Oliver Glasner Appointed Nottingham Forest Head Coach: 'A Clear Vision to Take the Club to the Next Level'

Jul 6, 2026 3 min read 11 views

Photo

Text Size

Nottingham Forest have appointed Oliver Glasner as their new head coach, replacing the sacked Vitor Pereira. Glasner, 51, arrives with an impressive t...

Nottingham Forest have confirmed the appointment of former Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner as their new head coach, succeeding the surprisingly sacked Vitor Pereira. The Austrian, who guided Palace to two major trophies in as many seasons, has signed a long-term deal at the City Ground and immediately set his sights on taking the two-time European champions "to the next level".

Forest's New Era Begins

Glasner's arrival marks the fifth managerial change at Forest in less than a year, but owner Evangelos Marinakis is convinced the 51-year-old is the man to bring stability and success. Pereira was dismissed last week despite securing Premier League survival and a memorable run to the Europa League semi-finals, where they were beaten by eventual winners Aston Villa.

In a statement, Glasner said:

"I'm delighted to join Nottingham Forest as head coach. 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."

Glasner's Impressive Pedigree

The Austrian coach boasts a glittering recent record in knock-out football. At Palace he won the FA Cup in 2024/25 and followed that up with the Europa Conference League title last season, defeating Rayo Vallecano in the final. Prior to his Selhurst Park stint, Glasner made history with Eintracht Frankfurt by leading them to their first major European trophy in over four decades, lifting the 2021/22 Europa League.

"Oliver is a winner," Marinakis said. "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."

A Controversial Move from Palace

Glasner's switch is not without tension. Forest and Palace were involved in a bitter dispute last season over a Europa League place, with UEFA eventually excluding the South London club due to former co-owner John Textor's stake in Lyon. Palace fans responded with a banner targeting Marinakis during August's 1-1 draw, leading to an FA misconduct charge. Notably, Forest's official announcement made no direct mention of Crystal Palace, referencing only Glasgow's achievements at "Southeast London" and his former clubs Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt. The Eagles will compete in the Europa League next season while Forest are without European football.

Key Takeaways

Oliver Glasner becomes Nottingham Forest's fifth head coach in under a year, inheriting a squad that just missed out on Europa League silverware.
He arrives with a proven track record of European success, having won the Europa Conference League with Palace and the Europa League with Frankfurt.
The appointment carries extra edge given the recent friction between Forest and Crystal Palace, exacerbated by Forest's decision not to name the Eagles in their statement.
Glasner's immediate focus will be on pre-season and instilling a winning mentality in a talented squad.
Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has made it clear the ambition is to challenge for major honours, not just compete.