Background on the Pairing
As of September 9, 2025, Ange Postecoglou has just been officially appointed as Nottingham Forest’s new head coach on a contract until June 2027, following the abrupt sacking of Nuno Espírito Santo after only three games into the 2025-26 Premier League season.
This move comes amid ongoing tensions at Forest, where owner Evangelos Marinakis has a history of hands-on involvement and frequent managerial changes (seven since 2017). Postecoglou, the Greek-Australian coach recently dismissed by Tottenham despite winning the 2024-25 Europa League, was Marinakis’s top choice, with informal talks dating back to August and a deal sealed over a summer dinner.
Their relationship appears strong on the surface, but whether it will “work well” long-term depends on aligning philosophies, patience with results, and navigating Marinakis’s demanding style.
Positive Indicators for a Strong Partnership
Several factors suggest Postecoglou and Marinakis could collaborate effectively, at least initially:
Shared Cultural and Personal Affinity:
Both have deep Greek ties—Postecoglou was born in Athens and proudly identifies as Greek, while Marinakis is a prominent Greek shipping magnate and Olympiacos owner.
In July 2025, Marinakis presented Postecoglou with an award at the Greek Super League draw for being the first Greek manager to win the Europa League, praising him effusively:
“He has spoken about Greece many times, he is proud to be Greek… I am sure that wherever he goes, he will have great success.”
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, football is a results-driven game, and Marinakis will be as concerned about Ange’s on-pitch achievements as he was with Nuno; the idea that the Greek owner will tolerate a 17th-place finish seems extremely ambitious. Forest is a club on the up and only excellence will be acceptable.
