Following his appointment as Nottingham Forest manager, Sports Mole takes a closer look at Steve Cotterill's career.

A striker in his playing days, Cotterill represented Burton Albion, Wimbledon, Brighton & Hove Albion and Bournemouth.

He boasts a solid strike rate, scoring 69 times in 142 appearances.

Cotterill's time on the field was cut short early at the age of 32 because of a serious knee injury from which he was unable to fully recover.

The Englishman moved into management soon after, taking charge of Irish side Sligo Rovers and guiding them to third in the Irish League, also taking Sligo for a brief time into Europe.

Following his time at Sligo, Cotterill became manager of the then non-league Cheltenham Town, taking them into the football league within three years.

Brief spells in roles at Stoke City and Sunderland followed before a return to management at Burnley.

He spent three years at Turfmoor before leaving via mutual consent in 2007.

Cotterill did not return to management until February of last year when he took charge of Notts County and in his three months at the club led them to the League Two crown.

This success linked him with clubs at Championship level and it was Portsmouth who secured his signature.

The 47-year-old took Pompey to 16th position in the Championship last season and began this campaign with a mixed set of results.

The south coast club currently sit 19th, two places ahead of Cotterill's new club Forest, who have also had an indifferent start.