Image Credit From BBC
Nottingham Forest Axe Postecoglou After Chelsea Rout
In a dramatic and swift turnaround, Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties as head coach of Nottingham Forest, the club announced immediately following Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Chelsea at the City Ground.
A reign that barely began
Postecoglou was installed as Forest’s boss on 9 September 2025, signing a two-year deal in the hopes of building on the club’s previous season.
However, his tenure never managed to gather momentum. After eight matches in charge, he left with zero wins on the board, a run of results that included multiple defeats and dropped leads.
Sky Sports put the duration of his spell at just 39 days, making it one of the shortest in Premier League history.
The collapse at the City Ground
On 18 October 2025, Forest faced Chelsea at home and suffered a heavy second-half breakdown: goals from Josh Acheampong, Pedro Neto and Reece James sealed the 3-0 result, despite a reasonably even first half from Forest.
That defeat proved to be the final straw. The club’s board cited “a series of disappointing results and performances” as the reason for their decision.
Fan, board and ownership pressure
Throughout his short tenure, Postecoglou’s position had looked increasingly shaky. Fans turned on the Australian boss, at one point chanting “sacked in the morning” during a Europa League loss to FC Midtjylland.
Meanwhile, club owner Evangelos Marinakis was pictured leaving matches early and visibly dissatisfied, particularly against Chelsea. With Forest nearer the relegation zone than the heights achieved under his predecessor, the urgency to act became irresistible.
What went wrong?
- No wins in eight matches. That alone is a red-flag at any level of management, particularly in the Premier League. Forest recorded five losses and three draws in that run.
- Conceding goals & dropping leads. From conceding late goals, being out-played in key moments and showing defensive frailties, the side repeatedly failed to close matches.
- Style vs. results tension. Postecoglou is known for attacking, high-energy football. But Forest’s season so far has been about damage control and survival. That mismatch exacerbated the pressure.
- Timing and expectations. From the moment of his appointment, it was clear that Forest were aiming to push forward in Europe and the league. But within weeks the club’s trajectory was sliding. The collapse to Chelsea offered the clearest illustration.
Looking ahead: what comes next for Forest
With the manager’s seat now vacant, Nottingham Forest must act swiftly. The club faces European competition, Premier League survival pressure and transfer windows to consider, all under new leadership.
The front-running candidates include free-agent managers and those experienced at stabilising clubs under threat. Given the rapidity of Postecoglou’s departure, the board appears keen to reset direction rather than persist with the project in its current form.
For the squad, the challenge is two-fold: halt the free-fall and begin to rediscover the identity that delivered them a qualification push last season. The next manager will have little margin for error.
Final word
While Postecoglou’s pedigree is significant, his successes with Australia, Celtic and even recently at Spurs are recognised, Premier League management is unforgiving. His brief spell at Forest will be remembered as a cautionary tale of how quickly things can unravel when results don’t follow.
For Nottingham Forest, the decision to cut ties so early sends a clear message: ambition must be backed by immediate performance. The next chapter begins now.
