Oliver Glasner Ditches Palace for Nottingham Forest After Winning Trophies. His Quote Says It All.

Nottingham Forest just pulled off one of the more surprising manager moves of the summer. They hired Oliver Glasner, the guy who turned Crystal Palace into a trophy-winning machine over the last two seasons. FA Cup. UEFA Conference League. Community Shield. The Austrian had it rolling at Selhurst Park.

But he’s gone now. And Forest isn’t exactly a step up on paper, so why’d he leave?

The Palace Problem Nobody Talks About

Palace tried to keep him. They offered him a new deal, according to reports. Glasner wasn’t interested. Maybe it was the squad’s ceiling. Maybe it was the ownership situation. The club hasn’t said much publicly, but the 51-year-old’s comments at his Forest unveiling gave a pretty clear hint.

“From my very first conversations with the owner and the leadership team, it was evident to me that they have a clear vision for this football club and complete trust and belief in me and my staff,” Glasner said. “That trust and shared commitment, together with the potential that I see within the squad, were key factors.”

Translation: He didn’t feel that at Palace anymore. Or at least he believed Forest’s front office would give him more control and backing over the long haul.

Replacing Vitor Pereira Was Always Going to Be Tricky

Forest’s previous manager, Vitor Pereira, did the dirty work. He kept the club in the Premier League, stabilized things after a chaotic couple of years, and set a foundation. But Pereira’s style wasn’t exactly thrilling. Glasner is the opposite. His teams press hard, play aggressive attacking football, and he’s proven he can win big games.

Forest fans have to be buzzing. They’re getting a manager who’s won a European trophy, which is something most clubs outside the top six can’t even dream of. The squad has talent too. Taiwo Awoniyi, Morgan Gibbs-White, and a few others are legitimate difference-makers on their day.

“Nottingham Forest is a club with incredible prestige and history, a two-time European Champion with one of the most passionate fan bases in football,” Glasner added. “Our aim is to build a team that can help take the club to the next level.”

What About Leeds?

Forest kicks off the 2026/27 Premier League season at home against Leeds United. That’s a spicy opener. Leeds are back in the top flight after relegation a few years ago, and they play a similar high-energy style. Should be a real test right out of the gate for Glasner’s new system.

He says he’s excited to meet the players and start preseason. If his track record holds up, Forest could be a lot more interesting to watch this year. And maybe more than just interesting. Possibly dangerous.

Glasner’s first season at Palace ended with a trophy lifted at Wembley. Nobody’s saying he’ll do that at Forest. But the guy clearly believes he can build something real here. We’ll see starting August.