When Was The Last Time Nottingham Forest Played In Europe?

As things stand, Nottingham Forest are still in the mix for a Champions League place, sitting sixth in the Premier League table, just two points off the top four, behind Newcastle and Chelsea.

The turnaround from last season has been nothing short of remarkable. Just a year ago, Forest were fighting for survival, finishing 17th and only six points clear of the relegation zone.

Even if they fall short of a top-four finish, a return to European competition seems likely. That alone would mark a huge achievement, given where the club found itself at the end of the last campaign.

For a club with such a rich and romantic past in Europe, it’s no surprise supporters are daring to dream again. Forest’s European legacy is legendary, especially the golden era under Brian Clough, but their continental adventures actually began before his reign.

Always in our hearts ❤️

Remembering the legendary Brian Clough, who passed away 19 years ago today. pic.twitter.com/UgEdX2vZ19

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) September 20, 2023

European beginnings

Forest’s first taste of European football came in the 1961–62 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. It was short-lived. They were drawn against Valencia, who went on to win the tournament, and were handed a harsh lesson. A 2–0 defeat in Spain was followed by a 5–1 loss at the City Ground, ending their campaign with a 7–1 aggregate defeat.

They returned to the same competition in 1967–68, this time making more of an impression. Forest swept aside Eintracht Frankfurt 6–2 on aggregate in the first round, only to be knocked out by FC Zürich in the second—falling victim to the away goals rule after a 2–2 draw over two legs.

Back-To-Back European Glory

It was more than a decade later, with Brian Clough at the helm, that Forest truly made their mark in Europe. In 1978–79, off the back of their stunning First Division title win, they entered the European Cup for the first time, and made history.

Their campaign began with an immediate shock: they knocked out reigning champions Liverpool with a 2–0 home win and a goalless draw at Anfield. From there, the confidence only grew. AEK Athens were dispatched 7–2 on aggregate, followed by a 5–2 win over Grasshoppers and a hard-fought semi-final victory over 1. FC Köln.

Then came the final in Munich. Forest faced Malmö FF and won 1–0 thanks to a diving header from Trevor Francis, who had only just become Britain’s first £1 million player. From league champions to kings of Europe, all in the space of two years.

And they weren’t done there.

The following season, Forest defended their crown. They saw off Östers IF, Argeș Pitești, BFC Dynamo and Ajax to reach another final, this time in Madrid. There, they beat Hamburg 1–0 courtesy of a John Robertson strike, making them only the third English side to win back-to-back European Cups.

#OnThisDay in 1979, we won our first European Cup ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/66L0qRyj9f

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) May 30, 2023

Post-Glory Years

Forest returned to the European Cup in 1980–81 but couldn't replicate their previous success. A first-round exit at the hands of CSKA Sofia saw them lose both legs 1–0 , a surprisingly poor defence of their title.

After that, Forest wouldn’t return to European competition until 1983–84, this time in the UEFA Cup. They fared well, seeing off FC Vorwärts, PSV Eindhoven, Celtic and Sturm Graz to reach the semi-finals. There, they were controversially eliminated by Anderlecht, who later admitted to bribing the referee in the second leg. The tie finished 3–2 to the Belgian side on aggregate, but Forest’s sense of injustice has never fully faded.

In 1984–85, they were back in the UEFA Cup but suffered a first-round exit to Club Brugge, drawing 0–0 at home and losing 1–0 away.

On this day in 1984:

Anderlecht beat Nottingham Forest 3-0 (3-2 on agg) in the UEFA Cup semi-final second leg.

Dodgy refereeing decisions went against Brian Clough’s men, including this penalty award.

In 1997, it was revealed that the ref had received £18,000 to fix the match. pic.twitter.com/iHQhqjqAWD

— Stu’s Football Flashbacks (@stusfootyflash) April 25, 2025

Forest's Last European Outing

Nottingham Forest’s most recent European campaign came in the 1995–96 UEFA Cup. They edged past Malmö FF on away goals in the first round, before beating Auxerre and Lyon in tight encounters. That run took them to the quarter-finals, where they came up against a Bayern Munich side packed with quality.

The German giants proved too strong, winning 7–2 on aggregate, with Forest’s European adventure ending at the City Ground in a humbling defeat. It remains the last time the club featured on the continental stage.

From Clough’s miracle men to heartbreak in Belgium and defeat at the hands of Bayern, Forest’s European story is filled with highs and lows. Now, nearly 30 years on from their last appearance, fans are once again beginning to believe. Whether it’s the Champions League or another European competition, a return to those famous European nights would be a fitting reward for a club that’s fought so hard to rise again.