Timing is everything in professional sports, and for Ange Postecoglou, the clock may have been moving just a bit too fast last year. The veteran Australian manager recently opened up about his ill-fated stint at Nottingham Forest, admitting through a close confidant that the move to the City Ground came “a little too soon” after his high-profile exit from Tottenham Hotspur.
A Historic Struggle in the Premier League
Postecoglou’s time at Nottingham Forest was, by nearly any metric, a nightmare. After taking the reins, he lasted just 39 days before being fired last October. During that brief, chaotic window, he failed to secure a single victory in eight attempts. The stint earned him a spot in the record books for all the wrong reasons, marking the shortest tenure of any permanent manager in the history of the Premier League.
The collapse was particularly jarring considering where Postecoglou had been just months prior. In June 2025, he was dismissed by Tottenham despite leading the North London club to its first major trophy in 17 years. The emotional and professional toll of that departure followed by the immediate pressure of a relegation scrap at Forest seemingly created a perfect storm for failure. Now 60, Postecoglou has stepped away from the sidelines for the time being, currently lending his expertise to UEFA as a technical advisor.
Insights from the Melbourne Derby
The revelation regarding Postecoglou’s true feelings came via former Rangers defender and Australian national team captain Craig Moore. Speaking on the Go Radio Football Show, Moore detailed a recent meeting with his former boss back home in Australia. The pair, along with former Rangers teammate Kevin Muscat, watched the Melbourne Derby between Victory and City from a private box this past December.
Moore noted that during their catch-up, Postecoglou seemed to recognize that he rushed back into the dugout. The reflection suggests that the Australian, who previously enjoyed a glittering run at Celtic, might have benefited from a longer hiatus after the Spurs job. Moore indicated that while a return to management is almost certainly on the horizon, Postecoglou is likely to be far more selective—and patient—before signing his next contract.
The Looming Shadow of a Celtic Return
Naturally, any talk of Postecoglou being available triggers speculation in Glasgow. Before his move to the Premier League in 2023, he was a hero at Celtic Park, delivering back-to-back Scottish Premiership titles and capturing the imagination of the Hoops’ faithful. With Celtic currently under the interim guidance of Martin O’Neill following Wilfried Nancy’s dismissal, Postecoglou’s name is once again a fixture in local headlines.
When pressed on whether a “fairytale” return to Celtic was discussed in that Melbourne skybox, Moore was cautious. He admitted he didn’t ask the question directly, though he expressed a certain level of skepticism about managers returning to their old stomping grounds. In Moore’s view, some achievements and memories are so significant that they are better left untouched rather than risked in a second act.
Forest Looks Ahead to European Clash
While their former manager reflects on what went wrong, Nottingham Forest is looking toward the future and a looming showdown with Fenerbahçe at Chobani Stadium. Despite the turmoil of the previous year, the English side has shown flashes of offensive brilliance lately, averaging 1.9 goals per match compared to Fenerbahçe’s 1.3.
The statistical matchup suggests a physical encounter is on the horizon. Forest has been aggressive on the pitch, averaging 14 fouls per game, a strategy that has seen players like Elliot Anderson frequently involved in both committing and drawing infractions. Igor Jesus has emerged as a primary threat for Forest with six goals, supported by the creative output of Callum Hudson-Odoi, who has racked up 14 assists. They will face a disciplined Fenerbahçe side anchored by the distribution of Milan Skriniar and the shot-stopping ability of Ederson Moraes, who has already recorded 64 recoveries this season.
