Ange Postecoglou dined with Evangelos Marinakis earlier this summer as a precursor to the agreement that will make the former Tottenham manager the new head coach of Nottingham Forest.

Postecoglou was seen arriving at Forest’s training facility on Tuesday morning after finalizing a deal to lead the team. Marinakis sought out the Europa League-winning coach following his decision to dismiss Nuno Espirito Santo.

Following the sacking of Nuno in the early hours of Tuesday, Marinakis wants his successor in place before Saturday’s trip to Arsenal.

“I want to say about Ange that he has often spoken about Greece; he is proud to be Greek, and in his great success with Tottenham by winning the Europa League, he mentioned Greece,” Marinakis said at the ceremony.

“[He is] a man who not only does not hide his origin but is also proud of it. What he achieved, he did with a team that has not won any titles and has faced very difficult times in recent years. In this massive success that the whole world witnessed, he highlighted Greece.”

“We must especially thank him for this, and we wish him well, although we are confident he will do well as he has the capability. Successes will follow him wherever he goes.”

Despite leading them to a first trophy since 2008, Postecoglou was dismissed by Spurs after last season, with the club’s 17th place finish in the Premier League deemed unacceptable. The 60-year-old’s preference had always been to remain in England after his departure from north London.

On receiving his award, Postecoglou said: ‘I left Greece when I was five years old, but when we left, my parents, my father, passed on the love he had for football to me.

‘I had this dream since I was little, as a player I did not succeed, but as a coach I tried to make my father proud for the sacrifices he made for me and my sister and every day I think about the sacrifices he made.

‘My father is not with me today, but he sees me and is proud of what I have built, I have my wife by my side, and we continue. I want to make you proud, Greece and Australia. It is a great honour to be here.’

Postecoglou will succeed Nuno, who was sacked despite leading Forest into Europe for the first time this century.

Nuno’s relationship with the club hierachy, however, had become increasingly strained this summer.

Nuno criticised Forest’s transfer policy publicly and admitted his rapport with owner Evangelos Marinakis was not the same as it had been last term. Nuno, who joined Forest in December 2023, also struggled to work under the new structure with former Arsenal midfielder Edu installed as global head of football. Marinakis only days ago dismissed reports of a rift between him and his manager.

In a statement released at 12:15am on Tuesday morning, Forest said: ‘Nottingham Forest Football Club confirms that, following recent circumstances, Nuno Espírito Santo has today been relieved of his duties as head coach.

‘The club thanks Nuno for his contribution during a very successful era at The City Ground, in particular his role in the 2024/25 season, which will forever be remembered fondly in the history of the club.

‘As someone who played a pivotal role in our success last season, he will always hold a special place in our journey.’

Forest have enjoyed a rise under owner Marinakis, with the club earning promotion from the Championship and were last season’s Premier League surprise package by pushing for Champions League qualification for much of the campaign.

Marinakis has faced criticism since Forest’s promotion, with Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville notably taking aim at him for storming onto the pitch following the club’s 2-2 draw with Leicester in May.

The Forest owner went onto the pitch to speak to Nuno, which prompted Neville to  claim the head coach should immediately leave the club.

‘Scandalous from that Forest owner,’ Neville posted on X. ‘Nuno should go and negotiate his exit tonight with him! The Forest fans, players and manager do not deserve that.’

Forest had hit back at Neville by stating that Marinakis had been concerned for Taiwo Awoniyi, after the forward suffered a serious injury, with the club banning the pundit from their stadium following his posts.

Club legend Garry Birtles, a two-time European Cup winner with the club, has defended Marinakis and highlighted his continued investment to drive the team forwards.

‘I don’t think it is fair (the criticism),’ Birtles told talkSPORT. ‘Every club would love to have an owner like Mr Marinakis because he has put his money where his mouth is every season since he’s taken over the club,’ Birtles said.

‘During Covid he was unbelievable – the money he kept investing during that time was incredible and he cares deeply about what goes on.

‘The Awoniyi injury, that got all misinterpreted. People just make their own minds up and they got it wrong.

‘He was doing things not for the reasons they were saying but for different reasons, concern.

‘When he bought the football club he bought it for the two stars on the shirt and he wanted to improve things. He’s gradually doing that and he keeps investing, you’ve got to give him so much credit for doing that.

‘He’s a very quietly spoken man but he gives that impression when he’s on the pitch, people think he’s that sort. But off the pitch he seems very quiet, very humble.

‘He’s just a fabulous thing for the football club because he is continually willing to invest to try and take the club forward.’