Leeds United hero opens up on 'difficult' spell as move to Yorkshire rivals edges closer
Two Leeds United promotion favourites could go toe-to-toe in the Steel City derby this weekend.
Leeds United promotion hero Liam Cooper admits it’s been ‘difficult’ spending almost four months away from professional football following his CSKA Sofia exit in July.
Cooper spent less than 12 months in Bulgaria before mutually agreeing to cut his two-year contract short over the summer and entering his second spell as a free agent in as many years. The 34-year-old was without a club last summer after calling time on a near decade-long spell at Leeds before joining CSKA Sofia in September, despite a raft of Championship interest.
Now back in the UK, Cooper has regularly been linked with a move to Sheffield Wednesday and was given fresh hope over the weekend, following reports the EFL will allow two free agents to be signed on short-term deals. The Owls had recently been placed into administration and remain under strict transfer embargos which even prohibited the arrival of unattached players.
According to The Star, Cooper was close to agreeing a deal with Wednesday in the summer and is due in Sheffield for talks today - he could even be involved against Patrick Bamford’s Sheffield United this weekend. And a move to Hillsborough could bring back a much-needed opportunity to compete for the Leeds legend.
“It’s difficult,” Cooper told The Athletic. “If you speak to anybody in my situation, they’ll tell you the same. You know you’ve got to do it. It’s part of our lives. Psychologically, as well, it keeps you fresh. The worry does start to set in. Is that call from a club going to come?
“There’s the network you have around you as well. I’ve got an amazing wife, kids, and family and friends around me, which keep me on the straight and narrow. You miss that competitive edge, that needing to go and win. The padel’s helping with that, but it’s nothing like getting three points on a Saturday afternoon after a full week’s training.”
Liam Cooper’s experience will be vital at Sheffield Wednesday
Cooper’s decision to join CSKA Sofia came as a surprise to many, given he’d been linked with the likes of Blackburn Rovers and Watford before the 2024/25 campaign kicked off. But despite his international clout with Scotland and vast Premier League and Championship experience at Leeds, a more local move never materialised.
That experience is exactly what potential suitors Wednesday need right now, following a mass exodus over the summer and ongoing financial restrictions. The Owls are almost certain to be relegated to League One after receiving a 12-point deduction that leaves them 17 points from safety already.
“If you’re out of the game too long, it gets more difficult,” Cooper added. “At my age, I still think I am young. I’ve got plenty of years left in me to play. The biggest thing nowadays, especially in the pyramid, is I don’t think clubs and recruitment teams appreciate experience as much as they used to.
“They pride themselves on a model of always needing a return on investment and that’s quite sad. During my career, I’ve always relied on the experience of the senior lads in the group. That only helps when you’ve got mentors who have been there and seen everything from all of their different experiences throughout the game.”