Symbol of Pride: Dyche Has Nottingham Forest Heritage but Focuses on Pressing Challenge at Hand

“This badge is bigger than every manager,” Sean Dyche declared at his unveiling as Nottingham Forest’s head coach, wearing a training top with his initials. He then, corrected himself. Actually, there was a single manager who was likely as important as the crest – we all know who that was.”} Then came, an impression of the legendary manager, a crack at that distinctive accent. Lad, well done,’” he recalled, reminiscing about his three years as a trainee at the City Ground, the days he spent strolling down the river, with Clough’s labrador, dashing past him and his manager’s voice invariably within earshot.

The coach tells a anecdote of how, as a youth player, he and a few others looked after Clough’s garden at his home in the area. “We were on £28.50 a week and he paid you a tenner to tend his lawn. So we actually thought: ‘This is decent.’ He’d prepare food for you and make sure you were cared for. It was quite enjoyable, not too much yard work.”

In his case, this moment has been a years in the planning. He lives in the area and has a fondness for the team. In recent years, he and his longstanding coach his deputy, who was a member of the Nottingham Forest side the last time they were in Europe, in 1995‑96, have occasionally popped into the local cafe where Forest legends such as Frank Clark, another stalwart and Garry Birtles gather every week to talk stories from past and present. He will have to give it a miss this time to prepare for the arrival of the Portuguese side, undefeated this campaign, in the European tournament on this week.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the miracle men,” said the manager, who succeeded the previous coach to become the team's latest head coach of the term. I'll get an earful if I don’t do too well, so I better win some games for them. Those fellows mean a lot to me. A great deal of supporters recognise the history of this club. I have personal ties and now I’ve got a chance to reinvent my personal history, I guess, as coach.”

Dyche oversaw Forest practice for the first time on Tuesday, a short while after his predecessor watched a 3‑0 home defeat by the London club that left the club in the Premier League relegation zone. the club captain, who joined aged eight, acknowledged these are early days but he and his staff have alleviated some of the gloom.

Dyche’s backroom team includes one more club icon in a former player, as well as Billy Mercer and another staff member, both of whom played for the team. In my view a massive strength of this organization is getting the connection between the fans, players and coach and, frankly, the recent period we lacked a good atmosphere around here,” the captain stated. Dyche and his staff have brought that sense of vitality and energy.”

Dyche made clear he does not understand the club like the back of my hand” given his latest experience at the club has been as an opposition boss, but he thinks he has a wider grasp of the environment and demands. The house rules have been set. “I’ve let them wear light-colored footwear, for heaven's sake,” Dyche said. I expect my former teammates criticizing me on WhatsApp. But they’re not allowed to wear neck warmers or headgear … I had to make a deal somewhere.”

Forest have lost their last four matches and not won since the start of the season. Dyche mentioned the proprietor, the Greek businessman, recognised the importance of steadying the situation. He faced the Greek billionaire in the European competition with his former club, when his side were beaten in a playoff against the Greek side in recent years. After the first leg Dyche voiced frustration at Olympiakos dignitaries, among them the owner, confronting the officials at half-time in Piraeus. We laughed about it,” Dyche recalled.

Part of Dyche’s appeal is his reputation for constructing teams with strong foundations, relevant for a team without a clean sheet in many games. “I’ve been put in many boxes, I’m not bothered,” he said. “I’ve never tried to hide behind what’s effective. It’s no badge of honour to me. Five years ago people were going: ‘Why do you rely on set pieces?’ Now they’re popular. Skinny jeans, wide-leg pants, skinny jeans, flared jeans … my child criticizes me for whatever jeans I wear. It seems on online platforms even I got some stick for my shoes walking into training [on Tuesday] … was surprised by that. Tom Ford [trainers] but, regardless, prefer not to mention it.”

Dyche is pleased that his early career were at the club but thinks that should not mean he or his staff are judged differently. “There’s no shortcut with the fans, but we are committed, that’s a point I believe can ever be questioned,” he remarked. “All I dreamt of was wearing the jersey, but I never got to achieve it. Stoney and Ian Woan succeeded, Billy Mercer played as a loan keeper, Tony Loughlan wore it and netted a goal. I was the sole person who failed to and they keep reminding me of that.

“For me to have that connection of it is a big thing for me individually. But it doesn't grant me a special privilege, believe me. The supporters expect me to succeed. If I’m not winning, the crowd are going to come at me because how supporters behave and I’ve got no issue with that because it's the truth. I was at the club as a youth and didn't get to wear the kit, the emblem. Now, currently, I’m sitting with it on me.”