Vitor Pereira Says Nottingham Forest Fired Him Without Warning After Saving Their Season

Vitor Pereira didn’t see it coming. And he’s not afraid to say it.

The Portuguese manager led Nottingham Forest to Premier League survival and a surprise Europa League semifinal run after taking over in February. But barely a month after the season ended, Forest triggered a break clause in his contract and showed him the door.

Pereira called the decision a “complete surprise” that came “without any warning” in a statement released Tuesday. He said he respected the club’s right to make the call but made it clear he felt blindsided. There’s a tone of genuine disappointment in his words, not anger, but it’s hard to miss the sting.

Forest declined to comment when asked by the Press Association. That silence speaks pretty loudly on its own.

The club is now expected to hire Oliver Glasner, who left Crystal Palace after last season. Glasner won the FA Cup in 2024-25 and followed that with a Conference League title a year later. He’s been linked to top jobs across Europe since leaving Palace, and Forest appears to be the first domino to fall.

What Pereira accomplished at Forest

Pereira took over a team in real trouble. Forest was hovering near the relegation zone when he arrived in February on an 18-month deal. He went 8-5-7 in his 20 matches in charge, enough to keep the club in the Premier League for a fifth straight season. That alone was the job requirement. The Europa League semifinal run? That was gravy.

His track record before Forest included keeping Wolves in the top flight the previous season. The man knows how to steady a ship that’s taking on water. But apparently that wasn’t enough for Forest’s brass.

In his goodbye statement, Pereira thanked the players, staff and especially the fans. He made a point of noting how he watched the squad grow in confidence and togetherness over those few months. That’s the part he’ll remember, he said, not the way it ended.

“I leave Nottingham Forest with no bitterness or resentment — only respect, gratitude and wonderful memories,” he wrote.

Glasner waiting in the wings

Reports have Glasner as the frontrunner to take over at the City Ground. He’s been out of work since leaving Palace, where he built a reputation for European success on a budget. If he takes the job, the expectations will be different than they were for Pereira. Forest just proved it can compete in the Premier League. Now they’ll want more than survival.

Whether Glasner is the guy to deliver that remains to be seen. But Forest’s decision to cut ties with Pereira suggests they’re aiming higher than just staying up.

As for Pereira, he’ll land somewhere. Managers who keep Premier League teams up don’t stay unemployed long. He’s already shown he can handle a pressure gig. This time it just ended before he was ready to leave.