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10 December, 1979

Happy birthday Steve Cooper! (born 1979)

On this day in 1979 former Forest manager Steve Cooper is born in Pontypridd.

General trivia

Anniversary notes not tied to other categories
Former Forest manager Steve Cooper, pictured 2022.
Former Forest manager Steve Cooper, pictured 2022. Image: AFC Bournemouth / CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Steve Cooper was born in Pontypridd, Wales, and later became one of the most important Forest managers of the modern era.

Cooper’s connection with the club came much later, after coaching roles with Liverpool’s academy, England youth teams and Swansea City. By the time he arrived at the City Ground in 2021, Forest were in deep Championship trouble and badly needed direction, belief and a stronger connection between team and supporters.

Former Forest manager Steve Cooper, pictured 2022.
Former Forest manager Steve Cooper, pictured 2022. Image: AFC Bournemouth / CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

His impact became one of the defining Forest stories of the 21st century. Cooper took over a side that had started the season poorly and helped turn it into a promotion team, with Brennan Johnson, Ryan Yates, Joe Worrall and others becoming part of a run that ended with victory over Huddersfield Town in the 2022 Championship play-off final.

Cooper later kept Forest in the Premier League before leaving in 2023. His time at the club is remembered not just for promotion, but for reconnecting Forest with belief after years away from the top flight.

Steve Cooper Interview

Sources

Transfermarkt; FotMob; BeSoccer

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Notts County 0–2 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 3–0 Blackburn
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Vitória SC 1–1 Nottingham Forest
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Portimonense 1–2 Nottingham Forest Sporting CP 4–1 Nottingham Forest
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Udinese 1–0 Nottingham Forest Barcelona 1–0 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 2–1 Bayer Leverkusen
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Nottingham Forest 0–1 Leeds
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Liverpool 2–2 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 0–0 Tottenham
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Aston Villa 1–2 Nottingham Forest
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Crystal Palace 14:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 16:30 Arsenal
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Ipswich 20:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 17:30 Manchester City
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Bournemouth 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 20:00 Chelsea
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Hull City 20:00 Nottingham Forest
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Manchester United 16:30 Nottingham Forest
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Newcastle 19:30 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Fulham
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Manchester City 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Chelsea 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Coventry 16:00 Nottingham Forest
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On this day in …
1979
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General trivia
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