EXCLUSIVE: Patrick Vieira emerges as a leading candidate to become Nottingham Forest’s new manager if they lose at Leeds tonight and sack Steve Cooper
Patrick Vieira is a key contender to become Nottingham Forest’s next manager if the Premier League fighters sack Steve Cooper.
Forest have not won any of their last seven league games and are just one point above the relegation zone ahead of tonight’s trip to Leeds United.
A defeat at Elland Road would see Forest drop below Leeds in the league table and could spell the end for Cooper, with owner Evangelos Marinakis concerned about the team’s results and performance in recent weeks.
Should Cooper be shown the exit door, Sportsmail can exclusively reveal that Vieira would be in the running to replace him less than three weeks after he was sacked by Crystal Palace.
Vieira was relieved of his duties after a run of nine league games without a win that left the Eagles just above the bottom three.
Patrick Vieira was sacked by Crystal Palace last month but was able to return to the Premier League
Steve Cooper is under a lot of pressure at Nottingham Forest as they battle to stay in the top flight
He was then replaced by Roy Hodgson – whom he initially succeeded at Selhurst Park in 2021 – and Palace returned to winning ways on Saturday by beating Leicester 2-1.
Still, Vieira received much praise for his first season at Palace after leading his side to a 12th-place finish, and he has admirers at the City Ground.
He could be ready for a swift return to Premier League management as Forest consider whether to stay with Cooper or not.
Forest are one of only two clubs in the bottom half – along with West Ham – to assist their manager this season, but Cooper is under increasing pressure to deliver positive results.
Cooper also appeared on the brink of sacking earlier in the season after Forest were beaten 4-0 by Leicester in October, but Forest supported him and opted to give him a new contract instead.
Their approach looked to have paid off as they went five games unbeaten at the start of 2023, but they have since suffered a slump in results that saw Cooper stick to his job.
The East Midlands team have won just once away from home all season and may need to double that tally tonight in Leeds to keep Cooper in the dugout while Vieira waits in the wings.