SWANSEA NEW MANAGER / SON OF BIG CARDIFF CITY FAN

Steve Cooper


Swansea City have confirmed the appointment of Steve Cooper as their new head coach. The former England under-17s boss has signed a three-year deal at the Liberty Stadium, and will bring long-trusted assistant Mike Marsh with him to SA1.


Steve is the son of Keith Cooper, a massive Cardiff City fan and has been for 40 years

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Steve Cooper


Swansea City have confirmed the appointment of Steve Cooper as their new head coach. The former England under-17s boss has signed a three-year deal at the Liberty Stadium, and will bring long-trusted assistant Mike Marsh with him to SA1.


Steve is the son of Keith Cooper, a massive Cardiff City fan and has been for 40 years

He's got to be a Cardiff fan himself? Surely?! Anyone know him?

Swansea City confirm former Liverpool coach Steve Cooper as their new head coach




Steve Cooper profiled


Friday 14th June 2019


Swansea City have confirmed the appointment of Steve Cooper as their new head coach.

The former England under-17s boss has signed a three-year deal at the Liberty Stadium, and will bring long-trusted assistant Mike Marsh with him to SA1.

Further backroom appointments will made in due course.

Cooper's arrival has been expected all week and the confirmation of his arrival in South Wales brings an end to weeks of speculation.

A host of names were believed to be in the running to replace previous boss Graham Potter, who left to take over Premier League Brighton and Hove Albion earlier in the summer.


Michael Appleton, Cameron Toshack, John Eustace and Gus Poyet were among the names thrown into the mix, but it's Cooper who has now been handed the job.

Cooper started out on the books of Wrexham, before joining up with their academy coaching team, a move that would eventually earn him a leading role in developing young players at the Racecourse Ground.


Liverpool came calling in 2008, with Cooper becoming academy manager at Anfield, helping bring through the club's next generation of stars.

A move to the England set-up followed, where he continued working with the next generation of talent, eventually guiding the under-17s side to World Cup glory in 2017.

His involvement in bringing through the likes of Phil Foden, Rhian Brewster, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Jadon Sancho are likely to have impressed the Swans hierarchy, who will now turn their attention to appointing a new head of recruitment.

In a statement confirming the news, chairman Trevor Birch said: "We are excited and delighted with the appointment.

“Together with Leon (Britton) and Alan (Curtis) we went through a long and thorough interview process covering a lot of very good candidates. The quality was extremely high, which speaks volumes about the attractiveness of the opportunity and how well respected this football club is within the game.


“At the forefront of our thinking was the appointment of a head coach who was hungry, ambitious, had a clear track record of playing our style of football, plus a pedigree to work with and develop young, talented players.

“Steve matched all those requirements in abundance and his views, coaching ethos and presentation were extremely compelling.

“It may be his first senior role, but he has been coaching for over 20 years and, let’s not forget, our young squad saw more game time for under-23 players than any other team in the Championship last season. And not many people can say they have won a World Cup, even at under-17 level!"

Former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers (left) with Mike Marsh and Colin Pascoe at Melwood in 2014
Despite never having managed at senior level, Birch insists he is confident the Pontypridd-born coach is ready for the challenge, even comparing him to previous successful bosses, such as Roberto Martinez and Brendan Rodgers.

“He is highly regarded as one of the best young coaches in the country and at some stage was always going to be given an opportunity by someone. I’m delighted we are that club because Swansea has a great track record of success in doing just that with the likes of Roberto Martinez and Brendan Rodgers, for example.’


"The appointment of Mike Marsh as his assistant - who has a wealth of knowledge and senior experience - will play a vital role in supporting Steve.

“We will also ensure he receives support from a strong infrastructure around him. Leon and Alan will be regular and familiar figures down at the training ground who, together with the impending new head of recruitment and other backroom hires, will form a strong collaborative team behind the scenes.

“We believe Steve is ready for it, but more importantly he believes he is ready for it as well. We are excited by the appointment and have every confidence and belief in his abilities to be successful.’’

You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

Steve Cooper


Swansea City have confirmed the appointment of Steve Cooper as their new head coach. The former England under-17s boss has signed a three-year deal at the Liberty Stadium, and will bring long-trusted assistant Mike Marsh with him to SA1.


Steve is the son of Keith Cooper, a massive Cardiff City fan and has been for 40 years

He's got to be a Cardiff fan himself? Surely?! Anyone know him?

Yes he is

Stevie is from Pontypridd and His dad is Keith Cooper, former Premier League referee.

Stevie is from Pontypridd and His dad is Keith Cooper, former Premier League referee.

He was the ref the only time I ever got sent off.

Did Keith Cooper referee the FA Cup tie with the jacks despite being a big Cardiff City fan or am I confused ? We still lost though.

Keith Cooper was actually a junior on Cardiff's books in the mid 1960s, then became a referee initially in the Pontypridd League. He is often a visitor down CCS and I suspect his son would be a City fan.


Mixed feelings on this one as I wish a fellow Ponty boy well but also want the Jacks to get relagted.

I like the comment from Birch re playing "our style of football". Presumably that means letting in lots of goals and getting relegated and stabilising in mid table the following season?

Poor Keith must be in bits with his son

Poor Keith must be in bits with his son

I know Keith well and he'll be ribbing Steve over this; but let's be honest here, what an opportunity and one that he couldn't realistically turn down

Poor Keith must be in bits with his son

I know Keith well and he'll be ribbing Steve over this; but let's be honest here, what an opportunity and one that he couldn't realistically turn down

Have to agree that he couldn't turn it down, although I feel he is onto a beating with his hands tied behind his back

Cooper is a bluebird, Cooper is a bluebird nah nah nah

And

Cooper do the ayatollah.

Have to be sang

Secret agent Cooper.....shhhhhhh.

Secret agent Cooper.....shhhhhhh.

He'll get the freedom of the city if it goes well !

Poor Keith must be in bits with his son

I know Keith well and he'll be ribbing Steve over this; but let's be honest here, what an opportunity and one that he couldn't realistically turn down

To take the jacks down a few leagues back to where they belong is too irresistible to most Cardiff fans....agent cooper