Steve Cooper speaks for the first time after becoming the new manager of Leicester City

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Steve Cooper speaks for the first time after becoming the new manager of Leicester City, his first job since departing Nottingham Forest.


The Foxes have been searching for a replacement after Enzo Maresca quit for Chelsea in early June.


Maresca joined Leicester at the beginning of the previous season, guided them to the Championship title, securing their prompt promotion back to the Premier League following their relegation in 2022-23.


But are in for a challenging season, with a potential points deduction on the way for alleged breaches of profit and sustainability rules (“PSR”).




CLUB STATEMENT:


Leicester City Football Club can today confirm the appointment of Steve Cooper as our new First Team Manager ahead of the 2024/25 Premier League season.


Steve, 44, has agreed a three-year contract and arrives at King Power Stadium as the Club continues its preparations for our top-flight return, following promotion from the Sky Bet Championship last season.


A manager of Premier League experience following a successful spell with Nottingham Forest, whom he guided to and established in the top flight between 2021 and 2023, Steve has built an excellent reputation in the game for his qualities as a coach and a leader.


Leicester City 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 said: “I am really excited and proud to be appointed Leicester City’s First Team Manager. This is a fantastic Club with a rich history and passionate supporters. I am excited to work with such a talented squad and I’m looking forward to the challenge of achieving our shared ambitions in the Premier League.”


COOPER’S OPEN LETTER TO FANS:


I am very proud to be joining a club with a rich history, and I want first of all to thank Khun Top for the opportunity to manage Leicester City. I recognise I am joining a group of people who love this Club and want the very best for it.


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.


The work starts now on building towards a successful Premier League season. Our aim is to once again make Leicester City an established Premier League club, and one that can look forward to the future with pride and ambition. To do that we have to show to our fans that we are ready to adapt to the new level after a season in the Championship. I know that my experience will be valuable in helping that evolution, with an excellent group of players working from one of the best training grounds in the world.


As staff and players, it is important we play with a style that the Leicester support recognise as the very best of their Club. The support of the fans will be fundamental and I am looking forward to meeting many of you over the summer.


This Club has a distinct identity and attracts a great deal of respect for what it has achieved. That has been done through the dedication of the owners and the hard work of the players and the people here.


I take the faith the Club have placed in me very seriously and am committed to immersing myself in what the Club and community stands for ensuring we have success together.


Steve Cooper



Born in Pontypridd, Cooper followed a playing career in Wales by becoming one of the youngest coaches to achieve the UEFA Pro Licence, aged 27, while coaching with Wrexham.


He left his role as Head of Youth Development at Wrexham to join Liverpool as an academy coach in September 2008 and was later named Academy Manager, coaching the club’s Under-18s during the 2012/13 campaign.


In October 2014, he took charge of England’s Under-16s team before his appointment as Under-17s manager the following year. He led his side to the final of the UEFA European Under-17 Championship in May 2017 before they were crowned FIFA Under-17 World Cup winners five months later.


Steve joined Swansea City as Head Coach in June 2019 and finished sixth in his first season in charge, with the Swans beaten over two legs by Brentford in the play-off semi-final.


He then secured a fourth-place standing the following campaign, and guided his side to the play-off final, where they were beaten by Brentford at Wembley.


After his departure from South Wales in July 2021, Steve was named Nottingham Forest manager in September of the same year. He remarkably led the City Ground outfit from the bottom of the Championship to a fourth-place finish in his first season in charge, which culminated in promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs.


He ensured Forest’s top-flight status the following year before leaving the club in December 2023.


Steve will now begin an exciting new chapter as Leicester City manager, with the playing squad due to return to pre-season training in early July.




Twitter users reacted as Steve Cooper speaks for the first time after becoming the new manager of Leicester City…


@Birdiex94x: Lovely stuff 🙌🏼 Now let’s all get behind him and get the good vibes ahead of the season start. Get some signings sorted and get working hard ASAP 🎉


@sbailey2105: Well it’s been confirmed Steve cooper is now our manager honestly not the man I wanted by a long shot but nothing we can do now gonna be a long season 🤦‍♂️🦊💙 #LCFC


@Jackjharcourt: Finally have a manager in place so we can now crack on! The same Fans moaning when they were shouting for not having appointed anyone yet but now we have and they still moan 🤣🤣🤣 I’m backing cooper and the squad! Let’s give him a chance


@MrRichPalmer: Good luck to him! You have a great manager their Foxes, sure he will be a good fit for the club, hope he gets a good reception back at The City Ground #NFFC


@LeicesterP88: I’m absolutely fuming with the club. How can they say Enzo was in on their vision but then left. What vision was that? Because it’s completely different football to what Cooper will play. I really can’t be arsed with this season. Rudkin needs binning off. Absolutely inept #lcfc


@jaymartin17: Probably not everyone’s first choice but some of the negativity before he was announced felt ridiculous. Done a good job with England’s youth teams, then at Swansea and again at Forest. Happy working with young player’s too which we’ll need. Let’s get behind him!


@DavidGLeedham: FFS! NOOOOOOOOOO! WHY! Where can I find the odds for ‘First Premier League manager to be sacked’ odds? #LCFC


@GavSnooker: Underwhelmed, but I bloody hope Steve Cooper sticks to his strengths. Time to back him by getting some young talent through the door. #LCFC


@lcgraphix2018: Well he’s here now, so lets see what he can produce. Until new signings walk through the door and pre-season gets under way then we can get a feel for next season. It’s gna be a slog has he got the mentality, we’ll find out! 😬


@HonestFootball3: This looks a great appointment on paper. As a supporter of a club that has gained a brilliant manager thanks to a rival sacking them, this one could be a masterstroke! 👍 #lcfc #nffc


@lcfcawaydays_: Cheer up and back the bloke. It’s going to be a rough season regardless who’s in charge 💙🦊 #LCFC


@Ashleypp1986 Well, it’s now official Steve Cooper is our new boss on a 3 year deal! It’s a pretty grim appointment & lazy from Top & Rudkin, but he’s here now, so time to get behind him & players because they need us more than ever this season. I fear disaster, but I really hope I’m wrong! Let’s face it. Steve Cooper was not high up on the list of candidates amongst us fans, but he’s got the job we can’t change that all we can do is give him a chance and hope for a minor miracle. It needs to work out for Tops sake. Else things down at the KP will turn vile! I can’t help thinking that appointing Cooper is with next season in mind if we get relegated which is a massive possibility especially with the pts deduction pending! Never a dull moment is there!


@Jakebroadwell2: Such a strange decision… But we’ll back you lad 🦊 #lcfc


@_dc194: If you’re upset with the Cooper appointment, just make sure you’re directing your ire at the club rather than the man himself. The man deserves and needs the support of the fans from minute one. #lcfc


@JordLCFC: Guess we are just gonna have to back cooper and ride the wave 🥲 never know he might do well #lcfc #LCFC


@Cieran_white: Am I living in a nightmare? #lcfc #rudkinout


@hursty16: Very low key announcement, it’s almost like the club are embarrassed!! Still, let’s get behind him and see where we end up, you never know?? #comeonyoublueboys 💙🦊


@CateFox: We support the club, not just one person. If we all dont get behind them, what chance do we have? Time to crack on and be ready for the huge challenge ahead now #lcfc


@jhandford11: Replying to @LCFC Let’s go, Steve. We’re a club in turmoil. Crazy price hikes, points deduction looming, no money, players likely to be sold. WHO ELSE WANTS THAT JOB??? Fair play to Steve wanting to come in and give it a go! #LCFC


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