Nottingham Forest had a busy Friday.
Martin O’Neill was turfed out of the Championship club and then immediately replaced by Sabri Lamouchi.
The manager has been out of work since December 2018, when he was shown the door by Rennes. In their Saturday edition, L’Equipe says he’s been ‘very popular’ in recent weeks, suggesting he’s been in the picture for jobs at Amiens, Genoa and West Brom.
Having recently appointed Slaven Bilic, it’s conceivable West Brom considered the Frenchman at some point in their recruitment process.
Lamouchi has been speaking to the French newspaper, which quite possibly hints where they got their Baggies information from, and has been asked about his new role.
“I am very happy, very excited. It’s a big English football club with a huge history. I felt a lot of respect, investment in me. Being coach of a legendary club, it is a great pride. And this even counts in the Championship.
“The Championship not necessarily known in France but it’s very long, very difficult. It’s a huge challenge. I approach it with a lot of ambitions, determination.”
L’Equipe asked if managing a second division side is a step backwards in Lamouchi’s career, to which he answered: “But I have no status. Since the beginning of my coaching 
career I have never stopped challenging myself, by coaching one of the greatest selections in Africa, moving to the Middle East in Qatar, going to Rennes. I had in front of me (the leaders of Nottingham) serious people, ambitious, determined. It’s anything but a step back.”
The 47 year old called Forest a ‘mythical’ club, and explained the plan for the coming season is simple: “There is only one: to return Nottingham to where it should be. Many people have tried to do the same. Will we get there? I do not know. What I know is that I have only one desire: to put all my energy in to do it.”
