Page 22 - We Are Premier League: LUFC Promotion YEP Special

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WE ARE PREMIER LEAGUE: LUFC SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
PatiencepaysoffafterCooper
delivers when it matters most
PROFILE
Joe Urquhart
O joe-urquh3rt@jp«media.co,uk
O @JoeUrquhart
THEY SAY a picture paints
a thousand words and
Liam Cooper lifting the
Championship trophy at Elland
Roadiscertainlyoneofthose.
It has been an up and down
story for the Whites captain
since hejoined his boyhood
club from Chesterfield in 2014.
Cooper arrived as a little
known figure in West Yorkshire
having come through Hull
City’s academy ranks, before a
move to the Spireites was made
permanent following a loan
switch.
It was a pre-season friendly
against Chesterfield that
alerted Leeds to his
abilities six years
ago - and the
investment of
half a million
pounds wras
a gamble for a
playerjumping up
a division.
The now 28-year-
old has had to battle
hard for his place in
history in LS11, having
been written off early
on in some quarters, but
off-field problems and a
high turnover in managers
plagued his development
during the initial stages of
his United career.
One constant remained
though; Cooper’s willingness
and drive to be a Leeds United
player - the team he had grown
up supporting as a boy.
By his own admission he
suffered from inconsistency
and despite being given the
captains armbandjust twro
years into his stay he was yet
to convince a fair chunk ofthe
fanbase that he was the man
to lead the club back to the
promised land.
A derisory nickname
emerged on social media, but 24
months on from Bielsa's arrival
in Leeds he has banished that
saying for good and fulfilled the
potential that made Leeds sit
up and take note.
Cooper has been a
strong figure in the heart
of defence under head
coach Marcelo Bielsa
and despite one difficult
evening in the play-offs
against Derby County over a
year ago, has barely pul a foot
wrong in two years of football.
Another pict ure of Cooper
fa
SWEET TASTE OF
VICTORY: Liam Cooper,
centre,enjoysvictoryover
Derby County last Sunday
with Luke Ayling, left, and
ofthe morning once the
celebrations had dispersed
on the Elland Road pitch.
He was heading to bed
with a bottle ofbeer, the
Championship trophy
by his side and
dreams ofAnfield. Old Trafford
and beyond.
For Leeds, though, it is no
longer a dream but now a
reality' - and for Cooper he is
no longer League One, he’s very
much Premier League.
GAMBLING FUN
“Words can’t describe the
feeling ofeuphoria,” he said of
lifting the second division title.
“Its unbelievable. Were
gutted the fans aren't here
but I’m sure wre’ll do enough
celebrating for them.
“We feel them every single
day and every single minute of
every game. These boys deserve
it. To win any league by 10
points is hard going.
“We never stopped believing,
even after what happened last
season (against Derby).
“This group, staff, players
and directors - everybody
involved deserves it. We’re
absolutely delighted and we’ll
have a good drink."
United’s skipper is the
longest-serving player in the
Leeds squad as he closes in
on 200 appearances for
the club.
His next game in
competitive action
will be in the
top flight, and
standards were
already being
set for next
term even after
promotion was
confirmed -
wins against
Derby and
Charlton said
as much.
“Marcelo
has been
on us
the last
FROM THE FRONT: Liam Cooper and Jack Harrison celebrate after
their hard-fought win at Reading.
to respect the competition,"
Cooper added. “We performed
like champions, like we have
done all season.
“We were brave - 1 know its
easier to be brave on the ball
when there’s not much on it but
picture: Bradley collyer/pa
“We had to respect the
league because it really can
throw up some crazy results
and we've seen that time and
time again. I can't describe it."
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