Nottingham Forest sack Steve Cooper and hold talks with Nuno Espirito Santo
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Nuno Espirito Santo led Al-Ittihad to the 2022-23 Saudi Pro League title and the 2022 Saudi Super Cup
Nottingham Forest have sacked manager Steve Cooper and are holding talks with former Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo to replace him.
After losing five of their past six games, Forest have decided to act and told Cooper of the decision on Tuesday.
Nuno, 49, was sacked by Saudi Pro-League club Al-Ittihad in November.
Former Eintracht Frankfurt boss Oliver Glasner has also been mentioned as a potential replacement, but it seems Nuno is now in pole position.
Forest, 17th in the top flight, have won once in 13 Premier League games and taken eight points in that time.
They have also picked up just one point from their past six matches and are five points ahead of third-bottom Luton, who have a match in hand.
Cooper was backed consistently by the Forest support, but owner Evangelos Marinakis had become increasingly concerned at his club's plight.
Forest play Bournemouth at the City Ground on Saturday before tough-looking fixtures at Newcastle United on 26 December and at home to Manchester United on 30 December.
Nuno spent four years in charge of Wolves, guiding the club to promotion from the Championship in his first season in charge before consecutive seventh-place finishes in the Premier League and a run to the Europa League quarter-finals.
The Portuguese former goalkeeper left Molineux in the summer of 2021 to join Spurs, but was sacked after less than four months in charge after a run of five defeats in seven games.
He joined Al-Ittihad in July 2022 and guided the Jeddah-based side to the Saudi title last season, but was dismissed 12 games into the new campaign after a run of poor results.
He previously managed Rio Ave, Valencia and Porto.
We asked users of our dedicated Nottingham Forest page for their opinions on the news. Here is a selection of their thoughts:
Johnathan: That's the stupidest decision of the season! Top manager, loved by fans, gets the club, had to totally rebuild after losing all the loan players and been in the game in nearly every game. Lose your top scorer. What's he supposed to do? And appoint a guy in Nuno Espirito Santo who's totally failed in his past two jobs and managed your rivals? Madness.
Rob: I love Cooper but he has done as much as he can. If his constant defensive tactics had produced a few more draws, or an additional win or two, things would be different. But this run of consecutive losses with no real signs of improved results in time to avoid another relegation fight has cooked his goose. But Nuno is not the answer.
Mark: Terrible decision. Steve Cooper has brought success and hope not seen at the City Ground since Brian Clough and Frank Clark. He deserved better.
Tim: It's a shame, a real shame - but inevitable. Cooper will always be loved at Forest but one win in 13, two wins in 30 away games, so many points from winning positions conceded. It seemed to really go wrong after the Luton Town game. Cooper seemed almost burned out this season and its hardly surprising after the past two years.
John: Harsh on Cooper - he's done the best he can with a mismatch of signings, most of whom were not directly his. Can't see Nuno doing any better but can see Championship football next season and then the merry go round starts again.
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