It’s Been Decades: When Did Nottingham Forest Last Play European Football?

Nottingham Forest have been the success story of the 2024/25 Premier League season. Narrowly avoiding relegation in the previous season, talents like Elliot Anderson were added to Nuno Espirito Santo’s roster. The Reds have shocked the English footballing pyramid, beginning the season on phenomenal form at the start of the season as they looked in contention for a UEFA Champions League spot.

In the modern day, while Forest seem to have slipped away from the Champions League places after dropping points at home against Leicester, Espirito Santo’s side have still been outstanding. Players such as Chris Wood, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Murillo, to name a few, have been the standouts as Forest have now qualified for European football to be played on Thursday nights at the City Ground.

However, despite spending several years in the Championship, the Nottinghamshire club have spent their fair share of time competing against and even winning silverware against some of Europe’s elite.

But when did Forest last compete in Europe?

Last Time In Europe (1995-96)

The most recent campaign for Forest was in the 1995/96 season, under the management of Frank Clark, a strong and capable tactician, who carried over the burden after the legendary leader Brian Clough. Forest’s team was a memorable one, merging quality veterans such as Stuart Pearce, the captain and a club legend, and Dave Beasant, a seasoned international goalkeeper, with talented and exciting players such as Kevin Campbell, an athletic goal-scorer, and Steve Stone, a pacy winger that had recently broken into the England squad.

Competing in the UEFA Cup, the Reds progressed to the quarter-finals in a commendable run. Forest began their run after Swedish opposition in Malmö FF, the English club losing the first leg away from home 2-1, before winning 1-0 in the second leg, and progressing thanks to away goals. In the second round of the knockouts, Forest met French opposition in AJ Auxerre, with the two teams sharing tight affairs in both legs as Clark’s side defeated their competitors 1-0 away from home in the first leg before having a stalemate in the second.

ON THIS DAY 1995: Nottingham Forest at Auxerre #NFFC pic.twitter.com/TX5GhPyhjK

— FootballAwaydays (@Awaydays23) October 17, 2024

Now, nearing the business end rounds of the competition, the Reds starting to smell the glory and allure of silverware once again. It was a French opponent again at the City Ground – Olympique Lyonnais, the team to face Forest. Again, an incredibly close cup tie, Forest took the advantage in the opening leg, similarly to the previous fixture, winning 1-0 in England before drawing 0-0 to progress to the European quarter-finals. In the last eight of a European competition, quality is bound to rise, and that is exactly what happened to the English club.

German giants Bayern Munich were drawn to face Forest, Munich being one of the favourites and best teams in the competition. A trip to Germany was up first, resulting in a 2-1 win for the hosts, while in the final meeting between the sides, the Bavarian club’s superiority shone through as Bayern beat Forest 5-1 to eliminate them from the competition. While they did not achieve ultimate success in the competition, Forest could be proud of themselves in an impressive campaign for the English club in their last European adventure to date.

Glory Days Under Brian Clough (1979 & 1980)

Under Brian Clough, Forest were a force – one of the best teams in England and even notably in Europe. Clough, one of the greatest managers ever produced by the English footballing pyramid, masterminded the golden period for Nottingham Forest, which very much came in this period, winning the European Cup in back-to-back years in the 1978/79 and 1979/80 seasons. Forest beat Malmö FF in the 1979 European Cup Final 1-0 before retaining their crown, defeating Hamburg 1-0 in 1980.

Nottingham Forest win the European Cup back in 1980#NFFC #Forest #NottinghamForest #EuropeanCup pic.twitter.com/AqP4hY1D6D

— Football Memories (@footballmemorys) March 23, 2025

Within their European Cup-winning squads, Forest also had a number of legends. At the back, the Reds had a safe pair of hands in Peter Shilton, England’s top shot-stopper and a vital rock at the back. In front of Shilton was another England international in Viv Anderson – a right back and the first black player to ever represent the Three Lions at senior level alongside the 1978 FWA Footballer of the Year, Kenny Burns. A team already filled with, at the time, elite talent – Forest were then spearheaded forward by further talents in their captain, John McGovern, a tidy and unselfish midfielder. To complete the notorious names in Nottingham’s legendary squad was Trevor Francis, the 1979 final’s goal-scorer, and John Robertson, a heroic left-winger, who scored the winner in the 1980 final vs Hamburg.

Can They Compete in 2025?

In the modern day, Nottingham Forest are back where they want to be, and their new and current crop of players are ready to write their names in the club’s European history books.

Nottingham Forest this season:

• Climbed from 17th to Europe
• FA Cup semi-finalists
• Trip to Wembley
• 7-0 win over Brighton
• Win at Anfield
• Beat Manchester City
• Double over Manchester United
• England and Brazil debutants
• 20 goal scoring striker pic.twitter.com/aB2dM36TiP

— Callum Castel (@CallumCastel7) May 12, 2025

As two games remain in the Premier League season, depending on the result of the FA Cup final and whether Manchester City win, Espirito Santo’s side are currently on course to qualify for the Europa League. A superb season in every department, but overall, Forest have overachieved, surprising many as they took a massive leap in league and domestic form. While that form may be amazing for the club, it also means that players are going to need to be signed, and standout players at the club are going to be on the market to be sold.

Gibbs-White already seems to be on the move, Manchester City reportedly linked with the midfielder as the summer transfer window nears its opening. Chris Wood is also another dilemma for the Nottinghamshire club on whether the 33-year-old striker is ready for yet another big contribution.

Nonetheless, as Forest compete in Europe next season, they will need to heavily invest and strengthen the depth and quality of their squad. The success of the Reds in Europe also depends on the competition they are playing in – Crystal Palace beating City in the FA Cup final could lead to a longer in and success in the UEFA Conference League for Espirito Santo’s side.