Oliver Glasner may not be the type of manager who imposes an iron fist, but he is certainly a meticulous, work‑obsessed professional. He describes himself as a workaholic, yet he does not flood his players with endless rules. That measured approach could be tested at Nottingham Forest, where a shift toward greater discipline may become necessary.
Across Europe, Glasner has earned a reputation as one of the most tactically sophisticated coaches of his generation. His résumé includes a remarkable spell at Eintracht Frankfurt, where he guided the German side to an unexpected Europa League triumph, beating clubs with far larger budgets and deeper squads.
That achievement put him on the radar of several Premier League clubs, all eager to harness his strategic mind. In 2024, the Austrian took his talents to the south coast, joining Crystal Palace with a mandate to overhaul the team’s playing style. Under his guidance, Palace captured three trophies in just two seasons, a feat that impressed owner Steve Parish and sparked interest from other English clubs.
Forest’s proprietor, Evangelos Marinakis, believes Glasner can replicate that success at the City Ground. Before any tactical overhaul can take place, however, Glasner must first lay down a clear set of expectations. Nottingham Forest have endured a turbulent twelve months, cycling through four different managers and creating an atmosphere of uncertainty. "There is a lot of talent here," Glasner told Sky Sports from the club’s training base in West Bridgford, "but the vibe has become 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." Pre‑season, by its nature, allows for a degree of freedom, but Glasner emphasised that the foundation of his project is built on effort and spirit. "The players have shown great commitment in training sessions, and that is the bedrock on which we will build," he said. Yet he warned that the club cannot afford to remain complacent. Last season, despite the managerial carousel, Forest managed a remarkable run: they played 56 matches after securing a return to European competition for the first time in three decades, even reaching a Europa League semi‑final.
That resilience was impressive given the upheaval, but it also highlighted the need for a more stable, long‑term plan. The next step, according to Glasner, is to cement a reliable Premier League footing.
He has already begun to implement his preferred formation, a flexible system that can shift between a back four and a back three depending on the opposition. The club’s most notable summer acquisition, centre‑back Ousmane Diomande, fits neatly into Glasner’s defensive blueprint, and the manager hinted that one or two additional signings could further tighten the back line. Glasner’s footballing philosophy centres on structure, discipline and attention to detail. His teams are known for being well‑drilled, combative and tactically aware, often punching above their weight by blending quick transitions with set‑piece efficiency.
Possession is not his primary weapon; instead, he prefers to organise his side to be dangerous on the break and lethal from dead balls. The response from the squad has been largely positive. Nikola Milenković, the Serbian defender, described Glasner as "a bit of a perfectionist" who scrutinises even the smallest details.
"Sometimes those tiny nuances are what decide a match," Milenković explained. He added that the players understand the need to adapt to whichever formation Glasner chooses, whether it is a four‑man defence or a three‑man backline. Glasner reiterated his core message to the group: "If you keep doing the same thing, you will always get the same result." After a season that flirted with relegation, the players were eager for a fresh approach. "No club wants to fight to avoid the drop," he said, "but we believe we can finish higher than 16th.
We must be realistic, yet ambitious." He stressed that the club must foster an environment where individual character and ego are harnessed for the collective good. "We want players with personality, but they must play for the team, not themselves.
If we achieve that, the group can be extraordinary," Glasner asserted. Statistically, Forest’s point total fell by 21 points between the 2024‑25 and 2025‑26 campaigns, a decline only eclipsed by Liverpool (‑24) and Wolves (‑22). Both of those clubs entered the new season with fresh managers, and Wolves even dropped to a lower division. Forest avoided such a drastic change, but Glasner is determined not to let the club become another near‑miss story.
His top priority, he explained, is to bring stability back to the club. "Last season saw far too many changes. We need continuity for everyone – players, staff and supporters. Once we have that, we can start talking about pushing into the top half of the table, but we must stay humble and take it step by step," he said.
Training sessions, according to Glasner, will be the crucible for improvement. "We have time to train, time to develop. It is our responsibility to make the most of it.
We cannot simply wait for Saturday’s match; we must work hard every day," he promised. This relentless work ethic is intended to replace the previous season’s sense of complacency.
Key figures such as Morgan Gibbs‑White have remained at the club despite interest from rivals, providing a stable core around which Glasner can build. While his track record emphasises collective understanding over individual brilliance, Forest also possess a sprinkling of talent capable of changing games in an instant. Glasner admitted that the quality of the playing staff, combined with the ambition of owner Evangelos Marinakis, was a major factor in his decision to join Forest. He confessed that the club had not been on his radar before the summer, but the prospect of working with a driven owner and a talented squad proved irresistible.
Supporters may be content with simply consolidating their Premier League status after an adventurous European run, yet Marinakis is known for his impatience and desire for rapid progress. Glasner highlighted that his meticulous, detail‑oriented approach aligns with the owner’s high expectations, but he will need to deliver a clear, measurable plan to prove his long‑term suitability. The question now is whether this managerial dark horse, who has repeatedly defied the odds, can once again strike gold for Nottingham Forest.
The journey will demand discipline, tactical acumen and a unified squad, but if Glasner can embed his philosophy and restore stability, the club could well see a new era of sustained success.