Nottingham Forest are on the verge of appointing Oliver Glasner as their new head coach after deciding to part ways with Vitor Pereira in a move that came as a surprise to the Portuguese manager.
An agreement with the former Crystal Palace boss is understood to be nearly complete, with only the final formalities remaining before the appointment is confirmed. Forest first approached Glasner earlier this summer following the end of his successful spell at Selhurst Park.
The 51-year-old arrives with an impressive reputation after guiding Crystal Palace to the Europa Conference League title last season, adding to the FA Cup triumph the club celebrated in 2025. His appointment will make him Forest’s fifth permanent manager in less than a year.
Pereira was informed of the club’s decision on Tuesday evening despite having one year remaining on his contract. The former Wolves manager had been actively preparing for the upcoming campaign, attending transfer meetings in London and overseeing plans for pre-season in Portugal. Forest are scheduled to face Blackburn Rovers, Vitoria Guimaraes, Sporting Lisbon, Bayer Leverkusen, Barcelona and Udinese in friendly matches this summer, with a tournament involving Barcelona and Udinese confirmed earlier this week.
In a farewell statement, Pereira expressed disappointment at the unexpected decision but thanked the club, players and supporters for their backing. He reflected on helping Forest secure Premier League survival, reach the Europa League semi-finals and create lasting memories during his short spell in charge. He also praised the progress made by the squad and said he leaves with respect and gratitude despite the abrupt ending.
Contract negotiations between Pereira and Forest had been paused last month, but both sides had expected discussions to resume later this year. The Portuguese coach remained committed to the project despite reported interest from Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal, preferring to continue his career in the Premier League.
Appointed in February after replacing Sean Dyche, Pereira quickly transformed Forest’s fortunes. He guided the club to a 16th-place finish while leading them to their first European semi-final since 1984, where they were eventually eliminated by Aston Villa. During his tenure, Forest produced the joint-highest scoring record in the Premier League alongside Manchester City and boasted the division’s fifth-best defensive record.
His impact was immediate in Europe, beginning with a 3-0 victory away to Fenerbahce, the club’s biggest away win in European competition. He also helped restore confidence within a squad that had struggled under the previous coaching staff.
Forest’s latest managerial change continues a turbulent period at the City Ground. Nuno Espirito Santo departed earlier in the season following disagreements with global sporting director Edu, while Sean Dyche lasted just 114 days before Pereira took charge.
Glasner now takes over with expectations of delivering sustained success. His achievements at Crystal Palace, including European silverware after the club’s demotion from the Europa League to the Conference League because of UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules, are believed to have convinced Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis that he is the right man to lead the club’s next chapter.