When Oliver Glasner takes over at Nottingham Forest, he will become the club's fifth head coach in less than 12 months. The Austrian, who left Crystal Palace at the end of last season after winning the Europa Conference League, replaces Vítor Pereira, who was informed of his dismissal in an email just before midnight on 30 June. Pereira had only been appointed in February, when he replaced Sean Dyche, and had guided Forest to Premier League safety and the semi-finals of the Europa League — the club's first European semi-final since 1984. Yet despite those achievements, Forest activated a June break clause in his contract to bring in Glasner, whom they regard as an upgrade and as a manager who can bring the long-term stability the club craves.
Pereira's sacking is the latest twist in a turbulent period at the City Ground. Since Nuno Espírito Santo left in August, the club has 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. Pereira steadied the ship, but his dismissal came as a "complete surprise" to him. He had planned pre-season friendlies in Portugal and attended a recruitment meeting in London to finalise transfer targets — only to be told the club was activating a clause that allowed the parties to part company by mutual agreement. Forest's technical director, George Syrianos, is a strong admirer of Glasner, and there is a feeling internally that his style will be a better fit for the squad.
“Why Nottingham Forest keep changing managers and what it means for the Premier League club.”
For UK football fans, the revolving door at Forest is a stark example of the instability that can plague Premier League clubs fighting to establish themselves. Forest finished 16th last season, one point and one position behind Palace. Glasner, who impressed at Palace despite the sale of key players like Marc Guéhi without replacement, is expected to bring a more coherent philosophy. But the appointment also raises questions: can any manager survive long enough to build something at a club that has changed its head coach five times in less than a year?
Q: Why was Vítor Pereira sacked if he kept Forest up and reached a European semi-final? Forest had a break clause in Pereira's contract that they could activate in June. When Oliver Glasner became available after leaving Crystal Palace, the club decided it was too good an opportunity to turn down, viewing Glasner as an upgrade who could provide long-term stability. Pereira learned of his sacking in an email at 11:58pm on 30 June.
Q: Who is Oliver Glasner and why do Forest want him? Oliver Glasner is an Austrian manager who left Crystal Palace at the end of last season. His final act at Palace was winning the Europa Conference League. He is highly thought of by Forest's technical director George Syrianos, and the club believes his style will be a better fit for the squad. He has been appointed on a three-year contract.
Q: How many managers have Forest had in the past year? Glasner will be Forest's fifth head coach in less than 12 months. The sequence is: Nuno Espírito Santo (left in August), Ange Postecoglou (eight winless games), Sean Dyche (breakdown in relationship with squad), Vítor Pereira (sacked after four months), and now Oliver Glasner.
What happens next: Glasner is set to take charge immediately, but he will start without Elliot Anderson, who is poised to leave the club. Forest's pre-season schedule includes friendlies against Blackburn, Vitoria Guimaraes, Sporting Lisbon, Bayer Leverkusen, Barcelona and Udinese. The club has also rubber-stamped a tournament with Udinese and Barcelona in Italy. Whether Glasner can break the cycle of instability remains to be seen, but Forest have made clear they hope he will bring the long-term stability they have lacked.