Postecoglou takes charge at Al-Nassr on two-year deal after record-short Forest stint

Ange Postecoglou has been named head coach of Saudi Pro League champions Al-Nassr, the club confirmed on Friday, handing the Australian one of the most high-profile roles in Asian football on a two-year contract.

Postecoglou steps into a squad built around Cristiano Ronaldo, who lifted the Saudi Pro League trophy with Al-Nassr as recently as 21 May at Al Awwal Park in Riyadh. “A new chapter,” the club said in an official statement. “Our best wishes for success to him and his staff in their journey with the global club, God willing.”

The appointment marks a swift return to management for the 60-year-old, whose previous post ended in October when Nottingham Forest dismissed him after just eight games and 39 days in charge — the shortest managerial reign in Premier League history.

Postecoglou’s career has taken him across four countries and delivered league titles at each major stop. He won back-to-back A-League championships with Brisbane Roar, claimed the J1 League with Yokohama F. Marinos, and delivered consecutive Scottish Premiership titles at Celtic before moving to England. His tenure at Tottenham Hotspur, despite the turbulence that preceded it, ended with Europa League glory in 2025 — the club’s first major trophy in 17 years.

The move to Riyadh represents a significant shift in the trajectory of his career, placing him at the centre of the Saudi Pro League’s continued push for global relevance. Al-Nassr, backed by one of the world’s most recognisable footballers, will expect Postecoglou to defend the league title while competing on the continental stage.

Whether his characteristically attack-minded, high-press philosophy translates to the demands of Saudi football — and to managing a squad of Ronaldo’s stature — will be among the defining questions of his tenure.