Julen Lopetegui and Patrick Vieira lead the race for next Nottingham Forest manager job
- Scott Allen
- 7 December 2023
Steve Cooper's job at Nottingham Forest hangs by a thread, and already his possible replacements are shuffling into position to grab the City Ground hotseat.
Forest slumped to a fourth straight defeat after a 5-0 humbling at Craven Cottage and Cooper took full responsibility for the defeat.
He said: “I accept that (criticism) tonight and deal with it. I know it’s a very bad run of results.
“I deserve all the criticism, I deserve the blame, it’s on me. I want it to come to me before anyone else.”
His actions after the game hinted that his time is already up at the City Ground, and he might not survive until the weekend.
With the axe hanging over Cooper's head, former Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui and ex-Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira have already been installed as the 4/1 and 5/1 favourites respectively in the race to be the next manager at Nottingham Forest.
However this is already quite a wide-open market and a host of former Premier League managers are hot on their heels.
Graham Potter, who has been without a job since he left Chelsea in early April, is as short as 8/1, along with the former Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl.
Reims boss Will Still, who seems to be on many clubs potential next manager shopping lists, is also as high as 8/1 after continuing to impress in Ligue 1.
Next comes the usual list of managers that might send a shiver down Forest fans' spines.
Celta Vigo boss Rafa Benitez is at 12/1, while former manager Jesse Marsch is at 14/1.
Nuno Espirito Santo, who won the Saudi Pro League with Al-Ittihad last season, before getting the bullet in early November is at 14/1.
Former Fulham boss Scott Parker is at 20/1.
The man who masterminded Wednesday night's 5-0 thrashing, Fulham boss Marco Silva, is also at 12s.
Then we have a few wildcards. Well-travelled Argentine Jorge Sampaoli, who left Flamengo in September is at 14/1 and Freiburg boss Christian Streich is a 12/1.
Frank Lampard is out at 25/1, along with Thierry Henry and Steve Bruce.
If you think Forest legend Stuart Pearce is due a return you can pick him up at 33/1.
(All prices listed are subject to change)
