{{short description|Association football club in England}} {{pp|small=yes}} {{about|the men's football club|the women's football club|Nottingham Forest W.F.C.}} {{Use British English|date=January 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}} {{Infobox football club | nickname = {{plainlist| * Forest<br> The Garibaldis<br> The Reds<br> The Tricky Trees }} | years = | ground = City Ground | capacity = 31,042<ref>{{cite web |url=https://planningon-line.rushcliffe.gov.uk/online-applications/files/2246486A92DFB101165A399E6050C74E/pdf/25_02123_FUL--1998238.pdf |title=Design and Access Statement|page=21 |date=December 2025 |access-date=January 14, 2026 }}</ref> | clubname = Nottingham Forest | image = Nottingham Forest F.C. logo.svg | upright = 0.48 | fullname = Nottingham Forest Football Club | founded = {{start date and age|1865}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/club/history/history.aspx|title=History of NFFC|publisher=Nottingham Forest Football Club|access-date=25 August 2019|archive-date=5 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305141905/http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/club/history/history.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> | owner = Evangelos Marinakis | chairman = Nicholas Randall KC | manager = Vítor Pereira | mgrtitle = Head coach | league = {{English football updater|NottingF}} | season = {{English football updater|NottingF2}} | position = {{English football updater|NottingF3}} | current = 2025–26 Nottingham Forest F.C. season | pattern_la1 = _nottingham2526h | pattern_b1 = _nottingham2526h | pattern_ra1 = _nottingham2526h | pattern_sh1 = _nottingham2526h | pattern_so1 = _arsenal2526hl | leftarm1 = FF0000 | body1 = FF0000 | rightarm1 = FF0000 | shorts1 = FFFFFF | socks1 = FF0000 | pattern_la2 = _nottingham2526a | pattern_b2 = _nottingham2526a | pattern_ra2 = _nottingham2526a | pattern_sh2 = _nottingham2526a | pattern_so2 = _nottingham2526al | leftarm2 = f8f8f8 | body2 = f8f8f8 | rightarm2 = f8f8f8 | shorts2 = f8f8f8 | socks2 = f8f8f8 | pattern_la3 = _nottingham2526t | pattern_b3 = _nottingham2526t | pattern_ra3 = _nottingham2526t | pattern_sh3 = _nottingham2526t | pattern_so3 = _nottingham2526tl | leftarm3 = 000342 | body3 = 000342 | rightarm3 = 000342 | shorts3 = 000342 | socks3 = 000342 | website = {{official URL}} }}
{{Nottingham Forest FC sections}} '''Nottingham Forest Football Club''' is a professional football club based in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, England. The club competes in the {{English football updater|NottingF}}, the top tier of English football.
Founded in 1865, Nottingham Forest have played their home games at the City Ground since 1898. The club has won two European Cups (now the UEFA Champions League), making them one of six English clubs to have claimed the competition. Forest is the only team in Europe to have won the European Cup or Champions League more often than the domestic championship (one). Additionally, they have secured one UEFA Super Cup, one League title, two FA Cups, four League Cups, and one FA Charity Shield.
The club has competed in the top two tiers of English football in all but five seasons since their admission to the Football League. Its most successful period came under the management of Brian Clough and Peter Taylor in the late 1970s and early 1980s, during which they achieved back-to-back European Cup triumphs in 1979 and 1980.
In Clough's final decade at the club, Forest won the 1989 and 1990 League Cups. They were also losing finalists in the 1991 FA Cup final and 1992 League Cup final, before relegation from the Premier League in 1993. Upon their immediate return, Forest finished third in the Premier League in 1995, before suffering relegation again in 1997 and 1999. The team returned to the Premier League by winning the play-offs in 2022.
Forest's main rivalry is with Derby County, with whom they contest the East Midlands derby. In 2007 the Brian Clough Trophy was founded, which has since then been given to the winner.
==History== {{main|History of Nottingham Forest F.C.}}
===19th century=== {{multiple image | align = right | total_width = 320
| image1 = The Playwright (geograph 6704515).jpg | alt1 = The Playwright, formerly the Clinton Arms, in Sherwood Street, Nottingham
| image2 = Plaque to formation of Nottingham Forest FC (geograph 6721173).jpg | alt2 = Plaque commemorating the foundation of Nottingham Forest Football Club at the former Clinton Arms, Sherwood Street, Nottingham
| footer = The Playwright, formerly the Clinton Arms, on Sherwood Street, Nottingham, where the Forest Football Club was founded in 1865 }} In 1865 a group of shinty players met at the Clinton Arms (now renamed The Playwright) at the junction of Nottingham's Shakespeare Street and North Sherwood Street. J. S. Scrimshaw's proposal to play association football instead was agreed and Nottingham Forest Football Club was formed. It was agreed at the same meeting that the club would purchase twelve tasselled caps coloured 'Garibaldi Red' (named after the leader of the Italian 'Redshirts' fighters). Thus the club's official colours were established. Matches were originally played at Forest Racecourse,<ref>{{cite web |title=History of Nottingham Forest |url=https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/club-information/history/history-of-nottingham-forest/ |website=Nottingham Forest Football Club |access-date=14 May 2023}}</ref> historically part of Sherwood Forest and the presumed source of the word 'Forest' in the team's name.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ever Wonder why Nottingham Forest has Forest in their name? |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/soccer/news/ever-wonder-why-nottingham-forest-has-forest-in-their-name |access-date=3 January 2025 |agency=NBC Sports |date=11 February 2023}}</ref>
From 2019 to 2023, Nottingham Forest claimed to be the oldest remaining club in the English Football League. In 2019, when Notts County were relegated from the league, Stoke City claimed to be the oldest remaining club, but football historian Mark Metcalf stated that Stoke was formed in 1868, rather than the 1863 date on the club's badge, and therefore Forest was the oldest club.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Paul |title=Birth certificate: Stoke City and Nottingham Forest locked in 'oldest club' debate |url=https://www.wsc.co.uk/stories/14245-birth-certificate-stoke-city-and-nottingham-forest-locked-in-oldest-club-debate |website=When Saturday Comes |access-date=19 August 2021 |date=July 2019 |archive-date=19 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819085919/https://www.wsc.co.uk/stories/14245-birth-certificate-stoke-city-and-nottingham-forest-locked-in-oldest-club-debate |url-status=live }}</ref> The EFL also stated that Nottingham Forest was the oldest.<ref>{{cite news |title=EFL pass judgement on whether Stoke City are now the oldest Football League Club |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/stoke-city-nottingham-forest-efl-2850974 |access-date=19 August 2021 |work=Stoke Sentinel |date=9 May 2019 |archive-date=19 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819085918/https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/stoke-city-nottingham-forest-efl-2850974 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Forest's first ever official game was played against Notts County taking place on 22 March 1866.<ref name=nffchist>{{cite web|url=https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/club/history-landing-page/history-of-nffc/|title=History of NFFC|publisher=Nottingham Forest F.C.|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=17 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717100358/https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/club/history-landing-page/history-of-nffc/|url-status=live}}</ref> On 23 April 1870, when the team played their first game in league play, the steward of the club was John Lymberry and William Henry Revis scored the first goal. On that day, Revis also won the prize for kicking a football furthest with a kick of 161 feet 8 inches.<ref name="Wright, Forever Forest">{{cite book |last1=Wright |first1=Don |title=Forever Forest: The Official 150th Anniversary History of the Original Reds |date=2015 |publisher=Amberley Publishing Limited |isbn=9781445635170 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G-FiCgAAQBAJ}}</ref>
In their early years Nottingham Forest were a multi-sports club. As well as their roots in bandy and shinty, Forest's baseball club were British champions in 1899.<ref>{{cite news|title=Weirdest football team suffixes|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/aug/05/weirdest-football-team-suffixes|date=5 August 2015|access-date=8 August 2015|work=The Guardian|archive-date=10 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910212536/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/aug/05/weirdest-football-team-suffixes|url-status=live}}</ref> Forest's charitable approach helped clubs like Liverpool, Arsenal and Brighton & Hove Albion to form. In 1886, Forest donated a set of football kits to help Arsenal establish themselves – the North London team still wear red. Forest also donated shirts to Everton and helped secure a site to play on for Brighton.
In 1878–79 season, Nottingham Forest entered into the FA Cup for the first time. Forest beat Notts County 3–1 in the first round at Beeston Cricket Ground before eventually losing 2–1 to Old Etonians in the semi-final.<ref name=nffchist/>
Nottingham Forest's application was rejected to join the Football League at its formation in 1888.<ref name=nffchist/> Forest instead joined the Football Alliance in 1889.
They won the competition in 1892 before then entering the Football League.<ref name="nffchist" /> That season they reached and lost in an FA Cup semi-final for the fourth time to date. This time it was to West Bromwich Albion after a replay.
thumb|right|The 1898 Cup-winning squad
Nottingham Forest's first FA Cup semi-final win was at the fifth attempt, the 1897–98 FA Cup 2–0 replay win against Southampton. The first game was drawn 1–1. Derby County beat Nottingham Forest 5–0 five days before the final. Six of the cup final side were rested in that league game.<ref name=nffchist/> In that 1898 FA Cup final at Crystal Palace before 62,000 fans, Willie Wragg passed a 19th minute free kick to Arthur Capes. Capes shot through the defensive wall to score. Derby equalised with a free kick headed home by Steve Bloomer off the underside of the cross bar after 31 minutes. In the 42nd minute Jack Fryer was unable to hold a Charlie Richards shot giving Capes a tap in for his second goal. Wragg's injury meant Forest had to change their line up with Capes dropping back to midfield. In the 86th minute John Boag headed away a corner by Nottingham Forest. John McPherson moved in to collect shooting low into the goal to win 3–1.<ref name=fa1898cup>{{cite web|url=http://www.fa-cupfinals.co.uk/1898.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928080720/http://www.fa-cupfinals.co.uk/1898.html|archive-date=28 September 2011|title=F A Cup Final 1898|date=28 September 2011}}</ref>
===First half of 20th century=== Forest lost FA Cup semi-finals in 1900 and 1902. They finished fourth in the 1900–01 Football League followed with fifth place the season after. The club then started to slide down the table. Forest were relegated for the first time in 1905–06. Grenville Morris had his first of five seasons as the club's highest scorer en route to becoming the all-time club highest goalscorer with 213 goals.
Promotion as champions was immediate in 1906–07. The club was relegated a second time to the Second Division in 1911, and had to seek re-election in 1914 after finishing bottom of that tier; as the First World War approached it was in serious financial trouble. The outbreak of the War, along with the benevolence of the committee members, prevented the club going under.<ref name=nffchist/>
In 1919, the Football League First Division was to be expanded from twenty clubs to twenty-two in time for the 1919–20 Football League: Forest was one of eight clubs to campaign for entry, but received only three votes. Arsenal and Chelsea gained the two additional top tier slots.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Joy of Six: Classic Arsenal v Tottenham matches|first1=Rob|last1=Smyth|first2=Simon|last2=Burnton|date=30 October 2009|access-date=5 March 2016|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2009/oct/30/joy-of-six-arsenal-tottenham|archive-date=6 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306204747/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2009/oct/30/joy-of-six-arsenal-tottenham|url-status=live}}</ref>
In a turnaround from the first six seasons struggling back in the Second Division, Forest were promoted as champions in 1921–22. They survived each of the first two seasons back in the top flight by one position. In the third season after promotion they were relegated as the division's bottom club in 1924–25. Billy Walker was appointed manager in 1939. Forest remained in the second tier until relegation in 1949 to the Football League Third Division South.
===Re-emergence then decline (1950–1974)=== Forest were quickly promoted two years later as Third Division South champions, having scored a record 110 goals in the 1950–51 season. They regained First Division status in 1957.<ref name=nffchist/>
In the 1958–59 FA Cup Walker's side beat Aston Villa in the semi-final with a solitary goal by Johnny Quigley. Forest beat Luton Town 2–1 in the 1959 FA Cup final. Like in 1898, Forest had lost heavily to their opponents only weeks earlier in the league.<ref name=nffchist/> Stewart Imlach crossed for a 10th-minute opener by Roy Dwight (the cousin of Reg Dwight better known as Elton John). Tommy Wilson had Forest 2–0 up after 14 minutes. The game had an unusually large number of stoppages due to injury, particularly to Forest players. This was put down to the lush nature of the Wembley turf. The most notable of these stoppages was Dwight breaking his leg in a 33rd minute tackle with Brendan McNally. Forest had been on top until that point. Luton though gradually took control of the match, with Dave Pacey scoring midway through the second half. Forest were reduced to nine fit men with ten minutes remaining when Bill Whare crippled with cramp, became little more than a spectator. Despite late Allan Brown and Billy Bingham chances Chick Thomson conceded no further goals for Forest to beat the Wembley 1950s 'hoodoo' (where one team was hampered by losing a player through injury).<ref>{{cite web|last=Lacey|first=David|title=Wembley hoodoo rises from the rubble|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/feb/04/sport.comment|date=4 February 2006|work=The Guardian|access-date=12 August 2015|archive-date=12 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112154505/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/feb/04/sport.comment|url-status=live}}</ref> Club record appearance holder Bobby McKinlay played in the final winning team captained by Jack Burkitt. Walker retired as manager at the end of the following season after 21 years in charge and Andy Beattie took over.
By this time, Forest had replaced Notts County as the biggest club in Nottingham. Johnny Carey was appointed manager in 1963 and assembled a team including Joe Baker and Ian Storey-Moore that for a long spell went largely unchanged in challenging for the 1966–67 Football League title. They beat title rivals Manchester United 4–1 at the City Ground on 1 October.<ref name=sea67son>{{cite web|url=http://stats.football.co.uk/results_fixtures/1966_1967/nottingham_forest/index.shtml|title=Nottingham Forest Results Fixtures 1966/1967|website=stats.football.co.uk|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=5 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205145055/http://stats.football.co.uk/results_fixtures/1966_1967/nottingham_forest/index.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> The 3–0 win against Aston Villa on 15 April had Forest second in the table, a point behind United.<ref name=apr15tab>{{Cite web|url=http://stats.football.co.uk/snapshot_tables/1966_1967/15/apr/nottingham_forest/index.shtml|title=Nottingham Forest Historical Standings 15th Apr 1967|website=stats.football.co.uk|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=5 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205145027/http://stats.football.co.uk/snapshot_tables/1966_1967/15/apr/nottingham_forest/index.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Injuries eventually took effect, meaning Forest had to settle for being League runners-up and losing in the FA Cup semi-final to Dave Mackay's Tottenham Hotspur.<ref name=nffchist/>
The 1966–67 season's success seemed an opportunity to build upon, with crowds of 40,000 virtually guaranteed at the time. Instead, a mixture at the club of poor football management, the unique committee structure and proud amateurism meant decline after the 1966-67 peak. Carey left as manager at the end of 1968. Forest were relegated from the top flight in 1972. The same season, rival club Derby County won the title under Brian Clough.
Matt Gillies' October 1972 managerial departure was followed by short managerial reigns by Dave Mackay and Allan Brown.<ref name=nffchist/> A 2–0 Boxing Day home defeat by Notts County prompted the committee (Forest had no board of directors then) to sack Brown. At the time it was felt that Forest would never be able to compete with Derby County again.<ref>{{cite book|title=Provided You Don't Kiss Me: 20 Years with Brian Clough|year=2007|isbn=9780007247103|author-link=Duncan Hamilton (journalist)|last=Hamilton|first=Duncan|page=38}}</ref>
===Brian Clough and Peter Taylor (1975–1982)=== thumb|right|upright|Brian Clough (1935–2004) managed Nottingham Forest for 18 years.
Former Derby manager Clough became manager of Forest on 6 January 1975, twelve weeks after the end of his 44-day tenure as manager of Leeds United.<ref name=miracle>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/oct/10/brian-clough-miracle-nottingham-forest-european-champions-film-jose-mourinho|title=Brian Clough and the miracle of Nottingham Forest|first=Daniel|last=Taylor|date=10 October 2015|work=The Guardian|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=2 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171202120858/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/oct/10/brian-clough-miracle-nottingham-forest-european-champions-film-jose-mourinho|url-status=live}}</ref> Clough brought Jimmy Gordon to be his club trainer, as Gordon had been for him at Derby County and Leeds.<ref name=gordon>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/sep/17/brian-clough-jimmy-gordon-leeds-nottingham-forest-derby-county|title=The forgotten story of … Brian Clough's other right-hand man|first=Nick|last=Miller|date=17 September 2014|work=The Guardian|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=5 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205194716/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/sep/17/brian-clough-jimmy-gordon-leeds-nottingham-forest-derby-county|url-status=live}}</ref> Scottish centre-forward Neil Martin scored the only goal in Clough's first game in charge, beating Tottenham Hotspur in an FA Cup third round replay.<ref name=qos>{{cite web|url=https://www.qosfc.com/legends|title=QosFC: Queens Legends|website=qosfc.com|access-date=19 December 2017|archive-date=3 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203075747/http://www.qosfc.com/legends|url-status=live}}</ref>
Ian Bowyer was already at Forest and had won domestic and European trophies with Manchester City. Clough signed Scots duo John McGovern and John O'Hare in February, who both were part of Clough's Derby County 1971–72 Football League title win. He signed Colin Barrett in March, initially on loan. Clough brought John Robertson and Martin O'Neill back into the fold after they had requested transfers under Brown.<ref name=nffchist/> Viv Anderson had previously debuted for the first team and became a regular under Clough.<ref name=guard>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/mar/05/viv-anderson-small-talk|title=Viv Anderson – Small Talk|first=Nicky|last=Bandini|date=5 March 2010|work=The Guardian|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=5 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205194806/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/mar/05/viv-anderson-small-talk|url-status=live}}</ref> The young Tony Woodcock was at Forest but was then unrated by Clough and was to be loaned to Lincoln City.<ref name = "Lincoln">{{Cite news|title=Lincoln Spell Turned Me Around... says Woodcock|date=19 February 1984|access-date=17 July 2014|work=New Straits Times|location=Kuala Lumpur|page=16|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LJJUAAAAIBAJ&pg=6640%2C3144066|archive-date=28 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228001142/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LJJUAAAAIBAJ&pg=6640%2C3144066|url-status=live}}</ref> Forest were 13th in English football's second tier when Clough joined. They finished that season 16th. Forest signed Frank Clark in July of that close season on a free transfer.<ref name=chronic>{{cite web|url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/history/how-newcastle-united-legend-frank-11865463|title=How Newcastle United legend Frank Clark celebrated his birthday – with a host of Geordie fans|first=John|last=Gibson|date=10 September 2016|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=6 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206074537/http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/history/how-newcastle-united-legend-frank-11865463|url-status=live}}</ref> The season after, Forest finished eighth in Clough's 1975–76 Football League first full season in charge.<ref name=miracle/> It was in this season, McGovern became long-standing club captain, taking over from a game in which Bob "Sammy" Chapman and Liam O'Kane were both injured.<ref name=mcg>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0kmSrRVXs0|title=My Forest story: John McGovern|date=1 June 2015|via=YouTube|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=4 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190904075640/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0kmSrRVXs0&gl=US&hl=en&has_verified=1&bpctr=9999999999|url-status=live}}</ref>
Peter Taylor rejoined Clough on 16 July 1976, becoming his assistant manager, as he had been when winning the league at Derby.<ref name=miracle/> Taylor, included being the club's talent spotter in his role. After assessing the players, Taylor told Clough, "that was a feat by you to finish eighth in the Second Division because some of them are only Third Division players".<ref name="T87">{{harvnb|Taylor|1980|p=87}}</ref> Taylor berated John Robertson for allowing himself to become overweight and disillusioned. He got Robertson on a diet and training regime that would help him become a European Cup winner.<ref name="T88">{{harvnb|Taylor|1980|p=88}}</ref> Taylor turned Woodcock from a reserve midfielder into a 42 cap England striker.<ref name="T90">{{harvnb|Taylor|1980|p=90}}</ref> In September 1976, he bought striker Peter Withe to Forest for £43,000, selling him to Newcastle United for £250,000 two years later.<ref name="T91">{{harvnb|Taylor|1980|p=91}}</ref> Withe was replaced in the starting team by Garry Birtles who Taylor had scouted playing for non-league Long Eaton United. Birtles also went on to represent England.<ref name="T104">{{harvnb|Taylor|1980|p=104}}</ref> In October 1976 Brian Clough acting on Peter Taylor's advice signed Larry Lloyd for £60,000 after an initial loan period.
Together, Clough and Taylor took Forest to new heights. The first trophy of the Clough and Taylor reign was the 1976–77 Anglo-Scottish Cup. Forest beat Orient 5–1 on aggregate in the two-legged final played in December 1976.<ref name=miracle/> Clough valued winning a derided trophy as the club's first silverware since 1959. He said, "Those who said it was a nothing trophy were absolutely crackers. We'd won something, and it made all the difference."<ref name=espn78lc>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/|title=Soccer Teams, Scores, Stats, News, Fixtures, Results, Tables - ESPN|website=ESPN.com|access-date=15 September 2020|archive-date=12 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210612051503/https://www.espn.com/soccer/|url-status=live}}</ref>
On 7 May 1977, Jon Moore's own goal meant Forest in their last league game of the season beat Millwall 1–0 at the City Ground.<ref name=mill76wall>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thecityground.com/game.php?game_id=19770507 |title="Game Details – Millwall (H) – Sat May 07, 1977 (League Tier 2)" thecityground.com |access-date=6 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925215808/http://www.thecityground.com/game.php?game_id=19770507 |archive-date=25 September 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> This kept Forest in the third promotion spot in the league table and dependent on Bolton Wanderers dropping points in three games in hand in the fight for third place.<ref name=res7677ult>{{Cite web|url=http://stats.football.co.uk/results_fixtures/1976_1977/nottingham_forest/index.shtml|title=Nottingham Forest Results Fixtures 1976/1977|website=stats.football.co.uk|access-date=6 December 2017|archive-date=6 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206143030/http://stats.football.co.uk/results_fixtures/1976_1977/nottingham_forest/index.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> On 14 May Kenny Hibbitt's goal from his rehearsed free kick routine with Willie Carr gave Wolves a 1–0 win at Bolton.<ref name=mcg/><ref name=bol76ton>{{Cite web|url=http://stats.football.co.uk/snapshot_tables/1976_1977/17/may/bolton_wanderers/index.shtml|title=Bolton Wanderers Historical Standings 17th May 1977|website=stats.football.co.uk|access-date=6 December 2017|archive-date=6 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206142736/http://stats.football.co.uk/snapshot_tables/1976_1977/17/may/bolton_wanderers/index.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Bolton's defeat reached the Forest team mid-air en route to an end of season break in Mallorca.<ref name=mcg/> Forest's third place promotion from the 1976–77 Football League Second Division was the fifth-lowest points tally of any promoted team in history, 52<ref name=nffchist/><ref name=miracle/> (two points for a win in England until 1981).
Taylor secretly followed Kenny Burns, concluding that Burns's reputation as a hard drinker and gambler was exaggerated. Taylor sanctioned his £150,000 July signing. Burns became FWA Footballer of the Year in 1977–78 after being moved from centre-forward to centre-back.<ref name=hooligan>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/nov/11/nottingham-forest-brian-clough-i-believe-in-miracles|title=Signing 'a hooligan' and a Shankly team talk: how Clough set up Forest for title|first=Daniel|last=Taylor|date=11 November 2015|work=The Guardian|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=5 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205194753/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/nov/11/nottingham-forest-brian-clough-i-believe-in-miracles|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="T96">{{harvnb|Taylor|1980|p=96}}</ref> Forest started their return to the top league campaign with a 3–1 win at Everton. Three further wins in league and cup followed without conceding a goal. Then came five early September goals conceded in losing 3–0 at Arsenal and beating Wolves 3–2 at home.<ref name=f7778site>{{cite web|url=http://footballsite.co.uk/Statistics/LeagueTables/Season1977-78/ClubResults/1977-78NottinghamForest.html|title=footballsite – Nottingham Forest results 1977/78|website=footballsite.co.uk|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206005856/http://footballsite.co.uk/Statistics/LeagueTables/Season1977-78/ClubResults/1977-78NottinghamForest.html|archive-date=6 December 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Peter Shilton then signed for a record fee for a goalkeeper of £325,000. Taylor reasoned: "Shilton wins you matches."<ref name="Fuf">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/3758495.stm|title=Forest's unforgettable fairytale|last=Stevenson|first=Jonathan|date=21 September 2004|work=BBC Sport|access-date=18 May 2009|archive-date=24 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171124142708/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/3758495.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> 20-year-old John Middleton was first team goalkeeper pre-Shilton. Middleton later in the month went in part exchange with £25,000 to Derby County for Archie Gemmill transferring to Forest.<ref name=worldf>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/match-report/ma575715/lineup/|title=Derby County – Leeds United 2:2 (Premier League 1977/1978, 6. Round)|website=worldfootball.net|access-date=6 December 2017|archive-date=6 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206205431/http://www.worldfootball.net/report/premier-league-1977-1978-derby-county-leeds-united/|url-status=live}}</ref> Gemmill was another Scottish former 1972 Derby title winner.<ref name=hooligan/><ref name=gemm>{{cite web|url=http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football/nottingham-forest-fc/archie-gemmill-5060/league-appearances-for-forest_a14705/|title=Archie GEMMILL – League appearances for Forest. – Nottingham Forest FC|website=Sporting Heroes|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=5 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205194850/http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football/nottingham-forest-fc/archie-gemmill-5060/league-appearances-for-forest_a14705/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Forest lost only three of their first 16 league games, the last of which was at Leeds United on 19 November 1977. They lost only one further game all season, the 11 March FA Cup sixth round defeat at West Bromwich Albion.<ref name=f7778site/> Forest won the 1977–78 Football League seven-points ahead of runners-up Liverpool. Forest became one of the few teams (and the most recent team to date) to win the First Division title the season after winning promotion from the Second Division.<ref group="nb">The others were Liverpool in 1906, Everton in 1932, Tottenham Hotspur in 1951 and Ipswich Town in 1962. Forest remain the only club to achieve this feat having not been promoted as champions.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2011/jan/21/joy-of-six-promoted-success-stories |title=The Joy of Six: Newly promoted success stories |author=Scott Murray |work=The Guardian |date=21 January 2011 |access-date=3 October 2018 |archive-date=4 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004021253/https://amp.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2011/jan/21/joy-of-six-promoted-success-stories |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/eedd.html |title=English Energy and Nordic Nonsense |author=Karel Stokkermans |website=RSSSF |date=17 June 2018 |access-date=3 October 2018 |archive-date=4 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004021416/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/eedd.html |url-status=live }}</ref> This made Clough the third of four managers to win the English league championship with two different clubs.<ref group=nb>The others are Tom Watson, Herbert Chapman and Kenny Dalglish.</ref> Forest conceded just 24 goals in 42 league games.<ref name="Fuf" /> They beat Liverpool 1–0 in the 1978 Football League Cup final replay despite cup-tied Shilton, Gemmill and December signing David Needham missing out.<ref name="T113">{{harvnb|Taylor|1980|p=113}}</ref> Chris Woods chalked up two clean sheets in the final, covering Shilton's League Cup absence. McGovern missed the replay through injury, meaning Burns lifted the trophy as deputising captain. Robertson's penalty was the only goal of the game.<ref name=espn78lc/><ref name=lg78cup>{{cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=508|title=English League Cup Betting – 1977/78 – Soccer Base|website=soccerbase.com|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=6 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206011411/http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=508|url-status=live}}</ref>
Forest started season 1978–79 by beating Ipswich Town 5–0 for an FA Charity Shield record winning margin.<ref name=miracle/> In the 1978–79 European Cup, they were drawn to play the trophy winners of the past two seasons, Liverpool. Home goals by Birtles and Barrett put Forest through 2–0 on aggregate.<ref name=forliv>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/63471--nottm-forest-vs-liverpool/|title=UEFA Champions League – Nottm Forest-Liverpool|publisher=UEFA|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=5 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205194731/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1978/matches/round=1010/match=63471/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> 26-year-old Barrett suffered a serious leg injury ten days later against Middlesbrough that ultimately ended his professional career two years later. On 9 December 1978, Liverpool ended Forest's 42 match unbeaten league run dating back to November the year before.<ref name=miracle/> The unbeaten run was the equivalent of a whole season surpassing the previous record of 35 games held by Burnley in 1920/21.<ref>{{cite news |last=Stevenson |first=Jonathan |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/3582930.stm |title=Wenger repeats Clough feat |work=BBC News |date=23 August 2004 |access-date=11 July 2009 |archive-date=28 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228043956/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/3582930.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> The record stood until surpassed by Arsenal in August 2004, a month before Clough's death. Arsenal played 49 league games without defeat.<ref name=invince>{{cite web|url=https://www.arsenal.com/history/club-records/the-unbeaten-record|title=49 Unbeaten|publisher=Arsenal F.C.|access-date=18 December 2017|archive-date=12 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112010642/https://www.arsenal.com/history/club-records/the-unbeaten-record|url-status=live}}</ref>
In February 1979, Taylor authorised the English game's first £1 million transfer signing Trevor Francis from Birmingham City.<ref name="T124">{{harvnb|Taylor|1980|p=124}}</ref> In the European Cup semi-final first leg at home against 1. FC Köln, Forest were two goals behind after 20 minutes, then scored three to edge ahead before Köln equalised to start the German second leg ahead on the away goals rule. Ian Bowyer's goal in Germany put Forest through. Günter Netzer asked afterwards, "Who is this McGovern? I have never heard of him, yet he ran the game." Forest beat Malmö 1–0 in Munich's Olympiastadion in the 1979 European Cup final; Francis, on his European debut, scored with a back post header from Robertson's cross. Forest beat Southampton in the final 3–2 to retain the League Cup; Birtles scored twice, as did Woodcock once. Forest finished second in the 1978–79 Football League, eight points behind Liverpool.
[[File:Nottingham Forest FC (Amsterdam, 1980) - Francis, Clough, Robertson.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|Trevor Francis, Brian Clough and John Robertson in 1980]]
Forest declined to play in the home and away 1979 Intercontinental Cup against Paraguay's Club Olimpia. Forest beat Barcelona 2–1 on aggregate in the 1979 European Super Cup in January and February 1980, Charlie George scoring the only goal in the home first leg, while Burns scored an equaliser in the return in Spain.<ref name=esc79>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefasupercup/history/season=1979/|title=UEFA Super Cup – 1979: Burns' night for Forest|publisher=UEFA|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612212027/http://www.uefa.com/uefasupercup/history/season=1979/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the 1979–80 Football League Cup Forest reached a third successive final. A defensive mix up between Needham and Shilton let Wolves' Andy Gray tap in to an empty net. Forest passed up numerous chances, losing 1–0.<ref name=lc80f>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5pLX1RA1vg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/L5pLX1RA1vg| archive-date=11 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=15/03/1980 Wolverhampton W v Nottingham Forest|date=21 December 2013|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In the 1979–80 European Cup quarter-final, Forest won 3–1 at Dinamo Berlin to overturn a 1–0 home defeat. In the semi-final, they beat Ajax 2–1 on aggregate. They beat Hamburg 1–0 in the 1980 European Cup final at Madrid's Santiago Bernabéu Stadium to retain the trophy; after 20 minutes, Robertson scored, after exchanging passes with Birtles,<ref name="sofia">{{Cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/clubs/52681--nottm-forest/matches/?referrer=%2fuefachampionsleague%2fseason%3d1979%2fclubs%2fclub%3d52681%2fmatches%2findex|title=Nottm Forest - UCL - Matches|website=UEFA|access-date=15 September 2020|archive-date=6 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210806035154/https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/clubs/52681--nottm-forest/matches/?referrer=%2Fuefachampionsleague%2Fseason%3D1979%2Fclubs%2Fclub%3D52681%2Fmatches%2Findex|url-status=live}}</ref> and Forest then defended solidly.<ref>{{cite web |quote=Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport amusingly summed up the event by claiming that "Forest showed how English teams can implement Catenaccio |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52970612 |title=Bayern Munich: Branko Zebec, the brilliant, damaged manager who helped shape a giant |last=Yokhin |first=Michael |work=BBC Sport |date=6 August 2020 |access-date=26 July 2021 |archive-date=25 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125003534/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52970612 |url-status=live }}</ref> Forest finished fifth in the 1979–80 Football League.
In the 1980–81 European Cup first round, Forest lost 2–0 on aggregate to 1–0 defeats home and away by CSKA Sofia.<ref name="sofia"/> McGovern subsequently said the double defeat by CSKA affected the team's self-confidence, in that they had lost out to modestly talented opponents.<ref name=mcg/> Forest lost the 1980 European Super Cup on away goals after a 2–2 aggregate draw against Valencia; Bowyer scored both Forest goals in the home first leg.<ref name=vcf>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefasupercup/history/season=1980/#/|title=UEFA Super Cup – 1980: Valencia profit from Felman's fortune|publisher=UEFA|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=13 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613003707/http://www.uefa.com/uefasupercup/history/season=1980/#/|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 11 February 1981, Forest lost 1–0 in the 1980 Intercontinental Cup against Uruguayan side, Nacional. The match was played for the first time at the neutral venue National Stadium in Tokyo before 62,000 fans.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.rsssf.org/tablest/toyota80.html| title = Intercontinental Club Cup 1980| first = Osvaldo| last = Gorgazzi| website = Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation| date = 13 February 2005| access-date = 5 December 2017| archive-date = 7 October 2018| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181007012045/http://www.rsssf.com/tablest/toyota80.html| url-status = live}}</ref>
The league and European Cup winning squad was broken up to capitalise on player sale value. Clough and Taylor both later said this was a mistake.<ref name=gordon/> The rebuilt side comprising youngsters and signings such as Ian Wallace, Raimondo Ponte and Justin Fashanu did not challenge for trophies. Taylor said in 1982,<ref name=taylorret>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVWksGGpSMk| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200420154453/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVWksGGpSMk&gl=US&hl=en| archive-date=20 April 2020 | url-status=dead|title=Peter Taylor Leaves Nottingham Forest 1982|date=31 December 2016|via=YouTube}}</ref> {{blockquote|For many weeks now I don't believe I've been doing justice to the partnership and I certainly haven't been doing justice to Nottingham Forest the way I felt. And consequently after a great deal of thought, there was no option. I wanted to take an early retirement. That's exactly what I've done.}}
John McGovern and Peter Shilton transferred and Jimmy Gordon retired in the same close season.<ref name=gordon/>
===Clough without Taylor (1982–1993)=== Anderlecht beat Forest in the 1983–84 UEFA Cup semi-finals in controversial circumstances. Several contentious refereeing decisions went against Forest. Over a decade later, it emerged that before the match, referee Emilio Guruceta Muro had received a £27,000 "loan" from Anderlecht's chairman Constant Vanden Stock.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/42383.stm |title=Forest sues Anderlecht over '84 bribery scandal |work=BBC News |date=24 December 1997 |access-date=14 June 2012 |archive-date=13 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113014012/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/42383.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Anderlecht went unpunished until 1997, when UEFA banned the club from European competitions for one year. Guruceta Muro died in a car crash in 1987.<ref>Catherine Riley: ''[https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-after-13-years-anderlecht-are-punished-by-uefa-1240826.html Football: After 13 years Anderlecht are punished by Uefa] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210024249/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-after-13-years-anderlecht-are-punished-by-uefa-1240826.html |date=10 December 2018 }}'', The Independent, 23 September 1997 (per 7 June 2013).</ref>
Forest beat Sheffield Wednesday on penalties in the Football League Centenary Tournament final in April 1988 after drawing 0–0.<ref name=cent>{{cite web|url=http://www.itsroundanditswhite.co.uk/articles/the-mercantile-credit-football-festival|title=The Mercantile Credit Football Festival|date=24 January 2013|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=6 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206074544/http://www.itsroundanditswhite.co.uk/articles/the-mercantile-credit-football-festival|url-status=live}}</ref> Forest finished third in the league in 1988 and made the 1987–88 FA Cup semi-finals. Stuart Pearce won the first of his five successive selections for the PFA Team of the Year.
On 18 January 1989, Clough joined the fray of a City Ground pitch invasion by hitting two of his own team's fans when on the pitch. The football authorities responded with a fine and touchline ban for Clough.<ref name=qpr>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/may/22/seven-deadly-sins-football-lust-part-two|title=Seven deadly sins of football: Lust – from Antonio Cassano to a Dutch pool party|date=21 May 2009|website=The Guardian|access-date=18 December 2017|archive-date=22 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222052823/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/may/22/seven-deadly-sins-football-lust-part-two|url-status=live}}</ref> The match, against QPR in the League Cup, finished 5–2 to Forest.<ref name=for8889est>{{cite web|url=http://www.footballsite.co.uk/Statistics/LeagueTables/Season1988-89/ClubResults/1988-89.NottmForest.html|title=footballsite – Nottingham Forest results 1988/89|website=footballsite.co.uk|access-date=18 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222051540/http://www.footballsite.co.uk/Statistics/LeagueTables/Season1988-89/ClubResults/1988-89.NottmForest.html|archive-date=22 December 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Forest beat Everton 4–3 after extra time in the 1989 Full Members' Cup final, then came back to beat Luton Town 3–1 in the 1989 Football League Cup final. This set Forest up for a unique treble of domestic cup wins, but tragedy struck a week after the League Cup win. Forest and Liverpool met for the second season in a row in the FA Cup semi-finals. The Hillsborough disaster claimed the lives of 97 Liverpool fans. The match was abandoned after six minutes. When the emotional replay took place, Forest struggled as Liverpool won 3–1. Despite these trophy wins, and a third-place finish in the First Division, Forest were unable to compete in the UEFA Cup, as English clubs were still banned from European competitions following the Heysel Stadium Disaster. Des Walker won the first of his four successive selections for the PFA Team of the Year.
Nigel Jemson scored as Forest beat Oldham Athletic 1–0 to retain the League Cup in 1990. English clubs were re-admitted to Europe for the following season, but only in limited numbers, and Forest's League Cup win again did not see them qualify. The only UEFA Cup place that season went to league runners-up Aston Villa.
Brian Clough reached his only FA Cup final in 1991 after countless replays and postponements in the third, fourth and fifth rounds. Up against Tottenham Hotspur, Forest took the lead from a Pearce free kick, but Spurs equalised to take the game to extra-time, ultimately winning 2–1 after an own goal by Walker. Roy Keane declared himself fit to play in the final and was selected in preference to Steve Hodge; years later, Keane admitted he had not actually been fit to play, hence his insignificant role in the final.<ref>"Keane; The Autobiography". Roy Keane, Penguin Publishing Group, {{ISBN|9780718193997}}</ref>
In the summer of 1991, Millwall's league top scorer Teddy Sheringham became Forest's record signing, for a fee of £2.1 million. That season, Forest beat Southampton 3–2 after extra time in the Full Members' Cup final, but lost the League Cup final 1–0 to Manchester United thanks to a Brian McClair goal. This meant that Forest had played in seven domestic cup finals in five seasons, winning five of them. Forest finished eighth in the league that season to earn a place in the new FA Premier League.
Walker transferred to Sampdoria during the summer of 1992. On 16 August 1992, Forest beat Liverpool 1–0 at home in the first-ever Premier League game to be televised live, with Sheringham scoring the only goal of the match. A week later, Sheringham moved to Tottenham. Forest's form slumped, and Brian Clough's 18-year managerial reign ended in May 1993 with Forest relegated from the inaugural Premier League.<ref name=mole>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/liverpool/on-this-day/feature/otd-sheringham-nets-historic-goal_171318.html|title=On this day: Teddy Sheringham nets first televised Premier League goal – Sports Mole|website=amp.sportsmole.co.uk|date=16 August 2014 |access-date=19 December 2017|archive-date=22 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222051712/https://amp.sportsmole.co.uk/football/liverpool/on-this-day/feature/otd-sheringham-nets-historic-goal_171318.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The final game of that season was away at Ipswich. Forest lost 2–1 with Clough's son, Nigel, scoring the final goal of his father's reign.<ref name=nffchist/> Relegation was followed by Keane's £3.75 million British record fee transfer to Manchester United.
===Frank Clark (1993–1996)=== Frank Clark from Forest's 1979 European Cup winning team returned to the club in May 1993, succeeding Brian Clough as manager. Clark's previous greatest management success was promotion from the Fourth Division with Leyton Orient in 1989. Clark convinced Stuart Pearce to remain at the club and also signed Stan Collymore, Lars Bohinen and Colin Cooper. Clark brought an immediate return to the Premier League when the club finished Division One runners-up at the end of the 1993–94 season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Football League First Division 1993/94|access-date=1 August 2012|work=Soccerbase|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=213|archive-date=25 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925183615/http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=213|url-status=live}}</ref>
Forest finished third in 1994–95<ref>{{cite web|title=Premiership 1994/95|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=119|work=Soccerbase|access-date=1 August 2012|archive-date=3 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103125752/http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=119|url-status=live}}</ref> and qualified for the UEFA Cup – their first entry to European competition in the post-Heysel era. Collymore then transferred in the 1995–96 close season to Liverpool for a national record fee of £8.5million. Forest reached the 1995–96 UEFA Cup quarter-finals, the furthest an English team reached in UEFA competition that season. They finished ninth in the league.
The 1996–97 season quickly became a relegation battle. Clark left the club in December.<ref>{{cite news|title=Winless Forest lose manager Clark|agency=Agence France-Presse|work=The Nation|location=Bangkok|publisher=Nation Multimedia Group|date=20 December 1996|access-date=11 June 2012|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=g8QpAAAAIBAJ&dq=stan%20collymore%20manchester%20united&pg=6625%2C1867265|archive-date=27 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220227100218/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=g8QpAAAAIBAJ&dq=stan%20collymore%20manchester%20united&pg=6625%2C1867265|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Stuart Pearce and Dave Bassett (1997–1999)=== 34-year-old captain Stuart Pearce was installed as player-manager on a temporary basis just before Christmas in 1996 and he inspired a brief upturn in the club's fortunes. However, in March 1997 he was replaced on a permanent basis by Dave Bassett and left the club that summer after 12 years.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bassett quits Palace and joins Forest|agency=Reuters|work=The Nation|location=Bangkok|publisher=Nation Multimedia Group|date=1 March 1997|access-date=1 August 2012|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dKZNAAAAIBAJ&dq=bassett%20nottingham%20forest%20manager&pg=6362%2C145781|archive-date=8 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008194023/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dKZNAAAAIBAJ&dq=bassett%20nottingham%20forest%20manager&pg=6362,145781|url-status=live}}</ref> Forest were unable to avoid relegation and finished the season in bottom place.<ref>{{cite web|title=Premiership 1996/97|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=117|work=Soccerbase|access-date=1 August 2012|archive-date=4 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004235240/http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=117|url-status=live}}</ref> They won promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt, being crowned Division One champions in 1997–98.<ref>{{cite web|title=Football League First Division 1997/98|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=209|work=Soccerbase|access-date=1 August 2012|archive-date=5 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005002310/http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=209|url-status=live}}</ref> Bassett was sacked in January 1999, with Ron Atkinson replacing him.<ref>{{cite news|title=Forest hire Atkinson the troubleshooter|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-forest-hire-atkinson-the-troubleshooter-1046639.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220621/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-forest-hire-atkinson-the-troubleshooter-1046639.html |archive-date=21 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|newspaper=The Independent|first=Alan|last=Barnes|date=12 January 1999|access-date=1 August 2012|location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/19707252|title=AFC Wimbledon: Dave Bassett involved in manager search|date=25 September 2012|work=BBC Sport|access-date=13 February 2018|archive-date=29 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529230536/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/19707252|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Into the 21st century below the top-flight (1999–2012)=== Ron Atkinson was unable to prevent Forest from once again slipping back into Division One, and announced his retirement from football management when Forest's relegation was confirmed on 24 April 1999, with three weeks of the Premier League season still to play.
Former England captain David Platt succeeded Atkinson and spent approximately £12 million on players in the space of two seasons, including the Italian veterans Moreno Mannini, Salvatore Matrecano and Gianluca Petrachi.<ref>{{cite news|title=Platt hires Italians as Goldbaek balks|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-platt-hires-italians-as-goldbaek-balks-1110481.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220621/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-platt-hires-italians-as-goldbaek-balks-1110481.html |archive-date=21 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|newspaper=The Independent |location=London|date=3 August 1999}}</ref> However, Forest could only finish 14th in Platt's first season and 11th in his second. He departed in July 2001 to manage the England U21 side and was succeeded by youth team manager Paul Hart.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hart named new Forest boss|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/nottm_forest/1436112.stm|work=BBC Sport|date=12 July 2001|access-date=13 June 2012|archive-date=13 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113014052/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/nottm_forest/1436112.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>
thumb|right|Chart of yearly table positions of Forest since joining the Football League
Now faced with huge debts, which reduced Forest's ability to sign new players, they finished 16th in Hart's first season in charge.<ref>{{cite web|title=Football League First Division 2001/02|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=149|work=Soccerbase|access-date=1 August 2012|archive-date=5 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005010833/http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=149|url-status=live}}</ref> By December 2001, Forest were reported as losing over £100,000 every week,<ref>{{cite news|date=5 December 2001|title=Sideline Chatter: Gesture gives soccer peace a chance|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20011205/chat05/gesture-gives-soccer-peace-a-chance|work=The Seattle Times|access-date=19 January 2015|first=Dwight|last=Perry|archive-date=19 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119153110/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20011205&slug=chat05#_ga=1.24308991.439502902.1421603385|url-status=live}}</ref> and their financial outlook was worsened by the collapse of ITV Digital, which left Forest and many other Football League clubs in severe financial difficulties.<ref>{{cite news|title=Des clubs anglais privés de leur télé vache à lait|trans-title=English clubs deprived of their TV cash cow|url=http://www.liberation.fr/sports/0101407978-des-clubs-anglais-prives-de-leur-tele-vache-a-lait|first=Christophe|last=Boltanski|author-link = Christophe Boltanski|date=29 March 2002|access-date=16 November 2012|work=Libération|language=fr}}</ref> Despite the off-field difficulties, Forest finished 2002–03 in sixth place<ref>{{cite web|title=Football League First Division 2002/03|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=148|work=Soccerbase|access-date=14 October 2011|archive-date=5 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005024002/http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=148|url-status=live}}</ref> and qualified for the play-offs, where they lost to Sheffield United in the semi-finals. A poor league run the following season, following the loss of several key players, led to the sacking of Hart in February 2004 with Forest in danger of relegation.<ref>{{cite news|title=Forest finally lose patience with Hart|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/feb/07/newsstory.sport8|work=The Guardian|location=London|date=7 February 2004|access-date=14 October 2011|archive-date=5 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005043614/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/feb/07/newsstory.sport8|url-status=live}}</ref> The decision was unpopular with certain quarters of the fanbase and Hart was described as a "scapegoat".<ref>{{cite news|title=Hart a hapless scapegoat as Forest fire their fans' outrage|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/feb/09/sport.comment2|work=The Guardian|location=London|first=John|last=Rawling|date=9 February 2004|access-date=14 October 2011|archive-date=5 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005152717/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/feb/09/sport.comment2|url-status=live}}</ref>
Joe Kinnear was subsequently appointed and led the club to a secure 14th place in the final league table.<ref>{{cite web|title=Football League First Division 2003/04|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=147|work=Soccerbase|access-date=14 October 2011|archive-date=5 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005025520/http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=147|url-status=live}}</ref> The 2004–05 season saw Forest drop into the relegation zone once more, leading to Kinnear's resignation in December 2004.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kinnear resigns as Forest manager|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/nottm_forest/4101833.stm|work=BBC Sport|date=16 December 2004|access-date=1 August 2012|archive-date=13 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113014118/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/nottm_forest/4101833.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> Mick Harford took temporary charge of Forest over Christmas, before Gary Megson was appointed in the new year. Megson had already won two promotions to the Premier League with his previous club West Bromwich Albion, having arrived at the club when they were in danger of going down to Division Two, but failed to stave off relegation as the club ended the season second from bottom in 23rd place,<ref>{{cite web|title=Championship 2004/05|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=146|work=Soccerbase|access-date=14 October 2011|archive-date=5 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005013856/http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=146|url-status=live}}</ref> becoming the first European Cup-winners ever to fall into their domestic third division.<ref>{{cite news|title=Premier League casualties – clubs that have struggled since relegation|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/premier-league-casualties--clubs-that-have-struggled-since-relegation-6818587.html|first1=Ben|last1=Bailey|first2=Patrick|last2=Whyte|date=19 March 2009|access-date=10 May 2015|work=London Evening Standard|archive-date=17 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617083334/http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/premier-league-casualties--clubs-that-have-struggled-since-relegation-6818587.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
In Forest's first season in the English third tier in 54 years, a 3–0 defeat at Oldham Athletic<ref>{{cite news|title=Oldham 3–0 Nottm Forest|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_2/4703864.stm|work=BBC Sport|date=15 February 2006|access-date=14 October 2011|archive-date=13 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113014129/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/4703864.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> in February 2006 led to the departure of Megson by "mutual consent" leaving the club mid-table only four points above the relegation zone.<ref>{{cite news|title=Manager Megson leaves Forest|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2332336/Manager-Megson-leaves-Forest.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2332336/Manager-Megson-leaves-Forest.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London|date=16 February 2006}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Frank Barlow and Ian McParland took temporary charge for the remainder of the 2005–06 season, engineering a six-match winning run and remaining unbeaten in ten games, the most notable result a 7–1 win over Swindon Town.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nottingham Forest 7–1 Swindon|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/4727238.stm|work=BBC Sport|date=25 February 2006|access-date=14 October 2011|archive-date=13 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113014138/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/4727238.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> Forest took 28 points from a possible 39 under the two, narrowly missing out on a play-off place, as they finished in 7th place.<ref>{{cite web|title=League One 2005/06|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=154|work=Soccerbase|access-date=1 August 2012|archive-date=4 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004233733/http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=154|url-status=live}}</ref>
Colin Calderwood, previously of Northampton Town, was appointed as Forest's new manager in May 2006. He was their 12th new manager to be appointed since the retirement of Brian Clough 13 years earlier, and went on to become Forest's longest-serving manager since Frank Clark. The Calderwood era was ultimately one of rebuilding, and included the club's first promotion in a decade. In his first season, he led the club to the play-offs, having squandered a 7-point lead at the top of League One which had been amassed by November 2006. Forest eventually succumbed to a shock 5–4 aggregate defeat in the semi-finals against Yeovil Town; they had taken a 2–0 lead in the first leg at Huish Park, but were then beaten 5–2 on their own soil by the Somerset club.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_2/6649773.stm |work=BBC Sport |title=Nottm Forest 2–5 Yeovil |date=18 May 2007 |access-date=10 April 2010 |first=John |last=Sinnott |archive-date=2 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090402030310/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/6649773.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Calderwood achieved automatic promotion in his second year at the club, following an impressive run which saw Forest win six out of their last seven games of the season, culminating in a dramatic final 3–2 win against Yeovil Town at the City Ground. Forest kept a league record of 24 clean sheets out of 46 games, proving to be the foundation for their return to the second tier of English football and leaving them just one more promotion away from a return to the Premier League.
However, Calderwood's side struggled to adapt to life in the Championship in the 2008–09 campaign and having been unable to steer Forest out of the relegation zone, Calderwood was sacked following a Boxing Day 4–2 defeat to the Championship's bottom club Doncaster Rovers.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/nottm_forest/7800688.stm |work=BBC Sport |title=Calderwood sacked as Forest boss |date=26 December 2008 |access-date=10 April 2010 |archive-date=27 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227101334/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/nottm_forest/7800688.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>
Under the temporary stewardship of John Pemberton, Forest finally climbed out of the relegation zone, having beaten Norwich City 3–2.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/7787640.stm |work=BBC Sport |title=Nottm Forest 2–4 Doncaster |date=26 December 2008 |access-date=10 April 2010 |archive-date=4 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090104184023/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/7787640.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Billy Davies, who had taken Forest's local rivals Derby County into the Premier League two seasons earlier, was confirmed as the new manager on 1 January 2009<ref>{{cite news|date=1 January 2009 |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_4728820,00.html |title=Forest appoint Davies |access-date=1 January 2009 |work=Sky Sports |publisher=British Sky Broadcasting |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090104174639/http://www.skysports.com/story/0%2C19528%2C11095_4728820%2C00.html |archive-date= 4 January 2009 |url-status=dead |first=Chris |last=Harvey }}</ref> and watched Pemberton's side beat Manchester City 3–0 away in the FA Cup,<ref>{{cite news|title=Man City 0–3 Nottm Forest|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/7803315.stm|work=BBC Sport|date=3 January 2009|access-date=13 June 2012|archive-date=22 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122082850/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/7803315.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> prior to taking official charge. Under Davies, Forest stretched their unbeaten record in all competitions following Calderwood's sacking to six matches, including five wins. He also helped them avoid relegation as they finished 19th in the Championship,<ref>{{cite web|title=Championship 2008/09|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=142|work=Soccerbase|access-date=1 August 2012|archive-date=5 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005003814/http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=142|url-status=live}}</ref> securing survival with one game to go.
Forest spent most of the 2009–10 campaign in a top-three position, putting together an unbeaten run of 19 league games, winning 12 home league games in a row (a club record for successive home wins in a single season), going unbeaten away from home from the beginning of the season until 30 January 2010 (a run spanning 13 games) whilst also claiming memorable home victories over local rivals Derby County and Leicester City. The club finished third, missing out on automatic promotion, and in the two-legged play-off semi-final were beaten by Blackpool, 2–1 away and 4–3 in the home leg, the club's first defeat at home since losing to the same opposition in September 2009.
[[File:Rob Earnshaw, Gareth McCleary and Forest teammates vs Cardif City, 20 November 2010.jpg|thumb|right|Robert Earnshaw and other key members of the 2010 play-offs side]]
The 2010–11 season saw Forest finish in sixth place in the Championship table with 75 points,<ref>{{cite web|title=Championship 2010/11|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=3|work=Soccerbase|access-date=1 August 2012|archive-date=5 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005012348/http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=3|url-status=live}}</ref> putting them into a play-off campaign for the fourth time in the space of eight years. Promotion was yet again to elude Forest, as they were beaten over two legs by eventual play-off final winners Swansea City. Having drawn the first leg 0–0 at the City Ground,<ref>{{cite news|title=Ten-man Swansea have little trouble dousing Nottingham Forest's fire|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/may/12/swansea-city-nottingham-forest|newspaper=The Guardian|location=London|first=Richard|last=Rae|date=12 May 2011|access-date=1 August 2012|archive-date=5 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005120914/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/may/12/swansea-city-nottingham-forest|url-status=live}}</ref> they were eventually beaten 3–1 in the second leg.<ref>{{cite news|title=Darren Pratley finishes off Nottingham Forest to take Swansea to final|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=1 August 2012|date=16 May 2011|first=Joe|last=Lovejoy|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/may/16/swansea-city-nottingham-forest-championship|archive-date=5 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005045147/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/may/16/swansea-city-nottingham-forest-championship|url-status=live}}</ref>
In June 2011, Billy Davies had his contract terminated,<ref>{{cite news|title=Nottingham Forest talk to McClaren after sacking Davies|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/13644012|work=BBC Sport|date=12 June 2011|access-date=18 July 2011|archive-date=22 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822093126/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/13644012|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Billy Davies Contract Terminated |url=http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10308~2375078,00.html |publisher=Nottingham Forest F.C. |date=12 June 2011 |access-date=18 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113010554/http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10308~2375078%2C00.html |archive-date=13 January 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and was replaced as manager by Steve McClaren, who signed a three-year contract.<ref>{{cite news|title=Steve McClaren confirmed as Nottingham Forest boss|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/13746920|work=BBC Sport|date=13 June 2011|access-date=18 July 2011|archive-date=13 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613111519/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13746920.stm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=New Manager Confirmed |url=http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10308~2375220,00.html |publisher=Nottingham Forest F.C. |date=13 June 2011 |access-date=18 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113011112/http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10308~2375220%2C00.html |archive-date=13 January 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Forest started the 2011–12 season with several poor results and after a 5–1 defeat away to Burnley, David Pleat and Bill Beswick left the club's coaching setup.<ref name="McLaren resigns">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/oct/02/nottingham-forest-birmingham-city-championship |title=Birmingham fight-back seals exits of Steve McClaren and Nigel Doughty |work=The Guardian |date=2 October 2011 |access-date=3 October 2011 |last=Ashdown |first=John |location=London |archive-date=5 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005073726/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/oct/02/nottingham-forest-birmingham-city-championship |url-status=live }}</ref> Less than a week later, following a home defeat to Birmingham City, McClaren resigned, and chairman Nigel Doughty announced that he intended to resign at the end of the season.<ref name="McLaren resigns" /> In October 2011, Nottingham Forest underwent several changes. These changes included the appointment of Frank Clark as new chairman of the club and also that of Steve Cotterill, replacing the recently departed Steve McClaren.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/oct/14/steve-cotterill-nottingham-forest-manager |location=London |work=The Guardian |title=Steve Cotterill takes over as Nottingham Forest manager |date=14 October 2011 |access-date=12 December 2016 |archive-date=6 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206024355/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/oct/14/steve-cotterill-nottingham-forest-manager |url-status=live }}</ref>
thumb|left|Nigel Doughty: Nottingham Forest owner 1999–2012
Nigel Doughty, owner and previous chairman of the club, died on 4 February 2012, having been involved with the club since the late 1990s, with many estimating his total contribution as being in the region of £100 million.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-02-06 |title=The Times obituary: Nigel Doughty |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/the-times-obituary-nigel-doughty-n7k37cl00r7 |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=Thetimes.com |language=en}}</ref>
===Al-Hasawi era (2012–2017)=== The Al-Hasawi family from Kuwait purchased the club in July 2012. They told the press that they had a long-term vision for the club based on a 3–5 year plan, and after interviewing several potential new managers, appointed Sean O'Driscoll, formerly the manager at Doncaster Rovers and Crawley Town, as the manager on 19 July 2012. He was known for playing an attractive brand of passing football (which had taken Doncaster Rovers into the league's second tier for the first time since the 1950s) and what football fans would consider the Forest way.<ref name="McLeish leaves – Guardian" /> O'Driscoll had spent five months at the City Ground as coach under Steve Cotterill in the 2011–12 season.
By 15 December 2012, after the team's 0–0 draw away to Brighton, Forest sat in ninth position with 33 points, just three points off the play-off positions. On the same weekend, the club announced that Omar Al-Hasawi had stepped down for personal reasons and Fawaz Al-Hasawi, the majority shareholder with 75%, had taken the position,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/article/fawaz-al-hasawi-statement-546193.aspx|title=Fawaz Al Hasawi Statement|publisher=Nottingham Forest F.C.|date=16 December 2012|access-date=19 December 2012|archive-date=18 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121218083121/http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/article/fawaz-al-hasawi-statement-546193.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> with his brother Abdulaziz Al-Hasawi holding a 20% share and his cousin Omar Al-Hasawi holding a 5% share.
On 26 December 2012, O'Driscoll was sacked following a 4–2 victory over Leeds United, with the club stating their intentions of a change ahead of the January transfer window and hopes of appointing a manager with Premier League experience,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/20847476|title=Nottingham Forest sack manager Sean O'Driscoll|work=BBC Sport|date=26 December 2012|access-date=13 February 2018|archive-date=28 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121228012119/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20847476|url-status=live}}</ref> eventually hiring Alex McLeish.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nottingham Forest name Alex McLeish as new manager|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/20855227|work=BBC Sport|access-date=27 December 2012|date=27 December 2012|archive-date=28 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121228003435/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20855227|url-status=live}}</ref> Chief executive Mark Arthur as well as scout Keith Burt and club ambassador Frank Clark were dismissed in January 2013.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nottingham Forest: Mark Arthur, Keith Burt and Frank Clark leave|work=BBC Sport|date=17 January 2013|access-date=5 February 2013|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/21063276|archive-date=20 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120060931/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21063276|url-status=live}}</ref> On 5 February 2013, Forest and McLeish parted company by mutual agreement after 40 days of cooperation.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nottingham Forest part company with manager Alex McLeish by mutual agreement|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11727/8473102/Nottingham-Forest-have-parted-company-with-manager-Alex-McLeish-by-mutual-agreement|date=5 February 2013|access-date=5 February 2013|work=Sky Sports|publisher=British Sky Broadcasting|archive-date=1 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701155140/http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11727/8473102/Nottingham-Forest-have-parted-company-with-manager-Alex-McLeish-by-mutual-agreement|url-status=live}}</ref> Forest supporters and pundits alike registered their concern for the state of the club,<ref name="McLeish leaves – Guardian">{{cite news|title=Alex McLeish's sudden exit turns once-proud Forest into laughing stock|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/feb/05/alex-mcleish-nottingham-forest-exit|work=The Guardian|date=5 February 2013|access-date=6 February 2013|first=Stuart|last=James|archive-date=5 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005160720/http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/feb/05/alex-mcleish-nottingham-forest-exit|url-status=live}}</ref> with journalist Pat Murphy describing the situation as a "shambles".<ref>{{cite news|title=Nottingham Forest: Alex McLeish's exit leaves Reds in a mess|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/21339472|date=5 February 2013|access-date=5 February 2013|work=BBC Sport|first1=Owen|last1=Phillips|first2=Matt|last2=Newsum|archive-date=6 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130206170448/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21339472|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Stuart Pearce first game back as Nottingham Forest manager.jpg|thumb|right|Stuart Pearce returned as manager in 2014.]]
Two days after McLeish's departure, the club re-appointed Billy Davies as manager, having been sacked as the team's manager twenty months previously.<ref>{{cite news|title=Billy Davies: Nottingham Forest re-appoint ex-manager|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/21343978|work=BBC Sport|date=7 February 2013|access-date=7 February 2013|archive-date=8 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208061103/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21343978|url-status=live}}</ref> His first match in charge was a draw,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/21448151|title=Nottm Forest 1–1 Bolton|work=BBC Sport|date=16 February 2013|access-date=13 February 2018|archive-date=21 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140421200445/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21448151|url-status=live}}</ref> followed by a run of 10 undefeated games. In March 2014, the club terminated Davies's employment, following a 5–0 defeat by Derby County.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/article/club-statement-240314-1440481.aspx|title=Club Statement|date=24 March 2014|publisher=Nottingham Forest F.C.|access-date=24 March 2014|archive-date=24 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324155023/http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/article/club-statement-240314-1440481.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> After initially rejecting the job in March 2014,<ref name = "Pearce refuses Forest">{{cite news|title=Stuart Pearce refuses Nottingham Forest job|work=The Irish Independent|date=27 March 2014|access-date=8 July 2014|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/stuart-pearce-refuses-notts-forest-job-30131163.html|archive-date=1 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701133835/http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/stuart-pearce-refuses-notts-forest-job-30131163.html|url-status=live}}</ref> fans favourite Stuart Pearce was named the man to replace Billy Davies, taking over from caretaker manager Gary Brazil. He signed a two-year contract commencing on 1 July 2014. Pearce led Forest to an unbeaten start to the season but failed to keep up the form. He was sacked in February 2015 and replaced by another former Forest player, Dougie Freedman.
Another mid-table finish meant that Forest began the 2015–16 season still in the Championship and now in their 17th season away from the Premier League. On 13 March 2016, Freedman was sacked, following a 3–0 defeat at home to Sheffield Wednesday,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35798743|title=Dougie Freedman: Nottingham Forest manager sacked|date=13 March 2016|work=BBC Sport|access-date=13 February 2018|archive-date=27 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627182521/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35798743|url-status=live}}</ref> and Paul Williams was then appointed as temporary manager. Former Boulogne, Valenciennes, Real Sociedad, and Rennes head coach Philippe Montanier was appointed on a two-year contract on 27 June 2016 becoming the club's first manager from outside the British isles, but was sacked after fewer than seven months in charge. Mark Warburton was named as the club's new manager on 14 March 2017. Forest narrowly avoided relegation on the final day of the 2016–17 season, where a 3–0 home victory against Ipswich Town ensured their safety at the expense of Blackburn Rovers.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nottingham Forest 3–0 Ipswich Town|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39760415|work=BBC Sport|date=7 May 2017|access-date=7 May 2017|archive-date=7 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170507134434/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39760415|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Evangelos Marinakis and Premier League return (2017–present)=== On 18 May 2017, Evangelos Marinakis completed his takeover of Nottingham Forest,<ref>{{cite news|title=Evangelos Marinakis completes Nottingham Forest takeover and denies match-fixing allegations|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/may/18/nottingham-forest-evangelos-marinakis-takeover|work=The Guardian|date=18 May 2017|access-date=5 July 2017|archive-date=2 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171202134557/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/may/18/nottingham-forest-evangelos-marinakis-takeover|url-status=live}}</ref> bringing an end to Al-Hasawi's reign as Forest owner. Incumbent manager Mark Warburton was sacked on 31 December 2017 following a 1–0 home defeat to struggling Sunderland, with a record of one win in seven.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mark Warburton: Nottingham Forest sack manager after nine months in charge|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42528150|work=BBC Sport|date=31 December 2017|access-date=11 August 2018|archive-date=5 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805090100/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42528150|url-status=live}}</ref> He was replaced by Spaniard Aitor Karanka, who arrived on 8 January 2018, immediately after caretaker manager Gary Brazil had masterminded a 4–2 home win over holders Arsenal in the third round of the FA Cup.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nottingham Forest sign new manager|url=https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2018/january/nottingham-forest-sign-new-manager/|date=8 January 2018|work=nottinghamforest.co.uk|access-date=11 August 2018|archive-date=19 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119120924/https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2018/january/nottingham-forest-sign-new-manager/|url-status=live}}</ref> Karanka made 10 new signings during the January transfer window,<ref>{{cite news|title=Stefanos Kapino and Juan Fuentes join Nottingham Forest|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42994309|date=8 February 2018|work=BBC Sport|access-date=11 August 2018|archive-date=5 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805100243/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42994309|url-status=live}}</ref> and following a 17th-place finish, he made 14 new signings during the summer transfer window and the following season results improved.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sam Byram: West Ham defender joins Nottingham Forest on loan|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45152095|work=BBC Sport|date=10 August 2018|access-date=11 August 2018|archive-date=6 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906112422/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45152095|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite a strong league position, Karanka left his position on 11 January 2019 after requesting to be released from his contract.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46822599|title=Aitor Karanka: Nottingham Forest manager leaves Championship club|work=BBC Sport|date=11 January 2019|access-date=11 January 2019|archive-date=8 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108003302/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46822599|url-status=live}}</ref> He was replaced with former Republic of Ireland boss Martin O'Neill four days later.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Martin O'Neill takes charge at Nottingham Forest |publisher=Sky Sports |date=15 January 2019 |access-date=15 January 2019 |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11727/11607787/martin-oneill-takes-charge-at-nottingham-forest |archive-date=15 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115235931/https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11727/11607787/martin-oneill-takes-charge-at-nottingham-forest |url-status=live }}</ref> O'Neill was sacked in June after reportedly falling out with some of the senior first team players, and was replaced with Sabri Lamouchi on the same day.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48800839|title=Sabri Lamouchi: Nottingham Forest appoint Frenchman 18 minutes after sacking Martin O'Neill|date=28 June 2019|work=BBC Sport|access-date=17 April 2020|archive-date=12 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812222139/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48800839|url-status=live}}</ref> In Lamouchi's first season in charge, despite spending most of the season in the playoffs, Forest dropped to seventh place on the final day.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/nottingham-forest-transfers-sabri-lamouchi-4353648|title=Forest live: Latest on Lamouchi's future after Stoke disaster|first1=Barry|last1=Cooper|first2=Matt|last2=Davies|first3=Sarah|last3=Clapson|first4=Jamie|last4=Kemble|date=24 July 2020|website=NottinghamshireLive|access-date=22 July 2020|archive-date=22 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200722231057/https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/nottingham-forest-vs-stoke-city-4353648|url-status=live}}</ref> On 6 October 2020, Lamouchi was sacked by the club following a poor start to the 2020–21 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2020/october/sabri-lamouchi/ |title=Sabri Lamouchi |website=nottinghamforest.co.uk |date=6 October 2020 |access-date=26 July 2021 |archive-date=5 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805102437/https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2020/october/sabri-lamouchi/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He was replaced by former Brighton manager Chris Hughton.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2020/october/nottingham-forest-appoint-chris-hughton-as-manager/ |title=Chris Hughton Appointed As Manager |website=nottinghamforest.co.uk |date=6 October 2020 |access-date=26 July 2021 |archive-date=5 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805112344/https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2020/october/nottingham-forest-appoint-chris-hughton-as-manager/ |url-status=live }}</ref> After an ultimately unsuccessful 11 months in charge, Hughton was sacked on 16 September 2021 after failing to win any of the club's opening seven games of the 2021–22 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2021/september/Club-Statement/|title=Club Statement|date=16 September 2021 |access-date=16 September 2021|archive-date=16 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916085825/https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2021/september/Club-Statement/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Forest chairman Nicholas Randall had initially promised that Forest planned to return to playing European football within five seasons, and yet poor transfers and a toxic club culture meant that Forest remained in the Championship four years into the Marinakis era.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Taylor|first=Daniel|title=Nottingham Forest: A baffling club desperately in need of some common sense|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2816089/2021/09/15/nottingham-forest-a-baffling-club-desperately-in-need-of-some-common-sense/|access-date=26 December 2021|website=The Athletic|date=15 September 2021 |language=en|archive-date=26 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211226213953/https://theathletic.com/2816089/2021/09/15/nottingham-forest-a-baffling-club-desperately-in-need-of-some-common-sense/|url-status=live}}</ref> In the summer of 2021, structural changes were made at the club to try and correct the previous mistakes. Forest appointed Dane Murphy as Chief Executive, and George Syrianos was brought in as head of recruitment to bring about a more analytics driven transfer policy. The Forest hierarchy committed to avoiding the "short-termism" of previous windows by no longer signing players for more than £18,000 a week and mostly targeting younger signings that could be sold for a profit.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Taylor|first=Daniel|title=How Steve Cooper has transformed Nottingham Forest - now they must build on it|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3031316/2021/12/25/how-steve-cooper-has-transformed-nottingham-forest-now-they-must-build-on-it/|access-date=26 December 2021|website=The Athletic|date=26 December 2021 |archive-date=26 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211226050743/https://theathletic.com/3031316/2021/12/25/how-steve-cooper-has-transformed-nottingham-forest-now-they-must-build-on-it/|url-status=live}}</ref>
On 21 September 2021, Forest announced the appointment of Steve Cooper as the club's new head coach.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Steve Cooper appointed head coach|url=https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2021/september/Steve-Cooper-appointed-Head-Coach/|access-date=26 December 2021|website=Nottingham Forest Football Club|date=21 September 2021 |archive-date=28 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228001142/https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2021/september/Steve-Cooper-appointed-Head-Coach/|url-status=live}}</ref> Cooper inspired a turnaround in form, arriving with the club in last place yet having them in 7th at Christmas, and all the way up in 4th by the end of the season, qualifying Forest for the playoffs for the first time since the 2010–11 season.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Forest draw at Hull to finish fourth|url=https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2022/may/07/forest-draw-at-hull-to-finish-fourth/|access-date=15 May 2022|website=Nottingham Forest Football Club|date=7 May 2022 |archive-date=15 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220515220902/https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2022/may/07/forest-draw-at-hull-to-finish-fourth/|url-status=live}}</ref> In the 2022 Championship play-off semi-final, Forest defeated Sheffield United on penalties to advance to the final against Huddersfield Town,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61389080|title=Nottingham Forest 1–2 Sheffield United|work=BBC Sport|access-date=18 May 2022|archive-date=17 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517233318/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61389080|url-status=live}}</ref> who they beat 1–0 at Wembley Stadium, and were promoted to the Premier League for the first time since the 1998–99 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61539298|title=Huddersfield Town 0–1 Nottingham Forest|work=BBC Sport|access-date=29 May 2022|archive-date=28 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528120528/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61539298|url-status=live}}</ref> Having entered the Premier League with a depleted squad after the promotion, in the leadup to the next season Forest signed 21 players for the first team squad. This was a British transfer record.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/62761807|title=Nottingham Forest break British transfer record but fail to sign Mitchy Batshuayi|last=Smith|first=Emma|publisher=BBC Sport|date=1 September 2022|access-date=2 September 2022|archive-date=2 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220902002222/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/62761807|url-status=live}}</ref> The club record fee was also broken multiple times, and the last such occasion in the transfer window was when Morgan Gibbs-White joined the club for £25 million with a potential to rise to £42 million subject to performance.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/62604283|title=Morgan Gibbs-White: Nottingham Forest sign Wolves midfielder for club-record £25 million plus add-ons|last=Stone|first=Simon|publisher=BBC Sport|date=19 August 2022|access-date=2 September 2022|archive-date=26 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826025745/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/62604283|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Nottingham Forest F.C. vs Huddersfield Town A.F.C. Play-Off Final 2021-22.jpg|thumb|Nottingham Forest vs Huddersfield Town during the 2022 EFL Championship play-off final]]
On 7 October 2022, after five straight defeats, the club announced Cooper had signed a new three-year contract.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fisher |first=Ben |date=7 October 2022 |title=Nottingham Forest give Steve Cooper new contract after opting against sack |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/oct/07/nottingham-forest-steve-cooper-new-contract-sack |access-date=11 April 2023 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=11 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411191351/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/oct/07/nottingham-forest-steve-cooper-new-contract-sack |url-status=live }}</ref> Results improved temporarily, but in early April, after another poor run beset with injuries, Marinakis was forced to again say he had confidence in the manager. “We have all been disappointed with recent performances, and it is very clear that a lot of hard work needs to be done to address this urgently. Results and performances must improve immediately", he said in a statement.<ref>{{Cite news |date=5 April 2023 |title=Forest owner stands by Cooper but says results must improve |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/apr/05/nottingham-forest-stand-by-steve-cooper-results-must-improve-immediately-owner-marinakis |access-date=11 April 2023 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=11 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411084458/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/apr/05/nottingham-forest-stand-by-steve-cooper-results-must-improve-immediately-owner-marinakis |url-status=live }}</ref>
On 11 April 2023, with the club in the relegation zone, sporting director Filippo Giraldi was sacked after six months in the job.<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 April 2023 |title=Nottingham Forest sack sporting director Filippo Giraldi after six months |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/apr/11/nottingham-forest-sack-sporting-director-filippo-giraldi-after-six-months |access-date=11 April 2023 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=11 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411191350/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/apr/11/nottingham-forest-sack-sporting-director-filippo-giraldi-after-six-months |url-status=live }}</ref>
On 20 May 2023, Nottingham Forest sealed their Premier League status for the following season with a 1–0 home victory over Arsenal,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.premierleague.com/match/75277|title=Nottingham Forest 1-0 Arsenal|work=Premier League Official Site|date=20 May 2023}}</ref> which also confirmed the title for Manchester City. Forest collected 11 points from their last six games.
On 19 December 2023, the club sacked Cooper; he was replaced by previous Al-Ittihad manager Nuno Espírito Santo.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Forest sack Cooper and hold talks with Nuno |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/67757915 |access-date=2023-12-19}}</ref> On 15 January 2024, Nottingham Forest was charged with breaching Premier League profit and sustainability rules in their accounts for 2022–23.<ref name="BBC-15Jan2024">{{cite news |title=Everton and Nottingham Forest charged with breaking financial rules by Premier League |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67978537 |access-date=15 January 2024 |work=BBC Sport |date=15 Jan 2024}}</ref> On 18 March 2024, the club was docked four points, pushing them into the relegation places, after an independent commission found Forest's 2022–23 losses breached the £61m threshold by £34.5m.<ref name="Mashiter-18Mar2024">{{cite news |last1=Mashiter |first1=Nick |title=Nottingham Forest points deduction: Loss of four points drops club into relegation zone |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68594865 |access-date=18 March 2024}}</ref> The club appealed against the penalty,<ref name="BBC-25Mar2024">{{cite news |title=Nottingham Forest lodge appeal against Premier League points deduction |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68661196 |access-date=25 March 2024 |work=BBC Sport |date=25 March 2024}}</ref> but their appeal was rejected.<ref name="BBC-07May2024">{{cite news |last1=Mashiter |first1=Nick |last2=Jackson |first2=Bobby |title=Forest points deduction appeal rejected |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cd13r56z21xo |access-date=7 May 2024 |work=BBC Sport |date=7 May 2024}}</ref>
Nottingham Forest secured their survival in the Premier League for the 2023–24 season with a 2–1 victory over Burnley at Turf Moor on 19 May 2024. Their overall score of 32 points in the league is the lowest for a team that avoided relegation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Burnley v Nottm Forest, 2023/24 {{!}} Premier League |url=https://www.premierleague.com/match/93694 |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=Premierleague.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Burnley 1-2 Nottingham Forest: Wood double secures Forest's Premier League safety |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cxr3rxevw4qt |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref>
In the 2024–25 season, Nottingham Forest were in UEFA Champions League spots for most of the campaign.<ref>{{cite web |last=Mashiter |first=Nick |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/cpq2qj9x9rxt |title=Nottingham Forest 1–0 Manchester United |publisher=BBC Sport |date=1 April 2025 }}</ref> However, a dip in form saw them miss out on qualification on the final day following a 1–0 home defeat to Chelsea.<ref name="2425CL">{{Cite web |last=Fisher |first=Ben |title=Chelsea secure top-five spot to end Nottingham Forest's Champions League dream |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/may/25/nottingham-forest-chelsea-premier-league-match-report|date=25 May 2025 |website=The Guardian}}</ref> They finished 7th, enough to qualify for the Conference League, the club's first involvement in European football for 30 years,<ref name="2425CL"/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lansley |first=Peter |title=Nottingham Forest's Champions League hopes hit by late Leicester leveller |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/may/11/nottingham-forest-leicester-premier-league-match-report |access-date=11 May 2025 |website=The Guardian |date=11 May 2025 }}</ref> However, they were promoted to the Europa League following the demotion of FA Cup winners Crystal Palace for breaching multi-club ownership rules.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11706/13409938/crystal-palace-to-play-in-conference-league-after-cas-rules-uefa-decision-should-stand-following-europa-league-demotion |title=Crystal Palace to play in Conference League after CAS rules UEFA decision should stand following Europa League demotion |publisher=Sky Sports |date=11 August 2025 }}</ref>
Despite Espírito Santo's success and signing a new three-year deal in June, he was sacked on 9 September 2025 after a public deterioration of relations between him, Marinakis, and sporting director Edu.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Mokbel |first1=Sami |last2=Sutcliffe |first2=Steve |date=9 September 2025 |title=Nottingham Forest sack boss Nuno |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c2en2xnpvlno |access-date=9 September 2025 |work=BBC News |department=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC}}</ref> Later that day, Ange Postecoglou, who most recently led Tottenham Hotspur to the 2024–25 Europa League title, was appointed to replace him.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mokbel |first=Sami |date=9 September 2025 |title=Postecoglou replaces Nuno as Forest manager |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cvgq6495gd6o |access-date=9 September 2025 |work=BBC News |department=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC}}</ref> Postecoglou was sacked on 18 October 2025 after just eight games in 39 days - the second-shortest permanent managerial reign in Premier League history.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ange Postecoglou: Nottingham Forest sack manager with Roberto Mancini and Sean Dyche possible replacements |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/clyqvv94p0go |website=Forest sack Postecoglou after 39 days in charge |publisher=BBC News |access-date=18 October 2025}}</ref> He was replaced by Sean Dyche, who had been let go by Everton in January 2025. Dyche was sacked in February 2026 after 114 days in charge<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mashiter |first1=Nick |last2=Mokbel |first2=Sami |title=Forest open Pereira talks after sacking Dyche |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c98p80g568do |access-date=12 February 2026 |work=BBC Sport |date=12 February 2026}}</ref> and replaced by Vítor Pereira, making Forest the first Premier League club to have four different permanent managers during a single season.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mashiter |first1=Nick |title=Pereira announced as Forest boss on 18-month deal |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c62678ldqmpo |access-date=15 February 2026 |work=BBC Sport |date=15 February 2026}}</ref>
==Club identity== ===Crest and colours=== {{Commons|Nottingham Forest F.C. kits}} [[File:Jordan Gabriel.jpg|thumb|Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel in Forest's red shirt, 2016]]
Nottingham Forest have worn red since the club's foundation in 1865. At the meeting in the Clinton Arms which established Nottingham Forest as a football club, the committee also passed a resolution that the team colours should be 'Garibaldi red'.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/club/history/ |title=History |access-date=7 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120921041105/http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/club/history/ |archive-date=21 September 2012}} The Official History of Nottingham Forest</ref> This decision was made in honour of Giuseppe Garibaldi, the Italian patriot who was the leader of the redshirts volunteers. At this time, clubs identified themselves more by their headgear than their shirts and a dozen red caps with tassels were duly purchased, making Forest the first club to 'officially' wear red, a colour that has since been adopted by a significant number of others. Forest's kit is the reason behind Arsenal's choice of red, the club having donated a full set of red kits to Arsenal following their foundation (as Woolwich Arsenal) in 1886. Forest's tour of South America in 1905 inspired Argentine club Independiente to adopt red as their club colour, after club's President Arístides Langone described the tourists as looking like ''diablos rojos'' ("red devils"), which would become Independiente's nickname.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.caindependiente.com/cms/historia.php?id=149|work=caindependiente.com|publisher=Club Atlético Independiente|title=Década del '10|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080306141848/http://www.caindependiente.com/cms/historia.php?id=149 |archive-date = 6 March 2008|url-status=dead|language=es|trans-title=The 1910s}}</ref>
The first club crest used by Forest was the city arms of Nottingham, which was first used on kits in 1947.<ref name="HFK" /> The current club badge was introduced in 1974,<ref name = "HFK">{{cite news|title=Nottingham Forest|url=http://historicalkits.co.uk/Nottingham_Forest/Nottingham_Forest.htm|work=historicalkits.co.uk|publisher=Historical Football Kits|access-date=29 October 2013|first=Dave|last=Moor|archive-date=19 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019061345/http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Nottingham_Forest/Nottingham_Forest.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> following a competition in 1973 to design a new badge. The winning design was by Trent Polytechnic (now Nottingham Trent University) graphic design lecturer David Lewis.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forestforum.co.uk/threads/23292-Forest-s-Od-Badge?p=1137807&viewfull=1#post1137807|title=Forest's Od Badge|website=Forestforum.co.uk|access-date=15 September 2020|archive-date=29 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129213440/https://www.forestforum.co.uk/threads/23292-Forest-s-Od-Badge?p=1137807&viewfull=1#post1137807|url-status=live}}</ref> The logo has been incorrectly reported as being the brainchild of manager Brian Clough.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Joy of Six: Brief trends in football|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2010/dec/03/joy-of-six-football-trends|date=3 December 2010|first=Scott|last=Murray|work=The Guardian|access-date=29 October 2013|archive-date=11 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111185302/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2010/dec/03/joy-of-six-football-trends|url-status=live}}</ref> However, he did not arrive at the club until the following year. Forest have two stars above the club badge to commemorate its European Cup victories in 1979 and 1980.<ref>{{cite news|title=The star on Orlando Pirates badge explained|url=http://www.kickoff.com/news/38379/the-star-on-orlando-pirates-badge-explained|work=kickoff.com|date=23 October 2013|access-date=12 July 2014|first=Zola|last=Doda|location=South Africa|archive-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714165235/http://www.kickoff.com/news/38379/the-star-on-orlando-pirates-badge-explained|url-status=dead}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! style="background:#d00; color:#fff;" scope="col"|Period ! style="background:#d00; color:#fff;" scope="col"|Kit manufacturer ! style="background:#d00; color:#fff;" scope="col"|Main shirt sponsor |- |1973–76 |Umbro |rowspan=3|''None'' |- |1976–77 |U-Win<ref name="Nottingham Forest 1986-88 – not far off a grand slam of combinations">{{cite web | url=https://museumofjerseys.com/2017/07/30/nottingham-forest-umbro-kit-1986-88-not-far-off-a-grand-slam-of-combinations/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181014165003/https://museumofjerseys.com/2017/07/30/nottingham-forest-umbro-kit-1986-88-not-far-off-a-grand-slam-of-combinations/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=14 October 2018 | title=Nottingham Forest 1986–88 – not far off a grand slam of combinations | work=museumofjerseys.com | date=30 July 2017 | access-date=14 October 2018 | author=Hurley, Denis }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.footballkitarchive.com/u-win-kits/ | title=U-Win Football Kit History | publisher=Football Kit Archive | access-date=8 August 2025}}</ref> |- |1977–80 |rowspan=4|Adidas |- |1980–82 |Panasonic |- |1982–84 |Wrangler |- |1984–86 |Skol |- |1986–87 |rowspan=7|Umbro |Home Ales |- |1987–93 |Shipstones |- |1993–97 |Labatt's |- |1997–2003 |Pinnacle |- |2003–09 |Capital One |- |2009–12 |Victor Chandler |- |2012–13 |John Pye Auctions<ref>{{cite web|title=Nottingham Forest|url=http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Nottingham_Forest/Nottingham_Forest.htm|first=Dave|last=Moor|access-date=17 January 2012|work=Historical Football Kits|archive-date=3 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103044313/http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Nottingham_Forest/Nottingham_Forest.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |2013–16 |rowspan=2|Adidas |Fawaz International Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Company |- |2016–18 ||888sport |- |2018–19 | rowspan="4" |Macron<ref>{{cite news|title=Nottingham Forest announce record-breaking long-term partnership with Macron|date=1 March 2018|access-date=1 March 2018|publisher=Nottingham Forest F.C.|url=https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2018/march/nottingham-forest-announce-record-breaking-long-term-partnership-with-macron/|archive-date=1 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301225317/https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2018/march/nottingham-forest-announce-record-breaking-long-term-partnership-with-macron/|url-status=live}}</ref> |BetBright<ref>{{cite web|title=Nottingham Forest announce landmark deal with BetBright|url=https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2018/june/nottingham-forest-announce-landmark-deal-with-betbright/|access-date=13 June 2018|work=Nottingham Forest|archive-date=9 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109023600/https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2018/june/nottingham-forest-announce-landmark-deal-with-betbright/|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |2019–21 ||Football Index<ref>{{cite web|title=Football Index announced as official shirt partner|url=https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2019/june/Football-Index-announced-as-official-shirt-partner/|access-date=7 June 2019|work=Nottingham Forest|archive-date=7 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607110016/https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2019/june/Football-Index-announced-as-official-shirt-partner/|url-status=live}}</ref> |- |2021–22 |BOXT |- |2022–23 |UNHCR<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nottingham Forest FC |url=https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/ |access-date=22 December 2022 |website=Nottingham Forest Football Club |archive-date=3 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160903002355/https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/nottingham-forest-matty-cash-new-contract-3227068.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> |- |2023–25 |rowspan="3" |Adidas |Kaiyun<ref>{{cite web|title=Kaiyun sports announced as front of shirt partner|url=https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2023/august/30/forest-announce-kaiyun-sports-as-front-of-shirt-partner/|access-date=30 August 2023|work=Nottingham Forest|date=30 August 2023 }}</ref> |- |2025–26 |Bally's<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 August 2025 |title=Club announces Bally's Corporation as Front of Shirt partner |url=https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2025/august/05/club-announces-bally-s-corporation-as-front-of-shirt-partner/ |access-date=7 August 2025 |website=Nottingham Forest Football Club}}</ref> |}
===Nomenclature=== The club has garnered many nicknames over time. Historically, the nickname of "the Reds" was used,<ref>{{cite news|title=Footy Nicknames – Nottingham Forest|url=http://www.footynicknames.co.uk/Nottingham_Forest_-_Forest|work=footynicknames.co.uk|access-date=8 July 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714192748/http://www.footynicknames.co.uk/Nottingham_Forest_-_Forest|archive-date=14 July 2014}}</ref> as was "Garibaldis".<ref>{{cite web|title=Nottingham Forest|date=31 March 2011|url=http://thebeautifulhistory.wordpress.com/clubs/nottingham-forest/|publisher=The Beautiful History|access-date=8 July 2014|archive-date=22 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140822093812/http://thebeautifulhistory.wordpress.com/clubs/nottingham-forest/|url-status=live}}</ref> "The Forest"<ref name = "1908 newspaper">{{cite news|title=Nottingham Forest, 5; Liverpool, 1|newspaper=Daily Mirror|page=14|date=9 October 1908}}</ref> or the simpler "Forest" – as used on the club crest – is commonly used. Another, lesser-used, nickname referring to the club is the "Tricky Trees".<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/nov/24/football-rumourmill | work=The Guardian | location=London | title=Monday's football transfer rumours: Kazim-Richards to the Premier League? | first=Alan | last=Gardner | date=24 November 2008 | access-date=8 July 2014 | archive-date=14 July 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714172644/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/nov/24/football-rumourmill | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Football's top 10 nicknames: The Pensioners, Tricky Trees, Smoggies, Monkey Hangers and more|first=Chris|last=Mendes|date=7 November 2011|url=http://talksport.com/magazine/features/2011-11-07/footballs-top-10-nicknames-pensioners-tricky-trees-smoggies-monkey-hangers-and-more|work=talksport.com|publisher=UTV Radio|access-date=8 July 2014|archive-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714194230/http://talksport.com/magazine/features/2011-11-07/footballs-top-10-nicknames-pensioners-tricky-trees-smoggies-monkey-hangers-and-more|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Stadium== === City Ground === {{main|City Ground}}
[[File:Nottingham MMB 15 City Ground.jpg|thumb|right|The City Ground on the banks of the River Trent]]
Since 1898, Nottingham Forest have played their home games at the City Ground in West Bridgford, on the banks of the River Trent. Before moving to the City Ground, Forest played their home games at Forest Recreation Ground, then Trent Bridge, and finally the purpose-built Town Ground. Since 1994, the City Ground has been all-seater, a preparation that was made in time for the ground to be a venue for Euro 96, and has a capacity of 31,042.
The City Ground is 300 yards away from Notts County's Meadow Lane stadium on the opposite side of the Trent, meaning the two grounds are the closest professional football stadia geographically in England. In 1898, the City Ground was within the boundaries of Nottingham, which had been given city status the year before and gave rise to the name of the stadium. However, a boundary change in the 1950s means that the City Ground now stands just outside of the city's boundaries in the town of West Bridgford.
In 2019, Nottingham Forest announced plans to redevelop the City Ground and surrounding area, including the "creation of a new, world-class Peter Taylor Stand". It was expected this would increase the capacity of the stadium to 38,000, making it the largest football stadium in the East Midlands.<ref>{{cite web|title=Major stadium redevelopment to go ahead at Nottingham Forest|url=https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2019/february/major-stadium-redevelopment-to-go-ahead-at-nottingham-forest/|publisher=Nottingham Forest Football Club|date=28 February 2019|access-date=25 August 2019|archive-date=9 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220609053457/https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2019/february/major-stadium-redevelopment-to-go-ahead-at-nottingham-forest/|url-status=live}}</ref> Planning permission for the new Peter Taylor Stand was approved by Rushcliffe Borough Council's planning committee in 2022 <ref>{{Cite web |last1=Davies |first1=Matt |last2=Clapson |first2=Sarah |last3=Wakefield |first3=Mark |last4=Wilson |first4=Amie |date=25 September 2022 |title=A look at where things stand with Forest's City Ground plans |url=https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/nottingham-forest-city-ground-redevelopment-3998108 |access-date=13 November 2022 |website=NottinghamshireLive |language=en |archive-date=31 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200331172147/https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/what-know-far-those-big-3998108 |url-status=live }}</ref> with final consent granted in 2025. In November 2025, Nottingham Forest announced new more ambitious plans to increase the capacity of the City Ground to 52,500 by 2033. At a launch event attended by club Chair Nicholas Randall and East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward, Nottingham Forest confirmed their intention to expand the Peter Taylor Stand capacity by around 10,000 taking it to 15,000, and increase the Trent End capacity by a further 5,000, bringing capacity up to 45,000 as Phase 1 of the City Ground redevelopment. Longer term Phase 2 plans would also increase the Brian Clough Stand by 7,500 ultimately bringing total capacity to more than 52,500.
Nottingham Forest submitted a planning application to Rushcliffe Borough Council for their Phase 1 plans on 16 December 2025,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://planningon-line.rushcliffe.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=T7CVGUNL0EI00|title=25/02123/FUL | Full planning permission for demolition of existing buildings/structures, redevelopment of the Peter Taylor Stand and Trent End to deliver additional capacity, public realm, and all associated works | Nottingham Forest Football Club City Ground Pavilion Road West Bridgford Nottinghamshire NG2 5FJ|website=Planningon-line.rushcliffe.gov.uk|access-date=31 May 2026}}</ref> and are hoping to start enabling works in summer 2026 subject to their gaining planning permission. An outline application was also submitted for the expansion of the Brian Clough stand alongside the main application for the Trent End and Peter Taylor Stand. It is understood Nottingham Forest are yet to purchase the freehold to the City Ground site, and this is subject to them gaining planning permission for their projects.
=== Ground history === {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! style="background:#d00; color:#fff;" scope="col"|Period ! style="background:#d00; color:#fff;" scope="col"|Ground ! style="background:#d00; color:#fff;" scope="col"|Location |- |1865–78 | Forest Recreation Ground |Forest Fields |- |1879–80 |Castle Ground |The Meadows |- |1880–82 |Trent Bridge Cricket Ground |West Bridgford |- |1882–85 |Parkside Ground |Lenton |- |1885–90 |Gregory Ground |Lenton |- |1890–98 |Town Ground |The Meadows |- |1898–98 |City Ground |The Meadows |- |1898– |City Ground |West Bridgford |- |}
==Local rivals, derbies and supporters== {{main|Nottingham derby|Derby County F.C.–Nottingham Forest F.C. rivalry{{!}}East Midlands derby|Leicester City F.C.–Nottingham Forest F.C. rivalry}}
Whilst Notts County is the closest professional football club geographically, Forest have remained at least one division higher since the 1994–95 season and the club's fiercest rivalry is with Derby County, located 14 miles away.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.footballpools.com/football-fever/rivalries-11to15.html |title=Positions 11 – 15 | Football Rivalries Report 2008 |publisher=Footballpools.com |access-date=24 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427101741/http://www.footballpools.com/football-fever/rivalries-11to15.html |archive-date=27 April 2014}}</ref> The rivalry stems from the 1898 FA Cup final when Forest caused a major upset, beating strong favourites Derby County 3–1. The two clubs contest the East Midlands derby, a fixture which has taken on even greater significance since the inception of the Brian Clough Trophy in 2007. As of February 2024, the two clubs have met on 111 occasions, with Forest winning 43 times and Derby winning 38 times with 30 games drawn.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.11v11.com/teams/nottingham-forest/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Derby%20County/ |title=Nottingham Forest football club: record v Derby County |website=11v11 |publisher=AFS Enterprises |access-date=21 February 2024}}</ref>
Leicester City were widely considered to be Forest's main East Midlands rivals prior to Brian Clough's success at both Derby and Forest. The rivalry is now most fiercely felt by fans who live around the Leicestershire-Nottinghamshire border.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}
Forest's other regional rival is Sheffield United, based in the neighbouring county of South Yorkshire, a rivalry which has roots in the UK miners' strike of 1984–85 when the miners of South Yorkshire walked out on long strikes but some Nottinghamshire miners, who insisted on holding a ballot, continued to work. The 2003 Championship play-off semi-final between the two clubs, in which Sheffield United finished as 5–4 aggregate winners, also fuelled the rivalry.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}} They met again in the 2022 play-offs, with Forest coming out on top this time, and in 2023–24 faced each other in the Premier League for the first time since 1993, with Forest winning 2–1 at home,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66470075 | title=Nottingham Forest 2–1 Sheffield United | publisher=BBC | date=18 August 2023 | access-date=19 August 2023}}</ref> and 3–1 away.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68910650 | title=Sheffield United 1–3 Nottingham Forest | publisher=BBC | date=4 May 2024 | access-date=4 May 2024}}</ref>
==Managers== ''Information correct as of match played 24 May 2026. Only competitive matches are counted.'' {{citation needed|date=March 2025}} *Caretaker managers are in italics. {| class="wikitable sortable" ! |Number ! |Manager ! |From ! |To ! |Played ! |Won ! |Drawn ! |Lost ! |Won % ! |Drawn % ! |Lost % ! |Ref |- |align=left|1 |align=left|Harry Radford |1 August 1889||31 May 1897 |176||69||34||73||39.2%||19.3%||41.5% | |- |align=left|2 |align=left|Harry Hallam |1 August 1897||31 May 1909 |462||188||104||170||40.7%||22.5%||36.8% | |- |align=left|3 |align=left|{{flagicon|England}} Fred Earp<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.englandsoldestfootballclubs.com/players/fred-william-earp/|title=Fred William Earp|publisher=England's Oldest Football Clubs|access-date=14 March 2019}}</ref> |1 August 1909 |31 May 1912 |120 |35 |26 |59 |29.2% |21.7% |49.2% | |- |align=left|4 |align=left|Bob Masters |1 August 1912||31 May 1925 |385||108||97||180||28.1%||25.2%||46.8% | |- |align=left|5 |align=left|John Baynes |1 August 1925||31 May 1929 |182||69||47||66||37.9%||25.8%||36.3% | |- |align=left|6 |align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Stan Hardy |1 August 1930||31 May 1931 |43||14||9||20||32.6%||20.9%||46.5% | |- |align=left|7 |align=left|Noel Watson |1 August 1931||31 May 1936 |223||79||57||87||35.4%||25.6%||39.0% | |- |align=left|8 |align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Harold Wightman |1 August 1936||31 May 1939 |119||33||27||59||27.7%||22.7%||49.6% | |- |align=left|9 |align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Billy Walker |1 May 1939||1 June 1960 |650||272||147||231||41.8%||22.6%||35.5% | |- |align=left|10 |align=left|{{flagicon|SCO}} Andy Beattie |1 September 1960||1 July 1963 |140||52||30||58||37.1%||21.4%||41.4% | |- |align=left|11 |align=left|{{flagicon|IRL}} Johnny Carey |1 July 1963||31 December 1968 |267||99||65||93||38.5%||25.3%||36.2% | |- |align=left|12 |align=left|{{flagicon|SCO}} Matt Gillies |1 January 1969||20 October 1972 |177||49||48||80||27.7%||27.1%||45.2% | |- |align=left|13 |align=left|{{flagicon|SCO}} Dave Mackay |2 November 1972||23 October 1973 |44||13||14||17||29.5%||31.8%||38.6% | |- |align=left|14 |align=left|{{flagicon|SCO}} Allan Brown |19 November 1973||29 December 1974 |57||20||17||20||35.1%||29.8%||35.1% | |- |align=left|15 |align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Brian Clough |6 January 1975||8 May 1993 |968||447||258||263||46.2%||26.7%||27.2% | |- |align=left|16 |align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Frank Clark |13 May 1993||19 December 1996 |180||73||59||48||40.5%||32.7%||26.6% | |- |align=left|17 |align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} ''Stuart Pearce'' |20 December 1996||8 May 1997 |24||7||9||8||29.2%||37.5%||33.3% | |- |align=left|18 |align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Dave Bassett |8 May 1997||5 January 1999 |76||33||20||23||43.4%||26.3%||30.2% | |- |align=left|19 |align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} ''Micky Adams'' |5 January 1999||11 January 1999 |1||0||0||1||0.0%||0.0%||100.0% | |- |align=left|20 |align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Ron Atkinson |11 January 1999||16 May 1999 |17||5||2||10||29.4%||11.8%||58.8% | |- |align=left|21 |align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} David Platt |1 July 1999||12 July 2001 |103||37||25||41||35.9%||24.3%||39.8% | |- |align=left|22 |align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Paul Hart |12 July 2001||7 February 2004 |135||42||44||49||31.1%||32.6%||36.3% | |- |align=left|23 |align=left|{{flagicon|IRL}} Joe Kinnear |10 February 2004||16 December 2004 |44||15||15||14||34.1%||34.1%||31.8% | |- |align=left|24 |align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} ''Mick Harford'' |16 December 2004||10 January 2005 |6||2||1||3||33.3%||16.7%||50.0% | |- |align=left|25 |align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Gary Megson |10 January 2005||16 February 2006 |59||17||18||24||28.8%||30.5%||40.7% | |- |align=left|26 |align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} ''Frank Barlow''<br />{{flagicon|SCO}} ''Ian McParland'' |17 February 2006||30 May 2006 |13||8||4||1||61.5%||30.8%||7.7% | |- |align=left|27 |align=left|{{flagicon|SCO}} Colin Calderwood |30 May 2006||26 December 2008 |136||57||42||37||41.9%||30.9%||27.2% | |- |align=left|28 |align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} ''John Pemberton'' |27 December 2008||4 January 2009 |2||2||0||0||100.0%||0.0%||0.0% | |- |align=left|29 |align=left|{{flagicon|SCO}} Billy Davies |4 January 2009||12 June 2011 |126||53||36||37||42.1%||28.6%||29.4% | |- |align=left|30 |align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Steve McClaren |13 June 2011||2 October 2011 |13||3||3||7||23.1%||23.1%||53.8% | |- |align=left|31 |align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} ''Rob Kelly'' |2 October 2011||15 October 2011 |1||0||0||1||0%||0%||100% | |- |align=left|32 |align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Steve Cotterill |14 October 2011||12 July 2012 |37||12||7||18||32.4%||18.9%||48.6% | |- |align=left|33 |align=left|{{flagicon|IRL}} Sean O'Driscoll |20 July 2012||26 December 2012 |26||10||9||7||38.5%||34.6%||26.9%' | |- |align=left|34 |align=left|{{flagicon|SCO}} Alex McLeish |27 December 2012||5 February 2013 |7||1||2||4||14.3%||28.6%||57.1% | |- |align=left|35 |align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} ''Rob Kelly'' |5 February 2013||9 February 2013 |1||0||0||1||0.0%||0.0%||100.0% | |- |align=left|36 |align=left|{{flagicon|SCO}} Billy Davies |7 February 2013||24 March 2014 |59||25||21||13||42.3%||35.6%||22.0% | |- |align=left|37 |align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} ''Gary Brazil'' |24 March 2014||3 May 2014 |9||2||2||5||22.2%||22.2%||55.6% | |- |align=left|38 |align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Stuart Pearce |1 July 2014||1 February 2015 |32||10||10||12||31.25%||31.25%||37.5% | |- |align=left|39 |align=left|{{flagicon|SCO}} Dougie Freedman |1 February 2015||13 March 2016 |57||19||16||22||33.3%||28.1%||38.6% | |- |align=left|40 |align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} ''Paul Williams'' |13 March 2016 || 12 May 2016 |10||2||4||4||20.0%||40.0%||40.0% | |- |align=left|41 |align=left|{{flagicon|FRA}} Philippe Montanier |27 June 2016 || 14 January 2017 |30||9||6||15||30.0%||20.0%||50.0% | |- |align=left|42 |align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} ''Gary Brazil'' |14 January 2017 || 14 March 2017 |11||4||1||6||36.4%||9.1%||54.5% | |- |align=left|43 |align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Mark Warburton |14 March 2017 || 31 December 2017 |37||15||3||19||40.5%||8.1%||51.4% | |- |align=left|44 |align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} ''Gary Brazil'' |31 December 2017 || 8 January 2018 ||2||1||1||0||50.0%||50.0%||0.0% | |- |align=left|45 |align=left|{{flagicon|ESP}} Aitor Karanka |8 January 2018 || 11 January 2019 ||51||16||19||16||31.4%||37.2%||31.4% | |- |align=left|46 |align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} ''Simon Ireland'' |11 January 2019 ||15 January 2019 ||1||0||0||1||0.0%||0.0%||100.0% | |- |align=left|47 |align=left|{{flagicon|NIR}} Martin O'Neill |15 January 2019 || 28 June 2019 ||19||8||3||8||42.1%||15.8%||42.1% | |- |align=left|48 |align=left|{{flagicon|FRA}} Sabri Lamouchi |28 June 2019 || 6 October 2020 ||55||20||16||19||36.4%||29.1%||34.5% | |- |align=left|49 |align=left|{{flagicon|IRL}} Chris Hughton |6 October 2020 || 16 September 2021 ||53||14||17||22||26.4%||32.1%||41.5% | |- |align=left|50 |align=left|{{flagicon|IRE}} ''Steven Reid'' |16 September 2021 || 21 September 2021 |1||1||0||0||100.0%||0.0%||0.0% | |- |align=left|51 |align=left|{{flagicon|WAL}} Steve Cooper |21 September 2021 || 19 December 2023 |108||42||27||39||43.3%||24.5%||32.2% | |- |align=left|52 |align=left|{{flagicon|POR}} Nuno Espírito Santo |20 December 2023 || 8 September 2025 |73||28||20||25||38.36%||27.40%||34.25% |<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.soccerbase.com/managers/manager.sd?manager_id=2955 |title= Nottingham Forest - Managers - Nuno Espírito Santo |publisher=Soccerbase |access-date=2 November 2024 |df=dmy }}</ref> |- |align=left|53 |align=left|{{flagicon|AUS}} Ange Postecoglou |9 September 2025 || 18 October 2025 |8||0||2||6||0.00%||25.0%||75.0% |<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/managers/manager.sd?manager_id=2652 |title= Managers – Ange Postecoglou|publisher=SoccerBase |access-date=13 October 2025 |df=dmy }}</ref> |- |54 |{{flagicon|ENG}} Sean Dyche |21 October 2025 |12 February 2026 |25 |10 |5 |10 |40.0% |20.0% |40.0% |<ref>{{Cite web |title=MSN |url=https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/sean-dyche-appointed-new-nottingham-forest-boss/ar-AA1ORMGU |access-date=2025-10-21 |website=Msn.com}}</ref> |- |55 |{{flagicon|POR}} Vítor Pereira |15 February 2026 |Present |20 |8 |6 |6 |40.0% |30.0% |30.0% |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vitor Pereira appointed Forest head coach|url=https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2026/february/15/vitor-pereira-appointed-forest-head-coach/ |access-date=2026-02-15|website=Nottinghamforest.com}}</ref> |}
==European record== {{Main|Nottingham Forest F.C. in international football}}
{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL |show_positions=n |team_header=Competition |ranking_style=none |show_totals=y
|team1=UCL|name_UCL=European Cup |team2=UC |name_UC =UEFA Cup/Europa League |team3=ICFC|name_ICFC=Inter-Cities Fairs Cup |team4=USC|name_USC=European Super Cup |team5=IC |name_IC =Intercontinental Cup |win_UCL=12|draw_UCL=4|loss_UCL=4|gf_UCL=32|ga_UCL=14 |win_UC =18|draw_UC =8|loss_UC =10|gf_UC =42|ga_UC =32 |win_ICFC=3|draw_ICFC=0|loss_ICFC=3|gf_ICFC=8|ga_ICFC=9 |win_USC=2|draw_USC=1|loss_USC=1|gf_USC=4|ga_USC=3 |win_IC =0|draw_IC =0|loss_IC =1|gf_IC =0|ga_IC =1 |update=complete|source={{citation needed|date=August 2025}} }}
==Players== ===First Team=== <!---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Do NOT add new players before their signing is officially announced by the club -- and do NOT assign unreferenced squad numbers as well. – Players with international caps should NOT be bolded – as per Wikipedia:WikiProject_Football/Clubs – This is Wikipedia, not a football gazette. – Any unconfirmed and unsourced signing/transfer will be reverted at sight. – Thanks in advance. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------> {{updated|2 February 2026|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/teams |title=Men's First Team |publisher=Nottingham Forest Football Club |access-date=31 August 2025}}</ref>}} {{Fs start|bg=DD0000|color=FFFFFF}} {{football squad player|no=3|nat=WAL|pos=DF|name=Neco Williams}} {{football squad player|no=4|nat=BRA|pos=DF|name=Morato}} {{football squad player|no=5|nat=BRA|pos=DF|name=Murillo}} {{football squad player|no=6|nat=CIV|pos=MF|name=Ibrahim Sangaré}} {{football squad player|no=7|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=Callum Hudson-Odoi}} {{football squad player|no=8|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Elliot Anderson}} {{football squad player|no=9|nat=NGA|pos=FW|name=Taiwo Awoniyi}} {{football squad player|no=10|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Morgan Gibbs-White|other=vice-captain}} {{football squad player|no=11|nat=NZL|pos=FW|name=Chris Wood}} {{football squad player|no=13|nat=BRA|pos=GK|name=John Victor}} {{football squad player|no=14|nat=SUI|pos=FW|name=Dan Ndoye}} {{football squad player|no=16|nat=ARG|pos=MF|name=Nicolás Domínguez}} {{football squad player|no=17|nat=GER|pos=DF|name=Eric da Silva Moreira}} {{football squad player|no=18|nat=SCO|pos=GK|name=Angus Gunn}} {{football squad player|no=19|nat=BRA|pos=FW|name=Igor Jesus}} {{Fs mid|bg=DD0000|color=FFFFFF}} {{football squad player|no=20|nat=ITA|pos=FW|name=Lorenzo Lucca|other=on loan from Napoli}} {{football squad player|no=21|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=Omari Hutchinson}} {{football squad player|no=22|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Ryan Yates|other=captain}} {{football squad player|no=23|nat=BRA|pos=DF|name=Jair Cunha}} {{football squad player|no=24|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=James McAtee}} {{football squad player|no=25|nat=GER|pos=DF|name=Luca Netz}} {{football squad player|no=26|nat=BEL|pos=GK|name=Matz Sels}} {{football squad player|no=27|nat=GER|pos=GK|name=Stefan Ortega}} {{football squad player|no=29|nat=FRA|pos=FW|name=Dilane Bakwa}} {{football squad player|no=30|nat=CIV|pos=DF|name=Willy Boly}} {{football squad player|no=31|nat=SRB|pos=DF|name=Nikola Milenković|}} {{football squad player|no=34|nat=NGA|pos=DF|name=Ola Aina}} {{football squad player|no=37|nat=ITA|pos=DF|name=Nicolò Savona}} {{football squad player|no=44|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Zach Abbott}} {{Fs end|bg=DD0000|color=FFFFFF}}
===First Team out on loan=== {{Fs start|bg=DD0000|color=FFFFFF}} {{football squad player|no=15|nat=FRA|pos=FW|name=Arnaud Kalimuendo|other=on loan to Eintracht Frankfurt}} {{football squad player|no=20|nat=POR|pos=FW|name=Jota Silva|other=on loan to Beşiktaş}} {{football squad player|no=27|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Omar Richards|other=on loan to Rio Ave}} {{Fs mid|bg=DD0000|color=FFFFFF}} {{football squad player|no=33|nat=BRA|pos=DF|name=Cuiabano|other=on loan to Vasco da Gama}} {{football squad player|no=36|nat=ANG|pos=DF|name=David Carmo|other=on loan to Real Oviedo}} {{football squad player|no=|nat=NZL|pos=DF|name=Tyler Bindon|other=on loan to Sheffield United}} {{Fs end|bg=DD0000|color=FFFFFF}}
===B Team=== {{updated|2 February 2026|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/teams/b-team |title=B Team |publisher=Nottingham Forest Football Club |access-date=2 February 2026}}</ref>}} {{Fs start|bg=DD0000|color=FFFFFF}} {{football squad player|no=45|nat=GAM|pos=FW|name=Lamin Sillah}} {{football squad player|no=47|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=Luke Campbell}} {{football squad player|no=51|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Archie Whitehall}} {{football squad player|no=57|nat=NIR|pos=MF|name=Blaine McClure|other=on loan from Rangers}} {{football squad player|no=60|nat=SCO|pos=DF|name=Jamie Newton}} {{football squad player|no=61|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Jimmy Sinclair}} {{football squad player|no=62|nat=LVA|pos=FW|name=Danny Anisjko}} {{football squad player|no=63|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=Aaron Bott}} {{football squad player|no=65|nat=WAL|pos=DF|name=Justin Hanks}} {{football squad player|no=67|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=Keehan Willows}} {{football squad player|no=68|nat=ZIM|pos=DF|name=Kristian Clarke}} {{Fs mid|bg=DD0000|color=FFFFFF}} {{football squad player|no=70|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Alfie Bradshaw}} {{football squad player|no=71|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=David Modupe}} {{football squad player|no=73|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Fuad Smith}} {{football squad player|no=77|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Zyan Blake}} {{football squad player|no=93|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Chinaza Nwosu}} {{football squad player|no=96|nat=NIR|pos=FW|name=Kalum Thompson}} {{football squad player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=George Murray-Jones}} {{football squad player|no=|nat=NIR|pos=DF|name=Matthew Orr}} {{football squad player|no=|nat=AUS|pos=MF|name=Shae Cahill}} {{football squad player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Frank Djamna}} {{football squad player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=Donnell McNeilly}} {{Fs end|bg=DD0000|color=FFFFFF}}
===B Team out on loan=== {{Fs start|bg=DD0000|color=FFFFFF}} {{football squad player|no=46|nat=BEN|pos=MF|name=Cherif Yaya|other=on loan to Hereford}} {{football squad player|no=58|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Jack Thompson|other=on loan to Barrow}} {{football squad player|no=64|nat=WAL|pos=DF|name=Ben Hammond|other=on loan to Northampton Town}} {{football squad player|no=72|nat=SCO|pos=MF|name=Cormac Daly|other=on loan to Hereford}} {{Fs mid|bg=DD0000|color=FFFFFF}} {{football squad player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Kyle McAdam|other=on loan to Northampton Town}} {{football squad player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Josh Powell|other=on loan to Fleetwood Town}} {{football squad player|no=|nat=IRL|pos=FW|name=Joe Gardner|other=on loan to Mansfield Town}} {{football squad player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=Esapa Osong|other=on loan to Fleetwood Town}} {{Fs end|bg=DD0000|color=FFFFFF}}
==Club staff== ===Coaching staff=== Source:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/club-information/whos-who |title=who's who |publisher=Nottingham Forest F.C. |access-date=31 December 2023}}</ref>
{| class="toccolours" |- ! style="background:#d00; color:#FFFFFF;" |Role ! style="background:#d00; color:#FFFFFF;" |Name |- | Head coach ||{{flagicon|POR}} Vítor Pereira |- | Assistant head coach ||{{flagicon|POR}} Luís Miguel |- | First Team coaches || {{flagicon|POR}} Filipe Almeida<br>{{flagicon|ENG}} Axl Rice |- | Goalkeeper coaches || {{flagicon|GER}} Marco Knoop<br>{{flagicon|WAL}} Wayne Hennessey |- | Fitness coach || {{flagicon|ENG}} Adam Burrows |- | Conditioning coach || {{flagicon|POR}} Bruno Moura |- | Match analyst || {{flagicon|ENG}} Sam Astley |}
===Executive===
{| class="toccolours" |- ! style="background:#d00; color:#FFFFFF;" |Role ! style="background:#d00; color:#FFFFFF;" |Name |- |Majority owner||{{flagicon|GRE}} Evangelos Marinakis |- |Minority owner||{{flagicon|GRE}} Sokratis Kominakis |- |Chairman||{{flagicon|ENG}} Nicholas Randall KC |- |Non-executive director||{{flagicon|ENG}} Michael Dugher |- |Non-executive director||{{flagicon|ENG}} Simon Forster |- |Non-executive director||{{flagicon|WAL}} Jonny Owen |- |Chief executive officer ||{{flagicon|GRE}} Lina Souloukou |- |Global head of football || {{flagicon|BRA}} Edu |- |International sporting advisor ||{{flagicon|SLO}} Miran Pavlin |- |Global technical director ||{{flagicon|GRE}} George Syrianos |- |Head of football administration ||{{flagicon|ENG}} Taymour Roushdi |- |Head of football operations ||{{flagicon|ENG}} Ed Henderson |- |Head of recruitment ||{{flagicon|POR}} Pedro Ferreira |- |Global recruitment operations manager||{{flagicon|ENG}} Connor Barrett |- |Player pathways manager ||{{flagicon|ENG}} Chris Brass |- |Head of PDP and emerging talent recruitment|| {{flagicon|ENG}} Dan Kelly |- |Head of football development ||{{flagicon|SCO}} Craig Mulholland |- |Head of academy ||{{flagicon|ENG}} Chris McGuane |- |Chief operating officer ||{{flagicon|ENG}} Paul Bell |- |Finance director ||{{flagicon|ENG}} Tom Bonser |- |Director of communications ||{{flagicon|ENG}} Wendy Taylor |}
==Notable former players== {{further|List of Nottingham Forest F.C. players}}
===Player of the Season=== {{Main|List of Nottingham Forest F.C. records and statistics#Player of the Season}}
===All-time XI=== {{football squad on pitch|align=right | GK_nat = ENG |GK = Shilton | RB_nat = ENG |RB = Anderson | RCB_nat = ENG |RCB = Walker | LCB_nat = SCO |LCB = Burns | LB_nat = ENG |LB = Pearce | RCM_nat = NIR |RCM = O'Neill | AM_nat = IRL |AM = Keane | LCM_nat = SCO |LCM = Gemmill | RW_nat = ENG |RW = Storey-Moore | CF_nat = ENG |CF = Francis | LW_nat = SCO |LW = Robertson | caption = Nottingham Forest F.C. All-time First XI }}
In 1997 and 1998, as part of the release of the book ''The Official History of Nottingham Forest'', a vote was carried out to decide on the club's official All Time XI.<ref>{{cite book |last=Soar |first=Philip |title=The Official History of Nottingham Forest |publisher=Polar Publishing |year=1998 |isbn=1-899538-08-9 |page=196 }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! style="background:#d00; color:#fff;" scope="col"|Position ! style="background:#d00; color:#fff;" scope="col"|Player ! style="background:#d00; color:#fff;" scope="col"|Years at club |- |GK ||{{flagicon|ENG}} Peter Shilton||1977–82 |- |RB ||{{flagicon|ENG}} Viv Anderson||1974–84 |- |RCB ||{{flagicon|ENG}} Des Walker||1984–92; 2002–04 |- |LCB ||{{flagicon|SCO}} Kenny Burns||1977–81 |- |LB ||{{flagicon|ENG}} Stuart Pearce||1985–97 |- |RCM ||{{flagicon|NIR}} Martin O'Neill||1971–81 |- |ACM ||{{flagicon|IRL}} Roy Keane||1990–93 |- |LCM ||{{flagicon|SCO}} Archie Gemmill||1977–79 |- |RW ||{{flagicon|ENG}} Ian Storey-Moore||1962–72 |- |CF ||{{flagicon|ENG}} Trevor Francis||1979–81 |- |LW ||{{flagicon|SCO}} John Robertson||1970–83; 1985–86 |} In 2016, Nottingham Forest season ticket holders voted for the club's greatest eleven to commemorate the club's 150th anniversary.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Greatest 11 revealed - News - Nottingham Forest|url=https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2016/may/greatest-11-revealed/|access-date=30 October 2020|website=Nottinghamforest.co.uk|language=en-GB|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{football squad on pitch|align=right | GK_nat = ENG |GK = Shilton | RB_nat = ENG |RB = Anderson | RCB_nat = ENG |RCB = Walker | LCB_nat = SCO |LCB = Burns | LB_nat = ENG |LB = Pearce | RW_nat = NIR |RW = O'Neill | RCM_nat = IRL |RCM = Keane | LCM_nat = SCO |LCM = McGovern | RCF_nat = ENG |RCF = Storey-Moore | LCF_nat = ENG |LCF = Collymore | LW_nat = SCO |LW = Robertson | caption = Nottingham Forest F.C. All-time First XI }} {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! style="background:#d00; color:#fff;" scope="col" |Position ! style="background:#d00; color:#fff;" scope="col" |Player ! style="background:#d00; color:#fff;" scope="col" |Years at club |- |GK ||{{flagicon|ENG}} Peter Shilton||1977–82<ref>{{Cite web |title=Peter Shilton's Biography |url=https://www.officialpetershilton.com/biography |access-date=30 May 2022 |website=Officialpetershilton.com |archive-date=18 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218104957/https://www.officialpetershilton.com/biography |url-status=live }}</ref> |- |RB ||{{flagicon|ENG}} Viv Anderson||1974–83 |- |CB |{{flagicon|SCO}} Kenny Burns |1977–81 |- |CB ||{{flagicon|ENG}} Des Walker||1983–04 |- |LB ||{{flagicon|ENG}} Stuart Pearce||1985–97 |- |RW ||{{flagicon|NIR}} Martin O'Neill||1971–81 |- |CM ||{{flagicon|IRL}} Roy Keane||1990–93 |- |CM ||{{flagicon|SCO}} John McGovern||1974–81 |- |LW |{{flagicon|SCO}} John Robertson |1970–83 |- |ST |{{flagicon|ENG}} Stan Collymore |1993–95 |- |ST ||{{flagicon|ENG}} Ian Storey-Moore||1962–72 |}
===International players=== {{Main|List of Nottingham Forest F.C. international footballers}}
====Premier League Hall of Fame==== The Premier League Hall of Fame honours the leading association football players and managers that have played and managed in the Premier League, the top level of the English football league system. Inaugurated in 2020 but delayed a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hall of Fame is intended to recognise and honour players and managers that have achieved great success and made a significant contribution to the league since its founding in 1992. Four ex-players/managers associated with Forest are represented in the PL Hall of fame.
*2021 – {{Flagicon|Ireland}} Roy Keane *2022 – {{Flagicon|England}} Ian Wright *2024 – {{Flagicon|England}} Andy Cole {{Flagicon|England}} John Terry
====English Football Hall of Fame members==== Several ex-players/managers associated with Nottingham Forest are represented in the English Football Hall of Fame, which was created in 2002 as a celebration of those who have achieved at the very peak of the English game. To be considered for induction players/managers must be 30 years of age or older and have played/managed for at least five years in England.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.nationalfootballmuseum.com/hall-of-fame/about/| title = Hall of Fame – National Football Museum| publisher = National Football Museum| access-date = 31 October 2013| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131102011615/http://www.nationalfootballmuseum.com/hall-of-fame/about/| archive-date = 2 November 2013| url-status = live| df = dmy-all}}</ref>
*2002 – {{Flagicon|England}} Brian Clough {{Flagicon|England}} Peter Shilton {{Flagicon|Scotland}} Dave Mackay *2004 – {{flagicon|England}} Viv Anderson {{flagicon|Ireland}} Roy Keane *2005 – {{flagicon|England}} Ian Wright *2009 – {{flagicon|England}} Teddy Sheringham *2014 – {{flagicon|England}} Trevor Francis *2015 – {{flagicon|England}} Stuart Pearce *2016 – {{flagicon|Scotland}} John Robertson *2020 – {{flagicon|England}} Justin Fashanu
====Football League 100 Legends==== The Football League 100 Legends is a list of "100 legendary football players" produced by The Football League in 1998, to celebrate the 100th season of League football.<ref name="FL100"/> Four former players connected with Forest made the list.
Source:<ref name="FL100">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/144986.stm |title=Sport: Football Legends list in full |website=BBC Sport |date=5 August 1998 |access-date=19 December 2023}}</ref>
* {{Flagicon|England}} Johnny Carey * {{Flagicon|Scotland}} Dave Mackay * {{Flagicon|England}} Peter Shilton * {{Flagicon|England}} Trevor Francis
==Records and statistics== {{main|List of Nottingham Forest F.C. records and statistics}}
{{more citations needed section|date=April 2015}}
*Most appearances for the club (in all competitions): 692 – Bob McKinlay (1951–1970)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/club/history/records.aspx |title=Records |access-date=23 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922195320/http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/club/history/records.aspx |archive-date=22 September 2012}}</ref> *Most goals for the club (in all competitions): 217 – Grenville Morris (1898–1913)<ref>{{cite web |title=Top Goalscorers|url=http://www.thecityground.com/scorers.php |website=TheCityGround.com |access-date=11 August 2023}}</ref> *Highest attendance: 49,946 vs. Manchester United, First Division, 28 October 1967<ref name="auto2">{{cite web |url=http://www.thecityground.com/attendances.php|title=Attendances (Highest And Lowest) |website=TheCityGround.com |access-date=11 August 2023}}</ref> *Lowest attendance: 2,031 vs. Brentford, Football League Trophy, 31 October 2006<ref name="auto2"/> *Longest sequence of league wins: 7, accomplished four times, last in 1979.<ref name="auto1">{{cite web |url=http://www.thecityground.com/streak.php|title=Streaks |website=TheCityGround.com |access-date=11 August 2023}}</ref> *Longest sequence of league defeats: 14, losses from 21 March 1913 to 27 September 1913<ref name="auto1"/> *Longest sequence of unbeaten league matches: 42, from 26 November 1977 to 25 November 1978<ref name="auto1"/> *Longest sequence of league games without a win: 19, from 8 September 1998 to 16 January 1999<ref name="auto1"/> *Record win (in all competitions): 14–0, vs. Clapton (away), FA Cup first round, 17 January 1891<ref name="auto3">{{cite web |url=http://www.thecityground.com/goal_records.php|title=Biggest Wins And Worst Losses |website=TheCityGround.com |access-date=11 August 2023}}</ref> *Record defeat (in all competitions): 1–9, vs. Blackburn Rovers, Second Division, 10 April 1937<ref name="auto3"/> *Most league points in one season **2 points for a win (46 games): 70, Third Division South, 1950–51 **2 points for a win (42 Games): 64, First Division, 1977–78 **3 points for a win: 94, First Division, 1997–98 *Most league goals in one season: 110, Third Division South, 1950–51 *Highest league scorer in one season: Wally Ardron, 36, Third Division South, 1950–51<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thecityground.com/scorers_by_season.php|title=Top Goalscorers Per Season |website=TheCityGround.com|access-date=24 September 2023}}</ref> *Most internationally capped player: Stuart Pearce, 76 for England (78 total) *Youngest league player: Craig Westcarr, 16 years 257 days, vs. Burnley, 13 October 2001<ref name="auto">{{cite web |url=http://www.thecityground.com/players_ages.php|title=Youngest/Oldest Players |website=TheCityGround.com|access-date=24 September 2023}}</ref> *Oldest league player: Dave Beasant, 42 years 47 days, vs. Tranmere Rovers, 6 May 2001<ref name="auto"/> *Largest transfer fee paid: £37,500,000 to Ipswich Town for Omari Hutchinson *Largest transfer fee received: £55,000,000 from Newcastle United for Anthony Elanga
==Honours== {{see also|List of Nottingham Forest F.C. seasons}}source:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/club/history/honours.aspx |title=Honours |access-date=9 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922192427/http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/club/history/honours.aspx |archive-date=22 September 2012}}</ref><ref group="nb" name=":0">From 1888 to 1992 the Football League First Division was the top tier of English football. It was superseded by the Premier League in 1992.</ref><ref group="nb" name=":1">Upon its formation in 1992, the Premier League became the top tier of English football; the First and Second Divisions then became the second and third tiers, respectively. The First Division is now known as the EFL Championship and the Second Division is now known as EFL League One.</ref>
===Domestic=== '''League''' *First Division (level 1) **Champions: 1977–78 **Runners-up: 1966–67, 1978–79 *Second Division / First Division / Championship (level 2) **Champions: 1906–07, 1921–22, 1997–98 **Runners-up: 1956–57, 1993–94 **Promoted: 1976–77 **Play-off winners: 2022 *Third Division South / League One (level 3) **Champions: 1950–51 **Runners-up: 2007–08 *Football Alliance **Champions: 1891–92
'''Cup''' *FA Cup **Winners: 1897–98, 1958–59 **Runners-up: 1990–91 *Football League Cup **Winners: 1977–78, 1978–79, 1988–89, 1989–90 **Runners-up: 1979–80, 1991–92 *FA Charity Shield **Winners: 1978 **Runners-up: 1959 *Full Members' Cup **Winners: 1988–89, 1991–92
===European=== *European Cup **Winners: 1978–79, 1979–80 *European Super Cup **Winners: 1979 **Runners-up: 1980 *Intercontinental Cup<ref name="Svff">{{cite web |title=Malmö FF |url=https://svenskfotboll.se/allsvenskan/lag/?flid=25517 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516002847/http://svenskfotboll.se/allsvenskan/lag/?flid=25517 |archive-date=16 May 2013 |access-date=22 August 2012 |work=svenskfotboll.se |publisher=The Swedish Football Association |language=sv}}</ref> **Runners-up: 1980
===Minor titles=== * Anglo-Scottish Cup **Winners: 1976–77 *Football League Centenary Tournament **Winners: 1988
==Other NFFC teams==
*Nottingham Forest Women *Nottingham Forest Under-21s *Nottingham Forest Under-18s *Nottingham Forest Academy
==See also== * List of world champion football clubs and vice-world champions in football
==Notes== <references group="nb"/>
==References== {{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
===Works cited=== * {{cite book |last1=Taylor |first1=Peter |first2=Mike |last2=Langley |title=With Clough |publisher=Sigdwick and Jackson |year=1980 |isbn=0-283-98795-2 |ref={{harvid|Taylor|1980}}}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{Official website}}
=== Independent websites === * {{BBC football info|nottingham-forest}} * [https://www.skysports.com/nottingham-forest Nottingham Forest] at Sky Sports * [https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/15/Nottingham-Forest/overview Nottingham Forest F.C.] at Premier League * [https://www.uefa.com/nationalassociations/teams/52681--nottm-forest/ Nottingham Forest F.C.] at UEFA
{{Nottingham Forest F.C.}} {{Nottingham Forest F.C. seasons}} {{Nottingham Forest F.C. squad}} {{UEFA Champions League winners}} {{UEFA Super Cup winners}} {{Premier League}} {{EFL Championship}} {{EFL League One}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Nottingham Forest F.C. Category:Association football clubs established in 1865 Category:Bandy clubs established in 1865 Category:Men's football clubs in England Category:Football clubs in Nottingham Category:Football clubs in Nottinghamshire Category:Premier League clubs Category:English Football League clubs Category:FA Cup winners Category:EFL Cup winners Category:UEFA Champions League winning clubs Category:UEFA Super Cup winning clubs Category:Professional football clubs in England Category:1865 establishments in England Category:Defunct bandy clubs