It has been almost 18 months since Liam Cooper’s 10-year spell at Leeds United came to an end. A modern-day Leeds icon, the man who captained Leeds to promotion after 16 years in the wilderness.
Cooper, now 34, initially joined as one of 15 signings made by Massimo Cellino in the Italian’s first summer as president of the club. Plenty of forgotten men were signed, but Cooper was a key addition.
The Scotland international would go on to play 284 times for Leeds, despite several injuries during his Leeds spell, and certainly towards the latter of his decade at Leeds. A total of 13 permanent managers.
Cooper’s last outing, his 284th for Leeds, came off the bench in the play-off semi-final second leg of 2023-24. It saw Cooper do a lap of Elland Road after the game, with his contract set to expire in June.
Liam Cooper breaks silence on Leeds United exit in 2024
Before leaving on a free, Cooper had made it clear that he would like to sign a new deal at the Leeds end-of-season awards do. But it was not to be. Cooper would leave a few weeks before his 10th anniversary.
Speaking to The Athletic on Monday, Cooper broke his silence on leaving Leeds that summer. He says he wanted to remain but ultimately, the decision was made by Daniel Farke that he would leave Elland Road.
“Everything’s so fast after the devastation of a play-off final. Everyone takes time to get over and process what has happened and then time just keeps moving. I will always come back. I will always be in touch.
“I accept it for what it is, I’m not one to be the centre of attention. Daniel had his own ideas of what he wanted. I wasn’t part of that. That’s football, you move on and give everything in whatever happens next.”
What next for Liam Cooper after CSKA Sofia spell
Cooper would make the surprising move to Bulgaria next, signing a two-year deal with CSKA Sofia. Injury hampered the left-footed defender, playing 27 times and eventually ending a year earlier than planned.
The pressure is mounting on Daniel Farke… should Leeds United sack him?⌛
He chose to move to Bulgaria despite interest in Cooper from Watford, among other sides. Now, he is finally set to find a new home, in the form of all-but-relegated Sheffield Wednesday after an EFL decision.
With Sheffield Wednesday in administration and on the receiving end of a points deduction, the club are under a transfer embargo. In a window, they can only do loans and free transfers. Out of it, not even that.
But The Owls have been granted special dispensation to sign players now, and Cooper is expected to be one of the first new signings made by Wednesday. Days, after Patrick Bamford joined Sheffield United.
Typically, Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday do battle on Saturday and Cooper is set to sign in the next 24 hours. There is a scenario where Cooper is marking Bamford, two stalwarts of Marcelo Bielsa’s era.
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