English Premier League club, Leicester City, has announced the sack of Steve Cooper as the team’s manager with immediate effect.
The club announced on Sunday, 24 November, 2024 in a statement on its website, titled, “Leicester City Part Company With Steve Cooper.”
Cooper’s sack comes after the Foxes lost 2-1 at home against Chelsea in the league on Saturday, 23 November, 2024.
The Foxes were beaten 2-1 by a Chelsea side managed by former boss Enzo Maresca on Saturday – a defeat which left them two points above the relegation zone.
Cooper took over from Maresca in the summer after the Italian had led Leicester to the 2023-24 Championship title and promotion back into the Premier League.
“Men’s first team training will be overseen by first team coach Ben Dawson, supported by coaches Danny Alcock and Andy Hughes, as the club begins the process of appointing a new manager, which we hope to conclude as soon as possible,” said a Leicester statement.
Assistant manager Alan Tate and first-team coach and analyst Steve Rands have also left the club.
The defeat by Chelsea was Leicester’s sixth in the top flight this season and, afterwards, Cooper was critical of referee Andrew Madley’s performance in the game.
Speaking to BBC Sport, he also said: “I knew how tough the challenge of the season was going to be both on and off the pitch and it’s proving to be that but that’s just how it is coming back into the league.
“I believe we can do better so that’s got to come in the performances to get the results.”
He is the second manager to be sacked in the Premier League this season following Manchester United parting company with Erik ten Hag in October.
Former Leicester keeper Mark Schwarzer said he was “a little bit surprised” by Cooper’s departure.
“Leicester is not known for being a club that will sack managers quickly,” the Australian told BBC Radio 5 Live. “They are not known to panic.
“At times some would say that perhaps they have held on too long to some managers.
“You did hear after the last few games that Cooper was pointing his finger a lot at the officials for decisions that had gone against Leicester and perhaps cost them.”
Cooper took over at Leicester following a stint in charge at Nottingham Forest, who sacked him in December 2023.
The 44-year-old guided Forest to promotion into the top flight in 2022 and, after having kept them in the division the following season, he was dismissed midway through 2023-24 with the club in 17th spot.
Cooper, who guided England’s Under-17s to victory at the 2017 World Cup, also had a two-year spell in charge of Swansea, taking them to the Championship play-off final in 2021 where they lost to Brentford.
