Pereira calls Forest sacking a 'complete surprise'

Vítor Pereira fulfilled his mission to keep Nottingham Forest from relegation in the Premier League last season. He was appointed in February when the club were three points from the relegation zone. He guided them to 16th place, five points clear of relegated West Ham and ahead of Tottenham.

Despite this achievement, he was dismissed in what he described as an unfair manner. His contract with the Reds included a clause allowing either side to terminate before the end of June. At 23:58 on 30 June, Pereira received an email confirming his dismissal.

At that time the 58‑year‑old Portuguese had already reviewed the previous season’s positives and negatives, arranged pre‑season friendlies and identified potential signings. He said the email arrived two minutes before midnight after all pre‑season plans had been set. In an interview with The Athletic he called the sacking a “complete surprise”.

Owner’s handling draws criticism

He added he never received any indication that the club no longer valued him and accepted their right to decide. He criticised owner Evangelos Marinakis’ handling of the dismissal as the only unfair element. The club’s decision came shortly after learning that Oliver Glasner, the 2025 Conference League and FA Cup‑winning manager of Crystal Palace, was interested in the role.

Pereira said he would have understood if the club had simply informed him of another option. He stated he does not dwell on the past, prefers to focus on the present and prepare for his next opportunity. He recalled the affection he received from fans, club staff and players.

He noted that Nottingham Forest’s current form is poor, sitting second‑last in the Premier League with only one win in nine games and five matches without a victory. He also mentioned the team’s elimination from the English League Cup.

Pereira reflected that his stint at Forest mirrors his earlier Premier League role at Wolverhampton, where he took over in mid‑season 2024/25 and secured survival. He was later dismissed in November of the following season, leaving Wolves at the bottom before they were relegated.

Looking beyond fire‑fighting roles

He now declares he no longer wishes to manage clubs fighting relegation, describing himself as not a “fire‑fighter” coach. He wants to prove his worth by competing with the league’s top managers and aiming for titles. He said he has received recent proposals that could have been accepted earlier. He concluded his future ambition is to contest Premier League titles, noting his career has largely been about chasing trophies.