Ange Postecoglou’s turbulent spell at Nottingham Forest came to an abrupt end on Saturday, just 40 days after his appointment, following a 3-0 home defeat to Chelsea.
The result marked the end of the Australian’s winless eight-game tenure in all competitions and the shortest permanent managerial reign in Premier League history for a manager dismissed mid-season.
Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, who reportedly left his seat before full-time at the City Ground, made the decision swiftly after the final whistle.
“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 via X (formerly Twitter).
No replacement has yet been confirmed, though Sean Dyche, formerly of Burnley and Everton, is among the early names linked.
Appointed on September 9, Postecoglou oversaw a dismal run of results:
0 wins in 8 games
1 point from 5 Premier League matches
17th place in the league, just one point above the relegation zone
This was Forest’s second managerial change this season, having already dismissed Nuno Espírito Santo in September.
Postecoglou had arrived following mixed success at Tottenham Hotspur leading them to a Europa League title last season, but losing his job after a disappointing domestic campaign.
At his final pre-match press conference, he remained defiant:
“If I’m given time at a club, it always ends with me and a trophy.”
Despite a bright start, Forest were undone by a youthful and injury-hit Chelsea side:
49’: Teenager Josh Acheampong headed in Pedro Neto’s cross to open the scoring.
52’: Neto doubled the lead with a superb free-kick past Matz Sels.
84’: Reece James, on his 200th appearance for Chelsea, added the third after a missed chance by Forest’s Igor Jesus.
The defeat was greeted by a mass exodus of fans from the City Ground, leaving Postecoglou alone on the touchline—his fate seemingly sealed.
Chelsea, despite missing several first-team stars including Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez, and Benoît Badiashile, moved up to fourth in the Premier League standings with the win.
With two managers already dismissed before November, Forest’s season is on shaky ground.
The club must now regroup and find a leader capable of stabilising the side amid growing pressure from fans and ownership alike.
