Browsing: Ange

Oct 18, 2025, 12:12 PM ET

Ange Postecoglou has been sacked by Nottingham Forest after just 39 days and five Premier League matches in charge following a 3-0 home loss to Chelsea.

Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis saw enough an hour into the contest at the City Ground and took just 19 minutes after full-time to announce the end of Postecoglou’s reign.

Postecoglou’s dire spell in charge after taking over on September 9, made him the 10th permanent manager to last less than 100 days as a permanent manager during the Premier League era.

Here, ESPN take a look at all the managers who failed to make a positive impact in the early days of their reign.

Nathan Jones, Southampton – 84 days

Nathan Jones, Southampton Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images

Welsh manager Nathan Jones left Luton to succeed Ralph Hasenhuttl on the south coast in November 2022 but, for the second time after his miserable 10 months at Stoke City in 2019, it proved an unsuccessful spell away from Kenilworth Road.

While in charge of Southampton, Jones secured fell to nine defeats in 14 games and left Saints seeking a third boss of the season.

Quique Sánchez Flores, Watford – 85 days

Quique Sanchez Flores, Watford Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images

Watford’s managerial merry-go-round under the Pozzo family’s ownership stands out among Premier League clubs and Sánchez Flores has taken two rides, serving for 44 games between June 2015 and May 2016 but only a dozen — with two wins — on his return three years later.

Bob Bradley, Swansea City – 85 days

Bob Bradley, Swansea Photo by Athena Pictures/Getty Images

The first American to manage in the Premier League, Bradley lasted from October to December of 2016 — though, unlike Reed, he made it through Christmas before being axed on Dec. 27.

Bradley took eight points from 11 games and left Swansea 19th in the table, having also struggled under Francesco Guidolin, but they finally found their man as Paul Clement secured top-flight survival.

Frank De Boer, Crystal Palace – 77 days

Frank de Boer, Crystal Palace Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images

Lasting two days longer than Meulensteen, former Netherlands international Frank De Boer took charge at Selhurst Park in the summer of 2017.

After just four games of the 2017-18 season — the lowest amount of games a permanent manager has ever been in charge for — De Boer was dismissed without yielding a single point or goal.

Rene Meulensteen, Fulham – 75 days

Rene Meulensteen, Fulham Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images

After a 12-year period in various coaching roles with Manchester United, Meulensteen replaced fellow Dutchman Martin Jol as manager of Fulham in December of the 2013-14 season.

Meulensteen failed to see out the season, as his side slipped to the bottom of the table after losing nine of his 13 games in charge.

Javi Gracia, Leeds United – 69 days

Javi Garcia, Leeds United Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images

Gracia lasted 69 days in charge of Leeds United before being replaced by Allardyce. Garcia took over in Elland Road following the sacking of Jesse Marsch in their tumultuous 2022-23 season.

The Spanish coach managed just 12 games in all competitions before his reign was cut short. He ended his tenure with three wins, seven losses and two draws.

Les Reed, Charlton Athletic – 40 days

Les Reed, Charlton Athletic Photo by Nick Potts – PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images

After suffering eight defeats in 12 games in 2006, Les Reed took over at Charlton but failed to improve matters for the south London club.

Reed picked up just four points in seven games, suffered a League Cup exit against Wycombe Wanderers and was sacked on Christmas Eve.

Sam Allardyce, Leeds United – 30 days

Sam Allardyce, Leeds United Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images

In 2022-23 Sam Allardyce took over his eighth different club in the Premier League when he became the manager of Leeds United on May 3, 2023. The former England manager was brought in to Elland Road in a last-ditch attempt to stay in the top flight after the club fired Javi Gracia.

Leeds were above relegation on goal difference when Allardyce took the reins on a short-term contract, but he failed to keep them up after claiming just one point in the final four games of the season.

Allardyce’s contract ran out on June 2, leaving his stint in charge of Leeds as the shortest of any permanent Premier League manager in history.

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Forest’s problems do not stem from Postecoglou and it would be unfair to point all the fingers at him.

Issues surfaced in the summer, with Edu, Forest’s global head of sport after his official appointment in June, clashing with Nuno.

The pair disagreed, especially over Nuno’s desire to sign winger Adama Traore – someone he worked with successfully at Wolves – from Fulham.

The appointment of Edu can be viewed as the start of the problems, purely from the viewpoint of what happened with Nuno and how the season has unravelled since.

Edu wanted younger signings with greater resale value, not unrealistic in modern football, but Nuno was unhappy he did not get his man as 21-year-old Omari Hutchinson joined for a club record £37.5m from Ipswich.

Hutchinson was eventually left out of the Europa League squad, although Forest sources have suggested there was little other option when looking at squad balance and who to cut.

Nuno was not sold on left-back Cuiabano, who was close to joining Brighton, with the Seagulls due to send him on loan to the Championship, before Edu pursued a deal then sent him back to Botafogo on loan.

Edu has also been much more visible around the training ground since Nuno’s departure in early September – not unusual for a sporting director, but it is a contrast from his previous routine, having opted to remove himself from a potential combustible situation when Nuno was in charge.

He was aided by head of football operations Ross Wilson, who was asked to stay to oversee the final weeks of the transfer window and leave when the time was right, having agreed to join Newcastle in a deal which was announced last week, and Edu has since naturally stepped up further to fill the gap.

But fingers will also be pointed at the former Arsenal midfielder now.

Forest spent about £180m in the summer and recouped more than £100m, the majority coming from the record £55m transfer of winger Anthony Elanga to Newcastle, having signed the Sweden international for £15m in 2023.

Other sales, like goalkeeper Matt Turner to Lyon and Andrew Omobamidele to Strasbourg, meant fringe players moved, although sources have suggested Danilo, who joined Botafogo, was reluctant to leave Forest, while Jota Silva’s switch to Portugal collapsed at the last minute.

In the final hour of the summer European transfer window a deal for the forward to join Sporting Lisbon on loan for 4m euros was agreed, after weeks of negotiations, but the documents did not arrive with the Portuguese league’s registration platform in time.

Silva instead moved to Besiktas – a club he was happy to join – as the Turkish window remained open until 12 September.

Of their summer signings, only loanees Douglas Luiz and Oleksandr Zinchenko started against Chelsea, while James McAtee, Dilane Bakwa, Arnaud Kalimuendo and Hutchinson – for whom Forest paid more than £100m – were not included, so is there an imbalance in the squad and did Forest not buy well enough?

Postecoglou did not walk into a fully functioning machine, but it had already become clear it was not the right fit.

Forest are now looking to make a swift appointment and it is one Marinakis has to get right this time.

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The due diligence already completed towards Postecoglou’s possible replacement provides a clear indication of the jeopardy the Australian faces.

It would be hard for any manager to change the direction of travel in these circumstances.

Of course, Postecoglou will back himself to turn it around. That’s his nature.

Speaking in his pre-match news conference on Friday, he said: “Some look at the weeds but I look at what is growing. I am really excited as I have a group of young players willing to change.

“I just don’t fit, not here, just in general. If you look at it through the prism of ‘I’m a failed manager who’s lucky to get this job’ then of course this first five weeks looks like ‘this guy’s under pressure’. There is an alternative story that you could look at it.”

Owner Marinakis wants him to succeed, having backed Postecoglou’s track record of winning silverware as one of the key factors in why he appointed him in the first place.

Indeed, prior to their previous Premier League outing against Newcastle – that resulted in a 2-0 loss – well-placed sources told BBC Sport Postecoglou still maintained the immediate backing of the Forest owner.

There was, though, recognition that the result and manner of performance at St James’ Park would have a key influence on how Marinakis viewed his manager’s future.

Likewise, there is a feeling Postecoglou has not been helped by refereeing decisions.

For instance, during the Europa League defeat by FC Midtjylland – during which supporters turned on Postecoglou – earlier this month, there was a feeling as many as 14 key decisions went against Forest.

But with that said, the internal scrutiny on Postecoglou is intense.

Victory over Chelsea could mean he takes the first step towards what appears an unlikely road to recovery at Forest.

Lose the game, and the writing is already on the wall.

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Nottingham Forest are without a win since replacing Nuno Espirito Santo with Australian manager Ange Postecoglou.

Amid reports that owner Evangelos Marinakis is considering making a second managerial change of the season just seven games into Postecoglou’s tenure, the Forest boss has spoken out on his future.

This weekend, the team host Chelsea in the early kick-off at the City Ground, live on TNT Sports.

Failure to win for an eighth successive match could spell the end for Postecoglou, just months on from his Europa League triumph and subsequent sacking by Tottenham Hotspur.

“Just look at the last five or six team sheets of last season to see what I prioritised [the Europa League], and who was on the bench. And the last game against Brighton, the players were out partying for two days, which I sanctioned because I felt they deserved to. So yes we finished 17th. But if people think that’s a reflection of me and my coaching then again, I think they are looking at it through the prism of I just don’t fit.”

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Ange Postecoglou came out fighting as speculation over his future at Nottingham Forest intensified after a 2-0 Premier League defeat at Newcastle.

The Forest boss has won none of his first seven games since taking over the City Ground hotseat and rumours suggest he could face showdown talks with owner Evangelos Marinakis just weeks into his reign.

However, Postecoglou was in defiant mood as he faced the media at St James’ Park.

Asked if his self-belief had been dented by a difficult start at Forest, he said: “I started in Australia when I was 32 years old in semi-professional football and I’m here in the Premier League at the age of 60. Do you reckon I lack self-belief or don’t like a fight?

Ange Postecoglou has failed to win any of his first seven matches in charge at Nottingham Forest. Stu Forster/Getty Images

“I didn’t get here because of my connections. In fact, I’ve picked fights. I have, even in the schoolyard. I’ve picked fights with people who I knew would beat me up. That’s the kind of person I am, so that’s fine.”

He added: “If people want to make an assessment of me after three and a half weeks in which I’ve had six or seven games, there’s nothing I can do about that.

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“But at the same time, there’s nothing wrong with things being tough. That’s okay. I’ll say it a million times, I did have an option. I could have been sitting on the couch watching the game today and not be in the middle of it.

“I love a fight. So it’s a fight, so it’s a struggle — so what? That’s ok. Now, if people outside don’t think I’m the right person, or even internally don’t think I am, it makes no difference for me.”

Forest were commendably well-organised on Tyneside and frustrated the hosts until 13 minutes into the second half when Bruno Guimarães fired past Matz Sels from distance with the visitors appealing in vain for a foul on Morgan Gibbs-White by Dan Burn in the run-up.

Postecoglou said: “Look, I think it’s just the world we’ve created where referees I just don’t think are going to make those decisions anymore, particularly against the home side. They’re going to let it run and let VAR pick the slack up.”

Thereafter, the Magpies threatened to add to their tally at regular intervals, but had to wait until six minutes from time for Nick Woltemade to extend their advantage from the penalty spot.

Nick Woltemade scored from the spot to give Newcastle a 2-0 lead. Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images

Head coach Eddie Howe was delighted with his side’s performance and the result after Wednesday night’s 4-0 Champions League victory at Union St.-Gilloise.

Howe said: “[It was] a huge win for us, huge, huge. The players have done really well this week to recover from the Arsenal game in the way that they have and the speed to put that game to the back of our minds and to re-focus on two hugely important games.

“In the Champions League to get our season going in that competition and then the importance of the Premier League, it’s such an important competition for us.

“We maintained very good standards the last few years. We needed to maintain them, so at home I thought it was vital we won today.”

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Speaking on Friday afternoon, Postecoglou said the Europa League title he won at Tottenham last season, before he was sacked in the summer, demonstrates he does not allow pressure to impact his management.

“It doesn’t enter my head,” he added. “My responsibility lies in making sure this football club progresses and gets to a position where it can challenge for things,” said Postecoglou.

“If I start putting timelines to that or worry about what is going to happen next week then I am not performing the role I have been given.

“I just don’t think it is helpful to anyone. At the end of the day, I have to concentrate on the environment, the training, the way we play, and, as I said last night, I am still very, very strong in my belief that we are not too far away.

“Put it this way – I knew I was getting sacked at Tottenham about three or four months before I did, but that didn’t stop me from winning something.”

The 60-year-old joined Spurs from Celtic in 2023 and supporters initially warmed to the Australian for his attacking style of play, with the Londoners finishing fifth in the Premier League during his first season.

Postecoglou’s second term was more difficult as Spurs finished fourth from bottom in the table. He did, however, lead the club to their first trophy in 17 years as they beat Manchester United in the Europa League final.

Forest visit Newcastle United on Sunday (14:00 BST).

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