MANAGERS

These are the records for all the Forest managers, including caretakers, since Harry Radford was appointed as our first manager in 1889.
In the next 86 years until Brian Clough joined in 1975, we had a total of 14 managers. In the 25 years since he left, we have had 24 managers and 11 caretakers!

Looking at the stats of the post-Clough era, each manager has been in charge for an average of only 62 games. Frank Clark lasted 3 and a half seasons and managed 180 games whereas Alex McLeish lasted only 7.

Nuno Espírito Santo has currently managed 42 games.

MANAGERS AND RECORDS
Italics and * = Caretaker Manager
Competitive Record Players
# Manager First Game Last Game Num
Seasons
P W D L W % D % L % Used Debuts In Out Honours
1Harry RadfordAug 01, 1889May 31, 1897817669347339%19%41%66596765
2Harry HallamAug 01, 1897May 31, 19091246218810417041%23%37%102857772Tier 2 Champions, FA Cup
3Fred EarpAug 01, 1909May 31, 1912312035265929%22%49%50343434
4Bob MastersAug 01, 1912May 31, 1925133861089718128%25%47%9076107104Tier 2 Champions
5John BaynesAug 01, 1925May 31, 1929523085648137%28%35%71524748
6Stan HardyAug 01, 1930May 31, 19311431492033%21%47%27767
7Noel WatsonAug 01, 1931Jul 01, 1936522379578735%26%39%52323228
8Harold WightmanJul 01, 1936Mar 11, 1939312133286027%23%50%46282621
9Billy WalkerMay 01, 1939Mar 20, 19602265227414723142%23%35%129114152156Tier 3 Champions; FA Cup
10Andy BeattieSep 01, 1960Jul 01, 1963314452326036%22%42%35191415
11Johnny CareyJul 01, 1963Dec 31, 1968625899659438%25%36%46261822
12Matt GilliesJan 01, 1969Oct 20, 1972517949498127%27%45%44241720
13Dave MackayNov 05, 1972Oct 23, 197324714151830%32%38%26638
14Allan BrownNov 19, 1973Jan 03, 197525821172036%29%34%26633
15Brian CloughJan 06, 1975May 08, 19931999246426226647%26%27%130105871322 European Cups, Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup, Tier 1 Champions, 4 League Cups, 2 Full Members Cups
16Frank ClarkMay 12, 1993Dec 19, 1996418074584841%32%27%48232718
Stuart Pearce*Dec 20, 1996May 08, 199712379730%39%30%32436
17Dave BassettMay 08, 1997Jan 05, 199937734192444%25%31%46231117Tier 2 Champions
Micky Adams*Jan 05, 1999Jan 11, 19991110%0%100%16
18Ron AtkinsonJan 11, 1999May 16, 1999117521029%12%59%30755
19David PlattJul 01, 1999Jul 12, 2001210337254136%24%40%58291622
20Paul HartJul 12, 2001Feb 07, 2004313545414933%30%36%53232122
21Joe KinnearFeb 10, 2004Dec 16, 200424415151434%34%32%39897
Mick Harford*Dec 16, 2004Jan 10, 20051621333%17%50%23332
22Gary MegsonJan 10, 2005Feb 16, 200625917182429%31%41%52241815
Frank Barlow and Ian McParland*Feb 17, 2006May 30, 200611384162%31%8%201
23Colin CalderwoodMay 30, 2006Dec 26, 2008313658403843%29%28%60322237
John Pemberton*Dec 27, 2008Jan 04, 2009122100%0%0%19
24Billy DaviesJan 04, 2009Jun 12, 2011312653363742%29%29%51192433
25Steve MacLarenJun 13, 2011Oct 02, 201111342731%15%54%25662
26Steve CotterillOct 14, 2011Jul 12, 20121381271932%18%50%337611
27Sean O'DriscollJul 20, 2012Dec 26, 2012126109738%35%27%3112116
28Alex McLeishDec 27, 2012Feb 05, 20131712414%29%57%27243
29Billy Davies (2)Feb 07, 2013Mar 24, 201425725191344%33%23%411195
Gary Brazil*Mar 24, 2014May 03, 201411224617%33%50%3051
30Stuart Pearce (2)Jul 01, 2014Feb 01, 201513210101231%31%38%361388
31Dougie FreedmanFeb 01, 2015Mar 13, 201625719162233%28%39%44151617
Paul Williams*Mar 13, 2016May 12, 201611024420%40%40%251
32Phillipe MontanierJun 27, 2016Jan 14, 2017130961530%20%50%37171112
Gary Brazil (2)*Jan 14, 2017Mar 14, 201711141636%9%55%30567
33Mark WarburtonMar 14, 2017Dec 31, 20172371531941%8%51%347810
Gary Brazil (3)*Dec 31, 2017Jan 08, 2018121150%50%0%21
34Aitor KarankaJan 08, 2018Jan 11, 201925217181733%35%33%52232736
Simon Ireland*Jan 11, 2019Jan 15, 20191110%0%100%182
35Martin O'NeillJan 15, 2019Jun 28, 201911983842%16%42%275512
36Sabri LamouchiJun 28, 2019Oct 06, 202025520161936%29%35%51303033
37Chris HughtonOct 06, 2020Sep 16, 202125314172226%32%42%49181522
Steven Reid*Sep 16, 2021Sep 21, 2021111100%0%0%18
38Steve CooperSep 21, 2021Dec 19, 2023310843263940%24%36%81485485
39Nuno Espírito SantoDec 20, 202324215101736%24%40%45141441

MANAGERS BY SEASON
This list doesn't include the caretaker managers
Season Division Manager(s) Result
2024-251Nuno Espírito Santo
2023-241Steve Cooper, Nuno Espírito Santo
2022-231Steve Cooper
2021-222Chris Hughton, Steve CooperPromoted
2020-212Sabri Lamouchi, Chris Hughton
2019-202Sabri Lamouchi
2018-192Aitor Karanka, Martin O'Neill
2017-182Mark Warburton, Aitor Karanka
2016-172Phillipe Montanier, Mark Warburton
2015-162Dougie Freedman
2014-152Stuart Pearce (2), Dougie Freedman
2013-142Billy Davies (2)
2012-132Sean O'Driscoll, Alex McLeish, Billy Davies (2)
2011-122Steve MacLaren, Steve Cotterill
2010-112Billy DaviesPlayoffs
2009-102Billy DaviesPlayoffs
2008-092Colin Calderwood, Billy Davies
2007-083Colin CalderwoodPromoted
2006-073Colin CalderwoodPlayoffs
2005-063Gary Megson
2004-052Joe Kinnear, Gary MegsonRelegated
2003-042Paul Hart, Joe Kinnear
2002-032Paul HartPlayoffs
2001-022Paul Hart
2000-012David Platt
1999-002David Platt
1998-991Dave Bassett, Ron AtkinsonRelegated
1997-982Dave BassettChampions
1996-971Frank Clark, Dave BassettRelegated
1995-961Frank Clark
1994-951Frank Clark
1993-942Frank ClarkPromoted
1992-931Brian CloughRelegated
1991-921Brian Clough
1990-911Brian Clough
1989-901Brian Clough
1988-891Brian Clough
1987-881Brian Clough
1986-871Brian Clough
1985-861Brian Clough
1984-851Brian Clough
1983-841Brian Clough
1982-831Brian Clough
1981-821Brian Clough
1980-811Brian Clough
1979-801Brian Clough
1978-791Brian Clough
1977-781Brian CloughChampions
1976-772Brian CloughPromoted
1975-762Brian Clough
1974-752Allan Brown, Brian Clough
1973-742Dave Mackay, Allan Brown
1972-732Matt Gillies, Dave Mackay
1971-721Matt GilliesRelegated
1970-711Matt Gillies
1969-701Matt Gillies
1968-691Johnny Carey, Matt Gillies
1967-681Johnny Carey
1966-671Johnny Carey
1965-661Johnny Carey
1964-651Johnny Carey
1963-641Johnny Carey
1962-631Andy Beattie
1961-621Andy Beattie
1960-611Andy Beattie
1959-601Billy Walker
1958-591Billy Walker
1957-581Billy Walker
1956-572Billy WalkerPromoted
1955-562Billy Walker
1954-552Billy Walker
1953-542Billy Walker
1952-532Billy Walker
1951-522Billy Walker
1950-513SBilly WalkerChampions
1949-503SBilly Walker
1948-492Billy WalkerRelegated
1947-482Billy Walker
1946-472Billy Walker
1945-46Billy Walker
1939-40Billy Walker
1938-392Harold Wightman, Billy Walker
1937-382Harold Wightman
1936-372Harold Wightman
1935-362Noel Watson
1934-352Noel Watson
1933-342Noel Watson
1932-332Noel Watson
1931-322Noel Watson
1930-312Stan Hardy
1929-302John Baynes
1928-292John Baynes
1927-282John Baynes
1926-272John Baynes
1925-262John Baynes
1924-251Bob MastersRelegated
1923-241Bob Masters
1922-231Bob Masters
1921-222Bob MastersChampions
1920-212Bob Masters
1919-202Bob Masters
1914-152Bob MastersRe-elected
1913-142Bob MastersRe-elected
1912-132Bob Masters
1911-122Fred Earp
1910-111Fred EarpRelegated
1909-101Fred Earp
1908-091Harry Hallam
1907-081Harry Hallam
1906-072Harry HallamChampions
1905-061Harry HallamRelegated
1904-051Harry Hallam
1903-041Harry Hallam
1902-031Harry Hallam
1901-021Harry Hallam
1900-011Harry Hallam
1899-001Harry Hallam
1898-991Harry Hallam
1897-981Harry Hallam
1896-971Harry Radford
1895-961Harry Radford
1894-951Harry Radford
1893-941Harry Radford
1892-931Harry Radford
1891-92Harry RadfordChampions
1890-91Harry Radford
1889-90Harry Radford