Vitor Pereira Issues Final Farewell After Nottingham Forest Exit

Vitor Pereira only joined Nottingham Forest at the start of February, and his mission was clear: keep the club in the Premier League.

The Portuguese head coach passed this objective with flying colours as he guided Forest to a 16th-place Premier League finish, five points above the drop zone.

What made his tenure even more impressive was that, alongside successfully managing the club’s precarious league position, he navigated an enduring yet successful Europa League campaign.

It ultimately ended in heartbreak, as Forest were knocked out in the second leg of the semi-final at Villa Park, in a heavy defeat against Aston Villa, but the journey was a magical one.

Given his success, it came as a shock when news broke on 1 July that he had been relieved of his duties by Forest.

The club had an option which enabled them to terminate his deal on or before 30 June, and they informed Pereira that the clause had been activated just minutes before its expiry.

As well as shock, there was frustration from supporters that Forest had sacked a fourth manager since the start of the 2025/26 season.

Many quickly got back on board when it emerged that former Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner would succeed Pereira, but there was still an uncomfortable feeling about a successful manager being shown the door after such little time.

Pereira confirmed his own departure in a statement, before the club addressed the situation, but has now added a final farewell to Forest. 

In the message, posted to Instagram on Saturday, he spoke of his pride about the limited yet successful time he spent on Trentside.

“What a journey it has been,” he reflected. “When I arrived at Nottingham Forest, the mission was clear, and we delivered. We kept the club in the Premier League and we had a great run in the Europa League.

“I’m proud of what we built together. This group of people showed incredible character every single day. The players, the staff, and the fans were truly a family, and this club will always have a special place in my heart.

“Thank you Forest. ❤️Onwards.”