Ange Postecoglou says “exciting times” are on the horizon for Nottingham Forest after being unveiled as the club’s new manager this week. The Australian coach replaces Nuno Espirito Santo, who was dismissed on Tuesday following a clash with ambitious owner Evangelos Marinakis.
Marinakis pointed to Postecoglou’s glittering track record as the decisive factor in his appointment. Over the course of a managerial career spanning more than two decades, the 60-year-old has lifted silverware with Tottenham Hotspur, Celtic, Yokohama F. Marinos and the Australian national team. The Greek billionaire made no secret of his desire for Forest to make the leap from survival to silverware — and he believes Postecoglou is the man to deliver.
“I love winning things. That’s what I’ve done throughout my career,” Postecoglou said in his first interview with the club’s media team. “I get a sense that the club wants more, and that’s certainly what I want. So I think it’s a really exciting time. I’m honoured and humbled, but more importantly, I’m determined to make sure this football club takes its rightful place.”
Forest’s European return
Two-time European Cup winners, Forest have been building toward this moment since returning to the Premier League in 2022 after a 23-year exile. They flirted with relegation during their first two seasons back but stunned many by finishing seventh last term, securing a place in the Europa League — their first continental campaign in 30 years.
Ange Postecoglou knows what it takes to succeed in Europe. Just last season, he guided Tottenham to Europa League glory, ending Spurs’ 17-year wait for a trophy. However, his tenure in north London ended abruptly days later, with the club finishing a disappointing 17th in the Premier League despite their European triumph.
A bold philosophy
Much of the debate around Ange Postecoglou centres on his aggressive, attacking style of football — a philosophy that could not be more different from the pragmatic, safety-first approach favoured by his predecessor, Nuno.
“It’s no secret I like my teams to attack. I love my teams to score goals,” Ange Postecoglou explained. “That is sometimes misconstrued as me just playing one way, but the reason I want my team to play that way is because I love winning things. And that is what I want to do here.”
The Australian coach insists Forest’s recent rise shows the club is already on the right track. “When you look at what the club has achieved in recent times, it’s an outstanding feat to be where we are right now,” he added. “Other clubs that have won promotion have struggled to stay in the league, but in a short space of time we’re back in Europe and competing for honours. That’s a great credit to everyone involved.”
Baptism of fire
Postecoglou’s first assignment could hardly be tougher. He returns to north London on Saturday, where Forest will face title-chasing Arsenal in the Premier League. For the Australian, the game offers a chance to immediately test his attacking principles against one of the most formidable sides in the country.
Whether Forest can take the final step from survival to silverware remains to be seen, but Postecoglou’s arrival marks the beginning of an ambitious new chapter at the City Ground.
