Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has reportedly been seen alongside a trophy-laden manager, and that tactician is now said to be open to discussions about replacing Ange Postecoglou at the City Ground. Postecoglou’s time in charge of Forest has so far been nothing short of disastrous, with the Australian struggling to impose his trademark attacking style amid a series of poor results and growing unrest among supporters.
Appointed with the goal of revitalizing Forest’s approach and bringing a more vibrant, front-foot identity, Postecoglou has instead overseen a run of six matches without a win — the worst start by any permanent Forest manager in over a century. His high-intensity, possession-based philosophy has failed to translate into effective performances, leaving the team looking disjointed, defensively fragile, and short of confidence. The situation reached boiling point during a humiliating 3-2 home defeat to FC Midtjylland in the Europa League, when sections of the home crowd openly called for his dismissal. If results do not improve soon, Postecoglou could even make unwanted Premier League history as the shortest-serving manager ever, surpassing Les Reed’s brief spell at Charlton Athletic in 2006.
Reports from Sky Sports and journalist Fabrizio Romano indicate that Marinakis is losing patience and will not hesitate to act if the poor form continues after the international break. Behind the scenes, Nottingham Forest have already begun identifying potential replacements. Among those linked is Fulham manager Marco Silva, who remains highly regarded for his ability to achieve stability and success on limited resources. Marinakis also knows Silva well from their previous collaboration at Olympiacos, a connection that could make negotiations smoother if Forest decide to make a change. Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner is another name mentioned in connection with the role, while attention has also turned to former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez.
Benitez, who famously guided Liverpool to Champions League glory in 2005, boasts one of the most impressive managerial résumés in world football. He has also won two La Liga titles with Valencia, the Europa League with Chelsea, and several domestic and international trophies across Europe. His last managerial position came at Celta Vigo in 2024, while his most recent spell in England was with Everton in 2022. Despite mixed results in recent years, his extensive experience and tactical discipline make him an attractive candidate for a club seeking stability.
According to Give Me Sport, Benitez was spotted near Marinakis during Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Olympiacos in the Champions League, sparking speculation that informal contact may have already been made. The report adds that Benitez would welcome an approach from Forest, as he is eager to return to Premier League management. Given his proven record in organizing teams and steering them through difficult periods — as seen during his tenure at Newcastle United — the Spaniard could provide exactly the kind of leadership Forest need to steady the ship.
However, his recent inactivity could be viewed as a potential concern, particularly in the fast-evolving tactical environment of the Premier League. Even so, with Postecoglou’s position under increasing threat and Marinakis known for his ruthlessness, the prospect of Benitez taking over at Nottingham Forest is becoming more realistic by the day. If Postecoglou fails to deliver a turnaround immediately after the break, a managerial change may be inevitable — and Benitez could well be the man to step in.