Ange Postecoglou's tenure as head coach of Nottingham Forest came to an abrupt end on October 18, 2025, just 39 days and eight matches after his appointment. The Australian manager was dismissed mere minutes after Forest's 3-0 defeat by Chelsea at the City Ground, a result that sealed his fate following a winless run across all competitions. This short stint ranks among the shortest permanent managerial reigns in Premier League history, drawing comparisons to Sam Allardyce's 30 days at Leeds United in 2023 and Les Reed's 40 days at Charlton in 2006.

Postecoglou, appointed on September 9 to succeed Nuno Espírito Santo, was tasked with introducing a more expansive style of play. However, his team struggled to find form, collecting only one point from his five Premier League matches in charge and leaving Forest precariously placed in 17th, just one point above the relegation zone. Across his eight games, Forest scored only seven goals while conceding 18, a stark reflection of their defensive vulnerabilities and offensive struggles.

The nightmare began on September 13 with a 3-0 loss to Arsenal at the Emirates. Despite early season optimism, where an in-house commentator for Arsenal even suggested a win could see Forest climb above them into third place, the game quickly turned into a hammering. Goals from Martín Zubimendi (twice) and Viktor Gyökeres, coupled with a dominant performance from Noni Madueke, signaled the start of Forest's slide. The statistics, 1.84 xG against 0.20 and 16 shots against 5, painted a clear picture of Arsenal's superiority, though Postecoglou remained upbeat.

Four days later, on September 17, Forest faced Swansea City in the Carabao Cup. What started as an opportunity to regain winning momentum, with Igor Jesus scoring twice to give Forest a 2-0 lead by halftime, dramatically unraveled in the second half. Swansea mounted a stunning comeback, with Cameron Burgess scoring in the 68th minute, followed by Zan Vipotnik in the 93rd, and a superb Burgess volley in the 97th minute, securing a 3-2 victory for the Championship side.

Postecoglou finally secured his first point on September 20 in a 1-1 draw away at Burnley. Neco Williams gave Forest an early lead, but Jaidon Anthony quickly equalized. Despite chances for both sides, the score remained level. This solitary point in the Premier League would ultimately be the only one earned under Postecoglou's leadership.

Forest's return to European competition after 30 years saw them draw 2-2 with Real Betis in the Europa League on September 24. Cédric Bakambu opened the scoring for Betis, but Igor Jesus swiftly equalized and then put Forest 2-1 up with a header. However, former Manchester United winger Antony equalized for Betis in the 85th minute, denying Postecoglou his elusive first win as Forest manager and highlighting his side's inability to close out games.

The frustration continued on September 27 with a 0-1 home defeat to newly-promoted Sunderland. Despite dominating possession (65%), shots (22 vs 11), and expected goals (1.68 xG vs 1.19), Forest failed to convert their chances. The only goal came from an Omar Alderete header, a result that saw Forest drop to 17th. Postecoglou remarked that his team was "dominating in every aspect" but simply not winning.

European football returned to the City Ground on October 2 in a thrilling 2-3 loss to Danish side FC Midtjylland. In a chaotic first half, Ousmane Diao and Mads Bech Sørensen scored for the visitors, either side of an equalizer from Dan Ndoye. A late Midtjylland counter saw Valdemar Byskov extend their lead to 3-1 before a stoppage-time penalty from Chris Wood proved to be a mere consolation. This result sparked "sacked in the morning" chants from frustrated fans, and Postecoglou became the first Forest manager in 100 years to fail to win any of his first six games.

The pressure intensified after a 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United at St. James' Park on October 5. Despite showing improved resilience, second-half goals from Bruno Guimarães and a Nick Woltemade penalty secured a deserved win for Newcastle, who out-generated Forest with 3.45 xG to 0.30. This left Postecoglou's position extremely vulnerable heading into the international break, with many anticipating his imminent departure.

Despite widespread speculation, Postecoglou surprisingly survived the two-week October international break. In an extraordinary pre-match press conference before the Chelsea game, he struck a defiant tone, defending his Premier League record at Spurs and confidently stating that "the story always ends the same... Me with a trophy."

The final act of his reign unfolded against Chelsea on October 18. An encouraging first 45 minutes saw Forest match Enzo Maresca's Club World Cup winners, raising hopes for a much-needed result. Striker Taiwo Awoniyi, making his first Premier League start of the season, had a solid first half, creating pressure and showcasing good hold-up play despite an early miss. However, his substitution at halftime for Igor Jesus proved to be a turning point. Chelsea's triple halftime change transformed the contest, leading to goals from Josh Acheampong in the 49th minute and Pedro Neto in the 52nd, the latter partially due to a goalkeeping error from Matz Sels. Owner Evangelos Marinakis, present in the stands, was visibly frustrated and left his seat around the 67th minute, an ominous sign. Reece James then added a third goal six minutes from time, capitalizing on a weak punch from Sels, sealing Forest's 3-0 defeat.

Minutes after the final whistle, Nottingham Forest confirmed Postecoglou's dismissal. Marinakis did not deliver the news personally, with a senior club official informing the 60-year-old. Postecoglou subsequently bid farewell to his players, offering an apology that his vision did not come to fruition. His staff, including Nick Montgomery, Mile Jedinak, and Sergio Raimundo, are also expected to depart. The club is reportedly looking for a quick appointment, with Sean Dyche and Marco Silva (who previously worked under Marinakis at Olympiacos) being considered as potential successors. Postecoglou leaves Forest in 17th place, just as he left Tottenham Hotspur four months prior, though his departure from Spurs was after masterminding a Europa League triumph.