Ex-Leicester City manager Steve Cooper has become a prominent figure in the world of English football due to both his achievements and the challenges he has faced. Best known for his managerial role at Nottingham Forest before his tenure at Leicester City, Cooper has carved out a reputation for nurturing young talent and fostering a strong team spirit. His journey has been marked by significant ups and downs, particularly during the tumultuous period in the Premier League. This article talks about
Credit: Sky News
Before taking the reins at Nottingham Forest, Cooper was highly regarded for his time as head coach of the England U17 team, where he led the squad to victory in the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2017. This achievement established Cooper as a manager who could not only develop young players but also deliver results on the big stage. Following this success, he transitioned to club management, taking charge of Swansea City before leaving with mutual consent in 2021.
He joined Nottingham Forest in September 2021. Under his guidance, Forest achieved promotion to the Premier League after a 23-year absence, which was a monumental achievement for the club and its supporters. While this huge achievement garnered a lot of praise for Steve Cooper, and he was adored by Nottingham Forest fans, a string of poor performances made the club management and the fans turn on the manager who had got them promoted.
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Steve Cooper was dismissed by Nottingham Forest on 19th December 2023 after being unable to improve performance, and he signed for newly promoted Leicester City on 20th June 2024. However, his short tenure at the club has now come to an end after an astonishing display against Chelsea after the international break, which saw them lose 2-1 at home. Leicester City currently sits 16th in the Premier League, having accumulated just 10 points in their first 12 games. They have won two games and drawn four while having lost six of their opening 12 fixtures.
BREAKING: Leicester have officially confirmed the sacking of Steve Cooper 🚨 pic.twitter.com/NF7TRcOqK7
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 24, 2024
Leicester City will now be in the market for a new manager, one who can turn their fortunes around this season. They have looked at various possible replacements, including Graham Potter, David Moyes, and Ruud van Nistelrooy. The Dutchman had put himself forward for the job before Steve Cooper was announced, and his stock has risen since. He has shown that he is ready to take control of a team and is a real option for Leicester City.
Steve Cooper’s sacking sheds light on how unforgiving top-division football can be and how your achievements can quickly be forgotten in the light of recent events. From being applauded for getting Nottingham Forest promoted to being let go by both Forest and Leicester City, Cooper has almost hit rock bottom. However, every manager has their highs and lows, and he will now be looking forward to his next managerial job and will hope he can remind everyone of the brilliant tactics and qualities he possesses as a manager.
While Leicester City is now without a manager, it is not in the relegation zone, and the pressure will not be extremely high. However, given Ipswich Town’s recent performances, Leicester City are just one point away from the relegation zone and will want to appoint a new manager as soon as possible so that they can start working on putting a gap between them and 18th place. Only time will tell who the new Leicester City boss will be, but whoever is appointed will surely have a tough job to do with the squad that Steve Cooper has left behind.
For more news and updates on Leicester City, keep reading GutshotMagazine.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Telegram.
Guransh Machra is a sportswriter at Gutshot Magazine. He covers football news from local leagues like the Indian Super League as well as international leagues like the Premier League. He follows various sports like Football, Cricket, Formula 1, and Tennis. Apart from sports, Guransh is also enthusiastic about reading and gaming.
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