Sean Dyche said taking charge of Nottingham Forest for the first time on Thursday ’rounds the circle’ of his career having been an apprentice at the City Ground in the days of the club’s greatest ever manager Brian Clough.
The 54-year-old became Forest’s third manager this season when he was named as successor to Ange Postecoglou who was sacked 39 days after replacing Nuno Espirito Santo.
Former Watford, Burnley and Everton manager Dyche’s main focus will be arresting Forest’s Premier League slide but he starts with a Europa League tie at home to Porto on Thursday.
Addressing media for the first time on Wednesday, Dyche said he takes a great deal of pleasure in managing the two-time European champions with whom his career began as a youth team player in the late 1980s.
“I have a longer history with the club from 87 to 90 and remember walking down the river (Trent) and Del Boy (Brian Clough’s dog) running past you and the voice of Brian Clough in earshot,” Dyche told reporters.
“All the legends that played at that time and there were some top players, and you know, you’re thinking I just want to pull that shirt on, and now to round the circle and be here as manager is something quite big for me. But I’m not just here for a fun time, there’s a job to be done.”
