Nottingham Forest SACKS Manager Steve Cooper, Ex-Wolves and Spurs Boss Nuno Espirito Santo Set To Take Over.

Nottingham Forest have sacked Steve Cooper as manager of the club after losing five of their past six games including last Friday's 2-0 defeat at home against Tottenham, conceding a worrying 15 goals in the process.

The result leaves Forest 17th in the top flight, having won once in 13 Premier League games and taken eight points in that time. They are five points ahead of third-bottom Luton Town, who have a match in hand.

Luckily for Cooper and the Reds, the three clubs below them (Sheffield United, Burnley and Luton) have all been very poor this campaign and look a million miles from being Premier League quality.

They have only three wins in the top flight in 2023/24, with their last victory coming against Aston Villa on November 5.

Cooper took charge of Forest in September 2021 with the club bottom of the Championship. His appointment sparked a remarkable turnaround, with Forest comfortably earning a play-off spot. An epic semi-final win over Sheffield United saw them head to Wembley where they beat Huddersfield Town to return to the Premier League after a 23-year absence.

The Welshman looked like he was on the brink of being sacked several times last season but the Forest hierarchy kept the faith, which was repaid as Forest avoided relegation from the Premier League, having been in bottom place in November last year, but had to put up some memorable home performances to avoid the drop.  

After huge investment in the squad which has seen 44 new players recruited since the club won promotion in May 2022, and owner Evangelos Marinakis a Greek businessman, is not prepared to allow results to continue to slide.

Forest have decided to act and told their coach of just over two years about the decision to part ways on Tuesday, and are holding talks with former Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo to replace him.

According to reports, Nuno is flying into the UK from his home in Portugal for formal talks about taking over from Steve Cooper.

Nuno had spent four years in charge of Wolves between 2017 and 2021, 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.

Nuno who had previously managed Rio Ave, Valencia and Porto, joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad in July 2022 and guided the Jeddah-based side to the Saudi Pro-League title last season. The 49-year-old has been out of work since his sack in November after 12 games into the new campaign following a run of poor results.

Former Eintracht Frankfurt boss Oliver Glasner has also been mentioned as a potential replacement, alongside ex-Wolves boss, Julen Lopetegui, but Nuno seems to be favourite.

Nottingham Forest play Bournemouth at the City Ground on Saturday before tough-looking fixtures at Newcastle United on boxing day 26 December, and at home to Manchester United on 30 December.