Struggling Forest appoint Nuno after sacking Cooper
English Premier League strugglers Nottingham Forest yesterday hired Nuno Espirito Santo after sacking Steve Cooper.
Cooper was axed after a dismal run of one win in 13 Premier League games left Forest just one place above the relegation zone. The 44-year-old had overseen five defeats from their last six matches.
“Nuno joins the club on a twoand-a-half-year contract and will take charge of his first match on Saturday when Forest face Bournemouth at the City Ground,” the club said.
Earlier, the club said in a statement: “Steve Cooper has been relieved of his duties as head coach of Nottingham Forest, following a spell of over two years in charge.”
Cooper had retained the support of Forest fans after taking them from the bottom of the Championship to Premier League survival last season.
But with Cooper’s summer of heavy investment in new signings failing to deliver the required results, Forest’s Greek owner Evangelos Marinakis finally lost patience.
“Everyone at Nottingham Forest would like to thank Steve for his superb contribution to our football club,” Marinakis said. “His achievement in guiding Forest back to the Premier League will undoubtedly remain an iconic moment in the club’s history.”
Forest reportedly held talks on Tuesday with former Tottenham and Wolves boss Nuno about a return to the Premier League.
Nuno had been out of work since leaving Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad last month. Now the 49-year-old will return to the Premier League two years after his sacking from an ill-fated fourmonth spell at Tottenham.
Meanwhile, Chelsea and Fulham booked their place in the semi-finals of the League Cup when they followed up 1-1 draws with penalty-shoot-out wins over Newcastle United and Everton, respectively, with Middlesbrough also making the last four.
Chelsea beat Newcastle 4-2 on penalties at Stamford Bridge after substitute Mykhailo Mudryk kept the Blues alive with a 92ndminute equaliser. Fulham beat Everton 7-6 in their shoot-out. Middlesbrough accounted for League One side Port Vale 3-0.
Liverpool were to play West Ham overnight in the other quarter-final.