Nottingham Forest SACK Steve Cooper after run of one win in 13 games, with Nuno Espirito Santo a leading contender to replace him
Steve Cooper has been sacked by Nottingham Forest after a run of one win in thirteen games.
It is understood Cooper was informed of his departure earlier today. His replacement, Nuno Espirito Santo, was at the City Ground this afternoon to finalize a deal to replace the Welshman.
Forest confirmed his departure in a statement on Tuesday. Owner Evangelos Marinakis said: “Everyone at Nottingham Forest would like to thank Steve for his fantastic contribution to our football club.
'His achievement in guiding Forest back to the Premier League will undoubtedly remain an iconic moment in the club's history.
'We thank Steve for his dedication and commitment during his time with us, as well as for the incredible bond he has built with our supporters and the city of Nottingham.
Steve Cooper has been sacked as manager of Nottingham Forest after one win in thirteen games
Cooper's last game in charge was Friday night's 2-0 defeat to Tottenham at the City Ground
Former Wolves and Tottenham boss Nuno Espirito Santo is completing a deal to replace Cooper
“Steve will always remain a friend of the Club and will always be welcome at The City Ground. We wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.”
Forest have struggled this season and were humiliated 5-0 by Fulham two weeks ago – their fourth defeat in a row after defeats to Everton, Brighton and West Ham – before a draw at Molineux against Wolves stopped the rot.
But after the 2-0 home defeat to Tottenham on Friday, Marinakis was left dissatisfied and decided to pull the trigger with the club in 17th place, just five points clear of the relegation zone.
Mail Sport revealed on 25 November that Cooper was under intense pressure after Forest were beaten 3–2 at home by Brighton and that he was on the verge of being removed following the 5–0 defeat at Fulham on 6 December, and also after his last weekend had lost to Sporen.
Cooper came close to scoring twice last season and now the Greek shipping magnate, who has spent almost £300million in the last three transfer windows, has made his move.
Yet Cooper is believed to have turned down two Premier League jobs during his time at Forest and Crystal Palace were impressed with his work at the City Ground.
Marinakis had been aiming for a top 10 finish this season after last season's narrow escape, and had become increasingly frustrated with recent displays.
Cooper's role at the club, which he has held since 2021, saw him guide the team from the Championship to the Premier League after his first season and kept them going with late form towards the end of the 2022-2023 season.
He is highly regarded by the club's fans, who supported him full-time despite the crushing defeat to Fulham two weeks ago.
Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis – who chased a top-10 finish last season after surviving – is frustrated by recent displays and has made his choice on Cooper's future
Mail Sport understands that while Nuno is the frontrunner, Oliver Glasner is another person on the list of coaches being considered.
Glasner is out of work after leaving Eintracht Frankfurt at the end of last season, having won admirers for winning the Europa League in 2021-22.
Former Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui is also one of the coaches Marinakis admires.
Another is the manager who may have played a role in ending the Cooper era: Fulham's Marco Silva, who worked under Marinakis at Olympiacos.
The East Midlands team have managed just 14 points in 17 league games and despite a good start to the season they have won just one of their past 13 games.
Ahead of the meeting with Wolves on December 9, when asked about his position, Cooper said: 'The players are here this afternoon and we have to get ready for Saturday's game. It was a difficult night at Fulham, but now it's about being right up front and taking responsibility for that.
“I spoke to Miltos (Marinakis) on the phone about the game, and Ross Wilson (chief football officer). We were just talking about the game. It was a good conversation, as always. We all got on the bus and back on the laptops and continued.
“But I haven't heard from anyone else. We got back early and continued with our work for the day.
'I'm not leaving here for fear of my job, that's a terrible thing to think. All I'll think about is making last night a little more positive.”
After the Fulham thrashing, Cooper insisted he did not deserve the vocal support he had received from the fans.
He told BBC Sport: 'I'm ashamed. I don't deserve it. I am grateful. But I don't deserve it, the players don't.'
'I have to take ownership for that (the defeat). But it's embarrassing. I don't deserve it (the applause of fans). And we must take responsibility for this.
“I've just been asked if I'm afraid for my job and that's the right question to ask, and a normal question to ask. To be honest, that's probably what I think about the least, I think about what's good for the football club.'
Marinakis – who also owns Olympiacos – was on hand to watch his side's dismal performance before leaving the match early.
A fan grabbed his supposed accreditation on a lanyard, which the owner threw into a bush in apparent frustration.
Ex-Frankfurt boss Oliver Glasner is another name being considered by the Forest hierarchy
Forest owner Marinakis is said to have thrown his Craven Cottage accreditation pass into a bush outside the ground after their 5-0 defeat to Fulham
“Found this in a bush in someone's front garden just outside Craven Cottage… someone has clearly been left with a noose…,” they wrote on X.
Ahead of Friday night's meeting with Tottenham, Cooper claimed he was not listening to the 'buzz' surrounding his future but admitted the Premier League was 'ruthless'.
“I don't listen to it, I get asked by all your colleagues and everywhere and it's not (something I listen to). I don't put on some kind of brave face or hide from it. I quickly learned to hide it,” Cooper told Sky Sports.
'To be honest I think as a manager you're always under pressure and probably the biggest pressure I felt in this job was when I first took over because of the location of the club and the size of the club and you takes responsibility for That.
Forest were undone at home by Tottenham after costly mistakes by goalkeeper Matt Turner (left)
The 2-0 defeat means they have won just one of their past thirteen matches and sit in 17th place
'The pressure is constantly there. It is a ruthless and ruthless competition. There's no doubt about that. And for me, you always have to look ahead, stay true to yourself and believe that you can do well in the next game,” Cooper added.
Cooper leaves Forest with the club five points above the relegation zone, but his tenure will no doubt be fondly remembered by Forest fans after he led them to promotion via the Championship play-offs in May 2022.
Despite some faltering, he managed to consolidate their position in the top flight last season, finishing 16th and four points above the drop zone.
The first match the new boss or interim manager will play will be vibrant Bournemouth at home on Saturday, December 23.