Forest sack Steve Cooper after one win in 13 and turn to Nuno Espirito Santo

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    Steve Cooper has been sacked by Scrooges Nottingham Forest right before Christmas.

    Rumours about Cooper's future in the East Midlands had been swirling for some time prior to their latest defeat. A 5-0 hammering by Fulham, coupled with more dropped points in a 1-1 draw at Wolves and a 2-0 home defeat to injury-ravaged Spurs, proved to be the end of the road for the Welshman, who now departs the City Ground.

    Former Wolves and Tottenham manager Nuno Espirito Santo is set to replace Cooper in the Forest dugout. He has been out of work since being axed by Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad in early November.

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    Forest's run prior to Cooper's dismissal doesn't make for pretty reading. They have won just one of their last 13 games in the top-flight, which has moved them perilously close to the drop zone.

    The two-time European Cup winners have been dragged down into 17th place, five points clear of Luton as things stand. Up next for Forest is a tricky test at home to in-form Bournemouth on Saturday (3pm), followed by a Boxing Day clash with Newcastle at St James' Park (12.30pm) on Tuesday.

    Is it the right call from Nottingham Forest? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.

    Cooper, 44, had been in charge since September 2021. He took over following Steven Reid's caretaker spell with the club bottom of the Championship. He turned their form around and secured an unlikely fourth-place finish, and sealed promotion via the play-offs.

    Last season, which was Forest's first in the top flight since 1998/99, they finished 16th in the league, four points above safety. The club spent a gargantuan £170million on over 20 new players the summer they went up and Cooper was commended for getting a tune so quickly out of an entirely new group of players.

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    However, they have failed to kick on in 2023/24 despite another £100m worth of new signings arriving at the club over the summer, leaving Cooper clinging to his job. Prior to his stint at Forest, Cooper managed Swansea for a couple of years. He also had stints in charge of England U16s and England U17s.

    Meanwhile, Espirito Santo, 49, is set to take his third job in England football following spells at Molineux and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. He has also managed Porto, Valencia and Rio Ave.

    • Nottingham Forest FC
    • Premier League
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