Nottingham Forest's Welsh manager Steve Cooper applauds fans ahead of kick-off in the English Premier League football match between Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur at The City Ground in Nottingham, central England, on December 15, 2023. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Breaking news: Steve Cooper has officially signed on to take over as Sunderland manager following Michael Beale’s departure….
He’ll pick up the pieces following a turbulent 12-game tenure for the 43-year-old Beale, who despite winning four of his 12 games at the helm was said to have lost the dressing room.
Several names are being linked with the Stadium of Light vacancy ahead of the summer, including Reims boss Will Still who was closely linked before Beale’s arrival.
Another name now being linked is former Swansea City and Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper.
Steve Cooper potentially open to Sunderland manager job
Cooper, 44, is currently out of work after leaving Nottingham Forest earlier this season.
The former England youth coach made his name with Swansea City before guiding Forest to promotion from the Championship in 2022.
He was linked to the Crystal Palace job before they hired Oliver Glasner, and TEAMtalk are now claiming that Cooper could potentially be attracted to the Sunderland project.
Their report writes that Cooper ‘will likely be keen to re-gain his Premier League status’ as a manager, but that a ‘club the size of Sunderland holds a lot of potential that sources say could be of interest to Cooper’.
Cooper would be a huge coup for Sunderland
Many expect Sunderland to hire an overseas manager this summer, like they were supposed to after sacking Tony Mowbray.
And Still’s name will no doubt come back into the conversation ahead of the summer, though expect the Sunderland owners to still consider options here.
