Leeds United's key Premier League rivals and early opponents appoint new head coach after boss departure
Leeds United’s Premier League rivals and early opponents have appointed a new boss.
Leeds United’s Premier League rivals and opening weekend opponents Nottingham Forest have appointed a trophy-winning new head coach following the departure of their last season boss.
Forest endured a very troubled 2025-26 league campaign amid the club’s push for Europa League glory, the Reds going through four different managers in Nuno Espirito Santo, Ange Postecoglou, Sean Dyche and most recently Vitor Periera.
Periera was brought in in February after Dyche was sacked and the Portuguese manager ultimately guided Forest to safety through a 16th-placed finish, the Reds finishing five points above the drop zone but two points behind Leeds.
Forest, though, paved the way for yet another managerial change last week as they triggered a mutual termination clause in Pereira’s deal and the club have now appointed outgoing Crystal Palace boss as the club’s new head coach.
The news was announced on Monday morning with a Nottingham Forest club statement.
It read: “Nottingham Forest is delighted to announce the appointment of Oliver Glasner as the Club’s new Head Coach.
“One of Europe's most respected and progressive coaches”
“One of Europe's most respected and progressive coaches, Glasner joins Forest with an outstanding reputation for developing players, building ambitious attacking teams and delivering success at the highest level of the game.
“His leadership, tactical expertise and winning mentality make him the ideal person to lead the Club into its next chapter.
“Glasner arrives at Forest having become only the third head coach to win both the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Conference League.
“His European success, together with domestic silverware in England, underlines his track record of building winning teams.
“He guided VfL Wolfsburg to UEFA Champions League qualification before leading Eintracht Frankfurt to victory in the 2021/22 UEFA Europa League, securing the club's first major European trophy in more than four decades.
“During his time in Germany, his teams earned widespread admiration for their intensity, tactical organisation and attacking style of play.
“Most recently, Glasner made an immediate impact in English football, winning the 2024/25 FA Cup in his first full season in the Premier League, followed by the FA Community Shield, before going on to win the UEFA Conference League the following season.”
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.
“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.”
“Our ambition is to win, to challenge for major honours”
Owner Evangelos Marinakis said: "In our discussions with Oliver, it was clear that we share the same vision, the same ambition and the same relentless desire to succeed.
“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.