Nottingham Forest Football Club was founded in 1865 in Nottingham, in the East Midlands of England, making it one of the oldest football clubs in the world. The club adopted its distinctive Garibaldi Red colours at its very first meeting, and has played home matches at the City Ground — situated on the banks of the River Trent — since 1898.
Forest's greatest achievements came under manager Brian Clough and his assistant Peter Taylor, who arrived in the mid-1970s and transformed a second-tier club into a European force within a few years. After winning the First Division title in 1977–78, Forest claimed back-to-back European Cups in 1979 and 1980 — a feat that remains extraordinary in the history of the competition. They are, uniquely, the only club in Europe to have won the European Cup or Champions League more times than their own domestic league. The club also added a UEFA Super Cup, four League Cups, and two FA Cups to their trophy cabinet over the decades, with the first FA Cup dating back to 1898.
After relegation from the Premier League in 1993 — the year Clough retired — Forest endured a prolonged spell outside the top flight, returning briefly in the mid-1990s before further relegations. Their long-awaited return came in 2022, when they won the Championship play-offs to regain Premier League status after a 23-year absence.
Forest's defining rivalry is with Derby County, contested in the East Midlands derby. Since 2007, the Brian Clough Trophy has been awarded to the winner, honouring the manager who shaped both clubs.