Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has signed a new contract with the club after leading them to European qualification.
The Portuguese coach took over from Steve Cooper in the 2023-24 season and last year secured Forest a place in the Conference League for next season, marking their return to Europe.
They had been in the Champions League qualification places for much of the season, but their form dipped towards the end of the campaign and they had to settle for a spot in Europe’s third-tier competition.
Still, the new contract – which has been penned for three years – is reward for his efforts and puts any ‘baseless’ doubts over his future to bed.
Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville had called for Nuno to ‘negotiate his exit tonight’ after Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis had stormed the pitch after Forest’s draw with Leicester last month, with the former Manchester United man assuming he had done so to protest football matters.
It emerged, however, that the owner was concerned about the way a serious injury to Taiwo Awoniyi was dealt with. Forest later released a statement asking ‘former coaches and players, and other public figures in the game, to resist the urge to rush to judgement and fake news online, especially when they do not have the full facts and context – least of all the injured player.’
Forest would later tell Sky that their lead pundit Neville was banned from The City Ground for their defining game of the season against Chelsea in an unprecedented move.
They requested that the broadcaster changes its commentary team, believing there will be a hostile welcome from fans following some aggressive messaging from Neville that they felt was aimed at diminishing the club’s progress this season.
Neville posted of the incident with Marinakis: ‘Scandalous from that Forest owner. Nuno should go and negotiate his exit tonight with him! The Forest fans, players and manager do not deserve that.’
Jamie Carragher , meanwhile, had described Marinakis as ’embarrassing’ and told him to ‘get off the pitch’ on Sky Sports’ coverage of Forest’s clash with Leicester.
The club, though, are now looking ahead to next season, which will see them balance domestic football with a European campaign for the first time in 30 years.
Nuno, upon signing his deal, told the club website: ‘I am delighted to be able to continue our journey at this fantastic football Club.
‘Since we arrived at Forest, we have worked extremely hard to create a special bond between the players, the fans and everyone at the Club, which helped us achieve great things last season.
‘Now is the time to work harder than ever as we strive for more special memories together.’
Forest owner Marinakis added: ‘Nuno has made a great impact and performed very well during his time with us so far.
‘He has demonstrated that he maximises player performance and is an expert at developing players, whilst also embedding our young talent into the first team set-up.
‘We enjoy a strong and solid relationship together and, above all, we share the same dream and ambition of writing a new history for Nottingham Forest, competing in the Premier League and in Europe and winning trophies for our great club..’
