Legendary Champions League club makes shocking decision regarding European champion coach

Nottingham Forest, a former European champion, has hired Oliver Glasner, also a European champion, beginning a high-stakes gamble on the hot seat following the surprising split with Vitor Pereira.

Nottingham Forest – a club that has twice been European champions – has once again stirred up English football by appointing Oliver Glasner as their new head coach. Notably, Glasner is also a European champion, creating a special reunion between two names that have reached the peak of the continent. This decision ends Vitor Pereira's brief tenure at the City Ground and opens a risky new chapter.

This is not just a routine personnel change but also clearly reflects the prolonged instability of the East Midlands club. Glasner becomes the fifth head coach of Nottingham Forest in less than a year. Before him, the team went through periods under Nuno Espirito Santo, Ange Postecoglou, Sean Dyche, and Vitor Pereira. For a club that once stood at the top of Europe, this constant upheaval makes fans both hopeful and anxious.

Pereira's case makes the story even more special. The Portuguese manager was appointed in February, helped Forest stay in the Premier League, and even led the team to the Europa League semi-finals. Nevertheless, the board decided to activate the contract termination clause. In the farewell announcement, Forest expressed gratitude: "We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Vitor and his staff for their hard work and commitment during their time at the club."

Pereira himself did not hide his disappointment. He said: "Although this decision came as a complete surprise and was not previously communicated, I fully respect the club's right to make decisions they believe are best for the future." The 57-year-old manager added: "I am disappointed and sad. I truly believed in what we were building together, and I leave with pride for everything we achieved in the past months."

In that context, Glasner emerged as an ambitious choice. The Austrian coach previously won a European club title by leading Eintracht Frankfurt to the Europa League crown, and more recently he continued to achieve success with Crystal Palace, winning the FA Cup 2025 and the Conference League. For Nottingham Forest – a former European champion – appointing another European champion carries clear symbolic meaning: the desire to return to glory.

Glasner also delivered a strong message on his unveiling day: "I am very happy to join Nottingham Forest as head coach. From the very first discussions with the owner and the board, I could clearly see they have a specific vision for this club." He emphasized: "Our goal is to build a team that can take the club to new heights in the coming years, a team that makes the fans proud."

Owner Evangelos Marinakis also did not hide his ambition: "Our ambition is not just to compete. Our ambition is to win, to challenge for major trophies, and to build a club that makes fans proud for years to come."

However, the challenge for Glasner is enormous. He steps into a Nottingham Forest that carries both the historical glory of a European champion and the reality of current instability. If successful, Glasner could help Forest reclaim a status worthy of its illustrious history. But if he fails, the hot seat at the City Ground will continue to be considered one of the most demanding positions in the Premier League.