I left Leeds United after 10 years but could make Elland Road return after Sheffield Wednesday stint
Former Leeds United captain Liam Cooper has opened up on a possible return to LS11 once his playing days are over.
Liam Cooper has hinted he would be open to a Leeds United return ‘in some capacity’ once his playing career comes to an end.
Cooper spent almost 10 years in West Yorkshire, initially joining from Chesterfield in 2014 before going on to make 284 appearances across all competitions. The centre-back captained Leeds to the Championship title in 2019/20 under Marcelo Bielsa before leading them through three years of Premier League football.
Following relegation in 2023 and the arrival of Daniel Farke, minutes proved harder to come by and Cooper left Elland Road the following summer after a play-off final defeat to Southampton, joining Bulgarian outfit CSKA Sofia. But that isn’t necessarily the end of his links with Leeds.
“Everything’s so fast after the devastation of the play-off final,” Cooper told The Athletic. “Everyone takes time to get over and process what has happened and then time just keeps moving.
“I will always come back. I will always be in touch. I accept it for what it is, I’m not one to be the centre of attention. Daniel had his own ideas of what he wanted and I wasn’t part of that. That’s football, you move on and give everything in whatever happens next.”
Cooper is now on the verge of joining a former Championship rival. The 34-year-old had been a target for Sheffield Wednesday all summer but could not sign due to a number of transfer embargoes placed on the crisis-ridden Owls by the EFL - until a recent decision to lift restrictions for the short-term signing of two free agents.
Liam Cooper on Leeds United return as Sheffield Wednesday move close
The Star reported this week that Cooper was due in South Yorkshire on Monday and could even sign in time to feature in Sunday’s Steel City derby meeting with Patrick Bamford’s Sheffield United. It remains to be seen how long the former Leeds man will stay on at Hillsborough if indeed he does sign an initial short-term deal.
Cooper still feels fit enough to contribute in the physically demanding Championship but having turned 34 in August, might be minded to have an eye on life after football. Long-time best mate Stuart Dallas became an official Leeds United ambassador earlier this year while title-winning teammate Pablo Hernandez is now the permanent manager of boyhood club Castellon.
It remains to be seen what avenues Cooper might explore once his boots are hung up for good, be it within the media, coaching environment or something completely different. But the Elland Road favourite reiterated a return to Leeds will always be a possibility.
“You do reflect then and you can be proud of yourself - you’ve left a mark on the club, on the team, on the dressing room,” Cooper added, reflecting on his near 10-year spell at Leeds. “I’ve still got many great friendships and relationships with people at the club and who knows?
“One day, maybe I can come back in some sort of capacity. I’ve got a lot to offer the game on the playing side and we’ll cross that bridge when it comes to it.”