Vítor Pereira was sacked by Nottingham Forest late on Tuesday evening, blindsided by an email that arrived just before midnight. The Portuguese, who had planned pre-season in Portugal and attended a transfer meeting in London, said the decision came as a “complete surprise to me and without any warning”.
Forest activated a break clause in Pereira’s 18-month contract, which was exercisable in June, to part ways with the head coach just five months after he replaced Sean Dyche. The club had already rubber-stamped a summer tournament with Udinese and Barcelona, and friendlies against Blackburn, Vitoria Guimaraes, Sporting Lisbon, Leverkusen and Barcelona were scheduled. Contract talks had been paused last month, but Pereira said he was committed to resuming discussions later in the year.
“Nottingham Forest sack Vítor Pereira via email late Tuesday; Oliver Glasner set to become fifth head coach in less than a year.”
In a statement, Pereira said: “I fully respect the club’s right to make the decisions it believes are best for its future. Naturally, I am disappointed and saddened. I truly believed in what we were building together, and I leave with a sense of pride in everything we achieved over the past months.” He guided Forest to 16th in the Premier League and the Europa League semi-finals, where they lost to eventual winners Aston Villa – the club’s first European semi since 1984. His 5-0 win at Sunderland was Forest’s biggest away victory in the top flight.
Oliver Glasner is set to become Forest’s fifth head coach in less than 12 months. The Austrian, who left Crystal Palace at the end of last season after winning the Conference League (having also won the FA Cup in 2025), has agreed a three-year deal. Forest first initiated contact with Glasner earlier this summer and felt the opportunity too good to turn down. Internally, Glasner is regarded as an upgrade who can bring long-term stability, according to sources. The club were close to appointing him in December 2023 but instead brought in Nuno Espírito Santo.
Pereira, who also kept Wolves up the season before, won eight of his 20 matches in charge. He concluded: “I leave Nottingham Forest with no bitterness or resentment – only respect, gratitude and wonderful memories.”