Three months after Ange Postecoglou was sacked from his coaching role by Tottenham Hotspur, the Australian made a comeback into the Premier League as Nottingham Forest on Tuesday appointed him to replace Nuno Espirito Santo, who was fired after being at the helm for nearly two years.
Postecoglou, who led Spurs to their first major trophy in 17 years as the side beat Manchester United to lift the UEFA Europa Cup, was fired after the Lilywhites endured their worst finish in Premier League history, finishing 17th in the standings.
The 60-year-old said he has nothing more left to prove when he takes over at Nottingham, and his Spurs exit was not surprising to him.
“It wasn’t great. I knew it was coming, so it wasn’t a surprise. I knew it was coming a fair way before the final,” Postecoglou told reporters ahead of his first game in charge of Forest at Arsenal on Saturday.
“We won it and had the parade and had a great three days, and I didn’t want to tarnish that, but I knew it was done. From my perspective, I had the chance to process it. Whether I feel it was unjust, other people make those decisions; they make those determinations.”
‘Don’t have to prove anything’
Asked if he wanted to prove doubters wrong, Postecoglou said, “I don’t see it as a point to prove. I don’t have to prove anything to anyone. “I do like my teams to play exciting football and score goals and get fans excited. I make no apologies about that, that’s just the way I am.”
The Australian came to the Premier League in 2023 and helped Spurs finish fifth in the league before their dismal showing in the league the following year. Postecoglou’s first game for Nottingham will be on Saturday as Forest travel to London to meet Arsenal.
