Ange Postecoglou sacked by Nottingham Forest after eight games and 39 days

Ange Postecoglou has been sacked by Nottingham Forest after just eight games in charge. Postecoglou lasted just 39 days in charge of Forest, the shortest managerial reign in Premier League history.

The former Tottenham Hotspur boss replaced Nuno Esprito Santo just three games into the season last month, but has been dismissed after becoming the first manager in the club’s history to fail to win any of his first eight games.

Postecoglou’s sacking was confirmed just 19 minutes after the final whistle blew in their 3-0 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday, where club owner Evangelos Marinakis left his seat before full-time as home fans streamed for the exits.

open image in gallery

It leaves Forest 17th in the Premier League table and searching for a third manager of the season. Former Burnley and Everton boss Sean Dyche has been linked as a possible replacement.

The 60-year-old had delivered a defiant speech in Friday’s press conference and said if given the time “the story always ends the same… me with a trophy”.

But a 39-word club statement said: “Nottingham Forest Football Club can confirm that after a series of disappointing results and performances, Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties as head coach with immediate effect. The club will make no further comment at this time.”

There was initially encouragement during Saturday’s early kick-off as Forest dominated the first half, but after being unable to capitalise on their pressure, they were promptly punished after the break.

open image in gallery

Chelsea scored twice in three minutes - Josh Acheampong and Pedro Neto the goalscorers - to put themselves 2-0 up, and while Forest fans had been vocally getting behind their languishing team, only the mocking chants of the away end that could be heard as the City Ground was left stunned.

Blues supporters basked in the dismay of Postecoglou, singing “sacked in the morning” as they poked fun at what turned out to be an imminent demise for the Australian.

Postecoglou was hit with more “sacked” chants when Reece James added Chelsea’s third, which resulted in a mass evacuation of Forest fans from the City Ground with six minutes of the 90 still to play.

A chorus of boos met the final whistle and Postecoglou cut a lone figure near the centre circle as he applauded the handful of Forest fans who had stayed behind. Shortly after full-time, the Australian had been dismissed from his post, making that the second job he has been sacked from in the last four months.

“I feel very sorry, it's always a shame,” Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca told TNT Sports. “Unfortunately it's a business where you need to win games. Otherwise, for all of us, it's the same consequences.”

Ange Postecoglou timeline

Postecoglou was dismissed by Tottenham at the end of last season after finishing 17th in the Premier League, with the club’s Europa League victory - which ended their 17-year trophy drought - unable to save him.

Forest sacked the popular Nuno, who led the club back into Europe last season, just three games into the new campaign after a dramatic decline in his relationship with club owner Marinakis.

Postecoglou was appointed on a two-year deal at the City Ground and attempted to implement a more attacking style of play. However, Postecoglou faced calls to be sacked from his own supporters after a Europa League defeat to Midtjylland.

After a 2-0 defeat at Newcastle before the international break, Postecoglou faced a crunch match at home to Chelsea as rumours about Forest sounding out replacements for his position swirled around the City Ground.

Forest missed chances to take the lead before they were punished by a quickfire double after the break. Under Postecoglou, Forest picked up just one point from five Premier League games, scoring just one goal in the 1-1 draw at Burnley.