Ange Postecoglou and Steve Cooper had contrasting spells at Nottingham Forest.
Postecoglou’s 39-day reign in charge of the Reds was shorter than the 44 days that Brian Clough famously spent in charge of Leeds United.
The Australian replaced the very successful Nuno Espirito Santo at the City Ground but didn’t win any of the nine games he oversaw in all competitions.
In contrast, Cooper is a modern-day legend at Forest. He oversaw the club’s return to the Premier League after 23 years, taking the team to promotion via the play-offs, despite taking charge with the team at the bottom of the Championship.
Despite the difference in feelings towards both managers from the Forest fan base, Postecoglou has now emulated Cooper by taking up a new position in football.
Ange Postecoglou copies Steve Cooper after Nottingham Forest exit
When Cooper departed the City Ground, he filled in the time between his exit and getting the Leicester job by working for UEFA.
The promotion-winner went to work on the Technical Observer Panel, watching European games for the organisation, picking the Man of the Match and performing a number of other menial responsibilities.
Now, Postecoglou has done the same by accepting a role with UEFA to keep his eye in before taking on a managerial role with his next club.
Getting work in the Premier League will be difficult for Postecoglou in the future. Although he won the Europa League with Tottenham, he led them to an embarrassing 17th-place finish in the Premier League.
However, his performances in the Europa League and when he was in charge of Celtic should ensure that he works in management somewhere in the world in the future.
Cooper did something that Postecoglou didn’t at Forest
Cooper was the right man at the right time for Forest, taking the club from the brink of League One to the euphoria of the Premier League in a matter of months.
Not only that, but in his press conferences, he spoke about the we and the us, rather than the I and the me – something which Postecoglou would be wise to learn.
Would you welcome this team tonight vs Braga?
What changes would you make if any?
His press conferences at Forest after a couple of drab performances quickly turned sour, and one in particular, after a game at Newcastle, led to him belittling a reporter following a routine question.
In his next job, Postecoglou would be wise to take something out of Cooper’s playbook and remain a little bit more humble, appreciating the ethos that make football clubs the special places to work that they are.
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