With 11 games played during the current Championship campaign, it can bring a time of change for some clubs who perhaps haven’t started the season very well. Thankfully, Nottingham Forest aren’t one of those clubs.
Huddersfield Town, Barnsley, Millwall and Reading have all taken the plunge to change their manager so far this season, despite 2019/20 still being relatively young.
Sabri Lamouchi looks, right now, as a man who can lead Forest for the next few years and long may that continue.
It would seem that the powers that be in the ivory towers at the City Ground are also happy with Lamouchi. Yesterday the club announced two key off-field additions in the form of Francois Modesto and Jose Anigo.
Modesto will act as a Technical Director, with Anigo the Head of International Recruitment. Both men have been working closely with Forest for a few months, although they will now take their place on the permanent payroll.
The appointment of Anigo is perhaps the most interesting. The Frenchman has held managerial positions in the past, most notably at Marseille.
His had two spells in the dugout at the French giants. Once during 2004, where he oversaw 46 games and then again during the 2013/14 campaign when he was also the Director of Football.
Meticulous
Anigo has always had an eye for a player. He unearthed stars that would shape French football such as Steve Mandanda, Samir Nasri and the Ayew brothers.
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He is perhaps better known for his ability to spot talent and his two most notable recruits will be well known to English football supporters.
Didier Drogba played 381 games for Chelsea, scoring 164 goals and registering 86 assists. He fetched Marseille £24 million when he signed for the Blues in 2004 (BBC Sport). Drogba goes down as a Stamford Bridge legend, winning 10 trophies with the club.
The other would have a shorter stay in England but Dimitri Payet still showcased unbelievable talent during his time at West Ham.
The 32-year-old rejoined Marseille after 18 months with the Hammers where he netted 15 goals and registered 23 assists in 60 appearances.
Jack of all trades, master of one
Management has typically proved a second speciality for Anigo. Although he did lead Marseille to a runners-up place in the UEFA Cup back in 2004, his second stint was only as a caretaker boss alongside his role of General Manager.
When he handed over the managerial reins for the second time, it was none other than Marcelo Bielsa who would replace Anigo.
Now at Leeds United, the Argentinean manager is one of the most reputable managers in world football with his style somewhat unorthodox, to say the least.
Radio Nottingham yesterday reported that Anigo had a big part in Forest landing Samba Sow and Brice Samba during the summer.
If players of those nature are what Forest have to look forward to, then excitement levels could be set to go through the roof. Both players have looked magnificent and more importantly, both were relatively cheap.
he 58-year-old has proved throughout his career in recruitment that he has an eye for talent but he also seems to have a real knack of spotting value for money.
Having wasted millions on rubbish over the years, it’s refreshing that Forest now has a man like Anigo that is proven when it comes to attracting talent at the top end of European football.
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