​Oliver Glasner will take over as Nottingham Forest head coach, replacing the “disappointed and saddened” Vítor Pereira, who is departing from the City Ground on a note of surprise. Reports indicate a clause in Pereira’s contract allowed termination by the end of June, which Forest reportedly activated just before the deadline at 11:58 p.m. on Tuesday. Pereira described the decision as unexpected and said he is disappointed and saddened, though he also expressed pride in what they achieved and left with respect, gratitude, and fond memories, rather than bitterness.
Glasner left Crystal Palace at the end of last season after guiding them to the Europa Conference League title, having fulfilled his contract and turned down offers to stay. The move may provoke a negative reaction at Selhurst Park, given the tensions between Palace and Forest over last season’s qualification for European competition. Palace had earned a spot in the Europa League by winning the FA Cup but were relegated to the Conference League due to UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules, a consequence that also affected Forest and fueled bad blood between the clubs.
Pereira’s exit is abrupt even by Forest’s recent standards, given their high turnover of managers in the past year. The 57-year-old arrived in February on an 18-month contract and secured Premier League safety after the departure of Sean Dyche. He leaves Forest having steered them away from relegation, though their exit from the Europa League at the semi-final stage to eventual champions Aston Villa was a major disappointment.
Glasner, expected to sign a three-year deal, has attracted interest from several top clubs since it was announced in January that he would be leaving Palace at season’s end. He departs Palace as the most successful manager in their recent history, having won the FA Cup and the Community Shield during a remarkable two-year spell in charge.
Forest chief Evangelos Marinakis is determined to push the club toward European contention, and the signing of Glasner is viewed as a statement of intent. Marinakis believes the Austrian is the right man to elevate Forest’s ambitions and help them compete for European places next season.