On Tuesday, Nottingham Forest sacked Steve Cooper, and they’re set to hire Nuno Espírito Santo. Steve was sacked after an underperforming run of thirteen Premier League matches, leaving him just one place above the relegation line.
After a dismal run of 13 games, the 44-year-old has been under fire for all the games, including 5 losses in the last six matches. The team reportedly talked to Wolves and Tottenham boss Nuno about a return window in the ongoing season.
What Happened?
The head coach of Nottingham Forest, Steve Cooper, has been sacked after a dry run in the Premier League. Nuno Espírito Santo is set to take the position of coach.
As per David Ornstein from The Athletic, the former Wolves and Tottenham boss is going to take over from Cooper, who is a popular personality among the fans and players.
But after just winning in the last thirteen matches, Forest is at the bottom of the table. The club decided to part ways with the coach who was appointed two years ago.
Evangelos Marinakis’s Statement
Evangelos Marinakis, the owner, said everyone at Nottingham Forest would thank Steve for his contribution to the football club.
His hard work in taking Forest back to the Premier League will always be an iconic moment for the club. He thanked Steve for his commitment and dedication to his time with the club and the connection he made with the supporters and fans of the city of Nottingham.
He added that Steve will always be a friend of the club and is always welcome at The City Grounds, and wishes him well in his future endeavors.
The Big Picture
In September 2021, Cooper took charge of the club when it was at the bottom. His selection etched a total turnaround, and the team managed to get a playoff spot easily.
A semi-final win in Sheffield United took them to Wembley, where they defeated Huddersfield Town to come back to the Premier League after an absence of 23 long years.
Last season, again, Cooper defied all the odds. Even after many signings, the club was at the bottom of the season, but Cooper’s heroics took the club to avoid relegation because of some crazy home games.
Fans of the club took Cooper to their hearts. He earned the title of City Ground faithful, not because of the matches, but because he respected the club’s history. Cooper reached out to many of the European league-winning players, using their stories as inspiration for his return to the big game.
What is next for the club?
There is no surprise here, and the left position will be taken by Nuno, whose last season ended on a low note after he failed as in charge of the club Tottenham under four months.
Fans are hoping Nuno will deliver the same success as he did with the Wolves. He guided Wolves from the Championship to the Europa League for 2 seasons.
Fan reactions
Podcaster and fan of the club, Steve Cooper, believes that this might be the right decision for the club to make progress. While talking to Radio 5 Live, Max said we have been listening about this for weeks now, and one can sense it was inevitable and, sadly, going to happen.
This is a manager who has done a lot for the club. Taking the club to the Premier League for the first time in 23 years is a big achievement, and that’s what he did.
He added, then we look at the current form of the team, the ownership, and how everything is operating. It is not surprising to see the Marinakis family decide to make a change. It is just a one in 13 and 2 wins in 28 away games, which is pretty poor.
For any manager, you will probably make a change irrespective of feelings. Many fans had different expectations this season, not just because of the fan base but also from ownership. There was an aura that felt Forest should do better than what it is doing right now.
