Nottingham Forest have secured the services of head coach Nuno Espírito Santo for the long term, announcing a new three-year contract that will keep the Portuguese manager at the City Ground until at least the summer of 2028. The extension comes as a reward for Nuno’s remarkable impact since joining the club in December 2023, culminating in Forest’s highest Premier League finish in 30 years and qualification for European competition for the first time since the 1995-96 season.
Nuno, who replaced Steve Cooper midway through the 2023-24 season, initially faced a challenging task, guiding Forest to Premier League survival on the final day despite a four-point deduction for financial rule breaches. However, his transformative influence was undeniable in the 2024-25 campaign, where Forest flirted with Champions League qualification before securing a seventh-place finish and a spot in the UEFA Conference League. The club also reached the FA Cup semi-finals, their first since 1991, though they fell 2-0 to Manchester City.
Club owner Evangelos Marinakis praised Nuno’s contribution, emphasizing their shared vision for the club’s future. “Nuno has made a great impact and performed very well during his time with us so far,” Marinakis said. “He has demonstrated that he maximises player performance and is an expert at developing players, whilst also embedding our young talent into the first team set-up. We enjoy a strong and solid relationship together and, above all, we share the same dream and ambition of writing a new history for Nottingham Forest, competing in the Premier League and in Europe and winning trophies for our great club.”
Nuno expressed his delight at extending his tenure, highlighting the special bond he has fostered at the club. “I am delighted to be able to continue our journey at this fantastic football club,” he said in a statement. “Since we arrived at Forest, we have worked extremely hard to create a special bond between the players, the fans, and everyone at the club, which helped us achieve great things last season. It is important to me to share a strong relationship with our ownership, and we have thoroughly enjoyed working together ever since I arrived at Forest. Now is the time to work harder than ever as we strive for more special memories together.”
The announcement has been met with enthusiasm from players and fans alike. England international winger Callum Hudson-Odoi described the news as “amazing” for the squad, crediting Nuno for helping players find their best form. Fans also took to social media to celebrate, with some poking fun at pundit Gary Neville, who had suggested Nuno resign during a difficult moment last season.
Despite a late-season dip that saw Forest lose five of their final eight games, Nuno’s achievements—including historic away wins over Liverpool and Manchester United, and the club’s longest top-flight winning streak since 1967—have solidified his status as the right man to lead Forest into a new era. The club is now preparing for the 2025-26 season, which includes their Conference League campaign and a Premier League opener at home to Brentford.
Marinakis has made no secret of his lofty ambitions, explicitly calling for silverware in the coming years. With Nuno’s future secured, attention now turns to the transfer market, where the manager aims to strengthen four key positions in the squad to compete on multiple fronts.