Nuno Espirito Santo has been appointed as the new manager of Nottingham Forest, the Premier League club announced Wednesday.

The 49-year-old Portuguese coach has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with the Midlands club after Forest sacked Steve Cooper on Tuesday.

Nuno returns to English football following a two-year absence since his departure from Tottenham, with his first match in charge of Forest this Saturday’s game against Bournemouth.

“Nottingham Forest can today confirm the appointment of Nuno Espirito Santo as first team head coach,” said a Forest statement.

“Nuno joins the club on a two-and-a-half-year contract and will take charge of his first match on Saturday when Forest face Bournemouth at The City Ground.”

Nuno has been out of work since leaving Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad in November.

But he is now back in the Premier League two years after his sacking from an ill-fated four-month spell at Tottenham.