At the end of the 2023-24 season, Nottingham Forest were hanging by a thread: seventeenth place with just 32 points, narrowly avoiding relegation, and seemingly no clear direction. Now, as April winds down and the season enters its final stretch, Forest find themselves in third place in the Premier League, firmly in the Champions League qualification spot. It’s a turnaround few could have dreamt of, but it’s one that’s been building in the background for some time.
The Steve Cooper Era
The foundations of Forest’s current resurgence were laid in 2022 when Steve Cooper led the club back to the Premier League after a 23-year absence. Appointed in September 2021 when the club was sitting at the bottom of the Championship, Cooper instilled belief, structure, and unity almost overnight. That miraculous promotion, sealed through the play-offs, brought a sense of hope for a bright future for the club.
Cooper celebrates promotion with the Championship Play-off Trophy.
However, promotion came with its challenges. The squad that earned Forest promotion was undoubtedly unprepared for the Premier League, and in response, the club embarked on an unprecedented recruitment drive. Across two seasons, Forest signed over 30 players, including names like Morgan Gibbs-White, Emmanuel Dennis, Jesse Lingard, Renan Lodi, and Taiwo Awoniyi. While some signings worked, others didn’t. For example, Gibbs-White’s €30m transfer from Wolves to Forest has proved to be a key acquisition, as he shone this season, becoming one of the best CAMs [Ed. Note—central attacking midfielder, if you were wondering] in the Premier League. On the other hand, Lingard’s transfer from Manchester United in the summer of 2022 was underwhelming, as he recorded 0 goal contributions in 17 league appearances as a winger / attacking midfielder.
Cooper remained a beloved figure, but as the 2023-24 season progressed and results continued to decline, club ownership headed by Evangelos Marinakis made the difficult decision to make a change.
Meet the Nuno Boss
When Nuno Espírito Santo was appointed in December 2024, Forest were hovering just above the relegation zone. Nuno arrived with a reputation for organization, tactical discipline, and getting the best out of limited squads, just as he had done during his time at Wolves, guiding them to a 7th-place finish and a Europa League quarterfinal.
What Nuno brought to Forest was exactly what they needed: structure. He immediately implemented a more compact defensive shape, shifting between a 3-4-3 and a fluid 4-2-3-1 formation. But it wasn’t just tactics that Nuno implemented: it was mentality. Forest began playing with a belief and clarity that had been missing. Veterans like Willy Boly found great form, while younger players like Elanga and Murillo (both Team of the Season candidates) made great progress under his leadership.
Nuno and Elanga after a victory against Elanga’s former club, Manchester United.
The shift in momentum was marked with consecutive victories under the new boss; a 3-1 victory over Newcastle at St. James’ Park, and a famous win at the City Ground against Manchester United, their first win against the club in 29 years.
No Forest fan saw Nuno’s next season at the City Ground coming. Ever since the club’s 3-0 victory over West Ham back in November, they’ve solidified themselves at the top of the table and, to the surprise of many, have not fallen off since. Under Nuno, it seems like every player in the squad has found their stride. Notable players such as Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic, a top CB pairing in the Premier League, have proved to be an impenetrable force for attackers to get by. Barclaysman Chris Wood is having the season of his career, netting 19 goals with 5 games left to play. The speedy full-back Ola Aina has performed significantly well this season, recording European high percentages in winning the ball back in his own third.
Eyes on Europe, Journey to Wembley
As of late April, Nottingham Forest sit sixth in the Premier League table with a game in hand, but could climb back up to third (where they’ve been for quite some time) with a win against Brentford. With five matches left, their Champions League destiny is in their own hands.
And it’s not just the Premier League that Forest have been performing in. Their FA cup run (which sadly ended with a semi-final defeat to Manchester City) was a joy for fans to watch. Forest came out victorious on penalties for three consecutive games, most notably against Brighton to send the club to Wembley Stadium, where 18-year-old Zach Abbott would make an impressive FA cup debut.
Captain Ryan Yates celebrates after scoring the final PK to send Forest to Wembley.
What’s Next at the City Ground?
Whatever the final stretch of the season brings, one thing is already clear: Nottingham Forest are back — not just in the Premier League, but as a team with serious ambition. Under Nuno Espírito Santo, they’ve found their identity, and with the anticipation of a big summer window approaching, this revival could be just the beginning of a long-awaited golden era on the banks of the Trent.