Nottingham Forest Reportedly Terminate Edu Gaspar's Contract
Key Takeaways
- •Edu Gaspar has left his role as Nottingham Forest's global head of football, with the Telegraph reporting his contract was terminated after about a year in the position.
- •Edu's role involved coordinating a multi-club structure under owner Evangelos Marinakis, whose portfolio includes Nottingham Forest, Olympiacos, and Rio Ave.
- •Reports indicated Edu had a strained relationship with Marinakis and was viewed by former manager Nuno Espirito Santo as an awkward intermediary between coach and owner.
- •Forest appointed former FIFA employee Theodore Giannikos as chief executive the week prior, replacing Lina Souloukou, marking broader structural changes at the club.
- •Edu, a Brazilian capped in 2004 and 2005, was part of Arsenal's unbeaten 2003-04 Premier League squad and previously held a senior role in Arsenal's hierarchy.
Edu Gaspar has left his position as global head of football at Premier League club Nottingham Forest, ending an eventful year in the Midlands.
The former Arsenal invincible joined Forest in July 2025, but has now departed after a year, with the Telegraph reporting that his contract has been terminated. The move comes as a notable reversal for one of football's most prominent executives, who had built a strong reputation during a lengthy spell in Arsenal's hierarchy before making the switch to the Midlands.
When appointed 14 months ago, Edu said: "I'm truly excited about this new chapter and honoured by the trust placed in me. This project connects deeply with my values around innovation and long-term planning. I look forward to building a global football model that is competitive, sustainable, and aligned with our president's [Evangelos Marinakis] ambition."
That reference to a "global football model" reflected the multi-club structure overseen by owner Evangelos Marinakis, whose portfolio spans Nottingham Forest, Greek side Olympiacos and Portuguese club Rio Ave. Such set-ups have become increasingly common in European football, with clubs sharing scouting networks, recruitment strategies and playing philosophies across borders — and the executive roles designed to coordinate them have often proved demanding.
Edu's relationship with former Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo was rocky. Some reports indicated that Nuno viewed Edu as the "awkward middle-man" between the coach and club owner Evangelos Marinakis.
Contract terminated
Forest, currently 16th in the Premier League after three games, appointed former Fifa employee Theodore Giannikos as chief executive last week, replacing Lina Souloukou. The appointment of a new chief executive had already signalled a period of structural change behind the scenes at the City Ground, with Edu's exit now adding to a series of senior personnel moves at the club.
Edu, who reportedly had difficulties building a relationship with Marinakis, has had his name removed from the "Who's who" section on the club's website.
The Brazilian joined Arsenal from Corinthians in 2001 and, as part of the Gunners' 2003-04 squad, became a Premier League invincible. After his time in England, he played for Valencia before returning to Corinthians in his home country to finish his career. He was capped by Brazil in 2004 and 2005.
Commenting on Giannikos' appointment, Forest said: "Theodore will lead the club's strategic direction and oversee the delivery of its long-term ambitions, both on and off the pitch. He brings more than 20 years of senior-level experience across international football, together with extensive legal, governance and business development expertise."
The Telegraph approached Edu for comment.
