How it feels for Nottingham Forest to be back in Europe for the first time in 30 years

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For Nuno Espirito Santo, the moment to celebrate the remarkable achievements of this season will come after the final whistle, on the final day, when his Nottingham Forest side have faced Chelsea at the City Ground.

With Forest still retaining a slim chance of securing Champions League qualification, Nuno will keep his focus on securing the three points they need to keep those hopes alive at West Ham today.

The circumstances of the 2-2 draw with already relegated Leicester, which took Forest’s hopes of finishing in the top five out of their own hands, meant there was little positivity around the City Ground last weekend.

But the point was enough to secure European football for the first time in three decades, so it should still be heralded. Next season, Nuno will lead Forest into the Europa League or the Conference League as a bare minimum.

And in the context of recent campaigns and two consecutive fights against relegation, it is a remarkable achievement.

Nuno has led Forest back into European competition (Molly Darlington/Getty Images)

So how will it feel for Nuno to manage Forest in Europe, just as he did twice with Wolverhampton Wanderers?

“In that moment? I will be thinking about hard work, concerns and a tight schedule. Wow,” said Nuno in his press conference ahead of today’s game. “It will bring us more problems… but yes, it is fantastic. Fantastic.

“We felt it immediately after the (Leicester) game — that we already achieved something amazing for the club. But now the motivation for us is to achieve something even bigger. Because the chance is still there for us. Let us see. So many things can happen in football; last-minute situations that change the reality.

“Against Chelsea, in front of the City Ground, I think that’s the proper moment to be together and celebrate what I think is already a big achievement.”

Nuno’s mood is reflected in the dressing room, where the Forest players still have one eye on the slim possibility of Champions League football, as they sit four points behind Chelsea and Aston Villa, who sit in fourth and fifth place respectively, having played a game more than Forest.

But for the fans, with a European spot secure, it is way beyond expectations already. Andy Caddell, the chairman of the Nottingham Forest Supporters’ Trust, has followed Forest since 1987.

“I do not think it can be exaggerated how remarkable this is. I have heard people say we ‘might only get Europa League, not Champions League’. What are you talking about?” he says. “Nottingham is a relatively small city and what happened in 1979 and 1980, when we won the European Cup under Brian Clough, is unprecedented. That was one of the most astonishing feats in football history.

“For Forest to achieve any level of European football now is also incredible. We were nearly relegated last season and the season before, now we have been competing for a top-five finish? The turnaround has been astonishing. Many pundits said we would be relegated.”

Forest last played in Europe under Frank Clark, when they reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup in 1995-96, but there have been many dark days in the intervening period, with the club dropping into League One for three seasons.

“I remember losing to Plymouth in the season we were relegated to League One (2004-05),” adds Caddell. “We did not go down that day, but it was almost certain. We conceded in the third minute and somebody a few rows in front of us got up and left. We ended up losing 3-0 and, by the end, the stadium was easily less than half full.

“Nottingham Forest in Europe does not sound wrong. It doesn’t. But I think of all the moments when things might have been different.

“When we needed to beat Ipswich on the final day of the season, right in the middle of the Evangelos Marinakis takeover, to ensure we did not get relegated (in 2017). The Championship play-off final when those VAR decisions went our way against Huddersfield (in 2022).

Birtles faces Malmo during the 1979 European Cup Final (Duncan Raban/Allsport/Getty Images)

“Even if you had told me at the end of last season that we would get into Europe now, I would have struggled to believe it.”

Garry Birtles was one of the Miracle Men — the group of players who twice became the kings of Europe under Clough. A local lad plucked from playing with Long Eaton United, who went on to become a key figure in the most successful side in Forest’s history.

“European football will mean everything to these players. We did not get the money they are getting. The money was almost a side issue. It was all about winning and being successful. We wanted to do it for the club and the city,” he tells The Athletic. “I would like to think that footballers have not changed a great deal when it comes to having the simple desire to succeed. They will be loving every minute of this season. It does feel as though this is a group of players who genuinely have the same motivation as we did.”

Birtles has enjoyed watching Nuno spearhead the transformation of a side that was strengthened by the signing of players such as Nikola Milenkovic and Elliot Anderson last summer.

“The job Nuno has done is incredible. At the end of last season, there were people having conversations about whether it was time for him to go. Look at what he has done since. I believe he can build on this again, as well.”

Mick Holland is the former sports editor of the Nottingham Evening Post. He travelled to Munich as a fan in 1979 to watch Forest beat Malmo and lift the European Cup for the first time, thanks to an iconic diving header from Trevor Francis.

“I never thought this would happen again,” he says. “Whether it is Champions League, Europa League or even Conference League, I do not really think it matters.

“It is a truly incredible achievement. Any fan who missed out on the previous games in Europe — be it under Clough or Clark — my only advice would be to enjoy every minute of it for what it is. No moans, no groans. Just enjoy the ride. Because it might not come around very often. I just wish I was young enough to go and do it all again…”

Steve Allcock also went to the match in Munich and is delighted that such nights feel a step closer again.

“I am thrilled for all the younger fans who will get to experience this,” he says. “The memories of those trips in the Clough era will stay with me. Now, a new generation of Forest fans gets to see their team play in Europe. That has to be something to celebrate.”

(Top photo: Nottingham Forest captain John McGovern lifts the European Cup in 1979 and Chris Wood and Anthony Elanga celebrate; by Getty Images)

This news was originally published on this post .

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