Dramatic, The Story of Nuno Santo's Dismissal from Nottingham Forest

NOTTINGHAM, TUESDAY — The dismissal of Nottingham Forest Manager Nuno Espirito Santo seemed sudden, but it was not surprising. Nuno's relationship with the club's executives had indeed deteriorated and was difficult to mend. Nuno's downfall has been evident from the plethora of drama over the past four months.

After more than 20 months at Forest, Nuno was officially dismissed on Tuesday (9/9/2025) morning WIB. He was removed just three weeks into the 2025-26 English Premier League season. In fact, in the previous season, Nuno successfully led Forest to finish in seventh place, the highest in the club's history since 1995.

"The club thanks Nuno for his contributions during a very successful era at City Ground, particularly for his role in the 2024-25 season, which will always be remembered in the club's history. He will hold a special place in our journey," stated Foreat through its official website.

Performance aspects are clearly not the reason for Nuno's dismissal. Forest indeed suffered a defeat against West Ham United, 0-3, at home, just before the international break. However, Forest is still in 10th place with one win, one draw, and one loss. The results of these matches are still early in the season.

The small smoke before the major fire at Forest was actually visible back in May, specifically during the match against Leicester City. At that time, the owner of Forest, Evangelos Marinakis, expressed his emotions to Nuno in front of tens of thousands of supporters due to the match ending in a 2-2 draw.

Nuno is still defending the owner. He referred to it as a spontaneity of emotions. However, their relationship suddenly deteriorated at the beginning of this season. "I have always had a very good relationship with the owner. Last season was very, very close. This season, not so much," said Nuno on August 22.

The Portuguese coach explained, "There is no smoke without fire." He expressed his disappointment with the club for often excluding him from decision-making processes. "For me, it is important for all parties in this club to share the same vision and commitment," he continued.

According to Nuno, the rift in the relationship with Marinakis began with the arrival of Edu Gaspar, who started serving as the Head of Global Football at Forest last July. Nuno has never communicated with Edu. In fact, Edu is Marinakis's right-hand man and the decision-maker for the club's transfers.

It is only natural that Nuno expressed concerns about the composition of his squad ahead of the league's opening match on August 15. He stated that his team is still unbalanced and has many issues in various positions. They are far from being ready to embark on the new season.

Forest has lost several key players this summer, including winger Anthony Elanga and midfielder Danilo. At the same time, they have brought in dozens of young and unproven players, as well as those who have already passed their prime.

Marinakis is confused by the series of statements made by Nuno in the media. He feels that their relationship is just fine. Nevertheless, the owner has no intention of dismissing Nuno. In fact, after the Europa League match at the end of August, he stated that Nuno is the most suitable figure for Forest.

As the transfer deadline approached in early September, Nuno expressed his desire to stay. However, he stipulated the need for an additional goalkeeper and two wing-backs. This condition was fulfilled with the arrival of four players simultaneously at the end of the transfer window, one of whom is Arsenal's wing-back, Oleksandr Zinchenko.

A week later, during the international break, Nuno was dismissed from Forest. The figure who was nominated for the Best Coach of the English League for the 2024-25 season left the club after going through various dramas with the owner. A significant question mark is directed at Marinakis as the decision-maker.

According to Sky Sports, Marinakis still harbors disappointment towards the coach due to negative comments in the media. As a result, the 0-3 defeat to West Ham was enough to ignite that personal issue. The dismissal feels justified as Marinakis is very dominant in the club's management. His subjectivity plays a significant role in decision-making.

The loss of Nuno makes the future of Forest appear bleak. The 51-year-old man was a figure who drastically improved the club's performance over the past two years. Nuno elevated the team's level from being just one rank above the relegation zone in the 2023-24 season to entering the European zone.

The development of players is Nuno's strength. One of the rising players from Forest is the debutant midfielder of the England national team, Elliot Anderson. "I feel given the freedom to do what I want. He just believes in me. That is the most important thing. I hope so (Nuno stays)," said Anderson last week.

A heavy task awaits Nuno's successor at Forest. Several coaching candidates have already come under the club's radar, including Ange Postecoglou and Jose Mourinho. Both of these tacticians have had less than favorable experiences during their last stints managing English teams. (AP/REUTERS)