Leicester City sack coach Steve Cooper after 5 months in charge

Premier League side Leicester City have sacked manager Steve Cooper after just five months in charge of the club.

Leicester announced this in a statement on Sunday.

The club stated: “Leicester City Football Club has parted company with Steve Cooper, who leaves his position as First Team Manager with immediate effect.

“Assistant Manager Alan Tate and First Team Coach and Analyst Steve Rands have also left the Club. Steve, Alan and Steve depart with our thanks for their contribution during their time with the Club and with our best wishes for the future.

“Men’s First Team training will be overseen by First Team Coach Ben Dawson, supported by coaches Danny Alcock and Andy Hughes, as the Club begins the process of appointing a new manager, which we hope to conclude as soon as possible.”

Cooper, 44, had been an unpopular appointment to succeed Enzo Maresca in June due to his past with local rivals Nottingham Forest.

He won just two of his 12 Premier League games in charge to leave Leicester perilously poised above the drop zone.

The final straw came as Chelsea won 2-1 in Maresca’s return to the King Power on Saturday.

EPL: Arsenal whip Nottingham Forest as Chelsea defeat Leicester

Cooper began his coaching career in the youth set-up of the England national teams before a two-year spell at Swansea.

However, it was at Forest where he made his name, leading the two-time European champions back into the Premier League for the first time in 23 years.

That success, though, counted against him in the eyes of some Leicester fans, who booed him even before kick-off in his first match in charge against Tottenham.

Victories over Bournemouth and relegation rivals Southampton were not enough to ease that tension with the fan base.

A five-game winless run, that included a League Cup exit to Manchester United, ultimately cost him his job with Leicester sitting 16th in the table.

Cooper becomes the second Premier League manager of the season to be sacked after United parted ways with Erik ten Hag.

The Star