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

  • Bookmark
  • For the latest from the pitch sign up for our football newsletter

    For the latest from the pitch sign up for our football newsletter

    We have more newsletters

    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.

    READ MORE: Football chiefs to catch hooligans and terrorists with 'game-changer' AI face recognition

    READ MORE: Ian Wright admits heartwarming reason for quitting as pundit on BBC Match of the Day

    Join the Daily Star's WhatsApp for the sexiest headlines, showbiz gossip and lots more

    The Daily Star is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join us!

    Through the app, we'll send you the sassiest showbiz stories, some naught headline and a seismic smattering of aliens…along with the latest breaking news of course.

    To join our community, all you have to do to join is click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in!

    No one will be able to see who has sign up and no one can send messages except for the Daily Star team. We also treat our community members to competitions, special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners.

    If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

    CLICK HERE TO JOIN

    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.

    Join the Daily Star's WhatsApp for the sexiest headlines, showbiz gossip and lots more

    The Daily Star is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join us!

    Through the app, we'll send you the sassiest showbiz stories, some naught headline and a seismic smattering of aliens…along with the latest breaking news of course.

    To join our community, all you have to do to join is click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in!

    No one will be able to see who has sign up and no one can send messages except for the Daily Star team. We also treat our community members to competitions, special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners.

    If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

    CLICK HERE TO JOIN

    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
    • Breaking News

    Source: Read Full Article