Nottingham Forest have sacked Portuguese coach Nuno Espirito Santo after 21 months in charge.
The manager’s position had been fragile for two weeks, following his revelation that his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis had significantly deteriorated.
Forest confirmed Nuno’s exit through a midnight statement, thanking him for his “contribution during a very successful era” and pledging lasting appreciation.
Nuno, 51, arrived in December 2023 after Steve Cooper’s dismissal and successfully preserved Forest’s top-flight status during a difficult campaign.
Last season he remarkably guided Forest to seventh place, their best Premier League finish since 1994-95.
He secured European qualification after decades in the process.
His impressive achievements earned him a new three-year contract in June though internal disputes quickly overshadowed the optimism within the club hierarchy.
Forest currently occupy tenth place in the Premier League, following a disappointing 3-0 home defeat to West Ham before September’s international break.
Despite strong results, Nuno’s relationship with Marinakis collapsed.
Tensions arose over transfer dealings and disagreements regarding the club’s recruitment strategy.
Edu, appointed global head of football in the summer, consolidated control of recruitment and this sparked friction between coaching staff and senior management at Forest.
Nuno repeatedly expressed concerns about wasted opportunities in the transfer market.
He criticised the club’s summer dealings and lamenting missed chances for improvement.
In August, he openly admitted fears about his job security, acknowledging fractured communication with Marinakis and a breakdown in mutual trust.
“Our relationship has changed and we are not close anymore,” Nuno conceded. “Everyone must unite, but reality shows otherwise.”
