Ange Postecoglou Reflects on Regret Over Nottingham Forest Role

omidbasir- Ange Postecoglou has publicly expressed regret regarding his decision to take on the head coach position at Nottingham Forest this season, believing it was a role he accepted too soon after his departure from Tottenham Hotspur.

Postecoglou was dismissed from Spurs last summer despite having recently ended the club’s 17-year trophy drought by securing the Europa League title. Shortly thereafter, he faced a similar fate at Forest, where he was let go after a difficult 39-day winless stretch earlier this season.

During an appearance on The Overlap podcast, Postecoglou discussed his decision to accept the role at City Ground, acknowledging that the timing was not ideal.

“The entire Forest situation was my responsibility. It was, in hindsight, a case of being careful what you wish for,” he stated.

“It was a poor decision to accept the position, and I must take full ownership of that. There is no use blaming timing or circumstances—I should never have taken the job. It was too soon after my time at Tottenham.

“I entered a situation where the club had been accustomed to a particular way of operating, and even though I intended to implement changes, I must accept that it was my error. It is no one else’s fault.

“This was the first time in over 20 years that I had not been employed, and I felt lost. Typically, during the off-season, one is busy with transfers and pre-season preparations, but this time I found myself adrift.”

Since Postecoglou’s departure, Forest has appointed two new managers, with Vitor Pereira succeeding Sean Dyche as the club’s fourth permanent manager this season—a Premier League record.

Amid the ongoing managerial changes, Forest currently finds itself just three points above the relegation zone, significantly underperforming given the quality of its squad. Postecoglou reflected on the uncertainty he encountered upon joining the club.

“Usually, when you join a new club, there is a desire for change. However, the reality is that I don’t believe they truly wanted to embrace what I had to offer,” he noted.

“I have the impression that they might not have even wanted to interview me. Something must have transpired behind the scenes, as there was no logical reason for them to approach me after the previous season.

“Thus, I was not entering a typical environment where everyone was eager for change. I saw the potential in the players and thought I could facilitate a quick turnaround. However, strategically, it was never meant to work.

“By the time we started engaging in competitive matches, we failed to gain momentum. It is no surprise that the supporters did not connect with me, and even the players seemed somewhat distant.”

Postecoglou was ultimately dismissed by Forest just 19 minutes after suffering a fourth consecutive defeat against Chelsea. He believes he should have engaged in more thorough discussions before accepting the position.

“In the end, I must take responsibility. I made a decision based on my time away from coaching and the belief that I could improve the players, which led me to overlook the reality that it would not work in the long term,” he admitted.

“Even if I had won a few matches, it would not have been sustainable. The owner, Evangelos Marinakis, seeks immediate results, no matter the approach. While opinions on him may vary, it is likely they would not even be in the Premier League without his involvement. However, he demands results quickly.

“Every manager experiences challenging periods; that’s how one learns about the players, staff, and fans. You need to endure those moments. At Spurs, we faced such difficulties and ultimately reaped the rewards. I had the team’s trust after overcoming those challenges.

“Looking back, I am not sure what I was thinking. I should have had more comprehensive discussions before accepting the role. Nevertheless, I have always been the type to say: ‘Get me in there, and I’ll demonstrate my capabilities.’”