Awoniyi Salutes Ex-Forest Manager Cooper

Taiwo Awoniyi, the Super Eagles forward, conveyed a heartfelt message to former Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper, attributing him to fulfilling his dream of playing in the Premier League.

Cooper’s departure from Nottingham Forest came after the club decided to appoint former Wolves and Tottenham manager, Nuno Espírito Santo, following a string of five defeats in six games. The team slipped to 17th in the table, sitting five points above the relegation zone.

Having joined the City Ground last summer under Cooper’s management, Awoniyi played a pivotal role in helping the Reds secure their Premier League status amidst a challenging campaign.

Expressing his gratitude to Cooper for contributing to his Premier League journey, Awoniyi took to Instagram to convey his appreciation. “Thank you for helping me make my big dream come true and bringing out the best in me. All the very best Gaffer,” wrote the Nigerian international.

Awoniyi’s new manager, Nuno, joins Forest on a two-and-a-half-year contract and is set to lead the team in his first match on Saturday against Bournemouth at The City Ground.

Nuno, who previously spent four seasons at Wolves, notably guided the team to promotion to the Premier League during his first season in 2018. After leaving Wolves, he briefly managed Tottenham Hotspur in 2021 before parting ways following a series of disappointing results, subsequently being replaced by Antonio Conte.

Following his departure from Spurs, Nuno took over as manager of Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad. He led the team to their first league title in 14 years before parting ways in November due to a run of five league games without a win.