Oliver Glasner may not be the stereotypical hard‑nosed disciplinarian; he is certainly meticulous and openly admits to being a workaholic, but he does not govern his squads with an iron fist of endless rules. At Nottingham Forest, however, his approach is likely to evolve to meet the club’s current needs. Over the past decade Glasner has built a reputation as one of Europe’s most tactically sophisticated managers.
His credentials were cemented during a remarkable spell at Eintracht Frankfurt, where he guided the German side to an unlikely Europa League triumph, beating opponents with greater resources and experience. That achievement put him on the radar of several Premier League clubs, all eager to harness his strategic mind.
In 2024 Glasner accepted a challenge on the south coast, taking charge of Crystal Palace with the explicit brief of reshaping their playing style. His tenure proved a resounding success: under his guidance Palace captured three trophies in just two seasons, a feat that attracted the attention of Nottingham Forest’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis, who believes the same transformation can be replicated in the Midlands. Before Glasner can imprint his philosophy, he must first impose a clear set of standards after a turbulent period at the City Ground that saw four different managers come and go in the last twelve months.
"There is great talent here," Glasner told Sky Sports from the club’s West Bridgford training base, "but the atmosphere has sometimes been a little too relaxed. We need to strike a balance between hard work on the pitch and a collective drive to reach our highest potential. Every player must become the best version of himself." Pre‑season, by its nature, allows a degree of flexibility, and Glasner acknowledged that the squad had already shown “great effort and spirit in sessions,” which he regards as the essential foundation for any future progress.
Yet he warned that a serious, focused mindset is equally vital. The previous campaign was a roller‑coaster for Forest. After a chaotic managerial carousel, the team managed to play 56 matches, earned a rare return to European competition for the first time in three decades, and even reached the Europa League semi‑final – an astonishing achievement given the upheaval.
Those exploits, however, came at the cost of consistency, and the club now faces the task of converting that occasional brilliance into a stable Premier League presence. Glasner’s first priority is to embed his preferred system and gradually reshape the squad to suit it.
Centre‑back Ousmane Diomande, the club’s marquee summer signing, already embodies the defensive solidity Glasner values, but the Austrian, a former defender himself, hinted that “one or two more” reinforcements may be required to fully implement his ideas. At 51, Glasner’s footballing philosophy is built on structure, discipline and attention to detail. His teams are known for being well‑drilled, combative and tactically flexible, often punching above their weight through a clever mix of open‑play creativity and set‑piece efficiency.
They do not need to dominate possession to threaten opponents; instead, they focus on compactness, rapid transitions and exploiting moments of weakness. Players appear to be adapting well. Nikola Milenković, speaking candidly, described Glasner as “a bit of a perfectionist” who scrutinises even the smallest details, noting that such meticulousness can be the difference between a win and a loss. Milenković added, “Whether we line up in a back four or a back three is up to the manager, but we must be ready to adjust to any system he wants and give our best on the pitch.” Glasner emphasized the importance of a growth mindset early on: “One of my first messages was, ‘If you only do the same, you will always get the same results.’ The lads were receptive after a difficult season.
No team wants to be stuck fighting relegation.” He expressed confidence that Forest can finish higher than 16th, while remaining realistic about the need for incremental improvement. “We are creating an environment where individuals with character and ego play for the team, not just for themselves. If we get that right, we can become an amazing group.” Statistically, Forest’s point total fell by 21 points between the 2024‑25 and 2025‑26 seasons, a drop only eclipsed by Liverpool (‑24) and Wolves (‑22).
All three clubs entered the new campaign with fresh managers, and while Wolves now compete in a lower division, Forest avoided relegation but cannot afford another near‑miss. Glasner stressed that stability is the cornerstone of any future success: “Last season saw too many changes. We need consistency for everyone, then we can aim for a top‑half finish, but we must stay humble and take it step by step.” Training sessions will be key. Glasner promised to maximise every minute on the training ground, insisting that progress cannot rely solely on Saturday matches.
“We have time to train, time to improve, and it is our responsibility to make the most of it. I will push the players to work harder and smarter.” Key figures such as Morgan Gibbs‑White have remained at the club despite interest from rivals, providing Glasner with a core of players who already understand the club’s culture.
While his track record has often hinged on collective cohesion rather than individual brilliance, Forest now enjoys a sprinkling of talent capable of changing games in an instant. “The quality of the players and the ambition of Mr Marinakis are what attracted me,” Glasner admitted, noting that Forest had not been on his radar until this summer. The owner’s impatience and desire for swift progress mean that Glasner’s detailed, methodical approach must quickly translate into tangible results. In summary, the Austrian’s challenge is twofold: to instil a disciplined, adaptable style that maximises the squad’s existing strengths, and to deliver the stability that has been missing for far too long.
If he can repeat the pattern of defying the odds that he displayed in Frankfurt and at Crystal Palace, Forest may yet see a resurgence that turns European adventure into sustained Premier League success.