Steve Cooper looks a boss destined for big things Immediate

Steve Cooper looks a boss destined for big things


Chief of Sport

Monday 14th December 2020



Immediately on the final whistle, I chatted to Welsh football legend Alan Curtis about what went right for the Swans and what went wrong for the Bluebirds.

It reminded me of how he had been one of the prime movers behind the decision to appoint Steve Cooper as boss.

it was an enormous gamble at the time, an unproven manager, but Cooper blew away the three-man interview panel of Curtis, Leon Britton and then chairman Trevor Birch with his visionary view on the game.

It was something of a Hollywood interview, I was told back then. The club's US owners needed convincing about appointing a rookie, but in the end Birch managed to do just that.

Some Swans fans were questioning Cooper last season, but I'm not entirely sure why because he did a fabulous job on the resources available.

Andre Ayew's reputed £80k a week wages apart, this is a man who works within tight budgets, gives youth a chance and gets his team playing pass and move football at pace. On the front foot, high up the pitch, with tempo and zip.

"We have a philosophy and it showed out there today," was Curtis' immediate post-match assessment.

There were moments in the game when every outfield Swansea player seemed to be in the same third of the pitch. They were tight, compact, together as a team. No wonder they were picking up second balls because they had bodies there, whereas Cardiff were far more stretched.

Every Swans player buys into what their manager wants and they do their best to implement the game plan.

But the work Cooper is doing is bound to be catching the eye of bigger clubs, as was the case with previous Swansea managers like Roberto Martinez, Brendan Rodgers and Graham Potter.

There are not many people in the UK who can say they have won a football World Cup as manager. The suspicion was whether Cooper could take his brilliant work with England under-17s into the senior game.

Cooper is tactically astute - look at how he got Jay Fulton to jump in front of Cardiff's biggest threat Kieffer Moore every time. As a front sweeper, Fulton ensured Moore had a minimum of two men challenging with him and it nullified his presence.

Cooper is a quick learner, gets his homework spot on, aided Joe Rodon's development and has a special rapport with the finest young English talent in the game.

That lot, coupled with results, is bound to be turning heads in Premier League boardrooms, or bigger Championship clubs.

Of course, Cooper hopes to get in the top flight with Swansea.

But when vacancies do arise, don't be surprised to start seeing his name mentioned as part of the mix.

And don't rule out the man from Pontypridd, who ironically comes from a Cardiff City-supporting household, also becoming Wales manager one day.

Andre Ayew's reputed £80k a week wages apart, this is a man who works within tight budgets, gives youth a chance and gets his team playing pass and move football at pace. On the front foot, high up the pitch, with tempo and zip.

This should be read out to Harris and posted on the wall in his office!

Steve Cooper , if Ryan Giggs goes from the Welsh job (for whatever reason ) WFA must get Cooper, before he goes to the EPL . His tactical awareness , really stood out on Saturday . Ayew wages are surely untenable in the championship , especially with no crowds !

Steve Cooper , if Ryan Giggs goes from the Welsh job (for whatever reason ) WFA must get Cooper, before he goes to the EPL . His tactical awareness , really stood out on Saturday . Ayew wages are surely untenable in the championship , especially with no crowds !

I’d be very surprised if he took it if offered.

Steve Cooper , if Ryan Giggs goes from the Welsh job (for whatever reason ) WFA must get Cooper, before he goes to the EPL . His tactical awareness , really stood out on Saturday . Ayew wages are surely untenable in the championship , especially with no crowds !

I’d be very surprised if he took it if offered.

So would I

All rivalries aside, I think Steve Cooper (and this is a compliment to him and his current club) is another off the Swansea managerial conveyor belt that is destined to go to the Premier League with or without them

He was highly rated at the FA and if the only bad things (some pretty embarrassing Bluebird supporters) can say about him are related to his looks, that says an awful lot!

Put simply, I wish he was our manager and not theirs right now...!

Steve Cooper , if Ryan Giggs goes from the Welsh job (for whatever reason ) WFA must get Cooper, before he goes to the EPL . His tactical awareness , really stood out on Saturday . Ayew wages are surely untenable in the championship , especially with no crowds !

I’d be very surprised if he took it if offered.

So would I

All rivalries aside, I think Steve Cooper (and this is a compliment to him and his current club) is another off the Swansea managerial conveyor belt that is destined to go to the Premier League with or without them

He was highly rated at the FA and if the only bad things (some pretty embarrassing Bluebird supporters) can say about him are related to his looks, that says an awful lot!

Put simply, I wish he was our manager and not theirs right now...!

For me he is right up there with Martinez.

Swanseas managerial scouting has been second to none over the last 10 years.

He's won f**k all yet

WTF are we talking about....He out thought Neil "Bomber" Harris not Jose Mourihno !!!!!

In all honesty Jayne Ludlow would out think Harris by Saturdays performance.

How many of their managers have won something at swans in last ten years? Not sure how many managers that is 7/8? But Is playing tippy tappy football a success or is winning something the only measure of success?

How many of their managers have won something at swans in last ten years? Not sure how many managers that is 7/8? But Is playing tippy tappy football a success or is winning something the only measure of success?

Exactly, Swansea appoints their Managers partly on their contacts, this one has some good connections, can he win anything, time will tell?

I genuinely think they will fall away, but they've had a good start and time will tell?

How many of their managers have won something at swans in last ten years? Not sure how many managers that is 7/8? But Is playing tippy tappy football a success or is winning something the only measure of success?

Exactly, Swansea appoints their Managers partly on their contacts, this one has some good connections, can he win anything, time will tell?

I genuinely think they will fall away, but they've had a good start and time will tell?

Its easier to keep a type of football going if you've got it in 1st place ? Have to go back really to Dave Jones to get any kind of passing style football at city..... to get to a passing type of football will take a monumental shift of strategy by the board and fair bit time and money, upto know its not been worth it for tan as we've had 2 cup finals 2 promotions and near misses so why would he change things? Only way will change is if city start to decline down the league or have a brain storm and appoint a footballing manager next .

How many of their managers have won something at swans in last ten years? Not sure how many managers that is 7/8? But Is playing tippy tappy football a success or is winning something the only measure of success?

They won the League Cup. And much as it pains me to say it, that's more than we have won in the last 93 years!

How many of their managers have won something at swans in last ten years? Not sure how many managers that is 7/8? But Is playing tippy tappy football a success or is winning something the only measure of success?

They won the League Cup. And much as it pains me to say it, that's more than we have won in the last 93 years!

Yes against div 2 opponents while in premier league.. but this threads about what fantastic managers they've had time and time again so one promotion via playoffs and 1 cup between 7/8 managers is success I suppose.

How many of their managers have won something at swans in last ten years? Not sure how many managers that is 7/8? But Is playing tippy tappy football a success or is winning something the only measure of success?

They won the League Cup. And much as it pains me to say it, that's more than we have won in the last 93 years!

We almost won it too, and as said above against decent opposition, it's picking up a bit but a few years ago it really was the reserves cup for 90% of Premier League and top Championship clubs.

This bloke won't win anything.

How many of their managers have won something at swans in last ten years? Not sure how many managers that is 7/8? But Is playing tippy tappy football a success or is winning something the only measure of success?

They won the League Cup. And much as it pains me to say it, that's more than we have won in the last 93 years!

Yes against div 2 opponents while in premier league.. but this threads about what fantastic managers they've had time and time again so one promotion via playoffs and 1 cup between 7/8 managers is success I suppose.

Whilst beating chelsea and liverpool to get there but that aside , just go back 40 years for example .
Toshack , Yorath . Flynn , Molby , Jackett , Martinez, Sousa. Rodgers Laudrup , even Monk ,Potter and who knows where Cooper will end up, all of whom made a significant positive impact on the Club, can the same be said for he likes of mackay, Trollope , Slade even Harris will become just another name . regarding the playoffs I seem to recall you had the same opportunity but not good enough , and that's the continuing story almost but not quite.

How many of their managers have won something at swans in last ten years? Not sure how many managers that is 7/8? But Is playing tippy tappy football a success or is winning something the only measure of success?

They won the League Cup. And much as it pains me to say it, that's more than we have won in the last 93 years!

Yes against div 2 opponents while in premier league.. but this threads about what fantastic managers they've had time and time again so one promotion via playoffs and 1 cup between 7/8 managers is success I suppose.

Whilst beating chelsea and liverpool to get there but that aside , just go back 40 years for example .
Toshack , Yorath . Flynn , Molby , Jackett , Martinez, Sousa. Rodgers Laudrup , even Monk ,Potter and who knows where Cooper will end up, all of whom made a significant positive impact on the Club, can the same be said for he likes of mackay, Trollope , Slade even Harris will become just another name . regarding the playoffs I seem to recall you had the same opportunity but not good enough , and that's the continuing story almost but not quite.

Give you 9 out of 10 for effort.