Nottingham Forest owner Evangelous Marinakis given green light for shock managerial appointment: report

NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 02: Evangelos Marinakis, owner of Nottingham Forest looks on during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD2 match between Nottingham Forest FC and FC Midtjylland at City Ground on October 02, 2025 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) — Evangelos Marinakis sacked Postecoglou after just eight games (Image credit: Getty Images)

Nottingham Forest are poised for what could be a shock appointment at the City Ground.

The Tricky Trees have just sacked Ange Postecoglou after just eight matches in charge, with the Australian failing to win and becoming the first Nottingham Forest manager in the club's history to have been sacked before clinching a victory.

Postecoglou's last win actually came in the Europa League final – but now Forest are pivoting to the future with Evangelos Marinakis looking for a new Garibaldi gaffer.

Nottingham Forest set for shock appointment

NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 2: Ange Postecoglou Head Coach of Nottingham Forest looks dejected during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD2 match between Nottingham Forest FC and FC Midtjylland at City Ground on October 2, 2025 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Ed Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar Via Getty Images) — Postecoglou was sacked minutes after defeat to Chelsea (Image credit: Getty Images)

Postecoglou's hiring was itself a surprise, with the former Tottenham Hotspur and Celtic manager parachuted in to replace the outgoing Nuno Espirito Santo.

Following a breakdown in the relationship between the Portuguese, owner Marinakis and backroom director Edu Gaspar, Espirito Santo was dismissed and has already been re-employed in the Premier League, finding a home at West Ham United.

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 4: West Ham United manager Nuno Esp&iacute;rito Santo during the Premier League match between Arsenal and West Ham United at Emirates Stadium on October 4, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images) — Nuno Espírito Santo has since gone to West Ham United (Image credit: Getty Images)

The BBC's Sami Mokbel has reported that Marco Silva of Fulham is the preferred option to take over at the two-time European champions – but his current contract at Craven Cottage makes his hiring a potentially difficult one.

Instead, it's been reported by sources that Steve Cooper's name has come up in consideration, following his sacking from the City Ground in 2023.

Cooper led Forest to promotion in 2022 via the Championship play-offs, leading the club from a relegation battle to the promised land within a season before keeping Forest in the Premier League in his first season.

The Welshman has since gone on to manage rivals Leicester City but is now employed at Brondby in Denmark, again making the prospect of Forest tempting him back a tricky one.

Leicester City squad for 2024/25 LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 24: Steve Cooper, Manager of Leicester City during the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Leicester City FC at Craven Cottage on August 24, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images) — Steve Cooper is reportedly back in the frame (Image credit: Getty Images)

Sean Dyche is also a possibility with the former Burnley and Everton man out of work and currently living in Nottingham.

Forest travel to Bournemouth next weekend when Premier League action returns.

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Mark White is the Digital Content Editor at FourFourTwo. During his time on the brand, Mark has written three cover features on Mikel Arteta, Martin Odegaard and the Invincibles, and has written pieces on subjects ranging from Sir Bobby Robson’s time at Barcelona to the career of Robinho. An encyclopedia of football trivia and collector of shirts, he first joined the team back in 2020 as a staff writer.

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