Postecoglou Reflects on Nottingham Forest Nightmare
Ange Postecoglou has openly confessed that his brief and unsuccessful tenure as Nottingham Forest manager represented a "bad decision" on his part. The Australian football coach, who lasted a mere 39 days at the City Ground before being dismissed, has taken full ownership of the ill-fated move that saw him oversee six losses in eight Premier League matches.
A Premature Return to Management
Speaking candidly on The Overlap podcast for the first time about this period, Postecoglou revealed he was overly eager to return to management following his departure from Tottenham Hotspur just three months earlier. "There’s no point me blaming it on ‘I didn’t get time’ or anything," the 60-year-old stated unequivocally. "I should never have gone in there. That was on me. That was a bad decision by me to go in there. I’ve got to take ownership of that."
He elaborated that it was "too soon after Tottenham" and that he found himself "lost" after two decades of continuous work, experiencing life without a managerial role for the first time in years. Despite warnings from those around him, Postecoglou admitted the allure of "some good players" at Forest ultimately "sucked me in."
Challenging Club Environment
Postecoglou also suggested Nottingham Forest was reluctant to part ways with his predecessor Nuno Espirito Santo, meaning he walked into a playing group "where they’re not really looking for change." This situation, which he now acknowledges was problematic, combined with the club's notoriously trigger-happy owner Evangelos Marinakis, created a difficult environment from the outset. His appointment in September as Nuno's successor quickly turned sour, with the dismal results sealing his fate after little over a month.
No Return to Celtic on the Horizon
While Postecoglou remains without a club following his Forest dismissal, he has firmly ruled out any immediate prospect of returning to Celtic, where he enjoyed a highly successful two-year stint between 2021 and 2023, leading the Scottish club to multiple trophies. "I loved Celtic, it’s a wonderful football club," he affirmed. "If I was younger, I probably would have stayed there longer. I probably would have stayed there three, four years."
He acknowledged the opportunity to join Tottenham was "too good" to pass up at the time, representing a significant step in his career. Regarding a potential Celtic return, he stated: "I don’t go back. I just don’t think that’s kind of been my career." He added that his next step would be "something new, somewhere I can make an impact in, somewhere I can win things," without diminishing his affection for the Scottish club or his fond memories of his time there.
Future Philosophy and Requirements
Postecoglou remains open-minded about his next challenge but insists his future employer must fully embrace his distinct ideas and ambitious football philosophy. "If a club starts talking to me, it’s not like I’m going to walk in and do things differently," he explained, outlining his non-negotiable approach. "Do they really want what I have to offer? I’m going to play this way, I’m going to train this way and I want to win things. I’ve done that my whole career."
The experienced manager's reflection provides a rare insight into the pressures of top-level football management and the importance of timing in career decisions. His 39-day Nottingham Forest reign serves as a cautionary tale about jumping back into the dugout too quickly after a significant departure.
