The City Ground has a new master. On Friday, February 13, 2026, multiple outlets including Sky Sports and the BBC confirmed that Vítor Pereira has agreed to become the next Nottingham Forest head coach.
The 57-year-old Portuguese manager arrives as the club’s fourth permanent boss of the season, following the rapid-fire departures of Nuno Espírito Santo, Ange Postecoglou, and most recently, Sean Dyche, who was sacked yesterday after just 114 days in charge.
The "Marinakis" Connection: Why Pereira?
Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has wasted no time in appointing a familiar face. Pereira previously worked under Marinakis at Olympiacos in 2015, where he famously secured a Greek league and cup double.
The Mission: With Forest sitting just three points above the relegation zone and 12 games remaining, Pereira is being tasked with another "Great Escape."
The Track Record: Pereira is credited with saving Wolves from relegation last season after taking over in December 2024, though he was sacked by the Molineux club earlier this campaign after a winless 10-game streak.
The Contract: Reports suggest a deal has been agreed until June 2027, though final legal details regarding his previous Wolves severance are still being ironed out.
The "Silly Season" Stats: Forest's 2025/26 Chaos
Nuno Espírito Santo,Dismissed Sept 2025.
Ange Postecoglou,39 Days.
Sean Dyche,114 Days.
Vítor Pereira,Appointed Feb 2026.
Tactical Insight: Pereira's first game couldn't be more poetic—it’s a Europa League knockout play-off against another of his former clubs, Fenerbahçe, on February 19.
Talk about being thrown into the deep end!
The Verdict: Marinakis is gambling on "Premier League experience" and "personal trust." Pereira knows how to grind out results in a relegation scrap, but with a brutal run-in including Liverpool, Brighton, and Man City, he has zero room for error. If he doesn't hit the ground running against Fenerbahçe, the City Ground faithful may lose patience before the ink on his contract is dry.