Steve Cooper

Cooper was appointed head coach of Championship club Swansea City on 13 June 2019 on a three-year contract. His first match was a 2–1 win against Hull City at the Liberty Stadium, with goals from Borja Bastón and Mike van der Hoorn. Cooper was named the EFL's Championship Manager of the Month for August after Swansea's unbeaten start to the season saw them move top of the league, with 16 points from 18. This was Swansea's best start to a season in 41 years.

The following year, Cooper's side reached the semi-finals of the 2018 UEFA European U17 Championship, where they lost to Netherlands on penalties. They did not qualify for the quarter-finals of the 2019 UEFA European U17 Championship, despite beating Sweden 3–1 in their final group game. During his time at England, Cooper oversaw a specialised coaching model which included in-possession and out-of-possession coaches. He was also responsible for the coaching programme and curriculum for the under-15s. On training young players, Cooper said, “Sometimes I will talk and tell the players my thoughts, but most of the time I facilitate… that’s how players learn, as a modern player. The days are gone, for me, where everything is the coach telling the player, that's finished.”

—Cooper on his preferred style of play, 25 October 2017.

On 13 October 2014, Cooper was appointed as manager of the England national under-16 team. The following year, he took charge of the under-17s, coaching players such as Jadon Sancho, Phil Foden, and Callum Hudson-Odoi. Cooper led his side to the final of the 2017 UEFA European U17 Championship, where they lost to Spain 4–1 on penalties following a 2–2 draw. Cooper's U17s then won the 2017 FIFA U17 World Cup in October 2017, beating Brazil 3–1 in the semi-final and Spain 5–2 in the final.

During the January transfer window, Cooper signed Rhian Brewster, Marc Guehi, and Conor Gallagher (all of whom Cooper had coached in the England set-up) on loan from Liverpool and Chelsea respectively. Following the outbreak of COVID-19 and subsequent pandemic, the Championship season was suspended indefinitely, with Swansea in 11th place and three points from the play-offs. The season restarted on 20 June. On the final day of the season, Swansea beat Reading 4–1 to finish sixth, moving into the play-offs ahead of Nottingham Forest on goal difference. They were later defeated by Brentford 3–2 on aggregate in the semi-final.

Cooper began his coaching career at Wrexham's academy while playing as a defender in the Welsh football leagues. He moved to Liverpool in 2008, and was appointed manager of their academy in 2011. Cooper joined the England youth set-up in 2014, initially coaching the U16s, before winning the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup with the U17s. He became head coach of Swansea City in 2019.

In the late 1990s, Cooper joined Wrexham but did not make an appearance for the club. He was signed by manager Brian Flynn, who suggested Cooper pursue a coaching career instead of playing professionally. Cooper later played for The New Saints, Rhyl, Bangor City, and Porthmadog in the Welsh football leagues. He featured for Bangor City in the UEFA Cup against FK Sartid Smederevo in 2002.

Steve Cooper (born 10 December 1979) is a Welsh professional football manager and former player. He is the head coach of Championship club Swansea City.

Steve Cooper was born in September 1957 in the UK.