Steve Cook has revealed what Steve Cooper told him the day before signing for Nottingham Forest in the 2021/22 season.
The central defender was a surprise signing for Cooper during the January transfer window.
Cook played a key role in the Forest team’s Championship play-off victory, which ended their 23-year absence from the Premier League.
The seasoned player arrived at Forest with Premier League experience, which proved essential in the second half of the season.
Cooper was the driving force behind Cook’s signing with Forest, and he has described what he said before he arrived at the City Ground.
Steve Cook shares what Steve Cooper informed him before the Forest transfer.
This was a signing that made a lot of sense for Forest, even if it came as a surprise when it was announced.
Cook was in his thirties, and many believed that his short-termism was unsuitable for Forest.
However, it proved to be a wise economic decision, and Cook has now revealed what Cooper told him when he arrived at the club.
He told The Second Tier Podcast: “To be honest, Cooper is a fantastic man first and foremost.
“He was completely different from what I was used to; he was very laid back and encouraged the players to take control, which suited me because that is the type of character I am in the locker room.
“When he called me the day before I signed, he kind of advised me not to waste time in the dressing room and wanted me to come in and take control right away and get active.
“He’s a fantastic coach; he came through the FA and we got along really well. I got along well with the boys from the start, which was evident in my first game when we defeated Arsenal 1-0, and it always helps when you come in, win, and contribute.”
Cook was significantly underappreciated throughout the promotion-winning season.
Cook was a standout for Forest when he first arrived, and he struck the ground running right away.
The veteran player arrived on a free transfer from Bournemouth and quickly established himself as a valuable member of the team.
Cook slid into a back three, and Joe Worrall and Scott McKenna both improved as a result of his presence.
Cook played 14 Premier League games for Forest after his promotion, and to be fair, he didn’t look out of place.
Landing Felipe moved Cook down the pecking order slightly, and he was not included in the 25-man squad for the second half of 2022/23.
Forest now have better options than Cook, and it was encouraging to see him linked up with QPR at the start of last season.
The centre-back may not have been the most glamorous addition to the Forest side in 2021-22, but he was probably the most crucial.
