- Planet Sport writer
- 22 August 2024
Steve Cooper: Leicester in 'good spirits' ahead of second Premier League fixture
Leicester manager Steve Cooper is looking forward to his side's second Premier League game of the season.
With a relatively unimpressive playing career, highlighted by a two-year stint at Bangor City, Cooper's prowess comes via his coaching skills which have made him a highly sought after manager.
His notable work with the England youth teams included leading the under-17s to the final of the European Championship and victory in the World Cup. This success encouraged Swansea City to offer Cooper his first managerial role at club level in 2019.
In Cooper's two seasons at the South Wales outfit, he twice took the Swans to the play-offs. In his first season they lost out in the semi-finals to Brentford, who would again beat Cooper's side the next year, this time in the final. He left Swansea by mutual consent in the summer of 2021.
In September 2021 he was appointed head coach of Nottingham Forest, taking the club from the relegation zone to the play-offs, where they beat Huddersfield at Wembley. Forest had spent 20 seasons in the second tier prior to his arrival.
He kept Forest in the Premier League in their first season back in the top flight, but after a run of just one win in 13 Premier League games during the 2023/24 campaign, Cooper was sacked in December 2023.
In June 2024, Cooper was named as the new manager of Leicester City.
Steve Cooper's early coaching career
While still playing for Wrexham, Cooper trained to earn his UEFA pro license which he attained at 27, making him one of the youngest ever coaches to do so.
He went on to take up a position at Wrexham's academy as head of youth development and later moved to Liverpool in 2008 to work as a coach.
After three years, Cooper was promoted to academy manager. He left in 2014 when the opportunity to manage England's under-17s arose.
In 2017, he coached his under-17s to the final of the UEFA European U17 Championship, losing out to Spain on penalties. Redemption came at the U17 World Cup, where again his team reached the final, this time hammering Spain 5-2.
Steve Cooper's club career
After five years managing the England youth set-up, Cooper was enticed by a job at Championship side Swansea City at the end of the 2018/19 season.
In his two seasons at the club, his knowledge of England's talented youth set-up allowed him to sign players such as Conor Gallagher and Marc Guehi, both of whom have gone on to represent the England first team.
In a dramatic end to his first season at the club, Swansea reached the play-offs on the final matchday of the season. A 91st-minute goal from Wayne Routledge secured a 4-1 victory over Reading but more crucially gave his side a superior goal difference to Nottingham Forest to pip the East Midlands club to sixth place.
However despite a 1-0 win over Brentford in the first leg of the semi-finals, the Swans were defeated 3-1 at Griffin Park and missed out on the final.
Well done Steve Cooper and all the players of @SwansOfficial getting to the play off final in Wembley
— 🏴 🦢N D L 🦢🏴 (@NDLane1) May 22, 2021
Cracking goal @Matt_Grimes8 pic.twitter.com/8t7zH7MSGv
In his second season, Cooper again guided his team into the play-offs with a much more comfortable fourth-placed finish.
A 2-1 aggregate win over |Barnsley saw them into the final. However, once again, Cooper couldn't get the better of Thomas Frank's Brentford as they were beaten 2-0 at Wembley.
A little over a month after the defeat, Swansea announced that Cooper would not be renewing his contract and would be leaving the club.
Transforming Nottingham Forest
In September 2021, Chris Hughton was fired from his role as Nottingham Forest manager, with the club enduring their worst start to a season in over a century.
Forest were bottom of the table having taken only one point from their opening seven games. On September 21, Steve Cooper was named as Hughton's successor.
Almost immediately, Cooper transformed Forest and they began to rise up the table.
His expertise once again came into play during the January transfer window, signing young talented forwards Sam Surridge and Keinan Davis, as well as experienced centre-half Steve Cook - additions which would ultimately propel the club to the top end of the table.
In the 35 matches following his appointment, Forest picked up a remarkable 72 points.
With two games remaining, Forest were just three points off the automatic promotion spots. However, defeat at Bournemouth meant Cooper would once again have to go down the play-off route.
Nottingham Forest win the Championship play-off final to secure promotion to the Premier League 👏
— GOAL News (@GoalNews) May 29, 2022
They were bottom of the table when manager Steve Cooper took over in September 🤯 pic.twitter.com/fMA8SxZ3xz
Forest earned a 2-1 at Bramall Lane in the first leg of their semi-final against Sheffield United.
However, Cooper's play-off curse seemed to be in full effect as a second-half comeback from the Blades saw the tie finish 3-3. Extra-time couldn't split the sides and it went down to a penalty shootout, in which Forest keeper Brice Samba's heroics sent his side to Wembley for the first time since 1992.
Forest defeated Huddersfield Town 1-0 in the final, meaning a first Premier League this century, with Cooper achieving something Forest managers before him had failed to do.
Premier League and Forest exit
Cooper ended Forest's 23-year exile from the top flight when he guided them to promotion in the summer of 2022.
A difficult first year in the Premier League followed, where Cooper’s job was under continual threat before a late-season rally saw them finish 16th at the end of the 2022/23 season.
Cooper has had the support of the Forest fans after taking them from the bottom of the Championship to Premier League survival last season.
It was fan power that saved him from the sack last term, but with another summer of heavy investment from Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis the Greek businessman finally lost patience on December 15, 2023.
The 44-year-old paid the price for a run of just one win in 13 Premier League games, which saw Forest plummet to just five points above the drop zone.
Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis said: “Everyone at Nottingham Forest would like to thank Steve for his superb contribution to our football club. His achievement in guiding Forest back to the Premier League will undoubtedly remain an iconic moment in the club’s history.
“We thank Steve for his dedication and commitment during his time with us, as well as the incredible connection he forged with our supporters and the city of Nottingham.
“Steve will always remain a friend of the club and will forever be welcome at the City Ground. We wish him well in his future endeavours."
Back in business at Leicester
Cooper was named as the new manager of Leicester City on June 20, 2024.
He succeeded Enzo Maresca, who led the club back to the Premier League, on a contract that runs until 2027.
“I am very proud to be joining a club with a rich history,” Cooper wrote in an open letter to Leicester’s fans.
“I congratulate the players and staff on the achievements of their promotion to the Premier League. I know how hard that is.
“Any person who loves football can only look with great respect upon how much this club has achieved in recent years.
“The Premier League title of 2016 and the FA Cup of 2021 have demonstrated what’s possible for a united club. As the new manager, I don’t take that legacy lightly.
“My job will be to build on those achievements and to bring everyone along – players, staff and fans. Great challenges lie ahead but I get the feeling that Leicester thrives in these moments. I know we will be ready.”
Leicester chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha said: “We are delighted to welcome Steve to Leicester City.
“His vision for the team, including his ability to develop players and implement a dynamic style of play, is very much aligned with our aspirations for the club.
“As a leader, he has the ability to build on the strong relationship that has been forged between our fans and our team, strengthening a bond that will be vital to us re-establishing the club in the Premier League.”
Steve Cooper personal life
Cooper is the son of Welsh former football referee Keith Cooper.
