Steve Cooper, the head coach of Nottingham Forest, is giving a thumbs-up to the supporters during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur at the City Ground in Nottingham, on December 15, 2023. (Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Steve Cooper has vowed to make sure Leicester City rise to the challenge of staying in the Premier League next season after being appointed as their new manager on a three-year deal.
The former Swansea City boss will ensure there is at least one Welsh manager working in the top flight next season, following his dismissal at Nottingham Forest midway through last season and the relegation suffered by Rob Edwards’s Luton Town.
Cooper, 44, had been out of work since leaving Forest in December but has succeeded Enzo Maresca at the King Power Stadium on a contract that runs until 2027.
Maresca left the Foxes after delivering promotion to the Premier League to take over at Chelsea following Mauricio Pochettino’s departure at the end of the season.
Cooper has been biding his time to get back into work following an emotional exit from the City Ground, where he guided Forest back into the top flight for the first time in 23 years and then kept them there.
“I am very proud to be joining a club with a rich history,” he wrote in an open letter to Leicester’s fans. “I congratulate the players and staff on the achievements of their promotion to the Premier League. I know how hard that is.
“Any person who loves football can only look with great respect upon how much this club has achieved in recent years.
“The Premier League title of 2016 and the FA Cup of 2021 have demonstrated what’s possible for a united club. As the new manager, I don’t take that legacy lightly.
“My job will be to build on those achievements and to bring everyone along – players, staff and fans. Great challenges lie ahead but I get the feeling that Leicester thrives in these moments. I know we will be ready.”
