Nottingham Forest are plotting a fresh start after a turbulent 2025-26 season marked by four managerial changes and a survival battle that somehow coexisted with a Europa League semi-final run. Manager Vitor Pereira is tasked with delivering the consistency that eluded his predecessors, with Portuguese coach already signalling his intent to keep the club's star performers at the City Ground.
The upheaval began when Nuno Espirito Santo delivered European qualification but departed before Forest's first continental competition in three decades. Ange Postecoglou arrived and departed just as quickly, managing only eight winless matches before the axe fell. Sean Dyche offered temporary respite but failed to convince with his tactical approach. Pereira's arrival stabilised the ship, steering Forest to Premier League safety whilst engineering a surprise run to the Europa League semi-finals—a remarkable achievement given the managerial merry-go-round.
Building On Foundations
Retaining key talent is central to Forest's ambitions moving forward. Morgan Gibbs-White, who scored 18 goals last season yet mysteriously missed England's World Cup consideration, remains the focal point of a squad that demands continuity. Brazilian defender Murillo has already penned a new contract, extinguishing exit talk around the centre-back. Midfielder Elliot Anderson faces reported interest from Manchester rivals City and United, yet Pereira is determined to preserve the nucleus that took Forest deep into European waters.
Former Forest loanee Alan Hutton sees genuine cause for optimism. "Since Pereira went in, he's settled everything down," Hutton explained. "You can see the results are going the right way. If they can keep their best players and field them regularly and add a little bit to that, then I think they'll be fine." The stability Pereira brings contrasts sharply with the philosophical whiplash of a four-manager season, where counter-attacking systems gave way to defensive blocks and back again.
Owner Evangelos Marinakis, the Greek billionaire renowned for shrewd decision-making, will resist any fire-sale despite external interest. Neco Williams, crowned Player of the Year, is also targeted for a fresh contract. Pereira summed up the challenge: "We cannot control the market, of course, but I think we are aligned. What the club thinks is to try to keep most of them and to try to control the market." With the new Premier League fixtures releasing on June 19, Forest face the advantage of no European football in 2026-27—allowing them to build momentum domestically without continental distractions.
