Newcastle United legend, Alan Shearer, has tipped Nottingham Forest as potential contenders for the Europa League crown this season under their new manager, Ange Postecoglou.

Postecoglou, who recently replaced Nuno Espírito Santo at Forest, will begin his tenure with a daunting away trip to Arsenal on Saturday. Despite the challenge ahead, Shearer believes the Australian coach has the pedigree to guide Forest to European success.

Speaking to Betfair, Shearer said:

“There is a chance Ange Postecoglou could win back-to-back Europa League titles. Nottingham Forest have a good team and some really good players. They’ve recruited really well. Postecoglou did adapt in the Europa League final so it’ll be really, really interesting to see how Nottingham Forest approach the games in terms of their style.

“Ange is used to success. He’s had it at Celtic and despite everyone being negative a lot of the time, he had it at Spurs. Albeit they were dreadful in the Premier League, but he gave them the trophy they wanted and delivered as he said he would. Let’s see what he can do at Nottingham Forest now.”

Tottenham Hotspur, Postecoglou’s former club, are the current Europa League holders, having beaten Manchester United 2–0 in last season’s final.

Opinion: A Bold Call or a Real Possibility?

Shearer’s comments may sound ambitious, especially for a Nottingham Forest side that only recently stabilized in the Premier League. But football thrives on surprises, and with Ange Postecoglou’s track record, it’s not entirely far-fetched.

The Australian tactician has shown an ability to quickly instill belief, style, and resilience in his teams—from dominating with Celtic in Scotland to giving Spurs a long-awaited European trophy. Now at Forest, his biggest challenge will be balancing Premier League survival with a deep run in Europe.

On paper, Forest don’t carry the same firepower as some of the tournament’s heavyweights. Yet history reminds us that the Europa League often rewards cohesion, tactical bravery, and momentum more than star-studded squads. If Postecoglou can imprint his fearless attacking philosophy while tightening Forest’s defensive lapses, they could very well surprise Europe.

Whether or not Forest actually lift the trophy, one thing is certain: with Ange at the helm, they will be one of the most intriguing teams to watch this season.