On Thursday morning, Steve Cotterill was appointed as Forest Green Rovers’ new manager.

In an impressive managerial career that has spanned almost thirty years, Cotterill has managed 10 clubs, won five promotions and has won finals at both the old and new Wembley.

Ahead of his first game in the New Lawn dugout on Saturday, here’s the story of the 59-year-old’s managerial career so far.

GETTING STARTED AT SLIGO

The only time Cotterill has managed outside of England was during his time in charge of Irish side Sligo Rovers.

He took over from Lawrie Sanchez, who would later go on to manage Northern Ireland and Fulham. 

In his one full season at Sligo, Cotterill led the side to third in the League of Ireland, to the final of the League Cup - and they qualified for the UEFA Intertoto Cup.

MANAGING HIS HOMETOWN SIDE

Born in Cheltenham, Cotterill took over his home town club in 1997 and is still widely regarded as their best ever manager, taking the Robins from the sixth tier to the third tier in the space of five years.

Not only did he win three promotions with the Gloucestershire side, but he also won the FA Trophy in 1998 and took them to the last 16 of the FA Cup in 2002.

STEPPING UP WITH STOKE

After leaving an incredible legacy at Whaddon Road, Cotterill stepped up a division to join Stoke City in the pre-season of 2002.

His spell at the Potters was short lived, leaving after 13 games to become Assistant Manager at Sunderland under Howard Wilkinson, although he left Stoke in a comfortable mid-table position in the second tier.

RETURNING TO THE SECOND TIER

Cotterill decided to make the switch back to being a manager in 2004, returning to the second tier with Burnley.

He spent nearly four years at the Clarets, and was the longest-serving manager in the Championship during the latter stages of his time at Turf Moor. He kept Burnley away from relegation danger during each of his three seasons

MIRACLE AT MEADOW LANE

The West Country tactician then spent a few years away from management, but returned with a bang in 2010. Dropping to League Two with Notts County raised some eyebrows, but his time at Meadow Lane ultimately earned him a move back to the Championship.

When Cotterill took over at Notts in February 2010, the club were seventh in League Two. They lost just one of their remaining 18 games that season, picking up an astonishing 45 points from a possible 54, and stormed to the league title.

Cotterill departed Meadow Lane that summer.

STABILISING POMPEY

Portsmouth were in financial turmoil when Cotterill joined the South Coast side in June 2010 - and the club were in desperate need of a safe pair of hands.

Stability is exactly what he brought to the table, securing a comfortable 16th-placed finish in the Championship in his one full season in charge.

THE OTHER SIDE OF NOTTINGHAM

Nottingham Forest came calling for Cotterill in October 2011 - and he made the switch to the City Ground on a long-term deal. Forest were languishing in the Championship relegation zone upon his arrival, with just two wins from their first 11 matches.

However, he soon turned things around with four wins from their next six games. Forest lost just five of their last 16 matches, meaning Cotterill's side finished 10 points clear of the drop zone. He departed the City Ground in the summer after a change of ownership.

HISTORY AT ASHTON GATE

Cotterill returned to the West Country in December 2013, signing a long-term deal at Bristol City.

City were second bottom of League One when he took over, winning just two of their opening 19 games, and with back-to-back relegations a possibility. In their remaining 27 matches, City lost just four times, and finished in the top half.

The following season, they romped to the League One title with a club record 99 points (their first league title since the ‘60s) and won the Football League Trophy in front of 72,000 at Wembley.

He left Bristol City in January 2016 with the club four points clear of the drop zone in the Championship.

JOINING BLUES

When the legendary Harry Redknapp was appointed as Birmingham City's boss towards the backend of the 2016-17 season, Cotterill joined Blues as first-team coach, and more than played his part in helping the Midlands club clinch the wins they needed to avoid relegation from the Championship.

Redknapp was dismissed in September 2017 and Cotterill took the managerial hotseat. Blues were 22nd when he took over and were in the same position by the time he left the club in March 2018.

AN IMPRESSIVE STINT AT SALOP

Cotterill had another firefighting job on his hands when he joined Shrewsbury Town in November 2020. Salop were second bottom of League One after 13 games, but ended up finishing seven points clear of the drop zone. Cotterill was absent from the touchline for much of this campaign after a battle with Coronavirus.

Finishing 10 points clear of the dotted line in his second campaign represented progress - and there was a trip to Anfield in the FA Cup third round during that season too.

That progress continued last term with Cotterill's side finishing in the top half of a highly-competitive League One, their second-highest finish in 34 years.