Less than two hours after being let go from his Nottingham Forest duties, Steve Cooper is already set to accept a new position in the Premier League.
Following his own departure from Al Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League, Cooper was relieved of his duties at Forest on Monday due to a poor run of results. Nuno Espirito Santo, a former manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur, was appointed in Cooper’s place.
Last year, the 44-year-old Englishman led the East Midlands team to promotion and their first-ever return to the top flight in 23 years.
He fought to keep the team from being relegated the previous season, but after losing their final six games, the team decided to make a change.
But it might not be long before Cooper takes over at another Premier League team, per a report in The London Evening Standard.
Cooper is reportedly being considered by Crystal Palace as a possible successor to seasoned manager Roy Hodgson.
Hodgson’s contract at Selhurst Park expires at the end of the current campaign, and at 76 years old, he may decide to retire once more, even though he isn’t in any real danger of losing his job just yet.
Cooper has previously interviewed for the managerial post at Palace in the summer, following reports that he was dissatisfied with the Forest owners. This is not the first time Cooper has been considered for the managerial role at Palace.
The South London club has made producing academy talent a top priority for the future, and Cooper seems to be the perfect fit given his track record of working with young players.
With players like Trent Alexander-Arnold and Phil Foden in their ranks, he guided the England under-17s team to a World Cup victory back in 2017.
Considering his track record on the global scene and the fact that he was previously interviewed for the position, he would be more than happy to take over and make an immediate impression in the event that Hodgson decides to step down.
Despite having lost their previous six league games, the Eagles managed to shock reigning champions Manchester City with a 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium last weekend.
