Leicester City have dismissed manager Steve Cooper after 12 Premier League matches, with the club sitting in 16th place, just two points above the relegation zone. Cooper’s sacking follows a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday, a match that left Leicester with just two wins in their opening 12 league games.
Cooper, who took over from Enzo Maresca in the summer, was unable to replicate the success of his predecessor, who had led Leicester to the Championship title and promotion last season. After the defeat to Chelsea, Cooper expressed frustration with the refereeing decisions, stating, “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.”
First-team coach Ben Dawson, along with coaches Danny Alcock and Andy Hughes, will now oversee training as the club begins the search for a new manager. Leicester’s next match is against Brentford on Saturday, 30 November.
Cooper’s tenure was marked by defensive struggles, with Leicester conceding 23 goals, the third-highest in the league. Additionally, the team has been slow to respond to opposition pressure, having conceded the opening goal in 10 of their 12 matches this season, the most in the Premier League. Despite a strong attacking record early on, Leicester’s inability to defend left them struggling for points.
Cooper is the second Premier League manager to be sacked this season, following Erik ten Hag’s departure from Manchester United in October. There has been speculation regarding potential replacements, with former Brighton and Chelsea manager Graham Potter a popular choice. Ex-West Ham boss David Moyes and former Manchester United interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy have also been linked with the role.
Leicester fans have expressed mixed reactions to the decision. One fan, Roobs07, commented, “Wasn’t up to the task and team selections were based on defensiveness without defenders of the calibre to do so.” Others, like Danny, noted that Cooper may not have been the right appointment from the start.
Leicester’s managerial search will continue as they look to turn around their season and avoid relegation back to the Championship.
