Sean Dyche Appointed Head Coach of Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest have announced the appointment of Sean Dyche as their new Head Coach, signing a contract that runs until the summer of 2027.
Dyche, aged 54, returns to the club where he once trained as a youth player, stepping in to steady the ship after a turbulent start to the season.
A club in need of calm
Forest entered the 2025‑26 season with high hopes, but those have quickly turned into concerns. The club has already been through two head‑coach changes this season: Nuno Espírito Santo departed in September, and Ange Postecoglou was dismissed after only 39 days in charge, following a 3‑0 home loss to Chelsea F.C. and a string of eight games without a win.
Dyche becomes the club’s third full‑time manager of the season — a clear sign of the urgency at the City Ground.
Why Dyche?
The decision to hire Dyche is rooted in his experience and his ties to the club. Before this appointment he had amassed more than 330 Premier League matches as manager. He is best known for his long spell at Burnley F.C., where he achieved two promotions to the Premier League and established the club as a resilient, well‑organised side.
Forest’s statement described Dyche as “a respected and experienced Premier League manager … with the perfect blend of character, tactical acumen and proven achievement to guide the Club through its next chapter.”
Significantly, Dyche is a former youth player at Forest and lives locally — an element that the club feel gives him a connection to their identity and supporters.
Immediate challenges
Upon his arrival, Dyche inherits a squad that is struggling. The club sit 18th in the Premier League with just five points from eight matches, and their defensive frailties have been exposed under previous regimes.
His first game in charge will be a high‑pressure fixture: a home clash in the UEFA Europa League against FC Porto, followed swiftly by an away league game at AFC Bournemouth.
What this appointment means
For Forest, the appointment of Dyche represents a pivot back to pragmatism and stability. After a summer of big spending and high expectations, the club now needs to consolidate, avoid a relegation fight, and make their European campaign count. Dyche’s known ability to organise defences and instil discipline aligns with what the club say they need right now.
For Dyche, it is a return to the top‑flight after his departure from Everton F.C. in January. He now takes on a challenge where success will not only be judged on survival, but on restoring belief, identity and performance at a storied club.
With his contract set to run until the summer of 2027, Dyche has a medium‑term mandate. The next few weeks will be critical: strong initial results could stabilise the campaign; further poor form might bring the club back into crisis.
For Forest supporters, this appointment offers hope that the roller‑coaster of recent months may finally be coming to a halt.