Former Nottingham Forest boss Vitor Pereira has revealed he learned he had been sacked by the club only after his children woke him in the middle of the night to tell him the news.
The 58-year-old Portuguese coach took charge of the Premier League side in February 2026, guiding the Reds away from relegation danger and into the quarter-finals of the Europa League. Despite stabilising the East Midlands club and planning for the new campaign, Forest triggered a summer break clause in his contract at the end of June, paving the way for former Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner to take over.
Children Deliver the News
Speaking to Portuguese outlet ZeroZero, Pereira admitted the dismissal caught him completely off guard, with his children breaking the news before he had seen any official communication from the club.
"I knew there was a release clause in the contract, but I didn't even remember it, it never crossed my mind," Pereira explained. "I woke up in the middle of the night to the noise of my children in the living room, went downstairs, and they told me, 'Dad, you've been sacked.' That's what happened."
No Blame for the Owner
Pereira, who previously worked under Evangelos Marinakis during a title-winning spell at Olympiacos, absolved the Forest owner of direct blame for the abrupt nature of his exit. Instead, the former Wolves boss pointed to figures behind the scenes who pushed for a change in direction in the dugout.
"I'm convinced it wasn't even the owner's decision," he continued. "Those around him created the idea that the best way to win and be more ambitious would be to go for a different profile. I respect the current coach, Glasner, for what he's done and won, especially the Europa League."
While Pereira holds no ill will towards his Austrian successor, who arrived at the City Ground fresh from lifting the Conference League trophy with Palace, he admitted the cold manner of his departure left a bitter taste after his coaching staff had worked to keep Forest in the top flight. Instead of receiving a personal phone call from the club's hierarchy to thank him for his efforts, Pereira's exit was processed via a late-night email just minutes before his contract break clause was due to expire.
Return to England on the Cards
Despite the bruising end to his tenure in Nottingham, Pereira remains keen on a return to English football in the future, insisting the intensity of the Premier League still brings out the best in him as a manager.
