Nuno Espírito Santo has agreed to become the new manager of Nottingham Forest, replacing the sacked Steve Cooper. The former Tottenham and Wolves head coach is expected to be confirmed on Wednesday, signing a two-and-a-half-year deal. Forest dismissed Cooper after a run of one win in 13 matches, leaving them 17th in the Premier League, five points above the relegation zone.
Nuno has been out of work since leaving Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad in early November, despite winning the league title there. His previous Premier League stint was a short-lived 17-game spell at Tottenham, ending in November 2021. Earlier, he led Wolves into the top flight and maintained their status for three seasons.
Forest’s decision came after five defeats and a draw in six matches, culminating in a 2-0 home loss to Tottenham last Friday. The club’s only win since early September was a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa on 5 November. Owner Evangelos Marinakis thanked Cooper for his superb contribution and iconic achievement in guiding Forest back to the Premier League.
Forest also considered former Eintracht Frankfurt manager Oliver Glasner and ex-Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui, but Nuno was the preferred choice. Cooper, who had faced pressure on multiple occasions since promotion in May 2022, was informed of his sacking on Tuesday.
