When he signed, Eugen (pronounced Oi-Gun, not the Ewe-Jean that many commentators seem to insist on!) was seen as the walking example of the developing status of Forest's Academy under Paul Hart; in the summer of 2000, when Forest's ever-tightening financial straits meant that our only signing at senior level was Gary Jones on a Bosman, Hart went across to Germany on a tip-off and nicked the then 16-year-old German (Dad is German, Mum from the Ukraine) International from under the noses of a VERY unimpressed Bayern Munich. Given the fact that Fiorentina were also sniffing around, this represented something of a triumph.

A lanquid graceful midfield player with immense skill (but minimal pace), Eugen played a central part in the all-conquering run of the 2000-01 Under-19 side, who won their league at a canter, remained unbeaten until well into March and played some scintillating football - alongside the equally impressive Jermaine Jenas, Bopp bossed the midfield, having the deceptive knack of always seeming to be in the right place in the right time a la John McGovern, in contrast to JJ's all-running style.

With Paul Hart's elevation to manager in July 2001, Bopp's star could only be on the rise. Hart introduced Boppy gradually over the season, but by the end of 2001 - 2002 he had adjusted to the pace of Div 1 life and looked set fair; he scored a lovely goal in the final home game of the season, thus ensuring we remained excited about him over the close season.

2002 - 2003 looked like being his breakthrough year. Gareth Williams started the season disappointingly - classic Young Player Second Season syndrome - and Eugen was in. One outrageous professional foul from behind by Derby's Rob Lee later and he was out again, injured for several months.

In truth, his Forest career never really picked up again, though he did find his way back into the side towards the end of the season.

At the time it seemed likely only to put a slight blip on a the rise of a big star, but in truth he never looked anything like the same player since. His attitude seemed to have dived off a cliff - even before his mentor was sacked, Hart was makiong guarded remarks about how he'd 'discovered girls'. It might be that the revolving door of managers was not to his benefit, but in the end it's hard to dispute the fact that he was tried and rejected by 3 or 4 managers in succession, so he can't have been THAT good.

His contract was allowed to run down and he left on a Bosman in 2006, spending a year at Rotherham which encapsulated the Bopp enigma; some Millers fans idolised his skill and his screaming goals, others berated his perceived laziness. He left in the summer of 2007 and joined Crewe Alexandra.