Ange Postecoglou, now a Premier League fixture with Tottenham, still carries the sting of his brief, brutal dismissal from Nottingham Forest. His tenure at the City Ground in 2017 lasted a mere 18 minutes after his final match, a 2-1 defeat to Burton Albion. That quick hook, coming after just 11 games, highlighted a club then notorious for its trigger-happy ownership.
Forest's decision to fire Postecoglou on September 19, 2017, after that loss left them 13th in the Championship table, was a head-scratcher even then. He'd compiled a record of three wins, three draws, and five losses. While not spectacular, it hardly screamed "emergency." Compare that to the club's subsequent revolving door: Mark Warburton took over, lasted until December, then Aitor Karanka, Martin O'Neill, Sabri Lamouchi, Chris Hughton, Steve Cooper, and now Nuno Espírito Santo. That's eight managers in seven years since Postecoglou's exit. Stability? Forest wouldn't know it if it wore a red shirt and scored a hat-trick.
Postecoglou recounted the scene: a post-match meeting, a quick handshake, and then, "That's it, mate, you're done." No long discussion, no detailed explanation. Just a swift, cold end. He'd only signed a two-year deal in May 2017, having arrived with a solid reputation from his time with the Australian national team, leading them to the 2015 AFC Asian Cup title. His 50-game record with the Socceroos included 22 wins, 11 draws, and 17 losses, a respectable 44% win rate. Forest saw potential, then panicked.
Here's the thing: clubs often make rash decisions, but Forest in that era took it to an art form. The average managerial tenure in the Championship is already short, around 1.5 years, but Forest consistently set new lows. Postecoglou’s 11 games were fewer than even some caretaker stints. It speaks to a deep-seated impatience that permeated the club's hierarchy. They expected immediate miracles, not a rebuild.
Look, it’s easy to say now that getting fired from Forest was the best thing that ever happened to Postecoglou. He went on to dominate in Japan with Yokohama F. Marinos, winning the J1 League in 2019. Then came Celtic, where he bagged two Scottish Premiership titles, one Scottish Cup, and two Scottish League Cups in just two seasons. His win percentage at Celtic was a staggering 72.3% across 113 games. Now he’s at Tottenham, transforming their style of play and pushing for European spots.
But at the time, that Forest dismissal was a gut punch. It makes you wonder how many other promising managers get chewed up and spit out by impatient owners, never getting a second chance. My hot take? Forest's owners at the time did Postecoglou a massive favor, not by intending to, but by pushing him towards environments where his methods were truly valued and given time to flourish. He was never going to get that at the City Ground back then.
Even with Premier League status, Forest still struggles with consistency. Nuno Espírito Santo, their current manager, took over in December 2023. He's the 13th permanent manager since Postecoglou's departure. The club spent over £150 million on transfers in the 2022-23 season and another £100 million in 2023-24, yet they often find themselves battling relegation. It's a cycle of heavy spending and quick changes.
Postecoglou’s story is a stark reminder that sometimes, the most brutal setbacks can pave the way for extraordinary success. He landed on his feet, and then some. I predict that within the next five years, Ange Postecoglou will lead a Premier League team to a major trophy, a feat Forest still dreams of.