Nottingham Forest have sacked head coach Nuno Espirito Santo.
The 51-year-old, who was handed a new contract this summer having guided Forest to the Europa League, is the first Premier League boss to lose their job this season – after just three games.
He said in August his relationship with co-owner Evangelos Marinakis was “not the same” and “not so good as it was [last season]”.
It followed Nuno’s open criticism of the senior figures at Forest overseeing their transfer strategy, saying his squad was “unbalanced” and “very, very far” from being ready for the new season.
Sky Sports News has been told that no one has yet been lined up as a replacement, but the club are hoping to move swiftly. Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner, Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, USA head coach Mauricio Pochettino and Fulham’s Marco Silva are all widely admired by the Forest hierarchy.
Forest released a statement at 12.15am on Tuesday that read: “Nottingham Forest Football Club confirms that, following recent circumstances, Nuno Espirito Santo has today been relieved of his duties as head coach.
“The club thanks Nuno for his contribution during a very successful era at the City Ground, in particular his role in the 2024/25 season, which will forever be remembered fondly in the history of the club.
“As someone who played a pivotal role in our success last season, he will always hold a special place in our journey.”
Marinakis has spent the last week deciding if his relationship with Nuno could be resurrected, but Sky Sports News has been told that the Forest owner was deeply hurt and angered by his head coach speaking out against him and the club in public twice in the space of seven days.
Nuno said in the second of those news conferences that his relationship with Marinakis was seriously flawed, and had deteriorated since the arrival of Edu Gaspar – the former technical director of Arsenal – as Marinakis’ right-hand man and head of global football.
From May: Forest owner confronts coach Nuno on pitch
Nuno said there was “no smoke without fire” amid reports his job was in jeopardy. Nuno admitted he had not spoken to Edu, and had no regrets about speaking out against his bosses.
“I said it, and I don’t regret it,” Nuno said. “For me, it’s important that everyone at the club shares the same vision and same commitment. I have to speak to the owner.”
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Sky Sports News has been told that the meeting Nuno wanted with the Forest owner never happened. Instead, the Greek billionaire decided it was better to replace Nuno with a new head coach, feeling it was the only way to move the club forward.
Edu and chief football officer Ross Wilson will oversee the appointment of a new head coach.
Forest have taken four points from their opening three Premier League games and visit Arsenal on Saturday. His final game in charge was a 3-0 home loss to Graham Potter’s West Ham on 31 August.
