Colin Cooper

This article is about the English footballer. For the New Zealand rugby union coach, see Colin Cooper (rugby). For the American Impressionist painter, see Colin Campbell Cooper.

Colin Cooper

Personal information
Full name	Colin Terence Cooper
Date of birth	28 February 1967 (1967-02-28)
Place of birth	Durham, England
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Playing position	Defender
Club information
Current club	Middlesbrough FC (U-18 Coach)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1984–1991	Middlesbrough	188	(6)
1991–1993	Millwall	77	(6)
1993–1998	Nottingham Forest	180	(20)
1998–2006	Middlesbrough	158	(5)
2004	→ Sunderland (loan)	3	(0)
Total		606	(37)
National team
1988–1989	England U21	8	(0)
1995	England	2	(0)
Teams managed
2010	Middlesbrough (caretaker)
2011	Bradford City (caretaker)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Colin Terence Cooper (born 28 February 1967 in Durham, England) is an English former footballer, who spent most of his career at Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest. Cooper is part of the Middlesbrough coaching staff after leaving his role of assistant manager at Bradford City.

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 (renamed Division One and then the Football League Championship) 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.

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 just hours after their victory over Manchester United in the FA Cup. In 2003-04, he spent some time on loan with Sunderland.

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.

Coaching

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.^{[citation needed]} On 22 October 2009, following the departure of manager Gareth Southgate, Cooper was appointed caretaker manager at Middlesbrough. This position lasted just four days as Gordon Strachan was announced as the new Manager on 26 October. As of 3 May 2010, Cooper was relieved of all duties at Middlesbrough by Strachan.^{[citation needed]}

In 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 and after he resigned on 25 August 2011 Cooper took 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.^{[citation needed]}

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.

Statistics

Statistics for league appearances only

Club	Season	Games	Goals	Division
Middlesbrough	1984-85	0	0	Division 2
	1985-86	11	0	Division 2
	1986-87	46	0	Division 3
	1987-88	43	2	Division 2
	1988-89	35	2	Division 1
	1989-90	21	2	Division 2
	1990-91	32	0	Division 2
Millwall	1991-92	36	2	Division 2
	1992-93	41	4	Division 1
Nottingham Forest	1993-94	37	7	Division 1
	1994-95	35	1	Premier League
	1995-96	37	5	Premier League
	1996-97	36	2	Premier League
	1997-98	35	5	Division 1
Middlesbrough	1998-99	32	1	Premier League
	1999–2000	26	0	Premier League
	2000-01	27	1	Premier League
	2001-02	18	2	Premier League
	2002-03	20	0	Premier League
	2003-04	19	0	Premier League
Sunderland	2003-04	3	0	Division 1 (on loan)
Middlesbrough	2004-05	15	0	Premier League
	2005-06	1	0	Premier League
Total		606	37

Honours

• Zenith Data Systems Cup: Runner up 1989/90 with Middlesbrough

External links

• Finlay Cooper Fund. Raising Money for local Children's Charities