Nottingham Forest appoint Oliver Glasner as new head coach after sacking Vítor Pereira

Nottingham Forest will make Oliver Glasner their fifth head coach in less than a year after sacking Vítor Pereira.

Forest were offered the chance to appoint Glasner on a three-year contract after he left Crystal Palace at the end of the season and felt it too good an opportunity to turn down. The club had a break clause they could activate in June in Pereira’s contract, which they did late on Tuesday.

Pereira, who led Forest to safety after replacing Sean Dyche in February, learned of his departure in an email received just before midnight. The Portuguese was surprised, having planned pre-season in Portugal and held talks over transfers.

Forest were close to appointing Glasner in December 2023 but elected to bring in Nuno Espírito Santo as Steve Cooper’s replacement. The Austrian is highly thought of by Forest’s technical director, George Syrianos, and there is a feeling his style will be a better fit for the squad. Internally, Glasner is regarded as an upgrade on Pereira and the intention is he will bring the long-term stability the club yearn for.

Glasner won the Conference League as his last act in charge of Palace and impressed there in sometimes trying circumstances as their best players were sold. He announced in January that he would not renew his contract but managed then to turn around their domestic form despite the sale of the captain Marc Guéhi without a replacement being signed.

Since Nuno left Forest in August, the club have rapidly gone through head coaches. Ange Postecoglou lasted eight winless Premier League games and Dyche had a breakdown in relationship with a number of the squad, leading to Pereira’s arrival. The turbulence at the City Ground resulted in a 16th placed finish, one point and position behind Palace.

Pereira said his sacking had come as a “complete surprise to me and without any warning” and described himself as “disappointed and saddened”. But he also said: “I leave Nottingham Forest with no bitterness or resentment—only respect, gratitude and wonderful memories. Football is full of unexpected moments, and while this chapter has ended sooner than I expected, I will always look back on my time here with pride and affection.”