In his inaugural interview as Nottingham Forest manager, Ange Postecoglou has pledged to restore the club to its “rightful place” in English football, emphasizing his passion for winning. The Australian manager, who departed Tottenham Hotspur four months ago, takes over from Nuno Espírito Santo, the first Premier League manager to be dismissed this season amid a dispute with club owner Evangelos Marinakis.
Postecoglou’s tenure at Tottenham ended shortly after he led the team to a Europa League victory, marking the club’s first trophy in 17 years. Despite this success, he was let go following Tottenham’s worst Premier League performance since the 1976/77 season. Now, as he steps into his new role at Nottingham Forest, Postecoglou is eager to implement his winning philosophy.
Postecoglou’s Vision for Nottingham Forest
Speaking to Nottingham Forest fans, Postecoglou declared, “I love winning. I love winning things. It’s what I’ve done.” He expressed his desire to excite fans with an attacking style of play, stating, “I like the fans to be excited about watching the team play. There’s already an existing mentality within the group here of working hard for one another, and I want to tap into that.”
He further elaborated on his approach, saying, “It’s about now implementing my own ideas. I love my teams to attack. I love my teams to score goals. That’s sometimes misconstrued as me just playing one way. But the reason I want my team to play that way is because I love winning things – and that’s what I want to do here.”
“I love winning. I love winning things. It’s what I’ve done.” – Ange Postecoglou
Historical Context and Recent Achievements
Nottingham Forest, a club with a rich history, boasts two European Cup victories from 1979 and 1980. Last season, the team finished seventh in the Premier League, earning a spot in the Europa League. Postecoglou acknowledged these accomplishments, stating, “When you look at what the club has achieved in recent times, it’s an outstanding feat to be where we are right now.”
He praised the club’s ability to thrive after promotion, noting, “Other clubs that have won promotion have struggled to stay in the league, but in a short space of time we’re back in Europe and competing for honours, which is a great credit to everyone involved.”
“Other clubs that have won promotion have struggled to stay in the league, but in a short space of time we’re back in Europe and competing for honours.” – Ange Postecoglou
Support from Club Leadership
Club owner Evangelos Marinakis expressed confidence in Postecoglou’s ability to lead Nottingham Forest to further success. “We are bringing a coach to the club who has a proven and consistent record of winning trophies,” Marinakis stated. He highlighted Postecoglou’s experience with top-level teams, including his successful stints at Celtic, Yokohama Marinos, and the Australian national team.
“His experience of coaching teams at the highest level, along with his desire to build something special with us at Forest, makes him a fantastic person to help us on our journey and achieve consistently all our ambitions,” Marinakis continued.
“Ange has the credentials and the track-record to do this, and we are excited he is joining us on our ambitious journey.” – Evangelos Marinakis
Looking Ahead
Currently sitting tenth in the Premier League standings with four points from three games, Nottingham Forest is set to face Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on Saturday. As the team prepares for this challenge, Postecoglou’s focus is on building a squad capable of competing at the highest levels and challenging for trophies.
Postecoglou concluded his interview with a message of determination and optimism, “I get a sense that the club wants more and that’s certainly what I want, so I think it’s a really exciting time. I’m honoured and I’m humbled, but more importantly I’m determined to make sure this football club takes its rightful place.”
With Postecoglou at the helm, Nottingham Forest fans are hopeful for a return to glory and a new era of success.
