Steve Cooper is finally a Premier League manager with Nottingham Forest, 12 months after he was on Tottenham’s managerial shortlist, as John Terry has hailed the ‘superb’ job he has done.
When Jose Mourinho was sacked in a pretty abrupt manner by Daniel Levy, names left, right and centre were being thrown about to take over at Spurs, including Cooper who, at the time, was at Swansea City, as reported by The Telegraph.
The 42-year-old did guide the Swans to the Championship play-off final that season, but it ended in heartache for the Englishman, with Brentford beating them at Wembley.
Those were two bites at the cherry Cooper had of becoming a Premier League manager, one more realistic than the other, of course.
But now, he can live that dream of competing with the best after Nottingham Forest beat Huddersfield Town in the Championship play-off final at Wembley on Sunday.
When Cooper was handed the reigns of the Midlands giants back in September, they were sitting rock bottom of the Championship table.
That error-prone Forest team was all of the shop, but Cooper threw his magic dust at the team and transformed everyone, from top to bottom.
Former Chelsea captain, Terry, has praised the job Cooper has done, as he posted on Twitter.
FOREST BACK WHERE THEY BELONG
When Leeds United earned promotion to the Premier League in 2020 under Marcelo Bielsa, they returned after a near two-decade wait.
Those in Yorkshire would have felt that it was a long time coming for them, and it was, but it doesn’t beat the 23-year exile for the Forest fans.
One of English football’s richest clubs are back where they belong and it’s great news for the Premier League, not just Forest themselves.
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