Nottingham Forest Appoint Oliver Glasner as Head Coach

Nottingham Forest have turned to serial European winner Oliver Glasner as their latest answer to football’s most unforgiving question: what comes next?

The Austrian has been unveiled as Forest’s fifth head coach in less than a year, replacing Vitor Pereira, who was sacked on Tuesday – just two minutes before an exit clause in his contract was due to expire. Even by Forest’s recent standards, the timing was ruthless.

From Palace glory to Forest upheaval

Glasner arrives at the City Ground with a reputation for building sharp, aggressive sides and for collecting silverware in places not traditionally associated with it.

At Crystal Palace, he did what generations before him could not. Appointed in 2024, he delivered the club’s first major honour by winning the FA Cup in his debut season. He followed that by lifting the Europa Conference League last term, then added the Community Shield in August after Palace edged Liverpool on penalties.

That kind of record explains the enthusiasm of Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis.

“Oliver is a winner,” Marinakis said. “It was clear that we share the same vision, the same ambition and the same relentless desire to succeed.”

Forest moved for the 51-year-old earlier this summer, once it became clear he would follow through on a decision he had signalled months before. In January, Glasner confirmed he would leave Palace at the end of the season in search of a new challenge, despite being offered a new contract. He has found one in Nottingham, where stability has been in as short supply as trophies.

A carousel stops for Glasner

Nuno Espirito Santo started last season in the Forest dugout. Since September, Ange Postecoglou, Sean Dyche and Pereira have all taken a turn. Now it is Glasner’s job to halt the spin and give shape to a club that talks openly about competing with England and Europe’s elite.

On his appointment, Glasner spoke of alignment and trust.

“From my very first conversations with the owner and the leadership team, it was evident to me that they have a clear vision for this football club and complete trust and belief in me and my staff to build a strong future together over the long term,” he said.

“That trust and shared commitment, together with the potential that I see within the squad, were key factors for me and I am excited about what we can achieve together.”

Forest are banking on more than just words. Glasner is one of only three coaches to have won both the Europa League and the Europa Conference League, having guided Eintracht Frankfurt to Europa League glory in 2021-22. His track record suggests he can turn promise into medals, and quickly.

Marinakis underlined exactly why he believes Glasner fits the club’s ambitions.

“He has consistently demonstrated throughout his career that he can build outstanding teams and deliver success against the strongest competition,” the owner said. “He has earned success through his leadership, his personality and the style of football his teams play.

“It has always been our goal to establish Nottingham Forest once again among the leading clubs in England and Europe. Our ambition is not simply to compete – our ambition is to win, to challenge for major honours and to create a football club that our supporters can be proud of for many years to come.”

The message is clear. Forest are not hiring a firefighter; they are hiring a builder with a trophy habit. Now comes the hard part: can Glasner impose his structure and style on a club that has changed its mind four times in a year, and stay long enough to see that vision take root?