A shock managerial change at the City Ground leaves Nigeria’s two Forest players with contrasting questions to answer this summer.
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Nottingham Forest have parted ways with head coach Vitor Pereira, opening the door for Oliver Glasner to take over, in a decision that leaves Super Eagles pair Ola Aina and Taiwo Awoniyi facing an uncertain new chapter at the City Ground.
Transfer journalist Ben Jacobs broke the news on social media, reporting that Forest used a contractual clause allowing them to terminate Pereira’s deal by 30 June and informed him of the decision by email late at night, even though the Portuguese coach had already begun planning pre-season in Portugal.
The timing has raised eyebrows given how well Pereira’s spell had gone. He took charge in February on an 18-month contract after replacing the club’s previous coaching staff amid a relegation scare, and quickly steadied the ship, guiding Forest to safety with weeks to spare and taking the club to a Europa League semi-final.
Glasner Set To Replace Pereira
According to reporting from Fabrizio Romano, Glasner is set to take over at Forest after leaving Crystal Palace, where he enjoyed a highly successful spell that included FA Cup, Community Shield and UEFA Conference League triumphs. The Austrian is well regarded in England for the disciplined, structured style he built at Palace, and Forest will be hoping he can push the club toward becoming a regular fixture in Europe.
What The Change Means For Aina And Awoniyi
The coaching switch carries different implications for Forest’s two Nigerian internationals. Aina has been a first choice player under the previous setup, while Awoniyi has spent large stretches on the sidelines because of recurring injury problems.
Glasner’s preferred system leans on attacking wing-backs, a setup that should suit Aina if he is asked to combine defensive discipline with regular forward bursts down the flank.
For Awoniyi, who has just a year left on his contract, the profile fits too. Glasner has shown a liking for physical, hard working forwards capable of finishing chances, which could open the door to more minutes, though it remains to be seen whether Forest still move for another striker this summer.
One note of caution for Nigerian fans comes from Glasner’s most recent spell, where Super Eagles winger Christantus Uche struggled for regular game time at Crystal Palace under his management. Both Aina and Awoniyi will be hoping their own experiences under the incoming coach turn out differently.
📌 Did You Know?
- Oliver Glasner led Crystal Palace to their first major trophy, the FA Cup, before his exit this summer.
- Vitor Pereira previously managed Wolverhampton Wanderers before taking the Nottingham Forest job in February.
- Taiwo Awoniyi has battled recurring injuries since joining Forest, limiting his availability across recent seasons.
- Ola Aina has established himself as a regular in Forest’s backline and a mainstay of the Super Eagles setup.
- Forest reached the Europa League semi-finals under Pereira, one of the club’s best European runs in decades.
- Christantus Uche’s limited game time under Glasner at Palace has been cited as a point of concern for Nigerian fans.
- Glasner previously managed in the Bundesliga with Wolfsburg and in Austria before his move to the Premier League.
