'Winner' Glasner Enters Forest Door

July 6 2026, and Nottingham Forest changed managers, again, this time welcoming Austrian 51-year-old, Oliver Glasner, to the City Ground.

Glasner, formerly of VfL Wolfsburg, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Crystal Palace, has brought European success to two of those clubs, whilst at Forest, the main aim will be to steady a rocky ship that sees him become their sixth manager in a little over thirty months.

At Wolfsburg, he led them to Champions League qualification, whilst at Frankfurt there was his first European trophy, the 2022 Europa League (defeated Glasgow Rangers 5-4 on penalties, following a 1-1 draw), before adding the 2026 Conference League (1-0 vs. Rayo Vallecano), with Palace, last time around.

It’ll be a different remit though in Nottingham, for now at least; qualifying for the Europa League themselves in 2025, the Reds followed up that excellent campaign, with a struggling sixteenth (fifth bottom), in last seasons Premier League.

Rebuilding the Reds will see the need for Owner Evangelos Marinakis, to dig deep again, and open his chequebook, especially after the fifteen-plus additions over the last two transfer windows; the coffers will be buoyed by the recent sale of star midfielder, Elliott Anderson, who left for £116 million to Manchester City, earlier this month.

Upon his announcement as the new Head Coach of Forest, Salzburg-born Glasner, who made over 500 appearances for SV Ried between 1992 and 2011, said; “I’m delighted to join Nottingham Forest as head coach.

“From my very first conversations with the owner and the leadership team, it was evident to me that they have a clear vision for this football club and complete trust and belief in me and my staff to build a strong future together over the long term.

“That trust and shared commitment, together with the potential that I see within the squad, were key factors for me and I am excited about what we can achieve together.”

With a World Cup tournament heading into its latter stages, and the eyes of the world on footballers galore, Glasner could well look at, first and foremost, his former club in London, whilst running the rule over a vast number of players to have played on the biggest stage.

Alongside Glasner, in the Forest dugout, will be his two assistants, Emanuel Pogatetz and Michael Angerschmid, assistant coach Michael Berktold, goalkeeping coach Michael Gspuming, and transition coach James Holland, so plenty of eyes to source potential, new players.

In addition, Glasner added of his joining the Reds that; “Nottingham Forest is a club with incredible prestige and history, a two-time European Champion with one of the most passionate fan bases in football.

“Our aim is to build a team that can help take the club to the next level in the years ahead and that our supporters can be proud of.

“My immediate focus is on meeting the players and staff and getting to work as we begin pre-season.

“I’m excited for the future and will work tirelessly to represent this great club with pride and to bring success on the pitch. I can’t wait to get started.”

Meanwhile, club owner Evangelos Marinakis said of the Glasner appointment that; “In our discussions with Oliver, it was clear that we share the same vision, the same ambition and the same relentless desire to succeed.

“He has consistently demonstrated throughout his career that he can build outstanding teams and deliver success against the strongest competition.

“It has always been our goal to establish Nottingham Forest once again among the leading clubs in England and Europe.

“Our ambition is not simply to compete – our ambition is to win, to challenge for major honours and to create a football club that our supporters can be proud of for many years to come.

“Oliver is a winner. He has earned success through his leadership, his personality and the style of football his teams play.

“We believe he is the right person to lead us into this next chapter, and I am delighted to welcome Oliver to the Club.”

Glasner will no doubt have already circled games against his former club, Palace, in his fixtures calendar, visiting Selhurst Park on 10 October, before the return at the City Ground later in the season, on 8 May.

The Reds start the 2026/27 campaign at home to Leeds United (22 August), then a trip to Merseyside, and Liverpool, a week later (29 August); Tottenham Hotspur then visit the City Ground (5 September), before the Glasner’s men visit Aston Villa (12 September) and welcoming newcomers Coventry City (19 September).

The final three sees Forest at Arsenal (15 May), hosting Ipswich Town (23 May), and finishing at Coventry City (30 May), where the hope is, Glasner is not only still on charge, but has led the Reds to a European place finish, and who knows, maybe cup success as well….

Check out the Reds’ fixtures for the 2026/27 season HERE

(NB, all fixtures subject to change due to television broadcasting, and cup progression, replays).