Full Breakdown
Oliver Glasner’s Appointment Marks a New Ambitious Era at Nottingham Forest
7/17/2026, 12:04:30 PM
Core Appointment and Immediate Outlook
On 1 July 2026, Austrian coach Oliver Glasner signed a three-year contract to become Nottingham Forest’s fifth head coach in twelve months. The appointment follows the club’s 2024/25 season in which it finished seventh, reached the Europa League semi-finals and endured four managerial changes—Nuno Espírito Santo, Ange Postecoglou, Sean Dyche and Vítor Pereira. Glasner arrived from Crystal Palace, where he guided the Eagles to an FA Cup, a UEFA Conference League and a Community Shield double.
Background & Recent Performance
Glasner took charge of Palace in February 2024, lifting the side from 15th to 10th by season’s end and installing a high-tempo attacking style that recorded the league’s fastest average forward speed (2.00 m/s). At Forest, the 2024/25 campaign was marked by a strong second half of the season, a 13th-place finish in the “pace” table and a conversion rate of 43.5 %—higher than Palace’s 32.7 %. The club’s statistical profile shows 628 crosses (second-most) and 32 goals, compared with Palace’s 30.
Key Figures: Glasner and Owner Evangelos Marinakis
Glasner, 51, highlighted a dinner in Athens with Greek shipping magnate Evangelos Marinakis as decisive. Both men described each other as “one of the few people more ambitious than I am.” Marinakis, who acquired Forest in 2017, has overseen a period of frequent managerial turnover but is credited by Glasner with providing a “very ambitious” vision for the club.
Official Statements & Strategic Vision
Glasner stressed that success will require time, noting that the new habits and patterns he wishes to embed “take three to six months to see it for the first time.” He rejected expectations of immediate silverware, describing early-season trophy talk as premature and emphasizing the need to build “consistency” and the “right ingredients” across the squad. The coach also signalled a willingness to adapt tactics, stating he will decide whether a back-four or back-three best suits the players.
Criticism, Fan Sentiment, and Managerial Instability
Palace supporters expressed anger at Glasner’s move, citing the recent rivalry that saw Forest replace Palace in the Europa League after Palace’s demotion to the Conference League. Critics also warned that Forest’s history of rapid managerial turnover could undermine long-term plans, questioning whether Marinakis will provide the transfer backing that former Palace owner Steve Parish allegedly failed to deliver.
Verbatim Quotes
- “My personal history shows that what we are asking them to do – the habits we want them to do – it takes three to six months to see it for the first time,” — Oliver Glasner
- “I’m no magician.” — Oliver Glasner
- “When we had talks, I found one of the few people more ambitious than I am, which is quite difficult.” — Oliver Glasner
- “It doesn’t make sense to talk about [winning] silverware after three days.” — Oliver Glasner
- “I had two and a half fantastic years at Crystal Palace.” — Oliver Glasner
- “I think right now the average time for a manager is already below one year,” — Oliver Glasner
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
All sources agree that Forest employed four managers in the 2024/25 season and that Glasner is the fifth appointment. No contradictory figures on the number of managers or on Glasner’s contract length appear. Details on the exact financial terms of the deal and the club’s transfer budget remain unspecified.
What’s Next
Glasner expects at least two new signings—potentially midfielder Lucas Bergvall and free-transfer Xaver Schlager—before the pre-season training camp in Portugal next week. He will use the camp to begin implementing his tactical framework, with the explicit goal of moving the club closer to European qualification in the 2026/27 season.
