After debacle of Ange Postecoglou, the new manager, who was a trainee under Clough, is bringing ‘energy’ to the club “This badge is bigger than any manager,” said Sean Dyche at his unveiling as Nottingham Forest’s head coach, wearing a training top with his initials, before correcting himself. “Well, there was one manager who was probably as big as the badge – we all know who that was.” Then came an impression of Brian Clough, a crack at that unique drawl. “‘Young ginger, well done,’” he said, reliving his three years as a trainee at the City Ground, the days he spent wandering down the Trent, with Del Boy, Clough’s labrador, whizzing past him and his manager’s voice invariably within earshot. Dyche tells a story of how, as a youth player, he and a few others tended to Clough’s garden at his home in Quarndon. “We were on £28.50 a week and he paid you a tenner to do his garden. So we actually thought: ‘This is decent.’ He’d cook for you and make sure you were well looked after. It was quite enjoyable, not too much gardening.” Continue reading...

"I have seen enough fashionistas come in and out of this division," says new Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche.

Plus: Austria’s full-house of goals and assists, more free-kick purple patches and seeing red after scoring a hat-trick Mail us with your questions and answers “Is Ange Postecoglou’s 40-day spell at Nottingham Forest the shortest for a full-time manager in the English top flight?” asks Donna Stevens. Any Nottingham Forest manager aspires to emulate the achievements of Brian Clough at the City Ground, or at least pay some kind of success-based tribute. Alas, Ange Postecoglou’s spell at Forest was more reminiscent of Clough’s time at Leeds – short and sour. Ron Futcher, Charlton 5-3 Barnsley, Division Two, March 1985 Futcher’s hat-trick put Barnsley 3-0 ahead; he was then sent off with the score 3-3 before Charlton completed a spectacular comeback. Hristo Stoichkov, Atlético Madrid 1-4 Barcelona, La Liga, September 1992 Benni McCarthy, Porto 5-3 Santa Clara, Primeira Liga, April 2002 Marco Gabbiadini, Sunderland 4-0 Ipswich, Division Two, March 1989 Quite an achievement, this one – after 87 minutes Gabbiadini had scored only one goal. He added two more in the 88th and 89th before being sent off in the 90th for an alleged right-hander. Chris Iwelumo, Preston 1-3 Wolves, Championship, September 2008 Hugo Almeida, Werder Bremen 3-0 St Pauli, Bundesliga, November 2010 Continue reading...

A deal with Rangers collapsed but success in Asia for the Australian coach – who is transformed from the fiery player he once was – means more European opportunities will arrive A week ago it looked as if there were going to be two Australians in prominent head coaching roles in the UK. But then Ange Postecoglou was fired by Nottingham Forest and Kevin Muscat’s move to Rangers collapsed. Postecoglou has much thinking to do, but there is no reason for Muscat to wait much longer to make his move to Europe. According to reports, a return to Glasgow to the club where Muscat won the treble as a player in 2003 was nixed as he wanted to finish the three remaining games of the Chinese Super League season with leaders Shanghai Port. If so, Muscat is to be commended, but even if he fails to deliver another league title in the next month, his options in Europe should not be limited to former clubs. Indeed, the recent links can be useful in showcasing a coaching career that ranks alongside that of his former mentor. Continue reading...

Nottingham Forest are not "far away" from reconnecting with their disillusioned fans after a poor start to the season, says new boss Sean Dyche.

Manager inherits a group of players that suits him and has a track record of creating camaraderie in his squads Sean Dyche was often spotted at the City Ground while out of work. The Nottingham Forest job has been of interest to him for a long time, and not only because he lives close by. The circumstances in which the role has become available are not ideal for an incoming head coach but his appointment is the pragmatic choice in ludicrous circumstances. Ange Postecoglou was never the right man, inheriting a squad that did not suit his style and did not adapt quickly enough, though it did not help that he told the players their previous achievements meant nothing. His tenure will go down in history for all the wrong reasons. Dyche, on the other hand, has plenty of respect for what was achieved at Forest under Nuno Espírito Santo and is far more aligned with that conservatism than with what was witnessed under Postecoglou. Continue reading...

Sean Dyche answers an SOS call from Nottingham Forest as the club look to restore confidence - is he the right man for the job?

Former Everton manager brought in on contract to 2027 Dyche will be in dugout against Porto on Thursday Nottingham Forest have appointed Sean Dyche as their third head coach of a tumultuous season. The former Everton and Burnley manager will hope to stabilise the club after the winless 40-day reign of Ange Postecoglou and, before that, the dismissal of Nuno Espírito Santo. The Fulham manager, Marco Silva, and the former Manchester City head coach Roberto Mancini were also considered but Forest opted for the experience of Dyche. He has signed a contract to 2027. Continue reading...

Nottingham Forest appoint former Burnley and Everton manager Sean Dyche as their new head coach - becoming the club's third different boss this season.

The former Tottenham manager made a rash Premier League return, and it will probably be his last Sign up for Soccer with Jonathan Wilson here The weirdest aspect of Ange Postecoglou’s 40-day reign at Nottingham Forest was how inevitable it all felt. The only shock was that he was sacked on Saturday, within minutes of a 3-0 home defeat to Chelsea, rather than a day or two later. But by then, it was obvious this ill-starred adventure had run its course; perhaps it was kinder to everybody to bring it to an end. Forest, certainly, had to act quickly if they are to make the most of their first European campaign in three decades. But why was such an obviously terrible appointment made in the first place? What was it that made the Nottingham Forest owner, Evangelos Marinakis, ever think that Postecoglou was the right man to succeed Nuno Espírito Santo? They met in July at an event staged by the Greek league to celebrate Postecoglou winning the Europa League with Tottenham, but was it really just that? That they got on well over a glass of wine? This is an extract from Soccer with Jonathan Wilson, a weekly look from the Guardian US at the game in Europe and beyond. Subscribe for free here. Have a question for Jonathan? Email soccerwithjw@theguardian.com, and he’ll answer the best in a future edition. Continue reading...

54-year-old poised to replace Ange Postecoglou Marco Silva and Roberto Mancini also considered for role Nottingham Forest are close to appointing Sean Dyche as their third head coach of the season. The former Everton manager is poised to replace Ange Postecoglou, who was sacked after 40 days in charge. Evangelos Marinakis wanted to reunite with Marco Silva, with whom he had worked at Olympiakos, but Silva’s reluctance to leave Fulham during the season and his £13m release clause made the move difficult. The former Manchester City head coach Roberto Mancini was also under consideration and was spoken to by Forest but Dyche became the focus. Continue reading...

Nottingham Forest are in advanced talks to appoint former Burnley and Everton boss Sean Dyche as their manager.

The Australian will have to prove himself all over again after back-to-back Premier League dismissals leave a stain on his CV Ange Postecoglou knows a strong reputation can be as valuable as results. The Australian is quick to defend his record when his coaching capabilities, successes or failures are called into question. To call on his experience when he feels like he is being disrespected or dismissed for learning the ropes in a football outpost. To turn to the silverware he has collected when there is a suggestion that he is a visitor, an impostor or a charlatan who somehow duped his way into the major leagues. But a new record – the shortest stint as a permanent manager of a Premier League club – is one that will need no reminder. Being sacked just 40 days into his Nottingham Forest reign will remain a stain on Postecoglou’s CV long after he leaves England. Being axed from two Premier League clubs within little more than four months is a blemish that could be even harder to remove after the Australian passes through the departure lounge. Continue reading...