Leicester City have announced the appointment of Steve Cooper as their new manager, with the former Nottingham Forest boss agreeing a deal until 2027.
The 44-year-old Welshman replaces Enzo Maresca, who joined Chelsea earlier this month after overseeing Leicester’s promotion back to the Premier League last season at the first attempt.
This will be Cooper’s second spell in the Premier League and his second time managing a promoted side, having been at Forest from September 2021. He led the club from the bottom of the Championship to the Premier League and then oversaw a 16th-place finish in 2022/23, before leaving in December 2023.
Leicester City Football Club can confirm the appointment of Steve Cooper as our new First Team Manager 🔵
— Leicester City (@LCFC) June 20, 2024
"I congratulate the players and staff on the achievements of their promotion to the Premier League," Cooper told Leicester's official website. "I know how hard that is.
"Any person who loves football can only look with great respect upon how much this club has achieved in recent years. The Premier League title of 2016 and the FA Cup of 2021 have demonstrated what’s possible for a united club. As the new manager, I don’t take that legacy lightly.
"My job will be to build on those achievements and to bring everyone along – players, staff and fans. Great challenges lie ahead but I get the feeling that Leicester thrives in these moments. I know we will be ready.
"The work starts now on building towards a successful Premier League season. Our aim is to once again make Leicester City an established Premier League club, and one that can look forward to the future with pride and ambition."
'Dynamic style of play'
Leicester chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha added: “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.”
Cooper's first match at Leicester will be at home against Tottenham Hotspur on Monday 19 August. Coincidently, his final match in charge of Forest was also at home against Spurs, where his side suffered a 2-0 defeat.
