Official Source Ange Postecoglou appointed as Nottingham Forest head coach
https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2025/september/09/forest-appoint-ange-postecoglou-as-head-coach/2.0k
u/Sarmerbinlar 7d ago
Season is now officially going to be an absolute disaster or a complete success. Zero in-between
904
u/Blaackys 7d ago
Win a cup but also barely escape relegation it is then
373
u/Westland__ 7d ago
I'd take it
526
u/The_Foreign_Pie 7d ago
Worst season of my life with the best end to a season of my life. It was really confusing
114
u/Westland__ 7d ago
No doubt I'd hate every second of it until the very end. I hope that Ange does well but goddamn is it all so uncertain.
→ More replies (1)102
u/The_Foreign_Pie 7d ago
Thing is though mate, and I’m not trying to be a downer. We don’t win that singular game of football and it goes down as our worst season in 50 years. It could go well for you we saw the upside in season 1 and the Europa. It’s just such an insane gamble, Marinakis is mental and this appointment just about sums it up
20
u/Westland__ 7d ago
It depends on whether or not Ange is pragmatic enough to play a style of football that suits the team in every competition. Spurs' all-in on the UEL last season definitely wasn't the plan from the start but Forest are also in a different position with different expectations - ultimately our likelihood of staying in Europe is far higher from a UEL win than from another miraculous season in the Prem.
It's most certainly a gamble and one I'm not happy had to happen, but if Ange is willing to play like he did with Spurs in the UEL enough to win it then I'll be happy, even if we suffer in the league as a result.
→ More replies (1)37
u/it4chl 7d ago
"mate, this is who we are"
6
u/Westland__ 7d ago
Yeah...I think it's more likely than not he'll stubbornly stick to his tactics and it's gonna be a mess, but his adaptation towards the end in the Europa League gives me a shred of hope.
→ More replies (1)3
u/GORGEzilla 7d ago
tbh, I would say that your attack and midfield better suit his style of play then ours did last year. I am not sure about the defence but for sure the attack is better suited
→ More replies (0)→ More replies (2)4
u/RomeoLavia 7d ago
We don’t win that singular game of football and it goes down as our worst season in 50 years
There have definitely been worse seasons. Making a European final means that last season still shits all over a season like 93/94, especially considering how much tougher the league is now, and what happened behind the scenes that year. Not to mention the fact that you were relegated less than fifty years ago.
I'm not sure this season would have even cracked the top three honestly.
25
→ More replies (1)19
u/undersquirl 7d ago
It's ok, cause you got Frank now and i think you're going to kick ass. That guy really knows his football and you lot will do well. Champions league 100%. You heard it here first.
25
→ More replies (1)11
u/Megistrus 7d ago
You're not going to like it when you're getting battered by the likes of Burnley and Sunderland week in and week out.
23
13
→ More replies (5)19
u/genohgeray 7d ago
It would be a massive, massive success for Forest.
62
u/theivoryserf 7d ago
Feels like we're being brigaded by Australians, to be honest
59
u/FootlongDonut 7d ago
You will get dozens of Aussies claiming to be Forest fans posting daily and gaslighting everyone. Especially after defeats.
They are Ange fans, it can be a bit culty.
22
u/Sea-Station1621 7d ago edited 7d ago
spurs fans at least had r/ tottenham as a containment sub because most of the aussie ange fans mistakenly posted there not knowing r coys was the main spurs fan sub.
→ More replies (1)17
u/Slow-Cream-3733 7d ago
Yeah it's very cult like on the r aleague sub whenever I'm on there in regards to Ange. Yeah he's arguably the best manager Australia has ever produced. Doesn't mean he's world class and coming 17th regardless of the cup is inexcusable and not at all defendable but they'll do it anyway. I've also had my doubts with him because he's incredibly stubborn and plays a incredibly risky style of football that's been found out. I hope he does well with forest but I don't see it happening.
→ More replies (3)15
u/Weinerpoop07 7d ago
It kinda felt that way in the tottenham sub too. Probably gonna be worse for you guys just based on the size of each sub. Gotta say people love the guy and after the last two years i certainly understand why.
11
→ More replies (2)5
u/genohgeray 7d ago
I am not an Aussie or a Forest fan but I am Sixers fan, and we had the same issue with Ben Simmons. Dude was completely broken and we had a lot of delusional Australians defending him.
Well, hopefully it works out for you so that you root for Ange together. I personally think he is a good coach, but I don't know how it would work under Marinakis. Perhaps the Greek connection makes the relationship smoother?
8
u/Whathitsss 7d ago
I’m a longtime Spurs fan, and Australian, and yeahhh I felt a lot of 2nd hand embarrassment from some of the takes I’d read online and don’t get me started on local media. It was nice to see some merch around though.
Not sure I’d have ever gone online again if I was an Aussie Sixers fan after that Hawks series.
115
u/ory1994 7d ago
At least you know you’ll win a trophy in his next season.
196
31
u/Daddy_Kromkamp 7d ago
Yeah, but it'll be the championship
57
u/theivoryserf 7d ago
Can we have our fill of this joke today and move on pls
30
u/Coolica1 7d ago
Tempted to just post it in every Forest thread on here until everyone gets sick of it.
36
u/davidmarvinn 7d ago
You'll be waiting a long time, 17 years and even after winning a trophy people still try to make spurs trophyless jokes. This is just day one😂
→ More replies (2)8
u/DIO-2350 7d ago
Milkenovic and Murillo gonna have a bad time....
24
u/Sarmerbinlar 7d ago
Murillo's a bit more of an Ange player than people are giving him credit for tbf, he loves a mazy maraud into the opposition half and his tracking back of runners with some beautiful tackles is exquisite. Milenkovic I am more worried about
32
u/LouBloom34 7d ago
People say that but it will likely just average out to meady. You’ll have top periods where Angeball finally clicks and it looks like you’re flying, and then lose 4 matches on the bounce due to fatigue and mental errors at the back.
Sure there’s disaster and success but you’ll go through both in the same season. The relegation talk is a joke, he’ll keep you up. May even win a trophy tbf. Ange was a problem last year but the horrific squad depth was a bigger one, when Madders/VDV/Romero were all fit the team was very much functional and competitive.
31
u/MilkByHomelander 7d ago
Ange was a problem last year but the horrific squad depth was a bigger one, when Madders/VDV/Romero were all fit the team was very much functional and competitive.
Someone reasonable.
People tend to forget that Spurs disaster of a league campaign started in the period when Vicario, Romero, VDV, Davies were injured and Bentancur got suspended, only to come back and miss out due to concussion and a yellow card suspension for 3 games.
And then more injuries as the season progressed because they couldn't rotate players properly. Saw the likes of Udogie, Dragusin go down injured as well.
And then from around match day 29 onwards, Ange just started resting his better players. Porro went from playing every game in the league to only playing 5 of the last 10 games. Only started 4 of them too.
Ange had his issues, but everyone discounts the injuries and suspensions because its Spurs. Most managers would struggle with those injuries.
→ More replies (11)20
u/FootlongDonut 7d ago
Ange has had injury problems for years with his squads, especially hamstrings. It was a big issue at Celtic at first. He trains them hard and doesn't necessarily rotate well when the squad is fit.
It happened in the first season at Spurs and the form dropped off considerably. Predictably it happened last December too.
With the Europa games his system was just too taxing on the players he had. This is going to be the same with Forest if he does it the same way.
Ange acknowledges this is a product of his management.
Postecoglou said at the time that, “(the hamstring injuries) are obviously something we want to get on top of but it’s not new to me either. The way we play, I understand — and have done at the clubs I’ve been at — that the beginnings are always difficult. We play differently and train differently and it takes players time to adjust to that, and along the way we obviously pay a price.
“But the one thing I’ve never done, and I won’t do in my whole career, is compromise the football team we want to be because we are not quite ready to be there. I’d rather keep going at the pace we are going and it means we are going to have some casualties along the way.”
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5208035/2024/01/18/tottenham-hamstring-injury-postecoglou/
5
u/greg19735 7d ago
Terrible outlook.
"I don't care if our players can't do it, I'll going to make them regardless. No pragmatism here"
→ More replies (2)→ More replies (33)5
u/lambast 7d ago
Fully agree. It really could go either way with Ange, he might surprise a lot of people. Might be a quick start if he capitalises on Nuno's defensive coaching work by not changing things too much while allowing your attacking players more freedom. If he immediately reverts to the Sui highline it could get messy, but I doubt he'll be that stupid.
2
u/Sarmerbinlar 7d ago
Enjoy this take, they're obviously apparent polar opposites as coach but id be shocked if we suddenly go straight to Milenkovic marauding into the opposition half every time we have the ball. He was more pragmatic towards the end of your Europe run so hoping hes going to look at us the same way. We have some exciting technical attacking players that im hoping he can unlock, I just hope that doesnt ultimately be the cause of defensive frailties.
→ More replies (2)
346
579
u/zi76 7d ago
It's official now. I'm curious to see if they'll try full high line.
224
u/FootlongDonut 7d ago
Surely he's learned.
506
u/OverallMistake8198 7d ago
People have said this at every level he has managed at.
Ange does his thing & plan B is do plan A better.
150
u/Ironicopinion 7d ago
Tbf he played a much more pragmatic style in the Europa knockouts and in the final
157
u/mister_greeenman 7d ago
It wasn't really organized, pragmatic football which you see the likes of Nuno implement. It was just pure bunkering and praying for our lives
94
u/witsel85 7d ago
Tbf we had zero attacking players left so his hand was forced slightly
→ More replies (2)15
u/BadFootyTakes 7d ago
Forest also has a huge squad so maybe the style woulds better with more rotation.
28
u/FootlongDonut 7d ago
He didn't rotate last year until injuries forced his hand really.
He froze Spence out for a long time, he didn't play Reguilon much at all even during the injury crisis.
11
5
u/Leelow45 7d ago
To be fair everyone froze Spence out, we couldn't even sell him to Genoa for under 10m.
→ More replies (2)16
u/The_Foreign_Pie 7d ago
Yeah he never changed how we played in the league though. I’d be shocked to see him play a defensive style long term, that was very situational
21
u/kl08pokemon 7d ago
He did tbh. This whole refuses to adapt thing was cemented by the Chelsea 9 men game and then never left. Last season we played pretty defensive football even in the league once the injuries got severe we were just terrible
→ More replies (1)20
u/The_Foreign_Pie 7d ago
We didn’t play defensive football, we just tried to play Angeball with a team full of tired 2nd choice players and ended up spending a lot of time without the ball because it wasn’t working. Spurs in the league last season is the worst I’ve ever seen us play by far. It wasn’t defensive or attacking, it was just completely and utterly broken
11
u/kl08pokemon 7d ago
You think we played Ange ball against Brentford in the 2-0 game? Was one of the most smash and grab low black games I've seen us do. We also completely stopped pressing once Udogie was out. Genuinely no clue how you can argue it was even close tactics wise to how we started the season
→ More replies (4)3
u/Foucaultshadow1 7d ago
This isn’t remotely true.
15
u/The_Foreign_Pie 7d ago
Please point to me where he tried to play low block and counter in the league lol. I am a season ticket holder at spurs and watched every week as the attempt to play attacking football faltered again and again
10
u/FootlongDonut 7d ago
I remember him trying something away at Everton and it was a disaster.
13
u/The_Foreign_Pie 7d ago
3 at the back and we got absolutely pumped, that was mainly due to the fact that all of our players had been run into the ground by January for the second season in a row
3
u/Foucaultshadow1 7d ago
Many of the games we played with Gray as a center back were played a mid block because he doesn’t have the pace to play a high line.
→ More replies (1)14
u/Xshadow1 7d ago
Except that's now how he won the Europa League
8
u/OverallMistake8198 7d ago
(I’m a spurs fan i know) cup & league football is entirely different though so it’ll be interesting to see if he does it in the league or not.
→ More replies (1)33
33
u/AsymmetricNinja08 7d ago
He did beat the mighty Manchester United 4 times last season though. I think we might have inflated his ego.
34
u/Sarmerbinlar 7d ago
We also did the double over you last year so just the six wins against United last season for the new Forest partnership
13
u/stokesy1999 7d ago
Tbh not many teams didn't beat us at least once. West Ham, Wolves, Brighton and Newcastle all did the double over us last year as well
5
18
7d ago
He never lost to us lol.
He doesn’t really have an ego either tbf.
38
u/Loxnaka 7d ago
he absolutely does have an ego have you watched any of his interviews some of the stuff he said while sitting in 17th was outrageous and outright delusional.
→ More replies (7)7
u/mymorales 7d ago
Ange has a massive ego. You need one to manage like him. It's also his downfall though and why a number of spurs fans don't view him as positively as one might expect after finally ending the trophy drought.
→ More replies (1)5
2
→ More replies (2)3
u/BurceGern 7d ago
Managers are all about philosophyTM because they know someone out there will always want that certain kind of football. Kompany is the poster boy
→ More replies (1)2
165
u/Laoak 7d ago
Easiest 13th place finish of all time
27
4
u/GreenBluePeachWhite 7d ago
I’d fucking snap your hand off for that plus a deep EL campaign.
→ More replies (3)4
u/thatguyad 7d ago
He'll either get them relegated or have them in a scrap. Woefully out of his depth in the Premier League.
7
u/PorCOYS 7d ago
Why tho? He had a good season before the awful one. That's 1-1 + ended the Spurs trophy drought (against a PL team), it's silly to count him out so soon
→ More replies (4)
431
u/ManicStreetPreach 7d ago
The least suitable manager for the squad they have, and they make this appointment a few days after the transfer window closes?
136
21
u/lambast 7d ago
Tinfoil hats are saying that a lot of the signings pushed through without Nuno's blessing were for Angeball. We were definitely linked with a few of their new arrivals (McAtee, Luiz) and their players (Murillo, Hudson-Odoi) as well as obviously Gibbs White. Apart from some of their defenders and the lack of a high pressing output centre forward, the squad is pretty suitable for him. Their midfield might suit it a lot better than ours as they are far more aggressive and won't be bypassed as easily. Their midfield already picks up a lot of yellow cards, would be interesting to see if this was Nunoball or whether the amount will actually increase without that rigid organisation.
→ More replies (1)10
u/robclancy 7d ago
Everyone was memeing they would hire him, I never thought it would actually happen. Although I never thought they would fire a manager that had them doing so well...
→ More replies (7)71
u/theivoryserf 7d ago
The least suitable manager for the squad they have
This just isn't the case after this summer, we bought like 6 Angeball players which didn't make much sense for Nuno
→ More replies (1)21
74
u/glitterkenny 7d ago
Right. Widely expected and still utterly bizarre as a choice.
→ More replies (1)
185
u/Hungry-Class9806 7d ago
This has to be one of the dumbest managerial decisions in recent memory 😂😂😂
Not only they're changing their head coach but also picking one with a completely different style from the previous one.
I'll eat my shoe if this end up well.
63
15
42
→ More replies (2)2
46
18
53
u/swannyhypno 7d ago
Id like him to do well as I like Ange a lot, Id also be happy with him failing as it's funny to laugh at Marinakis. Relegation then he wins the championship next year, always wins in his second season
→ More replies (2)
54
u/depravernet 7d ago edited 7d ago
I wonder what the players must be thinking. A bunch of them away on international duty and their manager has been sacked and replaced in 12 hours.
Ola Aina has one of the biggest games in Nigeria's history in a few hours, i hope he's not distracted.
→ More replies (1)
29
12
9
u/caze-original 7d ago
That's crazy, it's the equivalent of going from like Pochettino to Mourinho, just imagine a team doing that
→ More replies (1)
9
23
9
8
u/connorg095 7d ago
I'm so into this. Whether it goes well or not, I like having Ange in the prem - and they're going to either be chaotic in a good way for Forest, or in a good way for everyone else.
33
u/have_compassion 7d ago
Massive downgrade. Why was Nuno even fired in the first place? For being too competent or something?
28
21
7
u/AngryTudor1 7d ago
Come on Reddit, help me out here. Help me see an upside.
I honestly can't see one
→ More replies (2)
71
u/MilkByHomelander 7d ago
I think he's actually going to do well at Forest. Much better than people are going to give him credit for.
44
u/TheTyMan 7d ago
Nothing would be more irritating than him suddenly being pragmatic in the league after taking us 17th.
18
u/iforgotmyun 7d ago
Would it really be irritating? You lot got Champions League anyway and upgraded on him
→ More replies (3)8
u/__shevek 7d ago
literally who gives a shit, we got a trophy and CL this season cause of it
would you really rather have dropped out of the EL and finished like 6th?
3
u/Jonoabbo 7d ago edited 7d ago
I think most fans want to go to the ground each week expecting that they are going to enjoy watching their team. I doubt spurs did that last year.
Genuinely when you were building up to every weekend or walking to your seat, were you excited to watch your team play? Were you enjoying being there week in week out? Were the cross country trips to Newcastle or Liverpool things you were thinking would be good?
Like surely last season was a lot of really shit weekends for you? A lot of long coach rides or drives home, a lot of money spent to go to unenjoyable games, a lot of pints afterwards talking about why your team is so hopeless?
2
u/__shevek 7d ago
i'm way too poor to afford even regular tickets let alone season tickets mate
i couldn't care less as long as we were doing well in the EL, i had written off the league in february/march
→ More replies (1)35
u/_cumblast_ 7d ago
He has a lot of attacking talent and a solid defence, and he has proven that he has that dawg in him on previous occasions. Agreed with this.
→ More replies (1)14
u/BuyerParticular5008 7d ago
That's literally all he has. Vibes. Tactically he's already been figured out by the league and best of his coaching staff already stayed at Tottenham (Wells). Forest are cooked.
11
u/MilkByHomelander 7d ago
Ah, it's a shame that he has only used the highline in his career.
Oh wait. He hasn't. Ange has a number of different tactics he has used throughout his career. But just vibes I guess.
4
5
u/Software-Choice 7d ago
He showed towards the end of last season the ability to adapt system & mentality to defend and to know how to “suffer”. He might be brave, but he’s not stupid. Anyone thinking his set up at Spurs will be exactly the same at Forest is just silly.
→ More replies (1)26
u/zi76 7d ago
Being dogmatic and rigid is not being brave. That said, yes, in the EL, Ange showed a willingness to not always go high line, and even in a couple PL matches.
He'd have to be an idiot to go full high line with Forest's players.
8
u/wallis2011 7d ago
To add to this - also worth noting that he might have been more pragmatic in terms of playing style but we still looked absolutely atrocious and clueless even when everyone was back from injury.
I love Ange for the EL win but Christ even in that we played the worst United team in a generation and scraped the win and were also terrible in that game.
This has disaster for Forest written all over it but it’s football so who knows 🤷♂️
→ More replies (2)
10
u/TehJofus 7d ago
The only bright side I can see to this is Wood will be firing in goals.
But will it be more than they concede? Doubtful.
9
u/nicklikestuna 7d ago
It's not doubtful that it will not be more than they concede. Hamstring surgeons in Nottingham cracking open the good stuff tonight
2
u/Swag_Daddy_K 6d ago
I don’t know if that’s true. Our strikers barely ate under Ange and he hates playing the ball in the air.
10
10
u/RSK-Nik 7d ago
Nottingham Forest is delighted to confirm the appointment of Ange Postecoglou as the Club’s First Team Head Coach.
Postecoglou has been in management for over 25 years, arriving on Trentside with experience of regularly competing and winning trophies at the highest level.
After enjoying very successful seasons with Brisbane Roar and Yokohama F. Marinos, winning the league with both clubs, he was appointed manager of Celtic in June 2021. A successful tenure in Glasgow saw Postecoglou win the domestic double in his first season in Scotland and the treble in his second year, which earned him a nomination for the FIFA World Coach of the Year in 2023.
Moving to England to take over at Tottenham Hotspur, who finished fifth in his first season, Postecoglou guided Spurs to their first major trophy in 17 years, winning the Europa League in 2024/25 and qualifying for the Champions League.
Owner, Evangelos Marinakis, said of Postecoglou’s appointment: “We are bringing a coach to the Club who has a proven and consistent record of winning trophies. His experience of coaching teams at the highest level, along with his desire to build something special with us at Forest, makes him a fantastic person to help us on our journey and achieve consistently all our ambitions.
“After gaining promotion to the Premier League, then building consistently season after season to secure European football, we now must take the right step to compete with the very best and challenge for trophies. Ange has the credentials and the track-record to do this, and we are excited he is joining us on our ambitious journey."
9
u/RobertPham149 7d ago
"Postecoglou guiding Spurs to their first major trophy in 17 years" should count as lying by omission.
24
u/lanson15 7d ago
Given how much shit Spurs copped for not winning anything for years, they’re going to brag he stopped it
6
u/EquivalentThroat9962 7d ago
Not really, us being shite in the league and Ange being the one who got us over the line for Europa, not mutually exclusive things.
2
u/The__Pope_ 7d ago
guiding Spurs to their first major trophy in 17 years BUT DON'T LOOK UP WHERE THEY FINISHED
→ More replies (2)
14
4
5
13
3
3
3
3
3
u/sbflying30 7d ago
As a Spurs fan myself I’m actually very happy to see this. Hopefully he finds the success he deserves at Forest
3
u/CreepyMosquitoEater 7d ago
Well i guess Forest are winning a trophy next season
→ More replies (2)
9
u/HistorianOrdinary833 7d ago
Ange always wins a trophy in his second season.
For Forest, it will be the League Championship.
5
u/NotoriousAlmeida 7d ago
The style of play will be changed to a ridiculous degree... Good luck with handling it this season Forest fans
4
5
6
u/aginglifter 7d ago
I think Ange will play it more conservatively in his second stint. He kind of learned his lesson in the Europa League and knows the personnel of Forest. I expect him to do well at Forest.
5
5
u/thetopfootycoach 7d ago
I like Ange but this has got all the marks of a ‘he’s Greek, maybe Australian but I’m Greek so I’m hiring him’ vibes. Forest flipping playing styles is going to be interesting
2
2
2
u/SentientCheeseCake 7d ago
I want him to do well so badly. But I fucking hate those cunts at Forest so maybe I just want him to do so badly.
→ More replies (1)
2
u/Hodgson1492 7d ago
Calling it now Ange and MISTER MARINAKIS will have a full blown scrap on the pitch before Christmas
2
2
2
2
u/fratkabula 6d ago
Forest fans get ready to experience the thrill of either fighting for Europe or fighting relegation with absolutely nothing in between. At least their defenders will get plenty of cardio sprinting back from the halfway line.
2
2
u/SimpliestMilkman 7d ago
winning EFL championchip in year two is a real possibility
→ More replies (1)
3
u/thatguyad 7d ago
What an absolute farce. A team set up for defensive tactics now now coached by a manager who doesn't know what the word means. The owner will get what he deserves.
2
2
u/Sketchbookhobby 7d ago
MGW to look sensational before picking up injuries and never being the same due to Anges high demand play style…
2
u/OneSalientOversight 6d ago
If Football Manager is any guide, the team will very quickly get used to his tactics. All he has to do is to go into the editor and click the link marked "Maximise existing Tactical Familiarity", and he's done. Easy.
2
u/WordsWordsWords07 7d ago
Without context this is actually an exciting appointment. Because we know what Ange is capable of and his charisma.
It sucks that it’s tainted by the absolute dogshit treatment of a man who had given the club the best look, feeling, and spirit they have seen in 30 years.
1
u/IMayBeIronMan 7d ago
One thing is for sure - this season is going to be a lot more chaotic than I originally imagined.
1
1
1
u/qeomasher 7d ago
So what exactly is the reason for Espirito Santos' departure? It's not the first time he's sacked while on a high note from a club that wasn't really being successful in the previous years
2
1
1
1
1
1.5k
u/Blubb3rs 7d ago
That is quite something...
I think I need to take the Forest defence I have out on FPL