Oliver Glasner may not be the sort of manager who relies on strict discipline, but he is undeniably meticulous and a self‑confessed workaholic. While he does not impose a barrage of rules, his approach at Nottingham Forest is likely to evolve as he seeks to instil a more focused culture. Across Europe, Glasner has earned a reputation as one of the most tactically insightful coaches of his generation. His résumé includes a remarkable spell at Eintracht Frankfurt, where he guided the German side to an unlikely Europa League triumph, a performance that caught the attention of several Premier League clubs.
In 2024 he accepted a challenge on the south coast, taking over at Crystal Palace. There, his influence reshaped the team's playing philosophy and, over two seasons, the club lifted three trophies, confirming his ability to translate ideas into tangible success.
Forest’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis, believes the same blueprint can be replicated in the Midlands. Before Glasner can fully implement his ideas, he first needs to set clear expectations after a turbulent twelve months that saw four different managers pass through the City Ground.
"There is a lot of talent here," he told Sky Sports from the club’s training base in West Bridgford, "but the atmosphere has sometimes been too relaxed. We have to strike a balance between hard work on the pitch and the cohesion needed to reach our highest potential.
Every player deserves to become the best version of himself." Pre‑season, by its nature, allows for a degree of flexibility, but Glasner stresses that the foundation for the upcoming campaign is built on effort and attitude. "The players have shown great spirit in training, and that is the bedrock for everything else," he explained.
Yet he also warned that the club cannot afford complacency after a season that, despite managerial chaos, produced a surprising run to the Europa League semi‑final – the first European appearance in three decades. The next step, according to Glasner, is to secure a stable place in the Premier League. He has already begun to adapt the squad to his preferred system, a structure that favours organisation, collective responsibility and a mix of fluid open play with set‑piece precision.
Centre‑back Ousmane Diomande arrived as the headline summer signing, and Glasner, a former defender himself, hinted that he may add "one or two more" players to solidify the back line. Glasner’s footballing philosophy is rooted in defensive solidity and tactical discipline. His teams are known for being well‑drilled, combative and detail‑oriented, often punching above their weight by exploiting the nuances of both open play and dead‑ball situations.
They do not need to dominate possession to be threatening; instead, they focus on compactness, quick transitions and making the most of the chances they create. The response from the squad has been positive. Nikola Milenković, a key figure in the defence, described Glasner as "a bit of a perfectionist" who scrutinises the smallest details – a trait that can decide tight matches. "Whether we line up with four at the back or three, it’s up to the manager, and we have to be ready to adapt to any system he wants," Milenković added, underscoring the flexibility expected under the new regime.
Glasner also addressed the mentality shift required after a difficult previous season. "One of my first messages was: ‘If you keep doing the same things, you will keep getting the same results.’ The lads were receptive because they know how close we came to relegation. No one wants to fight a relegation battle again," he said.
"We believe we can finish higher than 16th, but we must stay realistic. Our aim is to build an environment where individuals grow, characters develop, egos are managed, and the team plays for each other.
That can become something special." Statistically, Forest’s points total fell by 21 between the 2024‑25 and 2025‑26 seasons, a drop only exceeded by Liverpool (‑24) and Wolves (‑22). Both of those clubs entered the new season with new managers, while Wolves even dropped a division. Forest avoided a managerial overhaul this summer, but Glasner is determined to prevent another near‑miss. "The number one priority is stability," he asserted.
"Last season saw too many changes, and nobody wanted that. We need consistency for everyone, then we can talk about challenging for a top‑half finish. We must be humble and take it step by step." Glasner emphasised the importance of training as a continuous process rather than a pre‑match warm‑up.
"We have time to train, time to improve, and it is our responsibility to make the most of it. In training we must focus on the details, not just wait for Saturday’s game.
I promise we will push the players to work harder every day." Key players such as Morgan Gibbs‑White have remained at the club despite interest from rivals, giving Glasner a core group to build around. While his success at previous clubs has relied on collective understanding rather than individual brilliance, Forest does possess a sprinkling of talent capable of changing games in an instant.
Glasner admits that the combination of "the quality of the players" and "the ambition of Mr Marinakis" attracted him to Nottingham Forest, even though the club had not been on his radar before the summer. The owner’s impatience is well‑known; he expects progress beyond merely surviving in the Premier League. Glasner believes his meticulous, detail‑driven approach aligns with Marinakis’s zeal, but he recognises that delivering a clear, long‑term plan will be essential to securing his future at the club.
In summary, the Austrian coach arrives with a proven track record of overturning the odds, a clear vision for structural stability, and a willingness to adapt tactics to the strengths of his squad. The challenge now is to convert that vision into consistent results, cement Forest’s place in the top flight and perhaps, once again, surprise Europe with a deep run. Whether he can repeat his past feats and guide Nottingham Forest to a new era of stability and success remains the question that the fans, the board, and Glasner himself will be eager to answer as the season unfolds.