COOPER IS SUPERMAN
Boss copes with turmoil to save Forest from drop
STEVE COOPER has one special achievement on his CV already.
Winning the World Cup with the England Under-17s six years ago is the standout in a resume that looks increasingly impressive.
Now, after another season of glorious chaos at the City Ground, he has another praiseworthy addition to his list of professional successes.
It is unlike the Nottingham Forest manager to blow his own trumpet, but he could be forgiven for pointing out the size of the job he has done.
Forest are safe from relegation after Taiwo Awoniyi’s goal sealed victory over Arsenal, his club having been through a whirlwind.
Cooper’s satisfaction was understandable, after the volume of players signed in a truncated time following last season’s play-off final to replace the best of his promotion winning squad, who had been on loan.
He said: “This has been my most important year in coaching because of what we’ve had to experience.
“I just love the fact that no one has done what we’ve done, as a coaching group – never.
“I’m not sure people would have signed as many players as we did – it’s the fact we have done it and made something of it.What do you compare it to?
“It’s been completely new in terms of the number of players we signed, making the transition from Championship to Premier League.
“My biggest driver at this club is the supporters but, professionally, that’s been my biggest motivation. We’ve done something no one else has.”
Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis brought in 30 players in a statement of intent which could easily have gone wrong.
Midfielder Ryan Yates has experienced most things in eight years at the City Ground.
The trend has been steadily upwards since Cooper’s arrival but Yates does not know how his manager has brought such a disparate squad together.
He said: “It’s been a whirlwind, challenge after challenge, a massive change.
“Myself, Joe Worrall and Brennan Johnson have seen a lot of players come and go – even in the Championship.
“Having Keylor Navas come in – I mean, he’s won the Champions League – shows the club want to go to the next level. But I don’t know how the manager has kept everyone engaged. He and his team have done an incredible job. “With so many players, he’s done fantastically to get us over the
line.”