Meet the opposition | Nottingham Forest

As Swansea City get set to take on Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup, we take a closer look at the Tricky Trees.

What's their story?

Nottingham Forest are currently contesting their fourth-straight season in the Premier League, after spending the previous 14 campaigns in the Championship.

The club has a rich history, winning the First Division title in 1977-78 under manager Brian Clough, who also led Forest to memorable European Cup triumphs in successive seasons.

The club had not featured in the Premier League since relegation in 1999 before ex-Swans boss Steve Cooper led them back to the top-flight via the play-offs in 2022 and they secured a seventh-placed Premier League finish last term.

They have a stacked trophy cabinet, with four League Cups and two FA Cups to their name in addition to those famous league and European triumphs.

How's their form?

Forest took a win, a draw and a loss from their first three Premier League games; beating Brentford, sharing the spoils with Crystal Palace and being beaten by West Ham.

Since the 3-0 reverse to the Hammers the club have replaced Nuno Espirito Santo with Ange Postecoglou in the dugout and he began his reign with a 3-0 loss against Arsenal at the weekend.

Who's the gaffer?

Ange Postecoglou. The 60-year-old Australian is taking charge of Forest for just the second time having taken the reins following Nuno Espirito Santo’s departure over the international break.

Postecoglou had previously been at Tottenham, spending two years with Spurs and leading them to Europa League success at the end of last season when they beat Manchester United in the final in Bilbao.

Born in Greece, Postecoglou’s family moved to Melbourne when he was a youngster, and he went on to play his football for South Melbourne, helping them win the league title in 1984 and 1991, where he was coached by Hungary’s former Honved and Real Madrid great Ferenc Puskas.

He also won four caps for Australia but a knee injury curtailed his playing career at the age of just 27.

He moved into coaching with Western Suburbs, before having spells with South Melbourne, Australia’s under-17 and under-20 sides, Panachaiki, Whittlesea Zebras, Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory.

Postecoglou was then handed the Australia national team job in 2013, and spent four years at the helm. He coached them at the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil and led them to qualification for the 2018 tournament in Russia.

He also guided them to success at the 2015 Asian Cup before moving to Japan to take charge of Yokohama F. Marinos in 2017 and leading them to a first J-League title for 15 years in 2019.

Celtic was his next port of call in 2021 and he won two league titles, two Scottish League Cups and a Scottish Cup during his two years at Parkhead, before that move to the Premier League with Tottenham.

Who's the captain?

Ryan Yates is Forest's club captain and has been on the books of the club for 20 years having originally joined them as a seven-year-old.

The Lincoln-born midfielder signed his first professional deal in 2016 and had loan spells with Barrow, Shrewsbury Town, Notts County and Scunthorpe United.

He made his first-team breakthrough for Forest at the outset of the 2018-19 season and has made 245 appearances in all competitions since his debut in a Carabao Cup meeting with Bury.

Yates was simply outstanding during their 2021-22 promotion campaign and his influence on and off the field was further highlighted when he was made club captain in 2024 after signing a new contract.

He was the model of consistency last term as Forest secured European qualification.

Who are the key men?

Midfielder Elliot Anderson has proved an outstanding acquisition since arriving from Newcastle United in the summer of 2024, and he recently made his senior England debut, having played a starring role in the under-21s European Championship triumph.

Born in Whitley Bay, Anderson first emerged at Wallsend Boys Club and was soon picked up by Newcastle at the age of eight.

He came through the ranks to make his senior debut during the 2020-21 season, and was part of the Magpies squad that reached the Carabao Cup final in 2023.

Anderson also had a loan spell with Bristol Rovers in 2022, helping them to secure promotion from League Two on a dramatic final day of the season.

Having made 55 appearances for Newcastle he joined Forest last year, and was a prominent figure as they finished seventh to secure European football.

New Zealand international Chris Wood hit 20 goals in all competitions for Forest last season, and averages better than a goal every two league games since sealing a permanent move from Newcastle in the summer of 2023.

After starting his career in his homeland, Wood moved to English football with West Bromwich Albion in 2009.

During his time with the Baggies he had loan spells with Barnsley, Brighton, Birmingham City, Bristol City, Millwall and Leicester City before joining the Foxes in a permanent move.

Two years later, and following a short loan with Ipswich Town, he went to Leeds United and netted 44 goals in 88 appearances ahead of a switch to Turf Moor with Burnley.

Wood spent five years in Lancashire scoring 53 goals in 165 appearances, he had a season on the books of Newcastle and then made the move to Forest following a loan spell.

He has been a key figure ever since, while at international level he is New Zealand's record scorer and features for the All Whites at the 2010 World Cup. He has also helped them qualify for next year's finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.  

Morgan Gibbs-White is a familiar face to Swans fans having had an injury-hit loan spell with the club during the 2020-21 season.

The attacking midfielder came through the Wolves academy and went on to make nearly a century of senior appearances for the club.

He had loan spells with the Swans and Sheffield United, helping the Blades reach the play-offs but ultimately missing a key penalty in their semi-final shootout loss to Forest.

After the Reds beat Huddersfield Town in the final they moved to sign Gibbs-White that summer and he has been at the City Ground ever since.

In total he has made 122 Forest appearances, scoring 18 goals.