Nottingham Forest

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Martin O'Neil says he was "still in the building" when Nottingham Forest announced his successor as manager "24 minutes" after his sacking in 2019.

However, he describes owner Evangelos Marinakis as "reasonably cordial".

O'Neil was Forest manager for six months from January 2019 and guided the club to a ninth-place Championship finish but was dismissed at the end of that season and replaced by Sabri Lamouchi.

"I didn't have many one-to-ones with Mr Marinakis during that time," the former Reds midfielder told Adrian Chiles on BBC Radio 5 Live. "Three or four in London and one in Athens.

"He seemed reasonably cordial but I should know that the record of managers in and out of the door is not fantastic so I shouldn't have been surprised.

"I just have a laugh about it. When I got my marching orders that particular day, I was able to tell my coaching staff that they were no longer required either. But, I was still actually in the building at the time - 24 minutes after the sack - when they announced the new manager Mr Lamouchi. So nothing really surprises me at the end of the day.

"In fairness to Mr Marinakis, he has put some money into the football club and without that money Nottingham Forest would probably still be languishing in the Championship."

Listen to the Adrian Chiles show on BBC Sounds

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A former head of sports science at Celtic says Ange Postecoglou will "waste no time" imposing his style at new club Nottingham Forest.

Anton McElhone worked under Postecoglou at the Scottish Premiership club between 2021 and 2023 - winning five trophies across their two seasons together.

"Ange will want to set up the way he wants to play at the club really quickly," McElhone told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"He'll be really clear how he leads and manages the staff and players.

"He'll be really direct in how he wants to go about training and approaching matches from the first minute he gets there. He will waste no time getting to the point.

"If you look at the 4-3-2-1 system Forest have used - he's played similar at Tottenham and Celtic. That will be an easy transition.

"The biggest challenge will be the personnel he has at the club and the small tactical tweaks he makes. He's shown he can make those tweaks so I think it is something he can do quite easily.

"But, it will be a big challenge as he has not had a transfer window to bring in the players he wants so he will have to adapt more.

"The Premier League knows what 'Ange-ball' is all about so it will be interesting to see what version we get at Forest -exciting to see if he can continue to play that high-pressing, high-energy football with some tweaks because you're going from one extreme to to another.

"The Forest players will have done a good pre-season but the running demands placed will be very different to [those under] Nuno. They have robust, young players so I think it will definitely be successful, but it will take time to adapt to."

Listen to the full discussion from 32'52 on BBC Sounds

Manchester United are eyeing a January move for Nottingham Forest and England midfielder Elliot Anderson, 22. (Teamtalk), external

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Bardi
Fan writer

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There is something about Ange Postecoglou that is intoxicating.

He will talk to everyone, but it feels like he is talking just to you. His ability to capture the mood, feed off the energy in the room and read the situation will make you all fall in love. It will be an instant attraction, a holiday romance. He will say the right things, he will put you, attacking football and the love for the game first.

Players will feed into his ambition to play football the right way. They will feel released from the shackles of whatever tactical rigidity there was before and suddenly they' are kids again, free to cut inside, push high and "play, play, play."

At Spurs our honeymoon period was glorious. We sang his name, we called everyone "mate" and we enjoyed football being played the right way. But as with everything in life, you need to adjust to the holiday ending.

The weather turns and you find yourself freezing cold and wet - the beach is a distant memory. The ideas that swept you off your feet are gone. You are back in reality.

At Spurs, it was injuries and a lack of investment in key areas that brought about Ange's downfall. He went into every game with the ambition to win, but the team was not fit for purpose. He failed to adapt and roll with the blows, which to be fair to him were numerous.

Towards the end he did manage to recapture a semblance of that summer romance.

Spurs trundled their way to Bilbao and on the Iberian peninsula he delivered the greatest night we have had for a generation. We fell back in love with the man who puts family, football and expressing your love for the game first.

But then we got back home and reality came back and we deleted him from our contacts.

Ange is capable of delivering moments of sheer ecstasy and he can sweep you up in the way he talks, but unless he's learned how to adapt, change and work with what he has, the romance at Forest may be even shorter than our fling with the Aussie.

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Nottingham Forest have confirmed the arrival or four new members of new boss Ange Postecoglou's coaching team.

Former Crystal Palace midfielder Mile Jedinak - who captained Australia under Postecoglou as a player and worked with him as a coach at Tottenham - has been named assistant coach.

Nick Montgomery and Sergio Raimundo arrive as assistants, having worked under Postecoglou at Spurs and Central Coast Mariners.

Rob Burch was Postecoglou's goalkeeping coach at Spurs and will assume the same role at Forest.

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Nottingham Forest have wasted no time in getting head coach Ange Postecoglou through the doors of the City Ground.

At present, our poll suggests 68% of you don't think Postecoglou is the right man for the Reds, so we asked for your views on his appointment and on how he can win the fanbase over.

Here are some of your replies:

Fosi: Sir, you have lost the plot. Ange is a total waste of time - he has no idea on systems or defending so Championship here we come. Please book your spot to have your head tested. This is stupidity at its worst! This is the biggest backwards step in managers since Marinakis took over. I can see our good players leaving. What a total mess!

Owain: Look, we all know that if 'The Boss' isn't happy he will change it. Nuno wasn't everyone's first choice to replace Steve Cooper, but he did an absolutely amazing job. He has gone now so we must all rally around the new boss - even if he has been at two clubs previously that I can't stand. He needs to know he has the fans' backing and the team need to know they are still the same team as before, just under new directions. The Tricky Trees stand tall and strong.

Bob: I look forward to the Forest players picking up lots of injuries with the aggressive high press that Ange will play...

Mike: We needed to change. We have got some good ball players and the signings made in this summer transfer window are just made for him. The proof will be in the pudding, as they say.

Dave: I can reel off several managers I'd rather have had, Nuno included, but it doesn't matter now. This stinks of the mid-90s implosion to me. I'll give the guy the benefit of the doubt, but my gut is saying we will be going from Betis to Barnsley in short order.

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Another special episode of BBC Radio Nottingham's Shut Up And Show More Football has dropped, with more reaction to the eventful 24 hours at Nottingham Forest.

David Jackson and Colin Fray discuss the departure of Nuno Espirito Santo and the rapid breakdown behind the scenes.

Plus, commentator Simon Hill gives insight on what to expect from new Forest boss, Ange Postecoglou.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Jordan Butler
BBC Sport journalist

"I love the joy goals bring," said Ange Postecoglou in 2023. "I still think [scoring goals is] the best part of football, it goes beyond winning.

"Sometimes you can win and not really enjoy a game, but never do you not enjoy a goal."

Postecoglou's sides are set up to win, but they are also designed to entertain and score goals.

To date, his 645 games in top-flight club management have produced a total of 1,249 goals at a rate of 1.9 per match.

Postecoglou's Celtic team were his most successful scorers and averaged 2.5 goals a game, while Japanese side Yokohama F. Marinos scored at a rate of almost twice a game under his stewardship.

The Australian's Tottenham side averaged 1.79 goals per match in all competitions during his two seasons at the club, which lies just below his career average.

By comparison, Nuno Espirito Santo's Nottingham Forest scored 106 times in 73 games at a rate of 1.45 goals per fixture. The Portuguese averages 1.47 goals per game across his managerial career - and that figure is enhanced by fruitful spells in charge of Porto and Al-Ittihad. It certainly reflects his more pragmatic nature.

Whether Postecoglou will completely change Forest's style in the coming weeks is so far unclear, but one thing we can expect is his side to score more goals.

New Nottingham Forest boss Ange Postecoglou may bring former Tottenham backroom staff members Mile Jedinak, Nick Montgomery and Sergio Raimundo to the City Ground. (Mail), external

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Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Ange Postecoglou inherits solid foundations at Nottingham Forest, but has big shoes to fill at the City Ground.

The former Tottenham boss has been available after leaving the north London club at the end of last season, following a Europa League win which was juxtaposed by a wretched league season as Spurs finished 17th in the Premier League.

But now the Australian's appointment has been confirmed - and it was only a matter of time after he was seen arriving at the club's training ground on Tuesday - he will need to win over a sceptical fanbase who adored Nuno Espirito Santo for what he delivered during his 21-month spell.

There was a real sense of unity under Nuno, even if that did appear to crumble over the summer and through his subsequent statements criticising the club's slow transfer policy.

But he did bring European football back to the City Ground for the first time in 30 years, building on the foundations predecessor Steve Cooper laid by leading the Reds back to the Premier League in 2022.

Nuno's departure has naturally been met with sadness from supporters, so Postecoglou will have to win them over quickly.

There is no doubt, despite Nuno's complaints, that Forest strengthened this summer. The club spent £180m and broke their transfer record.

Omari Hutchinson's £37.5m move from Ipswich Town was a club record, while James McAtee, Arnaud Kalimuendo, Dilane Bakwa all joined in deals worth about £30m.

Forest's success was built on Nuno's counter-attacking style, so Postecoglou's high-press and possession-based method will be a real change.

Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo have excelled under Nuno but, without additional cover and the chances of being exposed more often, will they fit a new style?

Postecoglou took a more pragmatic approach in Tottenham's Europa League semi-final second-leg win at Bodo/Glimt in May, opting for safety first as Spurs threw a blanket on the game to ensure they progressed.

So the Australian can change when necessary, but there wasn't much evidence of that in the Premier League last season, when Tottenham lost 22 of their 38 games, finishing 27 points behind Forest.

McAtee, Morgan Gibbs-White, Elliot Anderson and Callum Hudson-Odoi all like to have the ball, and Ola Aina and Neco Williams like to get up from full-back. So there are weapons available to Postecoglou, but there could be chinks in the armour going forward.

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Nottingham Forest players Callum Hudson-Odoi and Neco Williams have posted departing messages to Nuno Espirito Santo, wishing their former manager "nothing but the best for the future" after his sacking.

Both players signed new contracts to extend their stays at the City Ground this summer, with Hudson-Odoi signing a new deal until 2028 and Williams until 2029.

"Thank you for everything Boss!" Hudson-Odoi posted on X. "I learnt a lot from you and made some great memories along the way. I wish you nothing but the best for the future in your new chapter."

In a separate X post, Williams wrote: "Thank you, boss. You gave me the opportunity to grow and learn wearing the shirt. I had some amazing memories playing under you and wish you nothing but the best in the future!"

With Ange Postecoglou being named the new Nottingham Forest head coach, the latest episode from BBC Radio Nottingham's Shut And Show More Football dives straight into the reaction.

David Jackson breaks down the appointment of the former Tottenham Hotspur manager, what his high-tempo playing style means for the squad and what challenges await Postecoglou with a tough run of fixtures coming up.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Umir Irfan
Football tactics correspondent

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Across his past three jobs, Ange Postecoglou's sides have set up in a 4-3-3 or 4-4-1-1 shape that aimed to dominate the ball, playing quickly with it and pressing incredibly aggressively without it. The high intensity of his style in all phases has become a hallmark of his system, with both positives and negatives.

From build-up, Postecoglou involves his goalkeeper and uses the back four and defensive midfielder in an interesting way. Build-up is focused heavily down the centre of the pitch, with six players playing in a compact way. Both full-backs are seen inverting into midfield so they need to have strong technical quality.

The rationale here is that you are likely to outnumber the opposition in the build-up, making it easier to move up the pitch.

If opposition players mark your players in build-up, Postecoglou's use of positional rotations is a tool to get players free in order to receive the ball.

The Australian likes to use rotations very frequently, with two or three players often seen swapping between rigid positions in order to move defences around to find the free man. It looks fluid - but it is often calculated.

It is clear that Nuno Espirito Santo's counter-attacking style differs largely from Postecoglou's approach, so what does this mean for Nottingham Forest?

Forest's transfer business this summer appears to have been done with an eye on becoming a more technical, ball-dominant side. Interestingly, James McAtee, Douglas Luiz and Oleksandr Zinchenko are all players who have all developed at Manchester City, highlighting the change in intent.

Big-money signing Omari Hutchinson and fellow Chelsea academy graduate Callum Hudson-Odoi, too, might enjoy playing in a way that ensures they keep the ball more, with licence to create.

However, questions arise when looking at the out-of-possession differences between the managers. Nuno has often held the lowest defensive line in the league across his various clubs, with Postecoglou playing the highest defensive line at Tottenham.

If this drastic change is implemented immediately, some of Forest's strongest defenders, who thrive on protecting their box, may not be maximised. The defensively astute Nikola Milenkovic comes to mind here.

The difference in system raises questions for somebody like Ola Aina, too. He had an incredible campaign last season playing as a touchline wing-back, a role that differs from the inverted demands asked of a Postecoglou full-back.

Postecoglou has been reluctant to alter his system, but there was a level of pragmatism seen in Spurs' Europa League win. Spurs were happier to defend their own box for large periods of time, leading to success against Eintracht Frankfurt and Manchester United.

Without a pre-season, and coming into a club that has been built on a counter-attacking, five-at-the-back style, adopting an approach more in line with his Spurs knockout games might be sensible early in Postecoglou's tenure.

Is Postecoglou the right man for Forest? Take part in our poll here

And have your say on what his priorities are here

• Find and follow your Premier League club on BBC Sport

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New Nottingham Forest boss Ange Postecoglou has the "credentials" to help the club on their "ambitious journey", says Reds owner Evangelos Marinakis.

The former Tottenham manager has taken charge at the City Ground following the sacking of Nuno Espirito Santo in the early hours of Tuesday.

Postecoglou brings with him a wealth of experience having picked up silverware in Japan, Scotland and most recently the Europa League with Spurs in May - the competition Forest will be competing in this season.

"We are bringing a coach to the club who has a proven and consistent record of winning trophies," said Marinakis.

"His experience of coaching teams at the highest level, along with his desire to build something special with us at Forest, makes him a fantastic person to help us on our journey and achieve consistently all our ambitions.

"After gaining promotion to the Premier League, then building consistently season after season to secure European football, we now must take the right step to compete with the very best and challenge for trophies.

"Ange has the credentials and the track record to do this, and we are excited he is joining us on our ambitious journey."

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Nottingham Forest have confirmed the appointment of Ange Postecoglou as their new head coach.

The former Tottenham boss joins just hours after Nuno Espirito Santo was sacked.

Postecoglou won the Europa League in May, but was dismissed by Spurs just 16 days later after a poor Premier League campaign.

The Australian had previously been in charge at Scottish Premiership champions Celtic where he won a domestic treble and claimed five of the six trophies available to them during his two campaigns at the club.

How do you feel about Postecoglou's appointment?

What will his priorities be so he can hit the ground running at Forest?

Get in touch with your views here

Pat Riddell
Fan writer

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We've been here before. Despite recent stability, Nottingham Forest have a habit of sacking managers.

But rarely have they stung as much as Steve Cooper and now Nuno Espirito Santo. While Cooper achieved the impossible promotion, Nuno took us to the brink of the Champions League and our first European campaign in 30 years.

He transformed a relegation-threatened side into top-five contenders and brought the absolute best out of players like Chris Wood, Elliot Anderson, Neco Williams and Callum Hudson-Odoi.

For all the rumours, briefings and speculation, for whatever reason, Nuno fell out with the global head of football Edu, who only arrived in July.

This wasn't whether he wanted a bigger or smaller squad, whether he wanted or didn't want certain players, or whether he was too stubborn to play them. It was a juvenile spat that blew up the club's best season in 30 years, and it all happened in the space of a month or so.

Evidently, it was untenable. But it is ridiculous that it came to this, on the eve of our Europa League adventure.

After a great result against Brentford and a solid point away at Crystal Palace, the West Ham collapse is really the only negative on the pitch.

Ange Postecoglou is expected to replace Nuno, which, perhaps, is no surprise given the rumours over the past few weeks.

However, the Australian doesn't seem to be the most popular name among the fanbase. Forget the Europa League final win over a Manchester United side in turmoil, he nearly relegated the ninth-richest club in the world.

Ange's gung-ho tactics and high line will either succeed spectacularly or fail miserably.

We should be looking to progressive managers who will continue the tradition established by Nuno and Cooper - names such as Marco Silva, Oliver Glasner and Andoni Iraola are much more in that vein.

The squad is the best in a lifetime.

Can the new manager pick things up where Nuno left off and take us to the next level? Or will we be left dreaming of what was and what might have been?

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• Is Postecoglou the right man for Forest? Take part in our pole here

Watch a special BBC Sport show reacting to the sacking of Nuno and assessing the appointment of Postecoglou below...

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

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Nottingham Forest's players have been caught by surprise by Nuno Espirito Santo's departure.

Many of them are on international duty and not due back for training until later this week, before Saturday's trip to Arsenal.

But word spread with some players hearing the news from other members of the squad.

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Former Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou is expected to replace Nuno Espirito Santo at Nottingham Forest, following the latter's sacking, and we asked you who you want to see appointed to lead the Reds into their first European campaign since 1996.

Would this be a good appointment or would another name be better suited to the job?

Here are some of your replies, and it's fair to say you are not hugely in favour of the Australian's expected arrival:

Jack: Evangelos Marinakis needs to make up for this situation he helped create by getting a suitable replacement quickly. I'm not a fan of Postecoglou, who made a living last season from complaining. He won't last the season. The best option would be to take an overachieving unhappy manager from a smaller club like Crystal Palace or Fulham, whatever the cost.

Fosi: Postecoglou is a joke. He has no idea about defending or systems. I hope the owner is ready for relegation. Edu is the problem, along with this stupid decision!

Luke: I'm not sure about Postecoglou, although he has just won the Europa League. One thing's for sure - he won't get much time if results don't come quickly.

David: Whatever transpires in the coming days, Forest fans must stay behind the team and give whoever takes over as head coach a warm welcome - and give him a chance. The upcoming games against Arsenal and Swansea will be challenging enough.

Stephen: If we are to get another ex-Spurs manager, please let it be Mauricio Pochettino. It's such a shame though as Nuno did so much for us last season, for which the fans will always be grateful, so it does leave a sense of "what if...".

Paul: I hope it's not Ange. That would be a backward step. Marco Silva would be great.

Alan: I would like Silva from Fulham. Him and Marinakis have history of working together and I like his passion. Whoever it is, I know the fans who attend games will be behind them.

Peter: Jose Mourinho would be the obvious replacement, speaking Portuguese and English. Perhaps a Nigel Clough-type character in Marinakis' eyes?

Jonn: There aren't a lot of high-quality managers available right now. If there are, they will have seen this whole farce regarding Nuno, Marinakis and Edu. This could well be where our good fortune dries up and the decline begins.

Matt: Would be very surprised if Ange wants to come given this behaviour from Maranakis. Also, isn't he the next cab off the rank for the Manchester United job when they get frustrated with Ruben Amorim by Christmas?

Nottingham Forest fans will be "split" in their feelings over Nuno Espirito Santo's sacking, but Ange Postecoglou could "fit quite well" at the club, says former Reds forward Robert Earnshaw.

Forest have already made moves to appoint Nuno's successor, with ex-Tottenham boss Postecoglou in line to become the club's next manager.

"It's going to be a real critical move now for Nottingham forest. Going into Europe, Nuno wont be managing the club and Mr Maranakis wants to go in a different direction," Earnshaw told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.

"I'm actually a big fan of Postecoglou. What you could have is someone who fits quite well with Nottingham Forest.

"And everyone's going to look at the Tottenham thing, but you don't look at that - what you look at is when a manager loses a job, they learn from it for the next one: 'What could have I done better? How can I improve?'"

Despite his achievements in 21 months, Nuno's relationship breakdown with owner Evangelos Marinakis and global head of football Edu look to have cost him his job.

"I'm very surprised, very shocked," added Earnshaw.

"At a time where Nottingham Forest are going into Europe, really making a name for the club again, in a great position - that's why I'm shocked.

"All the Forest fans will be very split. Of course they will be shocked and sad and really thinking: 'Wow, I can't believe this happened.'

"But I think everybody understands that Mr Maranakis has also done a great job. He's put in the money, brought in lots of signings almost every transfer window, continues to push the club further and further.

"He continues to really push the club forward so it's going to be a very split feeling with Nottingham Forest right now."

Listen back on BBC Sounds

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We asked for your views on Nottingham Forest sacking Nuno Espirito Santo after 21 months in charge. Was it the right time to make a change or does the decision seem a little rash?

Here are some of your thoughts:

Tom: I'm absolutely gutted. He has taken us from the brink of the drop to the best league position I've ever seen my club in - and this is the thanks we give him. It seems like a very rash decision to me, considering we have Arsenal at the weekend and the first run of European games in the next few weeks. I really hope Evangelos Marinakis has someone lined up already. If he's not already organised something, then this is definitely a rash decision.

Clive: A daft decision, but unsurprising given the recent noise. Typical Forest, messing things up when they are looking good.

Sean: After achieving our first European competition in 30 years, Nuno and his team deserved a crack at it, but clearly the breakdown in relationship with Mr Marinakis cannot be resolved. Nuno and his team deserve a lot of gratitude and praise for their achievements with us. I'm not particularly happy with the timing of this news either, mainly because it was a chance for him to work with the squad minus the internationals. This decision should have been reached at the start of the international break to give the new manager a chance to work with and get to know the squad. What started as a promising season is looking like it is going to be an absolute mess now.

Adie: Nuno brought all of this on himself. You don't cross Mr Marinakis and get away with it. I'm excited to see who's next for the European Reds!

Louise: Absolutely shocked to wake up to this! I can't see this season going well now. Bringing in a new manager will shake up the team and I don't think it will be for the best. I get he was frustrated - as a manager he should have had input on the new players, which it sounds as though he didn't have. We now have someone coming in who hasn't had any input on of any of these players and I can't see that being a good thing this season, unfortunately.

Mike: A ridiculous decision, but unfortunately it was the only outcome I could see. There's only one winner in an argument with an owner, especially one like ours.