Grabban ready to pass on what he’s learnt on front line
FORMER FOREST STRIKER KEEN TO BECOME COACH
LEWIS Grabban got an insight into the rewarding nature of coaching when he was still a Nottingham Forest player and it is a career he is now eager to pursue.
The 36-year-old left the Reds in the summer of 2022, on the back of the promotion-winning season. Forest had been keen to keep him but an agreement could not be reached over fresh contract terms and his four-year stint at the City Ground came to an end.
A short spell with Saudi Arabian side Al Ahli followed before Grabban decided to hang up his boots. Now he has his eye on heading down a different path.
During a spell on the sidelines in the 2021-22 campaign, Grabban used his time out of action to offer tips to fellow striker Keinan Davis, who was on loan from Aston Villa at the time. It gave him the taste for more.
“The boots are long gone, unfortunately! I do miss the competition side of it but I’m 36 now so I’m a little bit past it,” Grabban quipped.
“Helping Keinan out was a big taste of maybe what I was capable of doing and the influence I could have on players. That was a good experience with Keinan while I was injured in that season.
“I’ve had the battle with myself whether to go towards the executive side of it or the coaching side of it. I miss the match day, competing side of it, so I’ve chosen the coaching route.”
Grabban jokes taking to the dugout, with all the incumbent stresses, often leads to managers quickly starting to age. He is well prepared for what it all entails, though.
“For sure. I’ve seen many managers – everyone goes grey pretty quickly! But it is what it is. You’ve got to do something and why not do something you love,” he said.
The former forward was speaking to the Nottingham Post at a landmark conference at the City Ground aimed at tackling racism and gender inequality in European football. The event was hosted by Forest, The Weatherhead Center at Harvard University and The Lilian Thuram Foundation.
“Everyone is aware of the issues in society that are still going on,” said Grabban.
“Events like this, initiatives and new programmes help make people aware. We need to include as many people as possible so we can try to make changes and don’t have to keep seeing incidents.
“We can start making changes and make a better and more comfortable society for everyone.
“Everyone has got the same equal responsibility. When you are playing, you can be in a bit of a bubble but you are in a position of privilege, which means you need to be a bit more active.
“A lot of people follow us when you’re playing, so your voice is listened to. Everyone has a responsibility to do their bit.”
Grabban enjoys coming back to the City Ground and interacting with Reds fans. And he has been impressed with the man now tasked with leading the line for Forest, Taiwo Awoniyi.
The Nigerian scored on his comeback from injury as he found the net in the 2-1 defeat to Arsenal the day before the conference. It was his fifth goal of the campaign, to go with the 11 he managed for the club last term.
“He’s been good. He did well when he came on against Arsenal,” Grabban said.
“He still has things that can be improved but as the season has gone on and time has gone on, he has got better and better.
“All he can do is take his opportunities when he gets them, like against Arsenal. It was a difficult game but when he does get those opportunities he seems to be putting them away.
“Playing striker is always the most difficult position. Doing it in the Premier League is even more difficult, especially if you’re not in the top three or four sides where chances are abundant.
“It means there’s even more pressure to put the chances away when you get them, so fair play to him.
“It’s fun coming back and having the interaction. I’ve got a good relationship with the fans and a lot of the staff. It’s enjoyable.”