Nottingham Forest have shocked the football world by sacking head coach Steve Cooper after a dismal run of form, with Nuno Espirito Santo ready to take over at the helm.
According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, the former Tottenham and Wolves boss is the frontrunner to take over from Cooper, who remains a beloved figure among fans and players alike. However, after just one league win in their last 13 – which sees Forest in a precarious 17th in the Premier League – the club have made the bold decision to part ways with their coach of just over two years.
Cooper took charge of Forest in September 2021 with the club rock bottom of the Championship. His appointment sparked a stunning turnaround, with Forest cruising to a play-off spot. An epic semi-final wins over Sheffield United saw them head to Wembley where they beat Huddersfield Town to return to the Premier League after a long-awaited 23-year absence.
Cooper again defied the odds last season. Incorporating a staggering amount of summer signings, Forest were bottom in November, but Cooper inspired his side to avoid relegation with ease on the back of some thrilling home performances. Forest fans adored Cooper.
The Welshman won over the City Ground faithful not just because of results on the pitch but his respect for the history of the club. Cooper reached out to many of the club’s European Cup winning players, honoring their story and using them as motivation during Forest’s return to the big time. Barring a major surprise, Forest’s top brass will now turn to Nuno whose last spell as manager in the Premier League ended bitterly after just four months in charge at Tottenham.
Fans will be eager to see if Nuno can emulate the success he brought during his time at Wolves, who he guided from the Championship to the Europa League in just two seasons.
“It’s a sad day for the club, but we have to move on. Nuno is a fantastic manager and we are confident he can take us to the next level.” – Forest chairman Nicholas Randall
