Ange Postecoglou: 'Brutal' Forest Sacking Was a Wake-Up Call – Now He's Eyeing PL Return
Ange Postecoglou has described his 39-day stint at Nottingham Forest as a 'brutal' failure with no wins in eight games, leading to his instant sacking after a 3-0 loss to Chelsea. Ignoring warnings, he sees it as a learning curve that hasn't dented his resolve. Now, he's targeting a Premier League return with the right long-term project to unleash his attacking football.
Ange Postecoglou: 'Brutal' Forest Sacking Was a Wake-Up Call – Now He's Eyeing PL Return
Imagine getting your marching orders right after a 3-0 hammering at home, before you've even faced the baying press pack. That's exactly what happened to Ange Postecoglou during his whirlwind 39 days at Nottingham Forest. The Aussie gaffer has opened up about the chaos, calling it a 'brutal' episode that's made him sharper than ever.
Nightmare at the City Ground
Postecoglou rocked up at Forest as a mid-season saviour, replacing Nuno Espirito Santo after just three games. The plan? Steer the Tricky Trees away from the drop zone. Instead, it turned into a proper horror show – zero wins in eight matches across all comps, with two draws and six losses.
This after he'd just broken Tottenham's 17-year trophy drought with a Europa League triumph. Talk about a comedown. Forest's suits had seen enough, and Ange was out the door faster than you can say 'relegation fodder'.
Sacked in Spectacular Style
Chatting to Melbourne radio outfit SEN 1116, Postecoglou didn't hold back on the sacking drama. It came hot on the heels of that Chelsea thrashing – he was still in the coaches' room when the axe fell.
"It was brutal," he admitted. "I knew it was coming any day, but straight after the game? I hadn't done the presser, but the journos already knew." He legged it out of there to avoid a meltdown, only to get stuck in traffic – Chelsea fans jeering, Forest punters piling on, and kids begging for selfies. Absolute carnage.
If that wasn't enough, he owned up to ignoring mates who warned him off the gig. Fresh off his Spurs exit, he was itching for action. "I thought it was a challenge," he shrugged. "But it wasn't the right fit from day dot. Reputationally? Yeah, it stung in the Premier League. But personally? Nah, it's made me better. Next time, I'll listen to the wise heads."
Biding Time for the Perfect Project
At 60, Postecoglou's not dwelling – he's plotting his comeback. He's dead set on the Premier League but won't jump into another mid-season mess. His high-octane, attacking blueprint needs time to bed in, not a frantic rescue job.
"Jumping mid-season in the Prem? Too tough for my style," he said. He's holding out for a club where he can build from the foundations, unleashing the football he's itching to play. Has he scratched the surface of his England ambitions? Not even close.
It's classic Ange – unflappable, forward-thinking. Forest fans might wince at the memories, but you can't help rooting for the bloke. After all, who doesn't love a gaffer with that never-say-die vibe? Keep an eye out; the next Postecoglou project could be a belter.
(Story draws from reflections shared on SEN 1116, as reported by AFP via Goal.com)
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