Former Leicester City manager Steve Cooper has made a shock return to management by joining Danish top flight outfit Brondby on a three-year deal.
The 45-year-old was appointed Foxes boss last summer following the departure of Enzo Maresca to Chelsea. It was a decision which wasn’t overly popular with the supporters, mainly due to his affinity with bitter rivals Nottingham Forest.
Cooper had guided the two-time European champions back to the Premier League for the first time since 1999 in 2022 but was sacked in December of the following year. Six months later, he made the short journey to the King Power Stadium, although was gone by November with the club languishing just above the relegation zone.
Leicester swiftly appointed former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy. The Dutchman was unable to improve matters and they were eventually relegated back to the Championship at the first time of asking.
Cooper Opts For Move Abroad
Despite his disastrous spell at Leicester, Cooper’s reputation remained in tact. He was linked with a number of roles over the summer, including Middlesbrough following the departure of Michael Carrick. It was said at the time that the former England under-17 boss was unwilling to drop to the Championship, but his latest appointment has come as a shock.
11-time Danish champions Brondby announced this afternoon that they had captured Cooper’s signature on a three-year deal. It is said that the prospect of returning the club to former glories was appealing, as well as the opportunity to land a European spot next season.
Upon the announcement, director of football Benjamin Schmedes said:
“We want to accelerate our development so that we can achieve the ambitious sporting goals we have and, not least, install a winning culture within the walls of Brondby Stadium.
“This requires a mentality, leadership and a pair of broad shoulders that we have no doubt Steve possesses.
“That is why we are very pleased that he has agreed to take on the challenge.”
Cooper’s first game in charge will be against Superliga champions and current league leaders Copenhagen on Saturday.
Writer’s View
This is undoubtedly a shock, with Cooper still widely renowned in England. He was linked with several positions throughout the summer whereas he would also have been in with a shout of landing a job in the Premier League in the coming months once the axe starts to fall on those that have endured poor starts. Still, it’s a left field choice and it will be interesting to see if he can cope with the pressures that come with the Brondby job. They have just one league title to their name in the last 20 years and are desperate to return to former glories.
