Ange Postecoglou has been dismissed by Nottingham Forest just 39 days after taking charge, following the team’s 3-0 home defeat to Chelsea at the City Ground.
His short tenure, which began on September 9, now stands as the briefest permanent managerial spell in Premier League history.
The Australian manager, formerly of Tottenham Hotspur, failed to secure a single victory in his eight matches with Forest, recording only two draws and six losses across all competitions. In the Premier League, his side managed to collect just one point from five games, leaving Forest in 17th place — a single point above the relegation zone.
A statement from the club read: “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.”
Postecoglou’s departure marks Forest’s third managerial change this season, after the earlier dismissal of Nuno Espirito Santo just three matches into the campaign. Reports suggest Fulham manager Marco Silva is a leading candidate to replace him, with former Burnley and Everton boss Sean Dyche also under consideration.
By lasting only 39 days in charge, Postecoglou surpasses Frank De Boer’s record for the shortest permanent managerial reign in Premier League history. De Boer’s four-game spell at Crystal Palace previously held the record. For context, Sam Allardyce’s 30-day stint at Leeds United does not count, as he was appointed on an interim basis.
Postecoglou’s reign began with a 3-0 defeat to Arsenal and included Forest’s early Carabao Cup exit to Swansea City. Subsequent draws with Burnley in the Premier League and Real Betis in the Europa League were followed by a 3-2 home loss to Midtjylland — a match where some fans were already chanting “you’re getting sacked in the morning.”
His brief and turbulent spell now ends as one of the most short-lived and disappointing managerial chapters in Premier League history.