Ange Postecoglou has been dismissed as Nottingham Forest manager after just 40 days in charge, following a 3-0 home defeat to Chelsea on Saturday — marking the shortest reign of any permanent Premier League manager to leave a club mid-season.
Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis was seen leaving his seat during the game at the City Ground, and the club confirmed the Australian’s dismissal shortly after full-time. “Nottingham Forest Football Club can confirm that after a series of disappointing results and performances, Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties as head coach with immediate effect,” the club announced on X, adding that no further comment would be made.
Appointed on September 9, Postecoglou failed to secure a win in eight matches across all competitions, managing just one point from five Premier League games. Forest currently sit 17th, one point above the relegation zone, and are now seeking their third manager of the season after previously sacking Nuno Espirito Santo. Despite his struggles, Postecoglou had expressed confidence before the Chelsea clash, insisting that his projects usually “end with me and a trophy.” The 60-year-old had won the Europa League with Tottenham last season but lost his job there after a poor domestic campaign. Former Burnley and Everton boss Sean Dyche is reportedly a leading candidate to replace him.
In Saturday’s match, Forest started brightly but were punished for missed chances. Chelsea’s 18-year-old Josh Acheampong opened the scoring with a header, followed by a well-taken free-kick from Pedro Neto. Captain Reece James sealed the 3-0 victory with a late strike on his 200th appearance for the club. The defeat prompted an early exodus from the stands, leaving Postecoglou standing alone and reflective on what became a brief and turbulent spell at Nottingham Forest.
