at City, waxed lyrical back in 2021 (via The Daily Mail): "You are watching one of the world’s best managers in his prime."
Marinakis can't afford to get his next appointment wrong, which is why Dyche doesn't feel like a long-term solution. Mancini could build on Espirito Santo's work and lay the foundations for major success at the City Ground.