Nottingham Forest have named former Burnley and Everton manager Sean Dyche as their new head coach, marking their third managerial change of the season.
The 54-year-old Englishman has signed a contract running until the summer of 2027, succeeding Ange Postecoglou, who was dismissed just 39 days into the role. Postecoglou’s brief tenure ended only 17 minutes after Forest’s 3–0 Premier League defeat to Chelsea on Saturday, having failed to win any of his eight matches in charge.
Dyche takes over a Forest side currently sitting 18th in the Premier League after just one win in eight games. His first challenge will be a Europa League fixture against Porto at the City Ground on Thursday, followed by a league clash with Bournemouth on Sunday.
The appointment process was led by Forest’s global head of football, Edu Gaspar, and global technical director, George Syrianos. Former Manchester City and Italy boss Roberto Mancini, along with Fulham’s Marco Silva, were also considered for the position.
In a club statement, Nottingham Forest said Dyche brings “the perfect blend of character, tactical acumen and proven achievement” to lead the team forward. The club also noted that as a former Forest youth player, Dyche has “a deep understanding of the values and pride” of both the club and its supporters.
Dyche’s backroom team will include Ian Woan and Steven Stone, both of whom previously played for Forest.
BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton commented on the managerial change, saying: “If Dyche gets over the line, it is an admission that they got it wrong with Ange Postecoglou and are thinking about survival. Dyche has always managed clubs where it has been a struggle… Forest want to stay in the league so it seems a sensible appointment. They won’t go down; they have too many good players.”
Dyche began his football journey as a youth player at Forest during the Brian Clough era but never made a senior appearance. His managerial career has included notable spells at Burnley and Everton. During nearly a decade at Burnley, he won promotion to the Premier League twice and led the Clarets into European competition for the first time since 1967.
At Everton, Dyche managed 75 Premier League games, guiding the team to 17th and 15th-place finishes despite points deductions and financial challenges. He left the club in January after almost two years in charge.
Unlike Postecoglou, whose attacking style clashed with Forest’s defensive structure, Dyche’s appointment is seen as a more natural fit. His pragmatic approach, focused on organisation and counter-attacking play, aligns closely with the tactical style that brought Forest European football under Nuno Espírito Santo.
Dyche’s arrival is expected to stabilise the team and restore confidence after a turbulent start to the season, with hopes that his experience in managing struggling Premier League sides will help steer Forest clear of relegation.
