Ange Postecoglou reveals inside story of ‘brutal’ Nottingham Forest sacking

Ange Postecoglou reveals inside story of ‘brutal’ Nottingham Forest sacking

Ange Postecoglou has opened up about the “brutal” way his short-lived spell as Nottingham Forest head coach came to an abrupt end after just 39 days at the City Ground.

The former Tottenham Hotspur manager took over from Nuno Espirito Santo in September, but his tenure lasted little more than a month. He oversaw eight matches without recording a single victory, and a heavy 3-0 home defeat to Chelsea ultimately sealed his fate—leading to his dismissal less than 20 minutes after the final whistle.

Postecoglou admitted he had gone against advice by accepting the role so soon after leaving Spurs, especially with the Premier League season already underway. Speaking to Australian radio station SEN 116, he described how quickly everything unfolded.

“I haven’t really shared this before, but it was brutal,” he said. “I was sacked almost immediately after the game. You know how it is after a match—you’re in the coaches’ room—but I had a feeling it was coming. Still, I didn’t expect it to happen right there and then.”

He revealed that even before facing the media, news of his dismissal had already leaked. “I hadn’t even done the press conference, but the journalists already knew. I just wanted to leave because I felt like I might react in a way I’d regret.”

Amid the chaos, Postecoglou said he hadn’t yet had the chance to speak with his assistant coaches—many of whom he suspected would also lose their jobs. “I was trying to process everything while walking through a crowd of media and onlookers. I just wanted to get out.”

With roads around the stadium temporarily closed after the match, he found himself stranded and alone before eventually attempting to leave. “Security asked how I wanted to exit. After about half an hour, the roads reopened, but traffic was heavy.”

The journey away from the stadium proved equally uncomfortable. “I was stuck at traffic lights for about 15 minutes, with Chelsea fans shouting at me, and Forest fans weren’t exactly sympathetic either,” he recalled. “At the same time, kids were coming up asking for selfies. You don’t want to let them down, so I just went along with it. I felt like I had to accept it all—it was a heavy price to pay.”

Following his departure, Nottingham Forest turned to Sean Dyche, who himself didn’t last long, being dismissed after a goalless draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers in February. Vitor Pereira later became the club’s fourth manager of the season.

Postecoglou’s account highlights just how ruthless football management can be, especially when results fail to materialize quickly.