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{{Short description|English footballer (born 1967)}}
{{about|the English footballer|other people}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Colin Cooper
| image = 
| caption = 
| fullname = Colin Terence Cooper
| birth_date  = {{birth date and age|1967|2|28|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamPlyrsBios/PlayersC/BioCooperCT.html |title = England Players - Colin Cooper}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Durham, England|Durham]], England
| height = 5 ft 10 in<ref>{{cite book |title=Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88 |editor-first=Peter |editor-last=Dunk |publisher=Queen Anne Press |location=London |date=1987 |page=242 |isbn=978-0-356-14354-5}}</ref>
| position = [[Defender (football)|Defender]]
| youthyears1=
| youthclubs1=
| years1 = 1984–1991 | clubs1 = [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]]         | caps1 = 188 | goals1 = 6
| years2 = 1991–1993 | clubs2 = [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]]                   | caps2 = 77  | goals2 = 6
| years3 = 1993–1998 | clubs3 = [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]] | caps3 = 180 | goals3 = 20
| years4 = 1998–2006 | clubs4 = [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]]         | caps4 = 158 | goals4 = 4
| years5 = 2004      | clubs5 = → [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]] (loan)    | caps5 = 3   | goals5 = 0
| totalcaps = 606 | totalgoals = 36
| nationalyears1 = 1988–1989 | nationalteam1 = [[England national under-21 football team|England U21]] | nationalcaps1 = 8 | nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 1995      | nationalteam2 = [[England national football team|England]]              | nationalcaps2 = 2 | nationalgoals2 = 0
| manageryears1 = 2009 | managerclubs1 = [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]] (caretaker)
| manageryears2 = 2011 | managerclubs2 = [[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]] (caretaker)
| manageryears3 = 2013–2014 | managerclubs3 = [[Hartlepool United F.C.|Hartlepool United]] 
}}

'''Colin Terence Cooper''' (born 28 February 1967) is an English football manager and former professional [[association football|footballer]].

As a player, he was a [[Defender (association football)|defender]] who notably played in the [[Premier League]] for [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]] and [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]]. He played over 500 league appearances combined for both clubs. He also played in the [[English Football League|Football League]] for both [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]] and [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]]. He was capped twice by [[England national football team|England]], having previously earned eight games at [[England national under-21 football team|U21]] level.

Following retirement, he moved into coaching and worked in the Middlesbrough academy, later progressing into the first team before taking charge on a temporary basis in 2009. He later moving to [[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]] as assistant manager and then in 2013 becoming manager of [[Hartlepool United F.C.|Hartlepool United]]. In 2016 he joined the coaching staff of the England U21 setup under former teammate [[Gareth Southgate]].

==Playing career==
He played as a centre back, but was equally useful at full-back. He spent the first seven years of his professional career contracted to [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]], making 188 league appearances and scoring six league goals in the process. During this time, he helped Middlesbrough through [[liquidation]] in [[1986–87 Middlesbrough F.C. season|1986]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tees.ac.uk/sections/news/pressreleases_story.cfm?story_id=3880 |title=Heroes from 1986 to attend Boro play |publisher=Teesside University |date=2 December 2011 |accessdate=29 March 2021}}</ref>

In the summer of 1991, he was transferred to [[Football League Second Division|Division Two]] side [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]] for the sum of £300,000 spending two successful seasons at [[The Old Den|The Den]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.mfc.co.uk/news/a-foot-in-both-camps-millwall |title=A Foot In Both Camps: Millwall |publisher=Middlesbrough FC Official Site |date=17 January 2019 |accessdate=29 March 2021}}</ref>

After impressing several big name clubs, he decided to move to [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]] in 1993 for £1,700,000. It was at Forest where Colin arguably played the best football of his career, his form earning him two [[England national football team|England]] caps in 1995 against [[Sweden men's national football team|Sweden]] and [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.englandstats.com/player.php?pid=1068 |title=1068 Colin Terrence Cooper (1995) |publisher=englandstats.com |accessdate=29 March 2021}}</ref>

After experiencing the joys of two promotions and the heart-break of a relegation, "Super Coops" was re-purchased by his first club, Middlesbrough, in a £2,500,000 deal. Many people questioned the signing of the stalwart from Nottingham Forest, but Colin proved to many people that he was more than capable of playing [[FA Premier League|Premier League]] football. He maintained a consistent level of play throughout the seven years that he spent with Middlesbrough, and could always be relied upon to do a job. He almost gave up the game in 2002 after his son, Finlay, died in an accident at the family home<ref>{{cite news
|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/son-of-footballer-dies-choking-on-toy-671504.html
|title=Son of footballer dies choking on toy
|work=[[The Independent]]
|date=28 January 2002 |access-date=12 March 2010
| location=London
| first=Arifa
| last=Akbar}}{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> just hours after their victory over Manchester United in the FA Cup.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/1780868.stm
|title=Boro sink Man Utd
|publisher=[[BBC]]
|date=26 January 2002 |access-date=12 March 2010}}</ref> In 2003–04, he spent some time on loan with [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]]. Cooper was part of Middlesbrough's [[2003–04 Football League Cup|2004 League Cup]]-winning team. Despite not making the squad for the final<ref>{{cite news|title=Boro lift Carling Cup|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/3507795.stm|work=[[BBC Sport]]|date=29 February 2004}}</ref> he appeared in the earlier rounds.<ref>{{Soccerbase season|1633|2003|name=Colin Cooper|access-date=21 December 2016}}</ref>

In 2005, Cooper was awarded a one-year contract extension, which saw him play at the age of 39. His final season with Middlesbrough, [[2005–06 Middlesbrough F.C. season|2005–06]], saw Boro reach the [[2006 UEFA Cup Final]]. However, he made just one appearance all campaign, coming on as a late substitute on the last day of the season against [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]].<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4957456.stm
|title=Fulham 1–0 Middlesbrough
|publisher=[[BBC]]
|date=7 May 2006 |access-date=12 March 2010}}</ref>

==International career==
Cooper made his England international debut in a 3–3 draw against [[Sweden men's national football team|Sweden]].<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamPlyrsBios/PlayersC/BioCooperCT.html
|title=Colin Cooper
|publisher=England Football Online}}</ref> He gained two caps for the [[England national football team|England]] national team and made eight caps for the [[England national under-21 football team|Under-21]] side where he finished runners-up with the U21s in the 1988 Tournoi Espoirs de Toulon tournament.

==Managerial career==
After he retired from playing, in June 2006, Cooper was officially given a job with the [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]] coaching staff, as the Reserve team coach.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/middlesbrough/5071614.stm |title=Southgate shuffles coaching staff |publisher=BBC Sport |date=25 June 2006 |access-date=27 June 2013}}</ref> Following [[Steve Round]]'s departure from the club in December 2006, Cooper was promoted to a more active role with the first team.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://metro.co.uk/2006/12/15/boro-promotion-for-cooper-471476/ |title=Boro promotion for Cooper |publisher=Metro |date=15 December 2006 |access-date=27 June 2013}}</ref> Following the departure of [[Malcolm Crosby]] on 17 June 2009,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11680_5385687,00.html |title=Crosby leaves Boro |publisher=Sky Sports |date=17 June 2009 |access-date=27 June 2013 |first=Richard |last=Bailey}}</ref> Cooper was promoted to assistant manager at Middlesbrough.<ref>{{cite news |title=Southgate shuffles coaching staff |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/middlesbrough/5071614.stm |access-date=28 September 2020 |work=BBC Sport |date=25 June 2006}}</ref> On 22 October 2009, following the departure of manager [[Gareth Southgate]], Cooper was appointed caretaker manager at Middlesbrough.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/oct/22/colin-cooper-middlesbrough-gordon-strachan |title=Colin Cooper to lead Boro at Preston but Gordon Strachan waits in the wings |work=The Guardian|date=22 October 2009 |access-date=27 June 2013 |first=Louise |last=Taylor}}</ref> However, he was only employed in this position for four days, as [[Gordon Strachan]] was announced as the new manager on 26 October.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/middlesbrough/8319489.stm |title=Strachan named Middlesbrough boss |publisher=BBC Sport |date=26 October 2009 |access-date=27 June 2013}}</ref> Cooper's solitary match in charge was a 2–2 draw with [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]] on 24 October 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/8316497.stm |title=Preston 2–2 Middlesbrough |publisher=BBC Sport |date=24 October 2009 |access-date=27 June 2013}}</ref> In May 2010, Cooper was relieved of all duties at Middlesbrough by Strachan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/middlesbrough/8694757.stm |title=Middlesbrough roles for Gary McAllister and Jim Blyth |publisher=BBC Sport |date=20 May 2010 |access-date=27 June 2013}}</ref>

On 9 March 2011, Cooper was appointed as assistant to interim manager [[Peter Jackson (footballer born 1961)|Peter Jackson]] at [[Football League Two|League Two]] side [[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/9419737.stm |title=Bradford City appoint Colin Cooper as assistant manager |publisher=BBC Sport |date=9 March 2011 |access-date=27 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/8899175.Cooper_made_to_feel_like_one_of_the_family_at_Valley_Parade/ |title=Bradford City No 2 Cooper made to feel like one of the family at Valley Parade |date=2011-03-10 |access-date=2011-03-10 |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |first=Simon |last=Parker}}</ref> Jackson was subsequently appointed full-time manager on 25 May 2011,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/9045212.Finally__Jackson_appointed_Bradford_City_manager/ |title=Finally, Jackson appointed Bradford City manager |publisher=Bradford Telegraph and Argus |date=25 May 2011 |access-date=27 June 2013 |first=Simon |last=Parker}}</ref> but he resigned on 25 August 2011,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/14670814 |title=Bradford City manager Peter Jackson resigns |publisher=BBC Sport |date=25 August 2011 |access-date=27 June 2013}}</ref> resulting in Cooper taking over as caretaker manager.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~2432708,00.html | title=Cooper to take charge on Saturday | publisher=Bradford City Football Club official website | date=26 August 2011 | access-date=2 September 2011}}</ref> winning his first game 4–2 against [[Barnet F.C.|Barnet]]. [[Phil Parkinson]] was appointed as Jackson's permanent successor,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/14692940 |title=Phil Parkinson appointed Bradford City manager |publisher=BBC Sport |date=29 August 2011 |access-date=27 June 2013}}</ref> and on 8 September 2011, Cooper left Bradford to rejoin Middlesbrough and take up a coaching role with Middlesbrough's under-18 side.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/14838588 |title=Colin Cooper set for Middlesbrough after Bradford exit |publisher=BBC Sport |date=8 September 2011 |access-date=27 June 2013}}</ref>

On 24 May 2013, he became manager at [[Football League Two]] side [[Hartlepool United F.C.|Hartlepool United]], replacing [[John Hughes (footballer born 1964)|John Hughes]], who had been sacked the previous month.<ref name="hartlepool appointment">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22511287 |title=Hartlepool United appoint Colin Cooper as new boss |publisher=BBC Sport |date=24 May 2013 |access-date=27 June 2013}}</ref> He named fellow ex-Middlesbrough player [[Craig Hignett]] as his assistant manager.<ref name="hartlepool appointment"/> After winning four out of five league games in October, Cooper won the [[Football League Two|Sky Bet League Two]] Manager of the Month Award.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/sport/football/hartlepool-utd/hartlepool-united-s-colin-cooper-and-luke-james-win-manager-and-player-of-the-month-1-6225441 |work=Hartlepool Mail |date=7 November 2013 |access-date=10 November 2013 |title=Hartlepool United's Colin Cooper and Luke James win manager and player of the month - Hartlepool Mail |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110142302/http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/sport/football/hartlepool-utd/hartlepool-united-s-colin-cooper-and-luke-james-win-manager-and-player-of-the-month-1-6225441 |archive-date=10 November 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Cooper resigned as Hartlepool United manager on 4 October 2014, after a 3–0 home defeat by [[Carlisle United F.C.|Carlisle United]], which left the club at the bottom of the League Two table.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29493227|title=Hartlepool United: Colin Cooper resigns as manager|publisher=BBC Sport|date=4 October 2014|access-date=6 October 2014}}</ref>

In April 2016, Cooper joined [[Gareth Southgate]]'s coaching staff with the [[England national under-21 football team|England U21s]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thefa.com/news/2016/Apr/21/england-specialist-coaches-appointed |title=FA strengthens development coaching with new appointments |publisher=The FA |date=21 April 2016 |accessdate=29 March 2021}}</ref>

==Media work==
Cooper was a regular guest on the ITV late night football review programme ''[[Soccer Night]]'', which was hosted by Roger Tames. During this programme, three legendary figures, representing one of each of the North-East's top three clubs ([[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]], [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]], and [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]]), come to the studio and discuss recent footballing events.

==Personal life==
In 2006, Colin and his wife Julie, formed the charity the Finlay Cooper Fund, named after his son who died in a tragic accident in 2002, which raises money for children's causes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.finlaycooperfund.co.uk/about-us/ |title=About us |publisher=Finlay Cooper Fund |access-date=6 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130316061511/http://www.finlaycooperfund.co.uk/about-us/ |archive-date=16 March 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2013, Colin and 12 others (which included [[Craig Hignett]] and [[Jeff Stelling]]) climbed [[Mount Kilimanjaro]] for charity;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/story/2013-06-13/charity-team-conquer-kilimanjaro/ |title=Charity team conquer Kilimanjaro |publisher=ITV News |date=13 June 2013 |access-date=6 February 2013}}</ref> the climb raised £100,000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/local/hartlepool-united-manager-s-kilimanjaro-trek-raises-100-000-for-charity-1-6194720 |title=Hartlepool United manager's Kilimanjaro trek raises £100,000 for charity |work=Hartlepool Mail|date=29 October 2013 |access-date=3 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030012411/http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/local/hartlepool-united-manager-s-kilimanjaro-trek-raises-100-000-for-charity-1-6194720 |archive-date=30 October 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Career statistics==

===Playing career===
''Statistics for league appearances only''

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
|-
!Division||Apps||Goals
|-
|rowspan="8"|[[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]]
|1984–85
|Division 2
|0||0
|-
|1985–86
|Division 2
|11||0
|-
|1986–87
|Division 3
|46||0
|-
|1987–88
|Division 2
|43||2
|-
|1988–89
|Division 1
|35||2
|-
|1989–90
|Division 2
|21||2
|-
|1990–91
|Division 2
|32||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!188||6
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]]
|1991–92
|Division 2
|36||2
|-
|1992–93
|Division 1
|41||4
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!77||6
|-
|rowspan="6"|[[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]]
|1993–94
|Division 1
|37||7
|-
|1994–95
|Premier League
|35||1
|-
|1995–96
|Premier League
|37||5
|-
|1996–97
|Premier League
|36||2
|-
|1997–98
|Division 1
|35||5
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!180||20
|-
|rowspan="9"|[[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]]
|1998–99
|Premier League
|32||1
|-
|1999–2000
|Premier League
|26||0
|-
|2000–01
|Premier League
|27||1
|-
|2001–02
|Premier League
|18||2
|-
|2002–03
|Premier League
|20||0
|-
|2003–04
|Premier League
|19||0
|-
|2004–05
|Premier League
|15||0
|-
|2005–06
|Premier League
|1||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!158||4
|-
|[[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]] (on loan)
|2003–04
|Division 1
|3||0
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!606||36
|}

===Managerial career===
{{updated|4 October 2014}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Colin Cooper|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/managers/manager.sd?manager_id=2175|work=[[Racing Post|Soccerbase]]|access-date=6 February 2013}}</ref>

{| class=wikitable style="text-align: center"
|+ Managerial record by team and tenure
|-
!rowspan=2|Team
!rowspan=2|From
!rowspan=2|To
!colspan=5|Record
|-
!{{abbr|P|Matches played}}!!{{abbr|W|Matches won}}!!{{abbr|D|Matches drawn}}!!{{abbr|L|Matches lost}}!!{{abbr|Win %|Win percentage}}
|-
|align=left|[[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]] (caretaker)
|align=left|20 October 2009
|align=left|26 October 2009
{{WDL|2|1|1|0|decimals=1}}
|-
|align=left|[[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]] (caretaker)
|align=left|25 August 2011
|align=left|29 August 2011
{{WDL|1|1|0|0|decimals=1}}
|-
|align=left|[[Hartlepool United F.C.|Hartlepool United]]
|align=left|24 May 2013
|align=left|4 October 2014
{{WDL|65|19|14|32|decimals=1}}
|-
!colspan=3|Total
{{WDLtot|68|21|15|32|decimals=1}}
|}

==Honours==
===Player===
'''Middlesbrough'''
*[[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] promotion: 1987–88
*[[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] runner-up: 1986–87
*[[EFL Cup|Football League Cup]]: [[2003–04 Football League Cup|2003–04]]
*[[Full Members' Cup|Zenith Data Systems Cup]] runner-up: 1989–90

'''Nottingham Forest'''
*[[Football League First Division|First Division]]: 1997–98; runner-up: 1993–94

'''England U21s'''
*Tournoi Espoirs de Toulon runner-up: 1988

'''Individual'''
*[[PFA Team of the Year]]: [[1992–93 Football League#First Division|1992–93 First Division]],<ref>{{cite book |last=Lynch |title=The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes |page=149}}</ref> [[1993–94 Football League#First Division|1993–94 First Division]],<ref>{{cite book |last=Lynch |title=The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes |page=150}}</ref> [[1997–98 Football League|1997–98 First Division]]<ref>{{cite book |editor-first=Barry J. |editor-last=Hugman |title=The 1998–99 Official PFA Footballers Factfile |year=1998 |publisher=Queen Anne Press |location=Harpenden |isbn=978-1-85291-588-9 |page=352}}</ref>

===Manager===
'''Individual'''
*[[Football League Two]] Manager of the Month Award: October [[2013–14 Football League Two|2013]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11756/9013401/sky-bet-league-two-hartlepools-colin-cooper-and-luke-james-win-manager-and-player-awards |title=Sky Bet League Two: Hartlepool's Colin Cooper and Luke James win manager and player awards |publisher=Sky Sports |date=8 November 2013 |accessdate=29 March 2021}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Navboxes
|title=Awards
|bg=gold
|fg=navy
|list1=
{{1992–93 Football League First Division PFA Team of the Year}}
{{1993–94 Football League First Division PFA Team of the Year}}
{{1997–98 Football League First Division PFA Team of the Year}}
{{Nottingham Forest F.C. Player of the Year}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title=Colin Cooper managerial positions
|list1=
{{Middlesbrough F.C. managers}}
{{Bradford City A.F.C. managers}}
{{Hartlepool United F.C. managers}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cooper, Colin}}
[[Category:1967 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Footballers from Durham, England]]
[[Category:English men's footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football central defenders]]
[[Category:Middlesbrough F.C. non-playing staff]]
[[Category:Middlesbrough F.C. players]]
[[Category:Millwall F.C. players]]
[[Category:Nottingham Forest F.C. players]]
[[Category:Sunderland A.F.C. players]]
[[Category:England men's under-21 international footballers]]
[[Category:England men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Premier League players]]
[[Category:Middlesbrough F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Bradford City A.F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Hartlepool United F.C. managers]]
[[Category:English Football League managers]]
[[Category:English football managers]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]