Glasner's plan for 'stability with success' at Nottingham Forest

Oliver Glasner is not necessarily known for being a disciplinarian. Meticulous, yes. A self-proclaimed workaholic. But not a coach who rains down rules. At Nottingham Forest that might have to change.

Glasner has carved a reputation as one of Europe's most tactically astute managers. Evidence can be seen throughout his career, peaking during a standout spell at Eintracht Frankfurt. There, he masterminded a Europa League triumph against significant odds and begun to catch the eye of various Premier League suitors.

In 2024, Glasner was lured to the shores of the south coast, tasked with evolving Crystal Palace's playing style, a spell so successful that Palace won three trophies during his two-year charge. Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis sees the potential for the same to be replicated at Forest.

But first, the Austrian has to establish some ground rules after such a period of instability at the City Ground, working their way through four managers in the last 12 months. "Great talent is here," Glasner tells Sky Sports from 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 is of course a period that allows for more laxity. "Players have shown great effort and spirit in sessions, for me, that is the foundation," Glasner continues. But there is a serious side, too.

Forest's managerial merry-go-round paid a great debt to consistency last term. They also played 56 games after earning re-entry into Europe for the first time in 30 years. Given the vast upheaval, it's quite a remarkable feat that they managed to feature in a Europa League semi-final.

Nottingham Forest news and transfer latest

Stream the Premier League with no contract

Now progress relies on gaining a more sure Premier League footing. Forest have switched to Glasner's favoured system and are quietly reshaping the squad to his needs. Centre-back Ousmane Diomande is their standout summer signing, but Glasner, a former defender himself, is pushing for "one or two more".

The 51-year-old's playing philosophy is rooted in structure. His sides are well-drilled, combative and detail-oriented, often outperforming expectations thanks to a smart blend of open play and set-piece efficiency. They do not need to be possession-dominant to be dangerous.

Players have responded well, with plenty of pruning taking place in pre-season. "He is a bit of a perfectionist," Nikola Milenkovic reveals. "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 continues: "The players have been really open. 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.

"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."

Only Liverpool (-24) and Wolves (-22) saw a bigger decrease in their final points total between the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons than Forest (-21). All three of those clubs are starting this campaign with new managers, Wolves in an entirely different division. Forest avoided that fate, but Glasner does not want another near-miss.

"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.

"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."

Forest's key men, including Morgan Gibbs-White, remain at the club despite rival clubs sniffing. Glasner's success has been built on collective understanding over individual brilliance but at Forest he also has the luxury of a sprinkling of stardust with the capability to change games in an instant.

"The quality of the players," he admits, coupled with "the ambition of Mr Marinakis" was what drew him to the club in the first place, despite Forest not being "on his radar" before this summer. Plenty to be excited by, then. But an equally tall task.

Forest fans would perhaps settle for Premier League progression after their European adventures but Marinakis is not known for his patience. Glasner underlines how his ambition and "detailed approach" matches that of Forest's zealous owner, but he will need to demonstrate a clear strategy for success to convince of his more long-term suitability.

Can the managerial dark horse, with a proven track record of defying odds, strike gold again?