Nottingham Forest fans likely weren’t expecting to worry about the future of Nuno Espirito Santo just yet, but speculation is growing around his potential departure—with a familiar managerial name now emerging as the frontrunner.
Espirito Santo has reportedly been considered for the Al Hilal job, which would mark a return to Saudi Arabia after he led Al Ittihad to the Saudi Pro League title in the 2022/23 season.
With high praise from fellow managers like Thomas Frank this season, it’s no surprise other clubs are taking notice of Espirito Santo. But with the Premier League season nearing its climax and Forest fighting to stay focused, fans would prefer their manager remain undistracted.
Fortunately, that might be the case. Reports now suggest that Al Hilal’s top target is Marco Silva—another coach previously linked with the Forest role.
Marco Silva Now Favourite for Al Hilal Job Over Espirito Santo
Fulham manager Marco Silva had been mentioned alongside Espirito Santo as a possible Al Hilal candidate, but according to a new report from talkSPORT, Silva appears to be leading the race.
The report stated: “Marco Silva is a leading candidate for the Al-Hilal vacancy, with Fulham braced for an offer from the Saudi club. […] The 47-year-old, currently under contract at Craven Cottage until 2026, is delaying a new deal and is understood to be open to the role—despite previously turning down interest from Saudi Arabia.”
Silva holds a competitive edge over Espirito Santo this season, having guided Fulham to a league double over Forest. In fact, Silva had even outlined his strategy for beating Forest ahead of their February clash.
Interestingly, this coaching rivalry echoes the situation in late 2023 when Forest chose Espirito Santo over Silva as Steve Cooper’s replacement.
Evangelos Marinakis Chose Espirito Santo Over Silva Last Time
When Forest parted ways with Cooper in December 2023, club owner Evangelos Marinakis faced a critical decision in appointing the right successor to secure Premier League survival.
He ultimately went with Espirito Santo, likely due to his Premier League experience, but Marco Silva was also seriously considered at the time.
In fact, Silva’s name has continued to be linked to Forest even after Espirito Santo helped the club avoid relegation. According to the Daily Mail, Silva could still be seen as a top candidate if Forest lose their current boss.
The report noted: “Marco Silva could become a surprise managerial target for Nottingham Forest if Nuno Espirito Santo is prised away from the City Ground. […] Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has long admired Silva, who managed Olympiacos—another Marinakis-owned club—during the 2015-16 season. While they haven’t worked together since, Marinakis has closely followed Silva’s career.”
So if Espirito Santo does make the move to Al Hilal, don’t be surprised if Marinakis once again turns to Silva. Their shared history makes that scenario more than plausible.
