Nottingham Forest Eyes Brendan Rodgers As Nuno Espirito Santo’s Exit Looms

Nottingham Forest is reportedly targeting Brendan Rodgers to replace Nuno Espirito Santo, whose tenure at the club is reportedly on the brink of collapse.

By Chris Posiano

August 24, 2025 at 12:47 AM

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Nottingham Forest has identified Brendan Rodgers as their top pick for the managerial position should they decide to part ways with the current manager, Nuno Espirito Santo. owner Evangelos Marinakis has had a deteriorating relationship with Espirito Santo, leading to speculation about a potential change in the managerial hot seat.

Rodgers, the 52-year-old manager of Celtic, has long been admired by Marinakis. The Greek owner has been considering his managerial options for several months, and the timing might be right to secure Rodgers' services. The former Liverpool and Leicester City manager is in the final year of his contract with Celtic, and given his past experience of leaving the club, the compensation fee would not be a significant obstacle.

Nottingham Forest is preparing for a demanding campaign both domestically and in Europe. However, a rift between Marinakis and Espirito Santo has become apparent. The 51-year-old manager has publicly criticized the lack of signings and acknowledged the rumors about his potential dismissal, stating that "there’s no smoke without fire."

Marinakis is expected to make his decision next week, coinciding with Celtic's crucial Champions League qualifier against Kairat in Kazakhstan. If Celtic fails to qualify for the Champions League and struggles to secure new players during the transfer window, Rodgers' departure from Celtic could become more feasible.

Other managerial candidates linked with Nottingham Forest include Ange Postecoglou, who recently left Tottenham Hotspur, and Jose Mourinho, currently managing Fenerbahce. However, Mourinho's appointment could be costly and comes with his own set of controversies.

Espirito Santo hinted at his impending departure during a recent press conference, revealing that his relationship with Marinakis had soured. His comments followed earlier criticisms about the club's slow progress in the transfer market, directed at Forest's transfer chief, Edu.

Despite the arrival of four new players after Espirito Santo's pre-season remarks, his mood did not seem to improve. He reiterated his focus on minimizing distractions for the players and concentrating on the upcoming matches. Espirito Santo stated, "When the ball starts rolling, everything else finishes."