Why Nottingham Forest chose Sean Dyche over Roberto Mancini and Marco Silva

Sean Dyche will not need to book a removal van following his appointment as Nottingham Forest head coach. Unlike predecessor Ange Postecoglou, who had only moved into a flat nearby a few days before he was sacked at the weekend, the new man in charge already has a home within walking distance of the City Ground.

Dyche — who has signed a contract until 2027 — has also been known to occasionally frequent a few of the pubs close to Nottingham Castle, not far from the famous Robin Hood statue. The prospect of the 54-year-old having a peaceful drink might just have got more difficult, however, with his latest job certain to raise his profile even further around the area.

Where Dyche lives, of course, was not a consideration in his appointment — even if his history as a former Forest youth-academy player might not have done him any harm.

While it has only been a matter of days since the club parted company with Postecoglou, the search for his replacement has been a thorough one.

The early September appointment of the Australian was born, in part at least, out of his existing relationship with Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis. The Greek shipping magnate was hiring somebody he already knew when he looked to fill the void left by Nuno Espirito Santo’s departure three games into the season.

A foundation of mutual respect and friendship, it turns out, was not enough for Postecoglou, who lasted only 39 days in the job — the shortest tenure of any permanent Premier League manager — before being ushered out of the exit following an eighth game (out of eight) without a win.

Having previously made the two most significant managerial appointments of Forest’s modern era — Steve Cooper and Nuno — Marinakis can be forgiven for getting one wrong. He was a significant influence in the hiring of Postecoglou, a man he had got to know through their shared Greek heritage and love of the game.

But having recognised that appointing the former Australia, Celtic and Tottenham Hotspur manager was a mistake, Forest have done everything in their power to avoid making another.

While Dyche was already on the shortlist for the job during this month’s international break — before the 3-0 home defeat by Chelsea in the first game after that window which sealed Postecoglou’s fate — his was not the only name on it. In the past few days, there has been a thorough process to decide who would be the best match for both the club and the situation they will inherit. One in which Marinakis has sought the counsel of others.

The search has been led by global head of football Edu and by George Syrianos, the global technical director. It has involved numerous meetings, intense analysis of Dyche’s data profile as a manager and the study of numerous games he has been in charge of at Burnley and, more recently, Everton.

His profile is similar to Nuno’s in some key senses. Dyche sides have traditionally defended their own penalty area with genuine quality, something that became a trademark under the Portuguese last season. That defensive resolve was lost in the brief Postecoglou era, with his Forest side conceding 20 times in those eight games. Getting those qualities back has been seen as a priority among the decision makers at the club.

But more than that, Dyche’s data profile shows him to be a manager whose sides historically counter-attack with real pace and purpose. Again, that was viewed as a key asset by Forest. Even though they sold winger Anthony Elanga to Newcastle United in the summer, Forest have assembled a squad that contains numerous players with match-turning speed.

Dyche is a different manager to Nuno, but he is seen as somebody who can enhance and utilise many of the qualities that were the foundations of the side that finished seventh in the Premier League last season.

Much thought has been given to the style that would best match up to the players Forest already have, not least because there will be little room for another major overhaul of the squad in this season’s winter window given the almost £200million ($268m) investment they made to sign 13 players in the summer.

According to sources close to the club — who wish to remain anonymous to protect relationships — Dyche impressed in his initial meeting with club officials. He is seen as somebody who knows the demands of the Premier League very well and a manager who will bring discipline, organisation and an end to Forest’s recent painful fragility at defensive set pieces.

During the examination of Dyche’s previous games, that set-piece organisation was a particular area of focus, along with how his teams have defended more generally. They found a reassuring similarity to what was seen under Nuno. Like the Portuguese, it is felt Dyche will give Forest a clear identity again.

Dyche worked wonders at Burnley, leading them to the most successful period in their history, including six consecutive seasons in the top flight and a seventh-placed finish in 2017-18 that earned a Europa League spot — though they were then beaten in a play-off tie by Marinakis-owned Olympiacos, missing out on the competition’s group phase.

Defensive coaching is seen as a key asset for Dyche as Forest look to ensure, in the short term at least, that this season does not become a fight against relegation.

Two of Dyche’s coaching staff — Ian Woan and Steve Stone — are Forest legends from their playing days. All three of the key men in the dugout going forward will fully understand the traditions and expectations involved; they will know about the culture of the club and this city.

The friendship between Dyche and Stone stretches back to when they were 17-year-old scholars at Forest, both suffering broken legs within four days of each other.

The pair formed a close bond because they were in the same situation: facing doubts about their playing futures as they looked to recover and prove themselves. Both did, with Dyche going on to enjoy a playing career that included spells with Chesterfield, Millwall, Watford and Northampton Town.

Dyche also showed his steely character away from the pitch at Everton, during a period of genuine crisis at Goodison Park. Everton were deducted eight points during 2023-24 for breaching profit and sustainability regulations (PSR) and at the time they had an interim board and an absent owner. Dyche steered them clear of trouble despite it all, with Everton finishing 14 points above the bottom three.

Forest also took a serious look at the out-of-work Roberto Mancini during this process, as well as considering Fulham’s Marco Silva, a man who has been on their radar for some time, having previously worked under Marinakis at Olympiacos. But the release clause in his contract — which The Athletic reported on Monday as being in the region of £15million — was viewed as prohibitive. Forest have been long-term admirers of the coach who has restored the west London club’s fortunes and have considered him as an option previously, but Fulham’s hierarchy have told Silva of their desire to renew his contract.

Dyche is seen as a long-term appointment at Forest, dispelling any possibility of giving someone the job on a short-term basis before pursuing Silva next summer.

Contact was made with Mancini, who is somebody Forest view as a serial winner. The Italian led Manchester City to FA Cup glory in 2011 before following up with a Premier League title a year later. He had previously won three consecutive Serie A championships between 2006 and 2008 with Inter, as well as two Coppa Italia successes. In his first job at international level, Mancini led Italy to victory at the Euros four years ago.

Forest were also drawn by Mancini’s track record of producing sides with a strong defensive, disciplined outlook. And in the immediate aftermath of Postecoglou’s departure, he was the man they initially favoured. He was seen as somebody who would be a statement appointment, someone with a track record that suggested he was capable of leading them to European success.

Early conversations were positive and gave Forest encouragement. But their research will also have revealed the challenges that can come with employing the 60-year-old Italian.

As former City goalkeeper Shay Given said on BBC 5 Live radio on Sunday: “It was very volatile under him. He is very fiery. That is probably a nice way of putting it. I am picturing him and Marinakis in a room, and I am not getting dimmed lights and candles. I am getting the vibe of absolute carnage. It does not feel like a perfect fit. In fact, it feels the opposite of that.

“He (Mancini) would start fires everywhere. At City, he would be fighting with the bus driver, the kit men — whoever wanted a fight, he would fight with.”

Mancini does have something significant in common with Marinakis: a fierce desire to win. That might well have led to a more harmonious understanding between them at Forest. But ultimately it was felt that Dyche, a man who more often puts an arm around the shoulder of his players, would be the best fit as they search for some much-needed stability.

Dyche has already made Nottingham his home and will now hope he soon feels equally comfortable at the City Ground itself, even if he might have to find somewhere new to go for a well-earned pint.

Click here to read article