Ange Postecoglou has expressed regret over accepting the head coach position at Nottingham Forest this season, admitting it was “too soon” after leaving Tottenham Hotspur.
Postecoglou was dismissed by Spurs last summer, despite having won the Europa League trophy just weeks prior, ending the club’s 17-year trophy drought.
His stint at Forest was similarly brief; he was let go by owner Evangelos Marinakis after enduring a 39-day winless streak earlier this season.
On The Overlap podcast, Postecoglou reflected on his decision to join Forest, recognizing that the timing was not ideal.
“The situation at Forest was entirely my responsibility,” Postecoglou stated. “It’s a classic case of being careful what you wish for.”
“It was a poor choice on my part to take that role, and I must accept responsibility for it. There’s no value in blaming timing or circumstances — I should not have accepted it. It was too early after my stint at Tottenham,” he explained.
“I entered a situation where they had established ways of doing things. Even though I intended to bring a different approach, I need to acknowledge my oversight. It was my fault, not anyone else’s.”
“It was the first time in over 20 years that I hadn’t been working, and I felt disoriented. During the off-season, I’m usually busy with transfers, preseason planning, and keeping my mind active. But this time, I felt lost.”
Since Postecoglou’s departure, Forest has appointed two new managers, with Vitor Pereira now taking over from Sean Dyche, marking the club’s fourth permanent manager this season — a record in the Premier League.
Amidst the managerial turmoil, Forest currently sits just three points above the relegation zone, underperforming given the quality of their squad. Postecoglou shared insights about the environment he stepped into.
“Typically, when you join a club, there’s a desire for change. But the truth is, I don’t believe they genuinely wanted what I had to offer,” he remarked.
“I doubt they even intended to interview me. Something must have transpired behind the scenes, as after the previous season, they wouldn’t have approached me otherwise.”
“I saw a group of players I thought I could quickly turn around, but strategically, it was flawed from the beginning. By the time we commenced competitive matches, we never found our rhythm. It’s not surprising that there was no real connection with the supporters or even the players.”
– Postecoglou remarks on Spurs not being a ‘big club’ and reveals four players he attempted to sign
– Frank’s dismissal ‘fair’ but uncertainty looms over Spurs – Ange Postecoglou
– Forest’s fourth manager of the season, Vitor Pereira, expresses ‘trust’ in owner Marinakis
Postecoglou was ultimately released by Forest just 19 minutes after experiencing his fourth consecutive defeat against Chelsea and emphasized he should have had more “thorough discussions” before accepting the position.
“In the end, I need to take responsibility. I made a choice influenced by my time off and the belief that I could improve a talented group of players. That blinded me to the reality — it was never going to succeed long-term,” Postecoglou reflected.
“Even if I had won a few games, it would not have lasted.”
“The owner [Marinakis] is focused on winning — by any means necessary. You can say what you want about him, but it’s likely they wouldn’t even be in the Premier League without his influence. However, he expects immediate results.”
“Every manager faces challenging periods; that’s how you gain insight about players, staff, and fans. You need to experience that. At Spurs, we encountered difficulties and eventually reaped the rewards. I had a strong rapport with those players after that experience.”
“Looking back, I question my thought process. I should have engaged in deeper discussions before accepting the position. However, I’ve always believed in getting in and showing what I can do.”