Former Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper has been linked with a number of Championship clubs over the last couple of months.
Steve Cooper, who is still adored by the Nottingham Forest faithful, has been out of work since November.
Cooper was sacked by Leicester City after a string of poor results, but he still had them outside of the relegation zone.
Cooper has been working for UEFA over the last few months as a Technical Observer. His role involves picking the Man of the Match for Champions League games and taking note of any new tactical ideas to deliver in future coaching sessions.
Indeed, the Forest hero still intends to get back into management and has now been named as a top candidate to land a second-tier job.
Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images
Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images
Former Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper named as top candidate for Middlesbrough vacancy
West Bromwich Albion were considering Cooper after Tony Mowbray’s departure, but they’ve recently appointed Ryan Mason instead.
Norwich City were eyeing Cooper before settling on Liam Manning and now yet another Championship club have shortlisted him for the job.
According to the Northern Echo, Middlesbrough have just made Cooper a ‘leading’ candidate to replace Michael Carrick.
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The 45-year-old has been linked with Boro for a few weeks, but it seems as though interest has intensified as he’s been included in the final three candidates.
Rob Edwards and Danny Rohl are the other two bosses being considered by Steve Gibson on Teesside.
Middlesbrough to make final decision on Cooper imminently
Middlesbrough are expected to wrap up their final interviews over the next few days, so Cooper will find out his fate imminently.
That will give the successful candidate sufficient time to prepare for pre-season, which gets underway in July.
There has been suggestions that Cooper doesn’t want the Boro job as his preference is to manage abroad, away from his comfort zone.
Only time will tell how true that is, but local reports close to the Riverside have him firmly in the frame to become Carrick’s successor.