Quiz fans around the world have been at least once asked the question – who is the only club that has two European champions titles, but was only once the champion of their country? The answer is – Nottingham Forest. After years of sorrow, pain, and staggering, the club from the city on the banks of the River Trent, from the City Ground Stadium is in the Premier League again. Historically, one of the English greats, champion of his country in 1978, twice runner-up, twice FA Cup winner, four times best in the League Cup, is best known for two consecutive crowns in the Champions Cup – 1979 and 1980, in the golden age of football for England and Nottingham.Nottingham Forest are back in the Premier League after 23 years!For the first time in this millennium, the Foresters will be in the Premier League. In Sunday’s final of the Championship playoffs, Huddersfield Town fell on the lawn of Wembley stadium, so Nottingham is again a part of the elite league on the Island after 23 years of “exile” from England’s best clubs. The club with a rich tradition was founded back in 1865, but it is not the oldest, even in the city. Notts County is three years older. The golden age of Nottingham Forest began with the arrival of Brian Clough as a manager in 1975. Interestingly, the creator of the greatest successes in the history of the Foresters was not immediately accepted in the Nottingham camp. The reason – he brought the trophy of England’s championship to their rivals, Derby County. After dominating England, Clough conquered Europe for two years in a row.𝐖𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐈𝐄𝐑 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐆𝐔𝐄.🌳🔴 #NFFC pic.twitter.com/CTLXZjGdZd— Nottingham Forest FC (@NFFC) May 29, 2022 In the final match of the Champions Cup, Nottingham defeated Swedish Malmo 1-0 at the Olympic Stadium in Munich in 1979, and the hero of that match was the “hundred-year-old” legendary Albion goalkeeper Peter Shilton. Forest managed to defend the title of the best club in the Old Continent a year later, defeating the German champion Hamburger with the same score in the final match in Madrid. The last trophy was won in 1989 – the League Cup. Brian Clough left Nottingham Forest in 1993, ending the most successful period in the club’s history.Spence sparks another tug-of-war in North LondonThe Foresters played in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Cup in 1996, and after that, a shipwreck followed. In the 1998/1999 season, the Foresters dropped out of the Premier League and did not return at all until yesterday, when the 23-year-old dream was fulfilled – a return to the highest rank and playing matches with the greats, Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea…Let’s go back to the recent past… Nottingham was drifting in this millennium. Numerous changes of coaches were a characteristic of the Foresters. From 1999 to 2012, the owner of the club was Nigel Doughty. It is estimated that he invested more than 120,000,000 euros, but returning to the Premier League was an impossible mission. Nottingham fans would rather forget the rule of the rich Kuwaiti family Al Hasavi (2012-2017).##EDITORS_CHOICE##Indications that the dream called ’The Premier League’ could finally be fulfilled first showed with the arrival of the rich Greek shipowner and media mogul Evangelos Marinakis. The only heir to the Piraeus empire successfully ruled Olympiacos, which has dominated Greece for the past two decades. Marinikis was not satisfied with the titles with his beloved red and whites but set out on a campaign to the Island. Not everything went smoothly even under the mandate of the controversial Greek, who was accused of rigging his club’s matches. He changed coaches often in Nottingham. Aitor Karanka, Martin O’Neill, Sabri Lamushi and Chris Hutton were also at the helm.Ralf Rangnick is fully out – the gradual and complete departure from Manchester UnitedThe 2019/2020 season was especially interesting. Foresters were seen in the playoffs (at least), and then a disaster struck. Nottingham scored only two of the possible 15 points at the end of the season. Before the last round of the Championship, a crazy theory was against the Foresters and it happened. Forest was defeated by Stoke 4: 1 at City Ground, while Swansea defeated Reading with the same result, so the Welsh Swans won the playoffs. Lamushi remained on the bench at the beginning of the next season, but after several introductory defeats, he was replaced. Last year was desperate, only 17th place.◉ 21st September 2021: Steve Cooper takes over at Nottingham Forest, who are bottom of the table on four points from eight games ◉ 29th May 2022: Steve Cooper leads Nottingham Forest back to the Premier League for the first time in 23 years Absolutely incredible. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/lOJyW2ESDT— Squawka (@Squawka) May 29, 2022 At the beginning of this season, it seemed that Nottingham would fight for survival. Steve Cooper took over the team from Chris Hutton in the last place, and then in 45 games, he achieved 60 per cent of victories, more precisely a score of 27 victories, 10 draws and eight defeats. This is the best performance of a Nottingham coach since the 1992/1993 season. when you take into account those experts who have spent more than 15 matches on the bench. The two-time European champion had a chance for direct placement in the Premier League, but in the penultimate round he was defeated by Bournemouth 1:0, and the Cherries went to the elite as the second-placed team. The second match ball in the playoffs was accepted by the Foresters and they did not miss the chance to return to the Premier League. Nottingham was in the semifinals after the drama and the penalty shootout from the hated rival Sheffield United, and on Sunday, Huddersfield lost to Wembley (1:0). Red is back in fashion.September 2021: bottom of the table. May 2022: PROMOTED to the Premier League. Your gaffer, @NFFC 👏 #EFLPlayOffs | #StepUp pic.twitter.com/zNl0DZdI1s— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) May 29, 2022 According to the assessment of the Transfermarkt portal, the value of the Nottingham football players is estimated at 75,800,000 euros, and ahead of them in the Championship were Bournemouth, Fulham, Sheffield United and West Bromwich Albion. Forester’s ’golden goose’ is a young Welshman Brennan Johnson. He is only 21 years old, and he was the best scorer in the just-finished season. He scored 16 goals and had nine assists and there is no doubt that he will be the target of much richer clubs this summer. Transfermarkt estimated him at 15,000,000 euros. Many players have played on loan this season. Philip Zinckernagel is leaving the club and will come back to play in the Championship with his native club – Watford. Keenan Davis is a player of Aston Villa, Sam Sturridge is from Stoke, and James Garner is going back to Manchester United.Roman Abramovich’s goodbye to Chelsea: It was an honor to be a part of this clubWith this team, the Foresters will have a hard time surviving in the elite. Examples of Norwich and Fulham, “yo-yo” teams that have not been able to stay in the Premier League for more than a season in recent years, should be a warning to Marinakis to open the transfer kitty this summer. Two tied seasons in the elite would be a success, something similar to what Leeds did after returning to the best company two years ago.It’s taken 23 long years, but @NFFC fans, you can finally drink it in 🥲Repeat after us…Nottingham Forest are Premier League 🔴⚪️ #NFFC #StepUp pic.twitter.com/sKulElys0U— Sky Bet (@SkyBet) May 29, 2022 Nottingham fans will celebrate not only the entry of their team into the elite but also the relegation of the biggest rival Derby County. In previous years, they fought battles in the Championship. Their matches always bring a lot of tension and intolerance among players and fans. The Rams are in the third rank next season, League 1. There will be no Sheffield United in the Premier League, so for the Forest fans, duels with Leicester will be the new derby. Nottingham in the English elite. It’s good to see them again …
