Colin Cooper

Playing career

He played as a centre back, but was equally useful at full-back. He spent the first seven years of his professional career contracted to Middlesbrough, making 188 league appearances and scoring six league goals in the process. During this time, he helped Middlesbrough through liquidation in 1986.

In the summer of 1991, he was transferred to Division Two side Millwall for the sum of £300,000 spending two successful seasons at The Den.

After impressing several big name clubs, he decided to move to Nottingham Forest in 1993 for £1,700,000. It was at Forest where Colin arguably played the best football of his career, his form earning him two England caps in 1995 against Sweden and Brazil.

After experiencing the joys of two promotions and the heart-break of a relegation, "Super Coops" was re-purchased by his first club, Middlesbrough, in a £2,500,000 deal. Many people questioned the signing of the stalwart from Nottingham Forest, but Colin proved to many people that he was more than capable of playing Premier League football. He maintained a consistent level of play throughout the seven years that he spent with Middlesbrough, and could always be relied upon to do a job. He almost gave up the game in 2002 after his son, Finlay, died in an accident at the family home{{cite news

In 2005, Cooper was awarded a one-year contract extension, which saw him play at the age of 39. His final season with Middlesbrough, 2005–06, saw Boro reach the 2006 UEFA Cup Final. However, he made just one appearance all campaign, coming on as a late substitute on the last day of the season against Fulham.{{cite news

International career

Cooper made his England international debut in a 3–3 draw against Sweden.{{cite news

Managerial career

After he retired from playing, in June 2006, Cooper was officially given a job with the Middlesbrough coaching staff, as the Reserve team coach. Following Steve Round's departure from the club in December 2006, Cooper was promoted to a more active role with the first team. Following the departure of Malcolm Crosby on 17 June 2009, Cooper was promoted to assistant manager at Middlesbrough. On 22 October 2009, following the departure of manager Gareth Southgate, Cooper was appointed caretaker manager at Middlesbrough. However, he was only employed in this position for four days, as Gordon Strachan was announced as the new manager on 26 October. Cooper's solitary match in charge was a 2–2 draw with Preston North End on 24 October 2009. In May 2010, Cooper was relieved of all duties at Middlesbrough by Strachan.

On 9 March 2011, Cooper was appointed as assistant to interim manager Peter Jackson at League Two side Bradford City. Jackson was subsequently appointed full-time manager on 25 May 2011, but he resigned on 25 August 2011, resulting in Cooper taking over as caretaker manager. winning his first game 4–2 against Barnet. Phil Parkinson was appointed as Jackson's permanent successor, and on 8 September 2011, Cooper left Bradford to rejoin Middlesbrough and take up a coaching role with Middlesbrough's under-18 side.

On 24 May 2013, he became manager at Football League Two side Hartlepool United, replacing John Hughes, who had been sacked the previous month. He named fellow ex-Middlesbrough player Craig Hignett as his assistant manager. After winning four out of five league games in October, Cooper won the Sky Bet League Two Manager of the Month Award.

Cooper resigned as Hartlepool United manager on 4 October 2014, after a 3–0 home defeat by Carlisle United, which left the club at the bottom of the League Two table.

In April 2016, Cooper joined Gareth Southgate's coaching staff with the England U21s.

Media work

Cooper was a regular guest on the ITV late night football review programme Soccer Night, which was hosted by Roger Tames. During this programme, three legendary figures, representing one of each of the North-East's top three clubs (Middlesbrough, Sunderland, and Newcastle United), come to the studio and discuss recent footballing events.

Personal life

In 2006, Colin and his wife Julie, formed the charity the Finlay Cooper Fund, named after his son who died in a tragic accident in 2002, which raises money for children's causes. In 2013, Colin and 12 others (which included Craig Hignett and Jeff Stelling) climbed Mount Kilimanjaro for charity; the climb raised £100,000.

Career statistics

Playing career

Statistics for league appearances only

Managerial career

Honours

Player

Middlesbrough

• Second Division promotion: 1987–88
• Third Division runner-up: 1986–87
• Football League Cup: 2003–04
• Zenith Data Systems Cup runner-up: 1989–90

Nottingham Forest

• First Division: 1997–98; runner-up: 1993–94

England U21s

• Tournoi Espoirs de Toulon runner-up: 1988

Individual

• PFA Team of the Year: 1992–93 First Division, 1993–94 First Division, 1997–98 First Division

Manager

Individual

• Football League Two Manager of the Month Award: October 2013

References

References

1. "England Players - Colin Cooper".
2. (1987). "Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88". Queen Anne Press.
3. (2 December 2011). "Heroes from 1986 to attend Boro play". Teesside University.
4. (17 January 2019). "A Foot In Both Camps: Millwall". Middlesbrough FC Official Site.
5. "1068 Colin Terrence Cooper (1995)". englandstats.com.
6. (29 February 2004). "Boro lift Carling Cup". [[BBC Sport]].
7. {{Soccerbase season. 1633. 2003
8. (25 June 2006). "Southgate shuffles coaching staff". BBC Sport.
9. (15 December 2006). "Boro promotion for Cooper". Metro.
10. Bailey, Richard. (17 June 2009). "Crosby leaves Boro". Sky Sports.
11. (25 June 2006). "Southgate shuffles coaching staff". BBC Sport.
12. Taylor, Louise. (22 October 2009). "Colin Cooper to lead Boro at Preston but Gordon Strachan waits in the wings". The Guardian.
13. (26 October 2009). "Strachan named Middlesbrough boss". BBC Sport.
14. (24 October 2009). "Preston 2–2 Middlesbrough". BBC Sport.
15. (20 May 2010). "Middlesbrough roles for Gary McAllister and Jim Blyth". BBC Sport.
16. (9 March 2011). "Bradford City appoint Colin Cooper as assistant manager". BBC Sport.
17. Parker, Simon. (2011-03-10). "Bradford City No 2 Cooper made to feel like one of the family at Valley Parade". Telegraph & Argus.
18. Parker, Simon. (25 May 2011). "Finally, Jackson appointed Bradford City manager". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
19. (25 August 2011). "Bradford City manager Peter Jackson resigns". BBC Sport.
20. (26 August 2011). "Cooper to take charge on Saturday". Bradford City Football Club official website.
21. (29 August 2011). "Phil Parkinson appointed Bradford City manager". BBC Sport.
22. (8 September 2011). "Colin Cooper set for Middlesbrough after Bradford exit". BBC Sport.
23. (24 May 2013). "Hartlepool United appoint Colin Cooper as new boss". BBC Sport.
24. (7 November 2013). "Hartlepool United's Colin Cooper and Luke James win manager and player of the month - Hartlepool Mail". Hartlepool Mail.
25. (4 October 2014). "Hartlepool United: Colin Cooper resigns as manager". BBC Sport.
26. (21 April 2016). "FA strengthens development coaching with new appointments". The FA.
27. "About us". Finlay Cooper Fund.
28. (13 June 2013). "Charity team conquer Kilimanjaro". ITV News.
29. (29 October 2013). "Hartlepool United manager's Kilimanjaro trek raises £100,000 for charity". Hartlepool Mail.
30. "Colin Cooper". [[Racing Post.
31. Lynch. "The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes".
32. Lynch. "The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes".
33. (1998). "The 1998–99 Official PFA Footballers Factfile". Queen Anne Press.
34. (8 November 2013). "Sky Bet League Two: Hartlepool's Colin Cooper and Luke James win manager and player awards". Sky Sports.