Nottingham Forest have confirmed the appointment of Ange Postecoglou as their new head coach following the sacking of Nuno Espírito Santo.
Postecoglou is thought to have signed a deal until the end of next season and will take charge of Saturday’s trip to Arsenal – the bitter rivals of his former club Tottenham.
Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis moved to dismiss Nuno following the Portuguese’s outspoken remarks about the club during the early weeks of the campaign. Postecoglou, 60, will be leant upon to match Nuno’s seventh-placed finish last term, and at least go close to repeating last season’s Europa League triumph with Spurs.
Marinakis said: ‘We are bringing a coach to the Club who has a proven and consistent record of winning trophies. His experience of coaching teams at the highest level, along with his desire to build something special with us at Forest, makes him a fantastic person to help us on our journey and achieve consistently all our ambitions.
‘After gaining promotion to the Premier League, then building consistently season after season to secure European football, we now must take the right step to compete with the very best and challenge for trophies. Ange has the credentials and the track-record to do this, and we are excited he is joining us on our ambitious journey.’
Speaking in July, Marinakis heaped praise on Postecoglou for leading Spurs to European glory.
Nottingham Forest have appointed Ange Postecoglou as their new manager
Marinakis effused praise on his new manager after they were spotted together in July
Postecoglou – who is of Greek heritage – was presented with an award by the Greek Super League, to recognise his achievements with Spurs.
‘What I want to say about Ange is that he has spoken about Greece many times, he is proud to be Greek, and in the great success he had with Tottenham by winning the Europa League, he spoke about Greece,’ said Marinakis at the ceremony.
“[He is] a man who not only does not hide his origin but is also proud of it. What he achieved, he did with a team that has not won any titles, it has had a very difficult time in recent years. In this huge success that the whole world saw, he promoted Greece.
‘We must thank him especially for this, and we wish him well, although we are sure that he will do well as he has the ability. Wherever he goes, the successes will come.’
There was no mention in Forest’s announcement of the make-up of Postecoglou’s backroom staff. Nuno’s team were expected to leave with him. Mile Jedinak, Nick Montgomery and Sergio Raimundo left Spurs with Postecoglou and may rejoin him at the City Ground ahead of the trip to Emirates Stadium,
