Nuno Espirito Santo

Nuno Espirito Santo is a Portuguese football manager with a career spanning top clubs in Portugal, Spain, England, and Saudi Arabia, known for achieving promotions and cup successes. After winning the UEFA Champions League with FC Porto in 2003–04 as a goalkeeper, Nuno Espirito Santo’s distinguished playing career also included the Intercontinental Cup (2004), UEFA Cup (2002–03), four Primeira Liga titles, two Taça de Portugal wins, and three Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira trophies with Porto. He clinched the Copa del Rey with Deportivo La Coruña (2001–02) and earned the Ricardo Zamora Trophy in Segunda División (1999–2000). Retiring as a player in 2010, Espirito Santo transitioned to coaching, taking his first head coaching role with Rio Ave in May 2012, leading the club to both domestic cup finals and their first-ever UEFA Europa League qualification in 2014.

Following a period at Tottenham Hotspur in 2021, where he earned the Premier League Manager of the Month award in August 2021, Espirito Santo transitioned to Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia. There, he achieved significant success, winning the Saudi Super Cup in 2022 and the Saudi Pro League title in the 2022–2023 season. His accomplishments at Al-Ittihad were acknowledged with three Saudi Pro League Manager of the Month awards. He returned to the Premier League in December 2023 to manage Nottingham Forest, successfully avoiding relegation for the 2023-2024 season.

Under Espirito Santo’s guidance, Nottingham Forest achieved a seventh-place Premier League finish and secured UEFA Europa League qualification in the 2024-2025 season. His leadership earned him Premier League Manager of the Month awards in October 2024, December 2024, and March 2025. In September 2025, he was appointed head coach of West Ham United.