Nottingham Forest appoint Oliver Glasner as new head coach on reported £13m-a-year deal

Nottingham Forest have officially appointed Oliver Glasner as their new head coach, handing the highly-rated Austrian the task of leading the club into a new era at the City Ground.

The former Crystal Palace manager arrives with an impressive trophy-winning pedigree and is reportedly set to become one of the Premier League’s highest-paid coaches after agreeing a contract worth around £13 million per year.

Forest land one of Europe’s most sought-after coaches

Forest have moved quickly to replace Vitor Pereira by appointing Glasner, whose reputation has soared following successful spells in Germany and England.

The 51-year-old enjoyed remarkable success at Crystal Palace, guiding the Eagles to an unprecedented run of silverware that included the FA Cup, Community Shield and UEFA Conference League.

According to The Sun, Forest have rewarded Glasner with a lucrative contract that makes him the highest-paid manager in the club’s history and places him among the Premier League’s elite earners.

Glasner: “I’m excited about what we can achieve”

Speaking after his appointment, Glasner outlined his ambition to build on Forest’s rich history and establish the club among England’s top sides.

“I’m delighted to join Nottingham Forest as head coach.

“From my very first conversations with the owner and the leadership team, it was evident that they have a clear vision for this football club and complete trust and belief in me and my staff to build a strong future together over the long term.

“That trust and shared commitment, together with the potential I see within the squad, were key factors for me, and I am excited about what we can achieve together.

“Nottingham Forest is a club with incredible prestige and history, a two-time European champion with one of the most passionate fan bases in football.

“Our aim is to build a team that can take the club to the next level in the years ahead and one our supporters can be proud of.

“My immediate focus is on meeting the players and staff and getting to work as pre-season begins. I can’t wait to get started.”

Marinakis backs “winner” Glasner

Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis hailed the appointment, describing Glasner as the ideal coach to drive the club’s long-term ambitions.

“Oliver is a winner. He has earned success through his leadership, his personality and the style of football his teams play.”

The Austrian’s appointment reflects Forest’s determination to establish themselves as regular contenders in both domestic and European competition after several years of managerial instability.

European pedigree convinced Forest

Glasner arrives with one of the strongest CVs available on the market.

He famously guided Eintracht Frankfurt to UEFA Europa League glory in 2022 before enhancing his reputation in England with Crystal Palace, where his attacking philosophy and tactical flexibility earned widespread praise.

Forest believe his experience of winning major honours and competing in Europe makes him the ideal candidate to oversee the club’s next phase of development.

Pereira’s abrupt departure

Glasner replaces Vitor Pereira following a dramatic and controversial exit.

Despite leading Forest to the Europa League semi-finals and comfortably preserving their Premier League status, Pereira was dismissed after reportedly receiving an email just minutes before a contractual deadline that would have triggered additional compensation.

The Portuguese coach later admitted he was shocked by the decision.

“Although this decision came as a complete surprise to me and without any warning, I fully respect the club’s right to make the decisions it believes are best for its future.

“Naturally, I am disappointed and saddened. I truly believed in what we were building together, and I leave with a sense of pride in everything we achieved over the past months.”

Glasner now inherits a talented squad and significant expectations as Forest look to build on recent progress and establish themselves among the Premier League’s leading clubs.