Cooper is committed to making Leicester City an EPL force again

Steve Cooper is committed to making Leicester City an established Premier League force after the former Nottingham Forest manager was appointed to oversee what could be a difficult first season back in the top flight, reports telegraph.co.uk.

Cooper, 44, was appointed by the club to succeed Enzo Maresca, who led Leicester to promotion and then left for Chelsea.

Cooper was sacked by Forest in December and was the first choice of Leicester owner Aiyawatt ‘Top’ Srivaddhanaprabha as well as sporting director Jon Rudkin – the two key figures at the club.

A club accustomed to stability under the Srivaddhanaprabha family, Leicester have given Cooper a contract until 2027 and the title of first-team manager. Although with the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability (PSR) rules hanging over the club – and a points deduction – it’s a far from simple task.

Cooper made his name in club football at Swansea City and then Forest, who he took from the bottom of the Championship to victory in the play-off final in May 2022. He then kept them in the Premier League with a game to spare them next season despite unprecedented squad turnover and 23 first-team signings in the summer of 2022 alone.

He twice took Swansea to the Championship play-offs, losing in the 2021 final to Brentford.

In an open letter to fans, Cooper paid tribute to the club’s successes over the past decade, their miraculous Premier League title in 2016 and FA Cup triumph in 2021. He hinted at the difficulties Leicester could face, winners of championship, but now fighting in the Premier League for PSR. “Great challenges lie ahead,” he said,
“but I have a feeling that Leicester are thriving at the moment. I know we will be ready.

“The work starts now to build a successful season in the Premier League. Our aim is to make Leicester City an established Premier League club once again and one that can look to the future with pride and ambition.”

Cooper said the first challenge was “to show our fans that we are ready to adapt to the new level after a season in the Championship”. He said: “I know my experience will be valuable in helping this development with an excellent group of players working from one of the best training grounds in the world.”

Leicester’s big veteran striker Jamie Vardy, 37, has signed up for another season and the club will now have to look to replace players to reduce potential losses while making the squad competitive in the Premier League. Among those they would like to sign is 20-year-old Ghana international Abdul Fatawu, who had a successful season on loan from Sporting Lisbon in the Championship last season.