Leicester City Appoint Steve Cooper As First Team Manager

- Steve Cooper named new Leicester City First Team Manager
- The former Nottingham Forest and Swansea City boss has agreed a contract to 2027
- Foxes set for Premier League return following promotion from the Championship

Steve, 44, has agreed a three-year contract and arrives at King Power Stadium as the Club continues its preparations for our top-flight return, following promotion from the Sky Bet Championship last season.

A manager of Premier League experience following a successful spell with Nottingham Forest, whom he guided to and established in the top flight between 2021 and 2023, Steve has built an excellent reputation in the game for his qualities as a coach and a leader.

Leicester City Chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha said: “We are delighted to welcome Steve to Leicester City. His vision for the team, including his ability to develop players and implement a dynamic style of play, is very much aligned with our aspirations for the Club.

“As a leader, he has the ability to build on the strong relationship that has been forged between our fans and our team, strengthening a bond that will be vital to us re-establishing the Club in the Premier League.” 

Steve Cooper said: “I am really excited and proud to be appointed Leicester City’s First Team Manager. This is a fantastic Club with a rich history and passionate supporters. I am excited to work with such a talented squad and I’m looking forward to the challenge of achieving our shared ambitions in the Premier League.”

Born in Pontypridd, Cooper followed a playing career in Wales by becoming one of the youngest coaches to achieve the UEFA Pro Licence, aged 27, while coaching with Wrexham.

He left his role as Head of Youth Development at Wrexham to join Liverpool as an academy coach in September 2008 and was later named Academy Manager, coaching the club’s Under-18s during the 2012/13 campaign.

In October 2014, he took charge of England’s Under-16s team before his appointment as Under-17s manager the following year. He led his side to the final of the UEFA European Under-17 Championship in May 2017 before they were crowned FIFA Under-17 World Cup winners five months later.

Steve joined Swansea City as Head Coach in June 2019 and finished sixth in his first season in charge, with the Swans beaten over two legs by Brentford in the play-off semi-final.

He then secured a fourth-place standing the following campaign, and guided his side to the play-off final, where they were beaten by Brentford at Wembley.

After his departure from South Wales in July 2021, Steve was named Nottingham Forest manager in September of the same year. He remarkably led the City Ground outfit from the bottom of the Championship to a fourth-place finish in his first season in charge, which culminated in promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs.

He ensured Forest’s top-flight status the following year before leaving the club in December 2023.

Steve will now begin an exciting new chapter as Leicester City manager, with the playing squad due to return to pre-season training in early July.