Julen Lopetegui in running to replace struggling Steve Cooper at Forest

Cooper expected to still be in charge for Saturday’s trip to Wolves
Owner has grave concerns after heavy defeat at Fulham

Julen Lopetegui is being considered by Nottingham Forest as a potential replacement for the struggling manager Steve Cooper. Lopetegui, who departed Wolves before the start of the season, is currently without a club. The club is also said to be interested in Oliver Glasner, the former Eintracht Frankfurt manager.

While Cooper is expected to lead Forest in their upcoming match against Wolves on Saturday, his position is highly precarious following a devastating 5-0 defeat to Fulham on Wednesday, marking the team’s fourth consecutive loss. Cooper expressed feeling “embarrassed” despite receiving overwhelming support from away supporters.

The owner of Nottingham Forest, Evangelos Marinakis, is deeply concerned about the team’s direction under Cooper. Forest currently sits six points above the relegation zone, with only one win in 11 games since September. Despite Cooper being under pressure in the past, the frustration at Forest stems from a perception of underachievement, especially after a significant investment of over £100m in the squad during the summer.

Cooper, who signed a new contract in October last year after five consecutive defeats, is now facing renewed scrutiny following recent losses to West Ham, Brighton, Everton, and Fulham. Forest had hoped for a turnaround under Cooper, starting with the match against Fulham.

In response to questions about his future, Cooper emphasized the need to display belief and character. Marinakis, present at the Fulham game, reportedly left with about 20 minutes to play. A post-game incident involved an accreditation lanyard purportedly belonging to Marinakis being found in a nearby bush. Cooper did not speak with Marinakis but had conversations with Marinakis’s son, Miltiadis, and the Forest sporting director, Ross Wilson.