**Nottingham Forest Sacks Ange Postecoglou After Record-Short 39-Day Reign**
In a dramatic and unprecedented move, Nottingham Forest sacked head coach Ange Postecoglou just 17 minutes after a humiliating 3-0 home defeat to Chelsea at the City Ground. The decision brought a swift and unceremonious end to Postecoglou’s tenure, which lasted a mere 39 days—a new record for the shortest permanent managerial reign in Premier League history.
### A Brief and Troubled Spell
Postecoglou’s appointment on September 9 had been greeted with cautious optimism. The Australian, fresh from a turbulent but progressive spell at Tottenham Hotspur, was seen by owner Evangelos Marinakis as a bold choice to reinvigorate Forest’s fortunes. Marinakis highlighted Postecoglou’s high-level experience and hunger to “build something special” at the club. At the time of his arrival, Forest sat 10th in the Premier League and were on the brink of European competition for the first time in 30 years.
However, the optimism quickly faded. In his eight matches in charge across all competitions, Postecoglou failed to secure a single win, registering two draws and six defeats. In the Premier League, Forest managed just one point from five games under his leadership, leaving the club perilously close to the relegation zone in 17th place. The Carabao Cup campaign ended in disappointment after Forest squandered a 2-0 lead to lose to Swansea City, and their European adventure faltered with lacklustre draws and a morale-sapping 3-2 home loss to Midtjylland. Discontent among supporters grew with each passing week, culminating in audible chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” after the Midtjylland defeat.
### The Final Straw and Swift Dismissal
The defining moment of Postecoglou’s short reign came with the heavy defeat to Chelsea. Owner Evangelos Marinakis was present at the City Ground but left his seat around the 67th minute, with the scoreline already looking grim. As the final whistle blew and jeers echoed from the departing home fans, the decision was made. A senior club official, rather than Marinakis himself, informed Postecoglou in the dressing room that his services were no longer required. Postecoglou took the news calmly, apologized to his players for not delivering the expected results, and bid them farewell.
Forest’s official statement was succinct, citing “a series of disappointing results and performances” as the reason for the immediate dismissal and declining to comment further. The club’s communications team quickly posted the announcement on social media, causing a frenzy among journalists and media staff waiting for post-match interviews. Defender Ryan Yates described the atmosphere as one of shock, emphasizing the need for collective responsibility rather than blaming the manager solely.
### A Record-Breaking Short Tenure
Postecoglou’s 39-day reign breaks the previous record for the shortest permanent managerial appointment in Premier League history, formerly held by Les Reed, who managed Charlton Athletic for 40 days in 2006. While Sam Allardyce’s 30-day stint at Leeds United was shorter in duration, he was only an interim manager. Frank De Boer still holds the record for the fewest matches managed by a permanent Premier League boss, lasting just four games at Crystal Palace.
The brevity of Postecoglou’s tenure will be remembered for its lack of results and the abruptness of its conclusion. Despite his reputation for attacking football and positive man-management, Postecoglou was unable to adapt quickly enough to Forest’s squad and the demands of a relegation battle. His assistant staff, including Nick Montgomery, Mile Jedinak, and Sergio Raimundo, are also expected to depart.
### Questions Over Club Direction
The rapid turnover of managers at Forest has prompted questions over the club’s long-term direction and the decision-making of owner Evangelos Marinakis. Alan Shearer, the former England captain, argued that responsibility for the failed appointment must also lie with Marinakis. “He chose Ange, it was his appointment,” Shearer said. He pointed out the flawed logic in moving abruptly from Nuno Espirito Santo’s pragmatic counter-attacking style to Postecoglou’s more expansive approach, which required considerable adaptation from the players.
Micah Richards, another prominent pundit, echoed these concerns,