Nottingham Forest has officially announced the appointment of Nuno Espirito Santo as their new head coach.
The 49-year-old Portuguese tactician assumes the role at the City Ground less than 24 hours after the departure of Steve Cooper, marking the end of Cooper’s two remarkable years at the helm of the Reds.
Steve Cooper, who successfully guided Forest back to the Premier League through the Championship playoffs in the 2021-22 season, faced a challenging stint in the top flight.
Despite securing a 16th-placed finish in the previous season, Cooper’s recent struggles in the Premier League, with only one victory in the last 13 games, led to his departure.
Currently positioned at 17th place, Nottingham Forest is precariously perched five points above the relegation zone.
In a strategic move to revitalize the team, Nottingham Forest’s management has turned to the experienced Nuno Espirito Santo.
Formerly at the helm of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur, Nuno brings a wealth of expertise to the table.
He has inked a substantial two-and-a-half-year contract, binding him to Nottingham Forest until June 2026.
The announcement was met with enthusiasm from Nottingham Forest, as they officially welcomed Nuno Espirito Santo to the club via a tweet on December 20, 2023.
Nuno’s managerial journey is extensive, comprising over 460 matches across various top-tier leagues, including the Premier League, La Liga, Primeira Liga, Champions League, and Europa League.
His managerial odyssey began with stints at Rio Ave, Valencia, and Porto.
The pinnacle of his early career came at Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he clinched the Championship title and secured consecutive seventh-placed finishes in the Premier League during his first two seasons.
Despite his successful tenure at Wolves, Nuno’s trajectory took a turn when he assumed the managerial reins at Tottenham in 2021.
However, his tenure with the North London club was short-lived, as he was relieved of his duties after just five months, having won only eight of his 17 games in all competitions.
Undeterred by the setback, Nuno found redemption in Saudi Arabia with Al Ittihad.
His managerial prowess was on full display as he guided the club to the Saudi Pro League title and the Saudi Super Cup in the 2022-23 season.
However, a surprising dismissal in November marked the end of his tenure in Saudi Arabia.
The stage is now set for Nuno Espirito Santo to make his mark at Nottingham Forest.
The club has confirmed that his inaugural game in charge will be a pivotal clash against Bournemouth at the City Ground in the Premier League this Saturday.
As Nottingham Forest ushers in a new era under Nuno’s leadership, anticipation and excitement fill the air, signaling a fresh chapter in the club’s storied history.
