Nottingham Forest has swiftly acted to replace head coach Sean Dyche, who was sacked in the early hours of Thursday morning. The club is reportedly in talks with former Wolves manager Vitor Pereira to take over the reins. This development marks the fourth managerial change for Forest this season, highlighting a period of significant instability.

Dyche's Brief Tenure Ends
Sean Dyche was dismissed after just 114 days in charge at the City Ground. His departure followed a goalless draw against bottom-club Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday night. Despite this result, Dyche had been nominated for the Premier League manager of the month award just a week prior. His dismissal comes as the club finds itself in the midst of a relegation battle, sitting 17th in the Premier League, three points clear of the drop zone.
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Vitor Pereira Emerges as Leading Candidate
Vitor Pereira is identified as the leading candidate to succeed Dyche. Sources indicate that Nottingham Forest have opened talks with the former Wolves manager. Pereira has prior experience working under Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis at Greek club Olympiacos.
Reports suggest a deal for Pereira is in the final stages. Some reports indicate an agreement in principle is in place, subject to final details.
Pattern of Managerial Change at Nottingham Forest
Sean Dyche's sacking continues a trend of frequent managerial changes at Nottingham Forest this season. He is the fourth head coach to depart, following Nuno Espirito Santo and Ange Postecoglou. Postecoglou's tenure lasted a mere 39 days, further underscoring the club's pattern of rapid managerial turnover. This persistent instability has led to commentary labeling the season as an "embarrassment" for the club.
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Strategic Context: Relegation Battle and European Aspirations
The immediate priority for any new manager will be to secure the club's Premier League status. Nottingham Forest faces a challenging end to the season, currently teetering close to the relegation zone.

The club also has Europa League commitments. Following their FA Cup exit, Forest has a seven-day break before facing Fenerbahce in a Europa League knockout play-off. This presents a unique challenge for a newly appointed manager to integrate and prepare the squad.
Evidence of Managerial Discussions
Multiple reports confirm that Nottingham Forest is in discussions with Vitor Pereira.
BBC Sport reported on Thursday morning that talks had commenced.
The Guardian and ESPN also cited sources indicating Pereira as a leading candidate.
GIVEMESPORT reported on Thursday afternoon that an agreement was "on the verge" of being reached.
Vitor Pereira's Previous Experience
Vitor Pereira is a well-traveled manager with experience in various leagues. His prior role at Wolves places him within the Premier League landscape. His connection with owner Evangelos Marinakis through Olympiacos suggests a pre-existing relationship that may facilitate a swift appointment.
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Pereira previously managed Wolves, where he worked under the same ownership structure as Nottingham Forest.
He has a working relationship with Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, having managed Olympiacos.
Analysis of the Decision
The sacking of Sean Dyche, particularly after a nomination for manager of the month, raises questions about the decision-making process at Nottingham Forest. The club's consistent replacement of managers points to underlying issues regarding strategy or alignment between ownership and coaching staff.
Players are believed to have expressed concerns over Dyche’s management and coaching methods in recent weeks, according to some reports.
Conclusion and Future Outlook
Nottingham Forest is poised to appoint Vitor Pereira as their new head coach. This move comes after the dismissal of Sean Dyche and amidst a season characterized by significant managerial turnover. The club's primary objective will be to stabilize and secure Premier League survival, while also navigating European competition. The effectiveness of this appointment, and the club's approach to managerial stability, will be closely watched.
Key Developments:
Sean Dyche sacked: Confirmed in the early hours of Thursday.
Vitor Pereira in talks: Identified as the leading candidate to replace Dyche.
Fourth manager this season: High rate of managerial change at the club.
Relegation battle: The new manager faces the immediate task of keeping Forest in the top flight.
Europa League fixture: A European tie against Fenerbahce is scheduled for next Thursday.
Sources
BBC Sport: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/cwy85grvyqlt (Published: 1 hour ago)
The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/feb/12/nottingham-forest-vitor-pereira-late-night-sacking-sean-dyche-manager (Published: 3 hours ago)
ESPN: https://www.espn.co.uk/football/story//id/47906562/nottingham-forest-sean-dyche-sacked-vitor-pereira-wolves (Published: 4 hours ago)
GIVEMESPORT: https://www.givemesport.com/nottingham-forest-on-verge-of-agreement-vitor-pereira/ (Published: 10 minutes ago)
The New York Times (The Athletic): https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7039987/2026/02/11/nottingham-forest-sean-dyche-sacked/ (Published: 3 hours ago)
Sky Sports: https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13506580/sean-dyche-sacked-nottingham-forest-sack-head-coach-after-just-114-days-in-charge-following-goalless-draw-with-wolves (Published: 1 hour ago)
Metro: https://metro.co.uk/2026/02/12/nottingham-forest-next-manager-odds-man-utd-legend-running-sean-dyche-sacking-26848003/ (Published: 7 hours ago)
The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2026/02/12/sean-dyche-sacked-nottingham-forest/ (Seen on: Brave)
Football League World: https://www.footballleagueworld.co.uk/nottingham-forest-eyeing-leicester-city-manager-target-vitor-pereira-after-sean-dyche-sack/ (Published: 5 hours ago)
KhelNow: https://khelnow.com/football/world-football-managers-nottingham-forest-job-after-sean-dyche-sacking-202602 (Published: 1 hour ago)
Nottingham Post: https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/nottingham-forest-vitor-pereira-wolves-10811353 (Published: 32 minutes ago)