Oliver Glasner Takes Charge as Nottingham Forest Head Coach

Nottingham Forest have turned to serial European winner Oliver Glasner as their new head coach, in a bold, politically charged move that sends a jolt through both the Premier League and south London.

The Austrian replaces Vitor Pereira, who was abruptly dismissed last week despite steering Forest to top-flight safety and a run to the Europa League semi-finals, where they fell to eventual winners Aston Villa. Survival and a European last four would usually buy time. At Forest, it has triggered a reset.

A serial winner arrives

Glasner walks into the City Ground with a suitcase full of silverware and a reputation for building hard-running, tactically sharp sides that punch above their weight.

He has just delivered two major trophies in two seasons in England, guiding Crystal Palace to an FA Cup triumph and then the Europa Conference League title, capped by a 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano in May. That European success means Palace will play in the Europa League next season. Forest, who edged them out of that competition via a controversial UEFA ruling, will watch from home.

Before his time in south London, Glasner carved his name into European folklore with Eintracht Frankfurt, leading the German club to the 2021-22 Europa League crown – their first major continental trophy in more than 40 years. His work at Wolfsburg and Frankfurt built the platform; his spell at Selhurst Park turned him into one of the most coveted coaches in Europe.

Now he takes on one of English football’s most romantic jobs.

“I’m delighted to join Nottingham Forest as head coach,” Glasner said. “From my very first conversations with the owner and the leadership team, it was evident to me that they have a clear vision for this football club and complete trust and belief in me and my staff to build a strong future together over the long term.

“That trust and shared commitment, together with the potential that I see within the squad, were key factors for me and I am excited about what we can achieve together.

“Nottingham Forest is a club with incredible prestige and history, a two-time European Champion with one of the most passionate fan bases in football. Our aim is to build a team that can help take the club to the next level in the years ahead and that our supporters can be proud of.

“My immediate focus is on meeting the players and staff and getting to work as we begin pre-season. I’m excited for the future and will work tirelessly to represent this great club with pride and to bring success on the pitch. I can’t wait to get started.”

Marinakis makes his move

Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has never hidden his ambition. Keeping the club merely afloat in the Premier League is not the plan. He wants a team that carries echoes of the club’s European glory days, and he believes Glasner is the man to drag Forest closer to that vision.

“In our discussions with Oliver, it was clear that we share the same vision, the same ambition and the same relentless desire to succeed,” Marinakis said. “He has consistently demonstrated throughout his career that he can build outstanding teams and deliver success against the strongest competition.

“It has always been our goal to establish Nottingham Forest once again among the leading clubs in England and Europe. Our ambition is not simply to compete – our ambition is to win, to challenge for major honours and to create a football club that our supporters can be proud of for many years to come.

“Oliver is a winner. He has earned success through his leadership, his personality and the style of football his teams play. We believe he is the right person to lead us into this next chapter, and I am delighted to welcome Oliver to the club.”

The message is unmistakable: Forest see themselves as upwardly mobile, not grateful survivors. Hiring a coach with Glasner’s European pedigree underlines that intent.

The Palace tension in the background

This appointment does not drop into a neutral landscape. Glasner’s move to the City Ground is layered with subtext, shaped by recent friction between Forest and Crystal Palace.

Last season, the clubs effectively collided off the pitch in the battle for a Europa League spot. UEFA eventually ruled that Forest, not Palace, would enter the competition, with the south London side excluded because former co-owner John Textor held a controlling interest in Lyon. Palace were pushed down to the Conference League, a decision that infuriated their fanbase and sharpened the rivalry.

The anger spilled into the stands. During a 1-1 Premier League draw at Selhurst Park on August 24, Palace supporters unveiled a graphic banner aimed at Marinakis. The Football Association later charged Palace with misconduct over the incident.

Glasner responded on the pitch. Demoted to the Conference League, he still took Palace all the way, lifting the trophy and securing Europa League football for them on merit. In a twist rich with irony, the coach who had been denied the Europa League with Palace will now attempt to take Forest back into Europe, while his former club prepare for that very competition.

Then came the announcement. Forest’s statement welcomed their new head coach and highlighted his achievements at Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt, as well as his trophy-laden spell at Selhurst Park. But it never once mentioned Crystal Palace by name.

Given the recent history between the clubs, that omission felt deliberate. The tension lingers, even as Glasner swaps one ambitious project for another.

A new chapter at the City Ground

Glasner now steps into a club steeped in European history, but still trying to find a stable footing in the modern game. He inherits a squad that has proved it can survive in the Premier League and compete deep into European competition, but also one that has lived through rapid change and high expectations.

Pre-season will give the Austrian his first look at a group that has potential but needs structure and a clear identity. That is his speciality. From Linz to Frankfurt to south London, Glasner has built teams that run hard, press aggressively and show a clear tactical plan against any opponent.

Forest want more than survival. Marinakis has said it plainly. Glasner has lived it.

The question now is not whether he can bring trophies – his record suggests he can – but how quickly he can turn Forest into the kind of side that belongs back on European nights, rather than reminiscing about them.