When the 2024/25 Premier League season kicked off, few could have predicted that Nottingham Forest would find themselves fighting for the title.
Yet here we are, as Nuno Espírito Santo’s side prepares to fight with Liverpool for the first place in an intense clash
While Liverpool’s presence at the Premier League summit is par for the course, Nottingham Forest’s resurgence is nothing short of astonishing. Once mired in obscurity, Forest spent 23 years out of England’s top division following their relegation in 1998/99. Their exile even included three years in the third tier during the mid-2000s—a nadir they hadn’t experienced since the early 1950s. Their Premier League return in 2022/23 saw them narrowly escape relegation with 16th and 17th-place finishes, offering little indication that they’d soon be vying for a place among the league’s elite.
But Forest has a history of defying expectations, and their current campaign is reigniting memories of one of the most storied periods in football history.
Nottingham Forest’s Legacy of Defiance
For Forest fans, the word “impossible” doesn’t exist. In 1977, Brian Clough guided the club to promotion from the English third tier. What followed the next season was a seismic shock to English football: Nottingham Forest won the Division One title—the name for England’s top league at the time—in their very first season back. No club has achieved that feat since.
But Clough and his team didn’t stop there. In the 1978/79 season, Forest etched their name in European football lore, winning the European Cup (the precursor to the Champions League) at their first attempt. They achieved this by eliminating holders Liverpool in the first round and ultimately lifting the trophy in Munich.
Incredibly, they defended their title the following season, with a dramatic semifinal victory over Ajax serving as the highlight of their triumphant 1979/80 campaign. These consecutive European Cup wins cemented Nottingham Forest’s legacy and placed them among an elite group of just eight clubs to achieve back-to-back European triumphs.
Advertisement
Latest Press Conference
We’re on Social Media
Follow us on X
See more football highlights
Joining an Exclusive Club
The illustrious company of clubs with consecutive European Cup/Champions League victories includes Real Madrid, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Bayern Munich, Ajax, Benfica, and Liverpool. However, Forest stands apart as the only club to have won Europe’s premier competition more times than their domestic league—a statistic that underscores the sheer improbability of their achievements.
Since their last European Cup win, Forest has not graced the competition again. Their 1980/81 campaign ended in disappointment, with elimination in the first round. Yet, their historic feats continue to inspire the club’s revival.
From Survival to Contention
After years of near anonymity and back-to-back seasons of Premier League survival, Forest’s current ascent under Espírito Santo feels almost mythical. To even consider them potential Premier League champions might sound audacious, but their clash against Liverpool could define their season. Victory at the City Ground would serve as a statement of intent, transforming a dream into a tantalizing possibility.
Liverpool, of course, will pose a formidable challenge. A perennial powerhouse, The Reds are no strangers to high-pressure situations. For Forest, however, Tuesday’s game is more than just another fixture—it’s an opportunity to remind the world of their resilience, ambition, and rich history.
The Road Ahead
Forest’s resurgence is not just a testament to Espírito Santo’s managerial acumen but also a reflection of a club that thrives on challenging the odds. Their trajectory this season suggests they are no longer content to merely survive in the Premier League—they aim to compete at the highest level.
Should they secure a European berth—or dare we say, a Premier League title—it would mark a modern echo of their past glories. Forest fans will hope this revival extends beyond a single season, ushering in a new era of sustained success.
A Legacy Worth Celebrating
Nottingham Forest’s journey, both past and present, encapsulates what makes football so compelling: the unexpected, the underdog triumphs, and the unwavering belief that history can be rewritten. With every game, they edge closer to proving that the improbable is always possible.
Their clash with Liverpool may just be another chapter in this remarkable story—one that could ultimately redefine what we expect from newly resurgent clubs in the modern game.
So, as the world will testify their rise, remember this: Nottingham Forest has been here before. And if history is any guide, they’re more than capable of delivering another shock.