Oliver Glasner does not fit the mould of a stern disciplinarian. Meticulous in his methods, certainly. A self-described workaholic who demands excellence. Yet he has rarely been the type to impose rigid rules from on high. At Nottingham Forest, that approach may need to evolve.
The Austrian has built his reputation as one of Europe's most tactically sophisticated operators. His career trajectory showcases this acumen, reaching its zenith during an impressive tenure at Eintracht Frankfurt, where he orchestrated a Europa League title against the odds and began attracting the attention of top-flight English clubs.
When Glasner arrived at Crystal Palace in 2024, he was handed the task of reshaping the club's attacking identity. His two-year spell proved transformative, delivering three trophies and establishing him as a proven winner at the highest level. Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis believes those same principles can unlock potential at the City Ground.
Yet before that vision can materialise, Glasner must first impose order following a chaotic period of managerial upheaval. The club cycled through four different managers in just 12 months, creating an environment lacking direction and cohesion.
Great talent is here,Glasner explained during an interview at Forest's training base in West Bridgford.
But sometimes, this is what we have to look at, the atmosphere is maybe a little bit too laid back. We really must find the balance between hard work on the pitch, giving the best, and all coming together to get to our top level. We want the best version of every single player.
Pre-season naturally permits a more relaxed tempo, and Glasner acknowledged the positive signs emerging from his squad.
Players have shown great effort and spirit in sessions, for me, that is the foundation,he continued. Yet beneath the surface lies a steelier determination to reshape the club's culture.
Last season's instability exacted a heavy toll. Forest navigated 56 matches after securing European qualification for the first time in three decades, yet still finished 16th in the Premier League. Only Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers experienced sharper point drops than Forest's decline of 21 points between the 2024-25 and 2025-26 campaigns. All three clubs entered the new season under fresh management, with Wolves dropping an entire division in the process. Forest narrowly avoided that fate, but Glasner is determined to prevent another near-catastrophe.
The 51-year-old's tactical philosophy rests on structural discipline and meticulous preparation. His teams operate with precision, combining defensive solidity with set-piece mastery and intelligent open-play movement. They need not dominate possession to pose a genuine threat. Glasner, himself a former defender, has already begun reshaping Forest's squad to fit his system, with centre-back Ousmane Diomande arriving as the standout summer acquisition.
According to BBC Sport, Glasner indicated on 17 August that Forest expect
two or three additionsbefore the transfer window closes, signalling his intention to continue reshaping the squad. He acknowledged the complexity of recruitment, noting that
the transfer process involves two clubs, the player and the agent.Forest have so far completed moves for Xaver Schlager and Diomande, leaving Glasner pushing for further reinforcements.
Defender Nikola Milenkovic has already sensed the shift in mentality.
He is a bit of a perfectionist,the Serbian centre-back observed.
He goes through small details. Sometimes that is what really decides a game. Playing four at the back or three, that is up to the manager, we have to be able to adapt to every system he wants to play and put our biggest investment on the pitch.
Glasner's opening message to the squad struck a chord with players eager for change after a bruising campaign.
One of my first messages was: 'If you only do the same you will always get the same'. The boys were open to this after a difficult season. No team wants to fight against getting relegated.He continued:
We think we can do better than 16th. But we have to be realistic. We are creating an environment, a way where we can improve. Absolutely we want individuals, we want characters, we want egos, but not playing for themselves, playing for the team. It can be an amazing group.
Glasner's appointment on 6 July 2026 marked Forest's fifth managerial change in under a year, following Vítor Pereira's departure. The scale of the challenge cannot be overstated. Yet Glasner has framed his immediate priorities with clarity and humility.
Number one priority is getting stability into the club. Nobody wanted so many changes last season, but it happened. We need stability for everyone. And then we can talk about establishing in the top half of the table, but we have to be humble and go step-by-step.
He emphasised the importance of maximising training time to embed his methods.
We have time to train, time to improve. But that is our responsibility to take advantage of. In training we must always focus on this, not just waiting for the next game on a Saturday. I promise we will push the players to really work hard.
Key personnel including Morgan Gibbs-White have remained at the club despite interest from rivals, providing Glasner with a nucleus of proven Premier League quality. His managerial philosophy has traditionally prioritised collective understanding over individual brilliance, yet at Forest he also possesses the luxury of genuine match-winners capable of shifting games single-handedly.
The quality of the players,Glasner reflected, combined with
the ambition of Mr Marinakisdrew him to the club, despite Forest not registering on his radar before this summer. The owner's reputation for demanding immediate results adds urgency to Glasner's mission, yet he has sought to align expectations with reality.
The immediate test ahead
According to BBC Sport, Nottingham Forest's opening Premier League fixture arrives on 22 August 2026, when Leeds United visit the City Ground. The fixture provides Glasner with an immediate opportunity to implement his vision and signal intent to both supporters and rivals. Following that encounter, Forest travel to Liverpool on 29 August in their second league assignment, presenting back-to-back tests of genuine substance.
Glasner's track record suggests he thrives when tasked with defying expectations. His success at Frankfurt, followed by trophy-laden years at Palace, demonstrates an ability to extract maximum value from available resources whilst implementing a coherent long-term strategy. At Forest, he faces perhaps his most demanding assignment yet: restoring stability to a fractured institution whilst simultaneously competing at the highest level.
Marinakis is not renowned for patience, yet Glasner has underlined how his meticulous, detail-oriented approach mirrors the owner's own ambition and drive. Whether he can translate that alignment into sustained Premier League success remains the defining question. For now, the foundations are being laid, one training session at a time.
