Nottingham Forest have confirmed Steve Cooper has ‘been relieved of his duties as head coach’, with Nuno Espirito Santo reported to be his replacement.
The Reds have won just one game in their last 13, a string of results which has led the 41-year-old Welshman being given the axe, with Forest currently sitting 17th in the Premier League table and five points above the drop zone.
Reports say Nuno Espirito Santo is set to replace the Welshman, and that he’s flying to the UK to complete the move.
Owner Evangelos Marinakis said: “Everyone at Nottingham Forest would like to thank Steve for his superb contribution to our football club.
“His achievement in guiding Forest back to the Premier League will undoubtedly remain an iconic moment in the club’s history.
“We thank Steve for his dedication and commitment during his time with us, as well as the incredible connection he forged with our supporters and the city of Nottingham.
“Steve will always remain a friend of the club and will forever be welcome at The City Ground.
“We wish him well in his future endeavours.”
Cooper took charge at The City Ground in September 2021, succeeding Chris Hughton.
Forest were in the bottom three of the Championship at the time, having drawn one and lost six of their opening seven games before Hughton was axed.
But Cooper sensationally turned around Nottingham Forest’s fortunes immediately, with an incredible run leading the Reds to finish fourth and in the play-offs.
Forest then beat Sheffield United in the semi-finals before beating Huddersfield 1-0 at Wembley on a memorable day in May 2022 that saw the Reds return to the top flight for the first time in 23 years.
That feat was celebrated with a huge ceremony in Old Market Square, where tens of thousands of fans flocked to the city to see staff and players celebrate on the balcony of the council house.
Cooper then set about leading Forest in the Premier League, overseeing a squad overhaul, but it didn’t start quite as planned, with Forest going nine games without a win after picking up four points from their opening three games and questions about Cooper’s position starting to be asked.
Form picked up early in the new year, but speculation swelled over Cooper’s job yet again after a run of 11 games without a win.
But he was backed and eventually led Forest to safety on the penultimate day of the season in May, with a 1-0 win over Arsenal in their final home game of the season which would also hand Manchester City the title.
Cooper oversaw yet another significant change in the playing staff this summer, with a number of players coming and going, with the most notable departure Brennan Johnson to Tottenham Hotspur and Ibrahim Sangare coming in from Dutch side PSV for a club record fee.
This season, Forest picked up two wins from their opening four games, including a memorable win at Chelsea, but have since won just one game in 13.
Cooper’s last game in charge was a 2-0 home loss to Tottenham Hotspur on Friday night.
The club says it will make a further announcement on the appointment of a new head coach in due course.
