View source for Davie Cooper

{{short description|Scottish footballer}}
{{other people||David Cooper (disambiguation)}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Davie Cooper
| image = DavieCooper.jpeg
| caption = 
| full_name = David Cooper<ref name="Bankies">{{cite web |title=Davie Cooper Player Statistics Clydebank (Bankies Archive) |url=https://clydebankfc.co.uk/player.php?id=118 |website=clydebankfc.co.uk |publisher=Clydebank FC |access-date=20 July 2021 |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210630231304/https://clydebankfc.co.uk/player.php?id=118|archive-date=30 June 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>
| height = {{height|ft=5|in=9}}<ref name="Bankies" />
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1956|2|25|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Hamilton, South Lanarkshire|Hamilton]], Scotland
| death_date = {{death date and age|1995|3|23|1956|2|25|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Glasgow]], Scotland
| position = [[Winger (association football)|Winger]]
| youthyears1 = 1972–1974
| youthclubs1 = Hamilton Avondale
| years1 = 1974–1977
| clubs1 = [[Clydebank F.C. (1965)|Clydebank]]
<!-- NOTE: LEAGUE MATCHES ONLY -->| caps1 = 90
| goals1 = 28
| years2 = 1977–1989
| clubs2 = [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]]
| caps2 = 376
| goals2 = 49
| years3 = 1989–1993
| clubs3 = [[Motherwell F.C.|Motherwell]]
| caps3 = 157
| goals3 = 17
| years4 = 1993–1995
| clubs4 = [[Clydebank F.C. (1965)|Clydebank]]
| caps4 = 39
| goals4 = 1
| totalcaps = 662
| totalgoals = 95
| nationalyears1 = 1976–1977
| nationalteam1 = [[Scotland national under-21 football team|Scotland U21]]
| nationalcaps1 = 6
| nationalgoals1 = 1
| nationalyears2 = 1979–1990
| nationalteam2 = [[Scotland men's national football team|Scotland]]
| nationalcaps2 = 22
| nationalgoals2 = 6
}}
'''David Cooper''' (25 February 1956 – 23 March 1995) was a Scottish professional [[association football|footballer]] who played as a [[winger (association football)|winger]].

Born in [[Hamilton, South Lanarkshire|Hamilton]], Cooper played as a youth for local side Hamilton Avondale, whilst also working as an apprentice printer for the club's owners. His talents were noticed by numerous top-flight clubs both in Scotland and England. Cooper chose to sign for [[Scottish Football League Second Division|Scottish Second Division]] side [[Clydebank F.C. (1965)|Clydebank]] in 1974, beginning his career as a professional footballer. Cooper continued to show potential at Clydebank, finishing as the club's top scorer in his second full season at [[Kilbowie Park]] and helping the club achieve successive league promotions in [[1975–76 Scottish Second Division|1975–76]] and [[1976–77 Scottish First Division|1976–77]].

Cooper signed for [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]] in June 1977 for a fee of £100,000 at the age of 21. The next 12 years would see him become a Rangers stalwart, playing 540 games and winning numerous trophies with the [[Ibrox Stadium|Ibrox]] club, including the [[Scottish Football League Premier Division|Scottish Premier Division]] in [[1977–78 Scottish Premier Division|1977–78]], [[1986–87 Scottish Premier Division|1986–87]] and [[1988–89 Scottish Premier Division|1988–89]]. In August 1989, [[Tommy McLean]] signed Cooper for [[Motherwell F.C.|Motherwell]] for a fee of £50,000. He played over 150 times for the Steelmen and was part of the team that won the [[1991 Scottish Cup Final]] against [[Dundee United F.C.|Dundee United]]. Cooper also represented the [[Scotland men's national football team|Scotland national team]] from 1979 to 1990, in which he was [[Cap (sport)|capped]] 22 times and scored 6 goals. During this time, he represented Scotland at the [[1986 FIFA World Cup]] in Mexico, making two appearances at the tournament.

In his later career, Cooper returned to Clydebank in the capacity of a player/assistant coach. He intended to retire as a player at the end of the 1995 season, however on 22 March 1995 he suffered a [[subarachnoid haemorrhage]] at [[Broadwood Stadium]] in [[Cumbernauld]] whilst filming Shoot, a youth coaching television programme. He died the following day at the age of 39. An inductee of the [[Scottish Football Hall of Fame]], Cooper is regarded by many as having been one of Scottish football's greatest talents.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Esplin |first1=Ronnie |title=Davie Cooper beat players so easily, says Rangers team-mate John MacDonald |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/davie-cooper-beat-players-so-easily-says-rangers-team-mate-john-macdonald-fn0tfc7wd |website=[[The Times]]|date=23 March 2020 |location=London |access-date=24 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200401124701/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/davie-cooper-beat-players-so-easily-says-rangers-team-mate-john-macdonald-fn0tfc7wd |archive-date=1 April 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Davie Cooper makes Ruud Gullit's all-time XI as Rangers legend joins Maradona and Cruyff in star-studded team |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/davie-cooper-makes-ruud-gullits-13400903 |work=Daily Record |date=11 October 2018 |location=Scotland |access-date=24 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210409132720if_/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/davie-cooper-makes-ruud-gullits-13400903 |archive-date=9 April 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Genius">{{cite web |last1=Smyth |first1=Rob |title=The Genius of Davie Cooper: Exhibit A |url=https://www.nutmegmagazine.co.uk/issue-1/the-genius-of-davie-cooper-exhibit-a/ |work=Nutmeg Magazine |access-date=19 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717220102/https://www.nutmegmagazine.co.uk/issue-1/the-genius-of-davie-cooper-exhibit-a/ |archive-date=17 July 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Early life==
{{ quote box
| align  = right
| width  = 33%
| quote  = Every time you saw him when he was a wee boy, he had a ball at his feet. Even then he was football daft. And after he moved away, if you saw him in the street he would always stop and ask you how you were.
| source = James Low, a neighbour of the Cooper family in Brankholm Brae, paying tribute to Cooper in 1995.<ref name="Tributes" />
| quoted = 1
}}
David Cooper was born in [[Hamilton, South Lanarkshire|Hamilton]], Scotland, on 25 February 1956 to John (1918–1998) and Jean Cooper (née Pollock) (1926–2012).<ref>{{cite web |title=Farewell to football's gentlemanly genius |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12127545.farewell-to-footballs-gentlemanly-genius/ |work=The Herald|date=28 March 1995 |location=Glasgow |access-date=7 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607202752/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12127545.farewell-to-footballs-gentlemanly-genius/ |archive-date=7 June 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> His father was employed as a [[Steel|steel worker]] at the nearby Lanarkshire Steel Works, while his mother worked as a barmaid at the Lariat Hostelry in Hamilton.<ref>{{harvnb|Drysdale|2013|p=20}}</ref> Along with his elder brother John, Cooper was a [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]] supporter in his youth and regularly attended matches at [[Ibrox Stadium|Ibrox]] with his father, later travelling by himself on local supporters buses to [[Glasgow]].<ref name="auto">{{harvnb|Drysdale|2013|p=25}}</ref>
[[File:Hamilton from the air (geograph 5716697).jpg|thumb|right|The [[Hillhouse, Hamilton|Hillhouse Estate]] where Cooper was raised, pictured in 2018.]]

He initially attended Beckford Street Primary in Hamilton before moving on to Udston Primary. Cooper was soon made captain of the Udston primary team and played as an [[inside forward]] (roughly equivalent to a modern-day deep-lying striker). As an Udston Primary player, Cooper and his team won the Shinwell Cup youth tournament, beating Low Waters Primary 4–2 in the final at [[Douglas Park]], the former home of [[Hamilton Academical F.C.|Hamilton Academical]].<ref>{{harvnb|Drysdale|2013|p=23}}</ref>

Following his primary education, Cooper attended St. John's Grammar School (now [[Hamilton Grammar School]]). Initially, Cooper was dissatisfied with his new surroundings, especially due to St John's failure to organise a school football team until his third year.<ref name="auto"/> Bill and Rose MacKenzie, who were friends of Cooper's parents, decided to set up a new youth football team called Udston United. Cooper became one of the club's first players and, when not training or playing matches, helped promote the new club in the local community.<ref name="Tributes">{{cite web |title=Tributes pour in for Davie Cooper, the decent lad who refused to buckle to wealth and stardom The quiet boy with magic in his feet |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12128664.tributes-pour-in-for-davie-cooper-the-decent-lad-who-refused-to-buckle-to-wealth-and-stardom-the-quiet-boy-with-magic-in-his-feet/ |work=The Herald|date=24 March 1995 |location=Glasgow |access-date=7 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Drysdale|2013|p=26}}</ref>

Davie's older brother John, who was sixteen at the time, travelled to England for a trial period with [[Hull City A.F.C.|Hull City]]. John found his spell there particularly difficult and struggled with [[homesickness]] and the tough-tackling [[Defender (association football)|defenders]] who were prevalent at the time. John returned to Scotland after two years and joined [[Larkhall Thistle F.C.|Larkhall Thistle]].<ref name="auto1">{{harvnb|Drysdale|2013|p=27}}</ref>

Cooper himself later moved on to Hamilton Avondale, a local youth team founded by brothers Alan and Stuart Noble, the owners of the Avondale Works.<ref>{{cite web|title=Davie Cooper|url=http://www.scotzine.com/legends-of-scotland/davie-cooper/|publisher=Scotzine|access-date=9 February 2015}}</ref> He began with the under–16 team, before progressing to the under–18 team. His first International recognition came when he was selected to represent Scotland's Amateur League side and played against the youth squads of England, Northern Ireland and Wales.<ref name="auto1"/> During this time he was also working as an apprentice printer at the Noble's Office at Hamilton Avondale.<ref name="King">{{cite web |last1=Billingham |first1=Glenn |title=Davie Cooper – The Last King of Scotland |url=https://footballpink.net/davie-cooper-the-last-king-of-scotland/ |website=footballpink.net |publisher=The Football Pink |access-date=7 June 2021}}</ref> Rangers, [[Motherwell F.C.|Motherwell]], [[Clyde F.C.|Clyde]] and [[Clydebank F.C. (1965)|Clydebank]], together with English sides [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]] and [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]], all expressed an interest in signing Cooper.<ref name="King" />

==Club career==
===Clydebank (1974–77)===
Davie's apprenticeship as a printer with the Noble family at their Almada Street offices came to an end when he reached 18. By that point, Cooper had almost no involvement in football activities outside of his work.<ref>{{harvnb|Drysdale|2013|p=30}}</ref> Stuart Noble, one of the owners of Hamilton Avondale, contacted [[Clydebank F.C. (1965)|Clydebank]] director Jack Steedman, who quickly appeared in his car outside the Avondale offices with the hope of convincing Cooper to join the club.<ref>{{harvnb|Drysdale|2013|p=32}}</ref> Steedman (who was well aware of Cooper's capabilities) signed the youngster on 16 May 1974. Years later, Steedman admitted: "I raided the Bankies' club safe and took the silver from the gaming machines in the social club and transferred it into pound notes. I took £300 worth of beer-stained notes, drove to the printing works in Hamilton where he worked and convinced him to sign for the club. In forty years of football, it was the best thing I ever did."<ref>{{cite web |title=Memories of a great – Davie Cooper |url=https://www.clydebankpost.co.uk/sport/13937018.memories-of-a-great-davie-cooper/ |work=Clydebank Post|date=17 March 2010 |access-date=25 March 2021}}</ref>

At this point, under the management of [[Bill Munro]], Clydebank were an ambitious outfit with players such as [[Jimmy Lumsden]], [[Gregor Abel]], [[Jim Fallon (footballer)|Jim Fallon]] and [[Peter Kane (footballer)|Peter Kane]] in their ranks, albeit with limited training facilities and an ash training pitch.<ref>{{harvnb|Drysdale|2013|p=33}}</ref> When describing Cooper's first spell with Clydebank, Fallon stated: "It definitely toughened him up, because these were the days where defenders were allowed to tackle really hard and you had to be a resilient character to keep charging down the wing in these circumstances."<ref>{{harvnb|Drysdale|2013|p=34}}</ref>

Cooper made his debut for Clydebank against [[Airdrieonians F.C. (1878)|Airdrieonians]] in the [[Scottish League Cup]].<ref name="ClydebankPost">{{cite web |title=The life and times of Davie Cooper |url=https://www.clydebankpost.co.uk/sport/13942879.the-life-and-times-of-davie-cooper/ |work=Clydebank Post|date=26 March 2015 |access-date=7 June 2021}}</ref> During this time, the League Cup format involved nine groups of four teams, Clydebank were placed in [[1974–75 Scottish League Cup#Group 7|group seven]] with Airdrieonians, [[St Mirren F.C.|St Mirren]] and [[Stirling Albion F.C.|Stirling Albion]]. The first game took place on 10 August 1974; Airdrie won 4–0. His full debut was also against Airdrie in the second meeting of the two sides in the group, on Wednesday 28 August, but again Airdrie won, this time by 2–1. This game was his first appearance at [[New Kilbowie Park]]. Clydebank finished bottom of group seven with two wins and four losses.<ref>{{cite web |title=Scottish League Cup 1974/75 Preliminary Round Group 7 Results |url=http://www.statto.com/football/stats/scotland/league-cup/1974-1975/results/preliminary-round-group-7 |website=statto.com |access-date=20 July 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160324175733/http://www.statto.com/football/stats/scotland/league-cup/1974-1975/results/preliminary-round-group-7|archive-date= 24 March 2016|url-status= dead}}</ref>

Cooper's [[Scottish Football League|Scottish League]] debut came in the [[Scottish Football League Second Division|Second Division]], in the last season before League re-construction, on Saturday 31 August 1974 where Clydebank were defeated 3–0 away to [[Queen of the South F.C.|Queen of the South]].<ref>{{harvnb|Drysdale|2013|p=36}}</ref> He first played on the winning side for the ''Bankies'' on 30 November, when they beat [[Cowdenbeath F.C.|Cowdenbeath]] at Kilbowie 2–1. His first goal for the team came two games later when, again at Kilbowie, he scored the third goal in the 4–1 defeat of [[Alloa Athletic F.C.|Alloa Athletic]].<ref name="ClydebankPost" /> Cooper ended the season with 29 starts, 2 as a substitute, and scored 5 goals.<ref name="Bankies" />

In the [[1975–76 Scottish Second Division|1975–76 season]], Cooper was one of four ever-presents. He finished top of the Clydebank goalscoring list with 13 in the League, three of which were [[Penalty kick (football)|penalties]]. His first [[hat-trick]] in senior football included two penalties at Alloa Athletic, where Clydebank won 3–1.<ref>{{harvnb|Drysdale|2013|p=38}}</ref> Clydebank achieved promotion that season to the [[Scottish Football League First Division|Scottish First Division]], with their final match being a 2–0 win against [[Forfar Athletic F.C.|Forfar Athletic]] at New Kilbowie Park, in which Cooper scored the opening goal from a penalty.<ref name="auto6">{{harvnb|Drysdale|2013|p=39}}</ref> Cooper played in all of Clydebank's 49 games that season, scoring 22 goals. Clydebank received a transfer bid of £65,000 from [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] (under the management of [[Ron Saunders]]) for Cooper's services, with Villa offering Cooper a salary more than treble what he was receiving at Clydebank.<ref name="auto6"/> Despite this, the offer was brushed aside by Cooper and Clydebank, with the hopes of continued success going into the new division.<ref name="auto6"/>

The following season found Clydebank to be a strong force in the [[1976–77 Scottish First Division]]. They regularly battled for supremacy with a talented [[St Mirren F.C.|St Mirren]] side, at that point under the management of a young [[Alex Ferguson]].<ref name="auto3">{{harvnb|Drysdale|2013|p=41}}</ref> The team achieved some remarkable results, including a 6–0 away win to [[East Fife F.C.|East Fife]] on 4 December 1976 and an unprecedented 8–1 home victory against [[Arbroath F.C.|Arbroath]] on 3 January 1977, during which Cooper scored another hat-trick for the side.<ref name="auto3"/> With the help of Cooper's talent, the club recorded a run of seventeen matches without defeat between December 1975 and October 1976.<ref name="auto3"/>

A major opportunity was presented to Cooper when Clydebank were drawn against his boyhood club Rangers in the quarter-final of the Scottish League Cup in September 1976. Rangers, under the management of [[Jock Wallace Jr.|Jock Wallace]], had secured the Scottish treble the previous season and were looking for young, creative players to add to their ranks.<ref name="auto3"/> The first leg took place at [[Ibrox Stadium|Ibrox]] on 22 September 1976.<ref name="ClydebankLeagueCup">{{cite web |title=Rangers 3–3 Clydebank |url=https://clydebankfc.co.uk/matchdetails.php?id=471 |website=clydebankfc.co.uk |publisher=Clydebank FC |access-date=27 June 2021}}</ref> Throughout the match, Clydebank and Cooper proved to be tricky opponents. Around two minutes in, defender [[John Greig]] tackled Cooper and said: "If I get another chance, I'll break your leg."<ref>{{harvnb|Drysdale|2013|p=42}}</ref> The Clydebank side held their own and recorded a 3–3 draw with Rangers, with Cooper scoring the side's crucial equaliser in the 78th minute.<ref name="ClydebankLeagueCup" /> The return leg match was held at Kilbowie Park on 6 October 1976.<ref name="Clydebank2ndLeg">{{cite web |title=Clydebank 1–1 Rangers |url=https://clydebankfc.co.uk/matchdetails.php?id=475 |website=clydebankfc.co.uk |publisher=Clydebank FC |access-date=27 June 2021}}</ref> This time, Greig opened the scoring for the away side in the 43rd minute. Cooper levelled the scoring in the 60th minute and the game finished 1–1. A third meeting to decide the winner took place on 18 October 1976, which ended in a 0–0 draw. Finally, Rangers overcame the Clydebank team on 19 October 1976 at [[Firhill Stadium]], the fourth meeting between the sides. [[Derek Parlane]] opened the scoring in the 6th minute, however Cooper equalised for Clydebank a minute later. [[Bobby McKean]] scored the decisive goal in the tie in the 61st minute, to ensure Rangers progressed to the semi-finals.<ref>{{cite web |title=clydebankfc.co.uk |url=https://clydebankfc.co.uk/matchdetails.php?id=480 |website=Rangers 2–1 Clydebank |publisher=Clydebank FC |access-date=27 June 2021}}</ref>

For his performances, it was clear that Rangers were ready to offer Cooper a contract. The [[Govan]] side initially offered Clydebank £50,000, the sum increasing numerous times, eventually reaching an agreement on £100,000 to secure Cooper as a Rangers player.<ref>{{harvnb|Drysdale|2013|p=46}}</ref> He travelled with his father and elder brother to a meeting with Rangers executives including Wallace, [[Willie Waddell]] and [[Willie Thornton]]. The fee and a salary of £10,000 were agreed, of which Cooper received £3,500 after tax.<ref name="auto4">{{harvnb|Drysdale|2013|p=48}}</ref>

Soon to be a Rangers player, Cooper's final goal for the ''Bankies'' was against [[Raith Rovers F.C.|Raith Rovers]] in a 2–0 win at New Kilbowie on 23 April 1977.<ref name="auto4"/> His final game for the club was against [[Falkirk F.C.|Falkirk]] at [[Brockville Park|Brockville]] in a 4–2 win, a week later.<ref name="auto4"/>

=== Rangers ===
[[File:CooperAutograph.jpg|270px|thumb|right|Cooper's signature during his time at Rangers.]]
At the age of 21, Cooper joined up with Jock Wallace's side in the summer of 1977, along with new signings [[Bobby Russell (footballer, born 1957)|Bobby Russell]] and [[Gordon Smith (footballer, born December 1954)|Gordon Smith]]. The trio of youngsters formed a close bond in their initial weeks at the club.<ref>{{harvnb|Drysdale|2013|p=51}}</ref> Defensively, Rangers had depth and quality with players such as [[John Greig]], [[Tom Forsyth]], [[Colin Jackson (Scottish footballer)|Colin Jackson]] and [[Sandy Jardine]]. Cooper, Russell and Smith were brought in to establish more cutting-edge attacking play going forward.<ref name="auto5">{{harvnb|Drysdale|2013|p=57}}</ref>

Despite losing the first two league games of the [[1977–78 Rangers F.C. season|1977–78]] season, the new attacking trio soon found form. Following a 4–0 victory away to [[Partick Thistle F.C.|Partick Thistle]], Cooper was involved in his first [[Old Firm]] match on 10 September 1977, a 3–2 home victory against [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Now You Know: Gordon Smith grabbed Rangers winner in five-goal thriller against Celtic |url=https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/sport/other_football/15207246.now-you-know-gordon-smith-grabbed-rangers-winner-in-five-goal-thriller-against-celtic/ |website=Glasgow Times|date=6 April 2017 |access-date=22 July 2021 |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125180628/https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/sport/other_football/15207246.now-you-know-gordon-smith-grabbed-rangers-winner-in-five-goal-thriller-against-celtic/|archive-date=25 January 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> Describing the intensity of the match, Cooper said: "even though we were tired by the end, we had to keep going for the fans."<ref>{{harvnb|Drysdale|2013|p=58}}</ref> Cooper scored his first league goal for Rangers in the following match, a 3–3 draw against [[St Mirren F.C.|St Mirren]] on 17 September 1977 at [[Love Street (stadium)|Love Street]].<ref name="auto5"/> His first Ibrox goal came against his former club Clydebank on 1 October 1977. Cooper scored twice in the match, including one directly from a [[corner kick]].<ref name="auto5"/> The club followed this with a run of ten games undefeated, ending with a 4–0 loss away to [[Aberdeen F.C.|Aberdeen]] two months later on 24 December 1977. His first trophy with Rangers came on 18 March 1978 after defeating Celtic 2–1 in the [[1978 Scottish League Cup Final]] at [[Hampden Park]], with Cooper and Smith on the scoresheet.<ref>{{cite web |title=Scottish League Cup Finals |url=https://spfl.co.uk/pages/league-cup-winners |website=spfl.co.uk |publisher=SPFL |access-date=22 July 2021}}</ref> In the league, Rangers narrowly secured the title by two points over Aberdeen, following a 2–0 home victory against [[Motherwell F.C.|Motherwell]] on 29 April 1978 with goals from Smith and Jackson.<ref>{{harvnb|Drysdale|2013|p=64}}</ref> They would again face a challenge from Aberdeen in the [[1978 Scottish Cup Final]] on 6 May 1978. Goals from [[Alex MacDonald (footballer, born 1948)|Alex MacDonald]] and [[Derek Johnstone]] secured a 2–1 victory at Hampden, and a [[Treble (association football)|domestic treble]] for Rangers.<ref>{{harvnb|Drysdale|2013|p=69}}</ref> Cooper appeared in fifty-two of the fifty-three matches Rangers played in his first year at the club and scored eight goals.<ref>{{harvnb|Drysdale|2013|p=60}}</ref>

To the surprise of many, manager Jock Wallace abruptly left Rangers on 23 May 1978 and was replaced by John Greig. The club made a poor start to the [[1978–79 Rangers F.C. season|1978–79]] season, failing to win their first six league encounters. Despite this however, they recorded victories against [[Juventus FC|Juventus]] and [[PSV Eindhoven]] in the [[European Cup]], with Cooper failing to be selected for the ties by Greig.<ref>{{harvnb|Drysdale|2013|p=77}}</ref> A mixed season domestically followed and they had all but lost the title in a 4–2 away defeat to Celtic on 21 May 1979. Describing losing the championship, Cooper said "you just want to emigrate as soon as you have got changed and walked out of the ground. It is like a spectre which haunts you for weeks."<ref name="auto2">{{harvnb|Drysdale|2013|p=82}}</ref> Despite this, Rangers won the [[1979 Scottish League Cup Final (March)|1979 Scottish League Cup Final]] in a 2–1 victory against Aberdeen and were victorious in the [[1979 Scottish Cup Final]], winning 3–2 over Hibernian. Tensions were beginning to rise between Cooper and Greig, mainly due to less-frequent selection of Cooper by the new manager. Cooper would often return home to Hamilton complaining the club he loved was "kicking him in the teeth".<ref>{{harvnb|Drysdale|2013|p=78}}</ref>

On 4 August 1979, Cooper scored a memorable solo goal against Celtic in the 1979 [[Drybrough Cup]] Final at Hampden. A crossed ball in from [[Alex MacDonald (footballer, born 1948)|Alex MacDonald]] met Cooper at the edge of the box, where he went on to "[[Keepie uppie|keepie up]]" the ball over [[Roddie MacDonald]], [[Murdo MacLeod]], [[Tom McAdam]] and [[Alan Sneddon]] before slotting the ball past onrushing Celtic goalkeeper [[Peter Latchford]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Rangers' greatest goals: Davie Cooper's keepy-uppy masterpiece against Celtic |url=https://theathletic.co.uk/1685453/2020/03/23/davie-coopers-rangers-goal/ |website=theathletic.co.uk |date=23 March 2020 |publisher=The Athletic |access-date=19 April 2021 |last1=Campbell |first1=Jordan }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/now-you-know-super-cooper-scored-great-keepy-up-goal.18917212 |title=NOW YOU KNOW: Super Cooper scored great 'keepy-up' goal  |date=20 September 2012 |access-date=9 December 2019 |work=[[Evening Times]] |publisher=Herald & Times Group}}</ref> The goal was voted the greatest ever Rangers goal by Rangers fans and listed by Rob Smyth of ''[[The Guardian]]'' as the second greatest ever solo goal, after [[Diego Maradona]]'s [[Goal of the Century]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2010/jan/08/joy-of-six-solo-goals | location=London | work=The Guardian| title=The Joy of Six: Solo goals | first=Rob | last=Smyth | date=8 January 2010}}</ref> Sandy Jardine, who had scored a spectacular second goal for Rangers during the match, admitted his goal had been overshadowed by Cooper's. "I scored one of my best goals that day," said Jardine, "and it hardly got a mention."<ref name="Genius" /> That season, Cooper made 49 appearances and scored ten goals.

The summer of 1979 brought new interest in Cooper's services from clubs such as [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]], [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]] and [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]], which were once again turned down by Cooper in favour of staying close to home.<ref name="auto2"/> The 1979–80 season was the first of only three seasons during his time at Ibrox that the club failed to win a trophy. In 1980, [[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.|Brighton]] manager [[Alan Mullery]] reportedly placed a bid for both Cooper and Rangers teammate [[Gordon Smith (footballer, born December 1954)|Gordon Smith]]; Smith moved on, Cooper stayed.<ref name="Lookback">{{cite web |last1=McDermott |first1=Scott |title=Davie Cooper career look back: Feud with Rangers legend John Greig damaged them both |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/davie-cooper-career-look-back-2244827 |work=Daily Record |date=2 September 2013 |location=Scotland |access-date=7 June 2021}}</ref>

The following season (1980–81), Cooper started fewer than half of the scheduled league games. He was, however, part of the starting line-up for the [[Scottish Cup]] final replay against [[Dundee United F.C.|Dundee United]] which Rangers won.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Weir |first1=Stewart |title=Six of the best Scottish Cup finals: Rangers 4 Dundee United 1 (1981, replay) |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/15305342.six-best-scottish-cup-finals-rangers-4-dundee-united-1-1981-replay/ |work=The Herald|date=24 May 2017 |location=Glasgow |access-date=8 June 2021}}</ref> This was his last Scottish Cup winners medal for the Ibrox side.

In the 1981–82 season, Cooper started his 21st consecutive League Cup tie for Rangers as they won through to the Final. His only goal in the Ibrox side's 11 ties came in the Final. Cooper played in all but six league fixtures as Rangers attained third place. [[File:CooperTestimonialTrophy.jpg|300px|thumb|Trophy from Cooper's testimonial game against  [[FC Girondins de Bordeaux|Girondins de Bordeaux]], August 1988.]]

In the 1982–83 season, Cooper scored his first hat-trick for Rangers (in a sectional League Cup tie against [[Kilmarnock F.C.|Kilmarnock]]) and his first and only European goal, against [[Borussia Dortmund]] at Ibrox, in the [[UEFA Cup]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bruce |first1=Craig |title=A Tribute to Davie Cooper |url=https://www.rangersnews.uk/columnist/tribute-davie-cooper/ |website=rangersnews.uk |date=25 March 2017 |publisher=Rangers News |access-date=7 June 2021}}</ref> It was his most prolific goalscoring season for the club, scoring 12 goals in all competitions.

Cooper scored eight Scottish Premier Division goals in the 1986–87 season, when Rangers won their first league title for nine years.

Cooper won League Cup medals in 1983–84, 1984–85, 1986–87 and 1987–88. He scored the winning goal from the penalty spot in 1986–87 against Celtic. The following season he scored a free-kick, Rangers's first goal, in a 3–3 draw against Aberdeen. Rangers won 5–3 on penalties, Cooper claiming a seventh winner's medal.

On 9 August 1988, Cooper's [[testimonial match]] against [[Girondins de Bordeaux]] saw over 43,000 spectators watch Rangers win 3–2 with [[Terry Butcher]], [[Kevin Drinkell]] and [[Ally McCoist]] netting for Rangers.<ref name="Scotzine">{{cite web |title=Davie Cooper |url=http://www.scotzine.com/legends-of-scotland/davie-cooper/ |website=scotzine.com |publisher=Scotzine |access-date=7 June 2021}}</ref> Cooper finished his Rangers career with 75 goals in 540 appearances. When asked to describe the highlight of his time at Rangers, he simply responded "I played for the team I loved."

=== Motherwell ===
Following the [[Graeme Souness#Coaching and managerial career|Souness Revolution]] at Ibrox and an influx of high-profile signings, Cooper's presence in the Rangers first team began to decrease. Broadcaster [[Tam Cowan]] stated: "He (Souness) was bringing in guys like [[Mark Walters]], exciting talent out on the wing from down south. But Davie, because he loved the game so much, just wanted to go somewhere where he could play first team football."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Thomson |first1=Paul |title=Rangers and Motherwell legend Davie Cooper remembered: "We'll never see his like again", says 'Well fanatic Tam Cowan |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/local-sport/rangers-motherwell-legend-davie-cooper-21727663 |work=Daily Record |date=20 March 2020 |location=Scotland |access-date=19 April 2021}}</ref> Souness later admitted his mistake in allowing Cooper to leave for Motherwell, saying: "I regret the fact I didn't say no to him at that time. He went on to play brilliantly at the highest level for another three years."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Parks |first1=Gordon |title=Graeme Souness: I should've put my foot down and FORCED Davie Cooper to stay at Rangers |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/graeme-souness-shouldve-put-foot-5384140 |work=Daily Record |date=23 March 2015 |location=Scotland |access-date=19 April 2021}}</ref>
 [[File:CooperFinalTicket.jpg|thumb|Cooper featured on the tickets for the [[2005 Scottish League Cup Final]], which was contested by his former clubs [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]] and [[Motherwell F.C.|Motherwell]].]]
After 12 years at Ibrox, Cooper signed for Motherwell, then managed by former teammate [[Tommy McLean]] in August 1989 for a fee of £50,000.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McKinney |first1=David |title=Obituary: Davie Cooper |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-davie-cooper-1612527.html |work=The Independent|date=24 March 1995 |access-date=19 April 2021}}</ref> His debut for the club came at [[Rugby Park]] in a midweek Scottish League Cup tie against [[Kilmarnock F.C.|Kilmarnock]] on 15 August 1989. Motherwell won the match 4–1, with Cooper assisting in three of the four goals scored.<ref>{{cite web |title=Davie Cooper Inducted to Hall of Fame |url=https://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/2020/11/16/davie-cooper-inducted-to-hall-of-fame/ |website=motherwellfc.co.uk |date=16 November 2020 |publisher=Motherwell FC |access-date=19 April 2021}}</ref> He scored his first goal for the [[North Lanarkshire]] side the following month, in a 3–0 win against [[Dundee F.C.|Dundee]] at [[Fir Park]] on 30 September 1989.

Cooper spent nearly five years with Motherwell, going on to play over 150 times for the ''Steelmen.'' Perhaps his most notable achievement during his Motherwell spell was contributing to the club winning its first major trophy in 39 years: The [[1990–91 Scottish Cup]] against [[Dundee United F.C.|Dundee United]], in which Motherwell won 4–3 after extra-time [[1991 Scottish Cup Final|in the final]]. The following day, Cooper and his teammates paraded the streets of [[Motherwell]] on an [[open top bus]], with thousands of fans gathering to celebrate the club's success.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mullen |first1=Scott |title=Rewind: Dundee Utd v Motherwell in the epic 1991 Scottish Cup final |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/52063379 |access-date=19 April 2021}}</ref>

=== Return to Clydebank (1993–95)===
While with Motherwell, Cooper had been working in a coaching capacity with the reserve and youth sides. In December 1993 he returned to Clydebank as a player, but also to assist in coaching duties. In 1993–94 he played in a total of 20 games, including sixteen starts and four as a substitute. In 1994–95 he was almost an ever-present in the side until the start of February, when he played his last first team match against Hearts in a [[Scottish Cup]] third round replay at [[Tynecastle Stadium|Tynecastle]] on 7 February 1995.

Cooper had scored his last goal in a [[1994–95 Scottish Challenge Cup|Challenge Cup]] semi-final against Airdrie earlier that season, and his last appearance in a Clydebank jersey was in a reserve fixture at New Kilbowie on 21 February 1995 against [[Hamilton Academical]].<ref name="Scotzine" />

==International career==
Cooper made his international debut for [[Scotland national under-21 football team|Scotland under-21s]] in the 1976–77 season in a 0–0 draw versus the [[Czech Republic]] in [[Plzeň]].<ref>[http://www.fitbastats.com/scotlandu21/player.php?playerid=17 Scotland U21 player Cooper, Davie], FitbaStats</ref> He won another three caps that season, versus [[Wales national under-21 football team|Wales]], [[Switzerland national under-21 football team|Switzerland]] and [[England under-21 national football team|England]].

His full international debut for [[Scotland men's national football team|Scotland]] came on 12 September 1979, in a 1–1 draw with [[Peru national football team|Peru]] at [[Hampden Park]].<ref name="SFA">{{cite web |title=Davie Cooper |url=https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/players/?pid=1320&lid=1 |website=scottishfa.co.uk |publisher=Scottish Football Association |access-date=7 June 2021}}</ref> Cooper played for the national team again the following month in a 1–1 draw at home to [[Austria national football team|Austria]] in the [[UEFA Euro 1980|Euro 1980]] qualifiers, but after that he wasn't capped again for over four years. Cooper returned to the national team on 28 February 1984, scoring against [[Wales national football team|Wales]] in a 2–1 [[British Home Championship]] win,<ref>{{cite web |title=Scotland v Wales, 28 February 1984 |url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/scotland-v-wales-28-february-1984-238325/ |website=11vs11.com |publisher=11vs11 |access-date=8 June 2021}}</ref> and he was on the scoresheet for Scotland again later in the year in a 6–1 friendly win over [[Yugoslavia national football team|Yugoslavia]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Scotland v Yugoslavia, 12 September 1984 |url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/scotland-v-yugoslavia-12-september-1984-238678/ |website=11vs11.com |publisher=11vs11 |access-date=8 June 2021}}</ref>

[[File:Popular Bank terracing (Ninian Park) geograph-2999344-by-Steve-Daniels.jpg|thumb|right|[[Ninian Park]], [[Cardiff]]. The ground at which Cooper scored his crucial penalty and helped Scotland's efforts for a place at the [[1986 FIFA World Cup]]. ]]
Cooper became a regular in the Scotland team and prior to the [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986 World Cup]], playing in 11 consecutive games. A key match was the last qualification group match, [[1985 Wales vs Scotland football match|against Wales in September 1985]], in which Scotland needed at least a draw to keep their qualification hopes alive. Cooper began the match on the bench and Scotland struggled early on, as [[Mark Hughes]] scored for Wales in the 13th minute and goalkeeper [[Jim Leighton]] struggled with vision after losing a [[contact lens]]. Scotland manager [[Jock Stein]] replaced [[Gordon Strachan]] with Cooper in the 61st minute. With nine minutes remaining, Scotland were awarded a [[penalty kick]] that Cooper scored. As the game ended in a 1–1 draw, the Scotland team and around 12,000 travelling fans celebrated their survival in the competition. The achievement was completely overshadowed by the collapse and [[Jock Stein#Death|death of Jock Stein]], who fell ill at the final whistle and died 30 minutes later.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Scott-Elliott |first1=Robin |title=Wales v Scotland: Final whistle for Scottish legend Jock Stein |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/wales-v-scotland-final-whistle-scottish-legend-jock-stein-8207876.html |work=The Independent|date=12 October 2012 |access-date=24 March 2021}}</ref>

Cooper also scored in a 2–0 win against [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]] in the qualification play-off, and made two appearances in the finals in Mexico.<ref name="NTOF">{{cite web |last1=Banks |first1=Ben |title=A tribute to Davie Cooper, a Motherwell and Rangers legend |url=https://www.nottheoldfirm.com/columnist/a-tribute-to-davie-cooper-a-motherwell-and-rangers-legend/ |website=nottheoldfirm.com |date=26 March 2019 |publisher=Not the Old Firm |access-date=7 June 2021}}</ref> Cooper scored his final two goals (from six in total) for Scotland on 12 November 1986 in a 3–0 home win against [[Luxembourg national football team|Luxembourg]] in a [[UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying|Euro 88 qualifier]]. He was capped twice for Scotland as a Motherwell player, and the last of his 22 caps was earned on 16 May 1990 in a friendly against [[Egypt national football team|Egypt]] at [[Pittodrie Stadium|Pittodrie]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football/scotland/davie-cooper-6057/scottish-caps-1979-90_a11238/|title=Davie Cooper – Scottish Caps 1979–90 – Scotland|work=Sporting Heroes}}</ref> An injury precluded him from being selected for the Scotland squad for the [[1990 FIFA World Cup]] finals.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Murray |first1=Ewan |title=Costa Rica's rise brings back painful World Cup memories for Scotland |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jun/22/costa-rica-world-cup-scotland |newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=7 June 2021}}</ref>

Cooper's final Scotland cap was [[auction]]ed by his friend John Semple in 2014. It was displayed at the [[Ideal Home Show]] in Glasgow's [[SEC Centre|SECC]] before an auction at McTear's Auctioneers with an estimated value of around £8,000.<ref>{{cite news |title=Final Davie Cooper cap at auction |url=https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/13281371.final-davie-cooper-cap-at-auction/ |newspaper=Glasgow Times |access-date=7 June 2021}}</ref>

==Style of play==
[[File:DavieCooperStatue.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Statue of Cooper in his hometown of [[Hamilton, South Lanarkshire|Hamilton]].]] Cooper has been regarded by many as one of the greatest players in Scottish football history.<ref name="King" /><ref name="Genius" /> A [[winger (association football)|winger]], he became a notoriously difficult opponent due to his creative and elegant playing style, with strength and manipulation of the ball allowing him to ease past opposition players.<ref name="25years">{{cite web |last1=Gray |first1=Daniel |title=Paying tribute to the genius of Davie Cooper, 25 years on from his death |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/rangers/paying-tribute-genius-davie-cooper-25-years-his-death-2504677 |work=The Scotsman |date=22 February 2020 |access-date=27 June 2021}}</ref> Former teammate [[Mark Walters]] said in an interview on Cooper: "He could just glide past players, drop a shoulder and go. He used to manipulate the ball. Watching him made me a better player".<ref name="25years" /> Despite not being blessed with pace, his close ball control, strength and "dip of the shoulder" allowed him to create many assists and score goals throughout his career.<ref>{{cite web |title=Davie Cooper's dip of the shoulder a skill rarely seen now, says John MacDonald |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/davie-coopers-dip-shoulder-a-skill-rarely-seen-now-says-john-macdonald |website=fourfourtwo.com |date=23 March 2020 |publisher=FourFourTwo |access-date=27 June 2021}}</ref>

Cooper was particularly gifted on his left foot, allowing him to deliver precise crosses and [[Set piece (football)|set pieces]]. Discussing Cooper's left footed ability, former [[Scotland men's national football team|Scotland]] manager [[Andy Roxburgh]] said: "He could have played a violin with it. He didn't need a right foot. He was so perfectly balanced, so technically gifted on his left, that he could do anything. There were no limitations. He could beat people any way; right, left, double back and beat them again".<ref name="25years" /> At Cooper's testimonial dinner, in reference to his left-footed ability, friend and teammate [[Ally McCoist]] gifted him a [[mannequin]] right leg in Rangers colours, to which Cooper replied "the one thing I never had".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Black |first1=James |title=Rangers fans are loving classic clip from Gers icon's testimonial |url=https://www.rangersnews.uk/news/rangers-fans-are-loving-classic-clip-from-gers-icons-testimonial/ |website=rangersnews.uk |date=20 October 2020 |publisher=Rangers News |access-date=27 June 2021}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Cooper began dating Christine McMeekin in summer 1975 after meeting at an ice rink.<ref>{{harvnb|Drysdale|2013|p=37}}</ref> They married in spring 1980 at Coatdyke Congregational Church in the town of [[Airdrie, North Lanarkshire|Airdrie]] and had one daughter, Nicola.<ref>{{cite web |title=Davie Cooper Memorial Tribute |url=https://forum.rangersmedia.co.uk/topic/16134-the-rm-official-davie-cooper-memorial-tribute/page/2/ |work=Rangers Monthly |access-date=19 April 2021}}</ref> At the time of Cooper's death, the couple had been separated for several years.<ref name="Tributes" /> Outside of football, Cooper was a keen squash and tennis player and cited the Swedish tennis player [[Björn Borg]] as one of his heroes.

Cooper was often reluctant to speak to the press and rarely participated in interviews. This led to him being nicknamed "The Moody Blue" due to his reserved nature, despite many of his colleagues and friends praising his personality.<ref name="Keevins" /> Journalist and friend Hugh Keevins said in an article on Cooper: ″He could be grumpy like any other human being in a stressful occupation, but I remember the ready smile and the winning personality.″<ref name="Keevins">{{cite web |last1=Keevins |first1=Hugh |title=Super Cooper |url=https://planetradio.co.uk/clyde/sport/football-news/hugh-keevins-davie-cooper/ |website=planetradio.co.uk |publisher=Planet Radio (Clyde) |access-date=19 April 2021}}</ref>

One particularly close friend was Ally McCoist, who said in newspaper tribute to Cooper: ″I still regard myself as being blessed to have gained the chance to live and work and share football memories with Davie, whether at Ibrox or when we were in Scotland squads or just chewing the fat about the game we loved.″<ref name="Ally">{{cite web |title=Ally McCoist pays emotional tribute to lost Rangers legend Davie Cooper|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/ally-mccoist-pays-emotional-tribute-2242522 |website=Daily Record|date=September 2013 |location=Scotland |access-date=7 June 2021}}</ref> McCoist and [[Derek Johnstone]] visited Cooper in hospital shortly before his death.<ref name="Keevins" />

== Death ==
[[File:DavieCooperTribute.jpeg|thumb|right|One fan's floral tribute to Cooper, outside [[Ibrox Stadium]] in 2018.]]
In the lead-up to his retirement, Cooper got involved in coaching roles both with his club and in local communities. He began presenting a coaching television series for youngsters called ''Shoot'' for [[STV Group|Scottish Television]], along with former Celtic, [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]], Aberdeen and Scotland player [[Charlie Nicholas]] and former [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]] player [[Tommy Craig]]. Cooper collapsed suddenly on the morning of 22 March 1995 at a training pitch adjacent to [[Broadwood Stadium]] in [[Cumbernauld]] during a recording session for an episode.<ref name="Skills">{{cite web |last1=Peach |first1=Simon |title=Silky skills like Cooper's have been lost over time: MacDonald |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/silky-skills-like-coopers-have-been-lost-over-time-macdonald-39066162.html |work=Belfast Telegraph|date=23 March 2020 |access-date=7 June 2021}}</ref> Medical staff at the ground and series director [[Abigail Austen|Ian Hamilton]] attempted to resuscitate Cooper at the scene before an ambulance crew arrived.<ref>{{cite web |title=Davie Cooper fights for life after collapse |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12127345.davie-cooper-fights-for-life-after-collapse/ |work=The Herald|date=23 March 1995 |location=Glasgow |access-date=22 July 2021 |language=en|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210722232647/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12127345.davie-cooper-fights-for-life-after-collapse/|archive-date=22 July 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>

He was taken to [[University Hospital Monklands|Monklands General Hospital]], where a [[CT Scan]] confirmed a [[subarachnoid haemorrhage]]. Cooper was transferred to the Institute for Neurological Sciences at Glasgow's [[Southern General Hospital]], where consultant neurosurgeon Professor Garth Cruickshank took charge of the case.<ref name="Cruikshank" /> His condition deteriorated during the night. In his announcement to the media, Cruickshank stated that Cooper would not have been aware at any point of what was going on.<ref name="Cruikshank">{{cite web |title=Cooper: death of a sportsman Cooper loses his fight for life with the silent killer |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12128411.cooper-death-of-a-sportsman-cooper-loses-his-fight-for-life-with-the-silent-killer/ |work=The Herald|date=24 March 1995 |location=Glasgow |access-date=11 May 2021}}</ref> In the early hours of the following morning on 23 March 1995, Cooper's life support machine was turned off and he died at the age of 39.

Thousands of mourners lined the neighbourhood streets of Hamilton and many of the biggest names in Scottish football attended his funeral, which took place at Hillhouse Parish Church, Hamilton, on 27 March 1995. Cooper was buried in the town's Bent Cemetery.<ref>{{cite web |title=Thousands pay tribute to a man of rare talent |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12129143.thousands-pay-tribute-to-a-man-of-rare-talent/ |work=The Herald|date=28 March 1995 |location=Glasgow |access-date=13 April 2021}}</ref>

===Tributes===
The news of Cooper's death was met with widespread sadness from across the country and the footballing world, much of which is still felt today. Supporters of Clydebank, Rangers and Motherwell left tributes outside their respective grounds.<ref name="Ally" /> [[Jock Wallace Jr.]] (who had signed Cooper for Rangers in 1977) said: "My feelings go out to his family and loved ones, who will have to be strong through this ordeal." The (then) [[Scottish Football Association]] chief executive [[Jim Farry]] stated: "It is tragic that one with such skills and knowledge will no longer be able to impart them to young players."<ref name="Mourns" />

It emerged that, after his retirement, Cooper had intended to share his footballing knowledge and skills with youngsters in creating a David Cooper Soccer School in conjunction with Clydebank. "It was our intention to take football to the children of the country" said Jack Steedman, whose club had helped Cooper develop his own skills throughout the early 1970s.<ref name="Mourns">{{cite web |title=The football world mourns the loss of a legend. Davie Cooper: when will we see your like again? |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12127860.the-football-world-mourns-the-loss-of-a-legend-davie-cooper-when-will-we-see-your-like-again/ |work=The Herald|date=24 March 1995 |location=Glasgow |access-date=7 June 2021}}</ref> Subsequently, a seven-a-side tournament for schoolchildren, ''The Davie Cooper Soccer Sevens'', was named in his honour in 1995; it takes place annually in his hometown of Hamilton.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Thomson |first1=Paul |title=Rangers legend Davie Cooper's Soccer Sevens tournament cancelled |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/local-sport/rangers-legend-davie-coopers-soccer-21750418 |work=Daily Record |date=25 March 2020 |location=Scotland |access-date=25 March 2021}}</ref>

The Davie Cooper Scottish Aneurysm Study Group was founded as part of [[Graham Teasdale (physician)|Graham Teasdale]]'s research into the familial risk of Subarachnoid Haemorrhage (SAH) which included a survey of over 8500 relatives of patients with a SAH. The survey has been cited by numerous medical researchers in the study of [[intracranial aneurysm]]s.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Teasdale |first1=Graham |title=The familial risk of subarachnoid haemorrhage |url=https://academic.oup.com/brain/article/128/7/1677/307044 |journal=Brain |date=2005 |volume=128 |issue=7 |pages=1677–1685 |publisher=Oxford Academic |doi=10.1093/brain/awh497 |pmid=15817512 |access-date=23 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Teasdale |first1=Graham M. |last2=Wardlaw |first2=Joanna M. |last3=White |first3=Philip M. |last4=Murray |first4=Gordon |last5=Teasdale |first5=Evelyn M. |last6=Easton |first6=Valerie |title=The familial risk of subarachnoid haemorrhage |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15817512/ |journal=Brain : A Journal of Neurology |access-date=23 January 2024 |pages=1677–1685 |doi=10.1093/brain/awh497 |date=July 2005|volume=128 |issue=Pt 7 |pmid=15817512 }}</ref>

==Legacy==
Cooper is remembered as one of the most significant players in the histories of Clydebank, Rangers and Motherwell football clubs. He was inducted into the Rangers Hall of Fame in 2000, Clydebank's in 2008 and Motherwell's in 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Haugh |first1=Jack |title=Rangers hero Davie Cooper inducted into Motherwell Hall of Fame |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/18876125.rangers-hero-davie-cooper-inducted-motherwell-hall-fame/ |work=The Herald|date=16 November 2020 |location=Glasgow |access-date=24 March 2021}}</ref> {{quote box|width=20%|quote= "God gave Davie Cooper a talent. He would not be disappointed with how it was used."|source=–[[Walter Smith]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Ex-Rangers star is surprise choice in Walter Smith's best XI |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/ex-rangers-star-surprise-choice-walter-smiths-best-xi-1440658 |work=The Scotsman |date=3 September 2017 |access-date=22 July 2021 |language=en}}</ref>}}

Dutch international [[Ruud Gullit]] played against Cooper in a friendly match for [[Feyenoord]] against Rangers, after which he called Cooper one of the greatest players he had ever seen. Gullit later named Cooper in his greatest XI in football magazine [[Four Four Two]].<ref name = "ruud">{{cite web|url=http://fourfourtwo.com/interviews/perfectxi/136/article.aspx|title=Ruud Gullit: Perfect XI|work=fourfourtwo.com|date=December 2007 }}</ref> 25 years after his sudden death, Gullit commented: "So, it's 25 years ago already, and we have to celebrate him. Davie Cooper forever."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Miller |first1=Adam |title=Ruud Gullit pays tribute to Rangers icon Davie Cooper |url=https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/sport/football/ruud-gullit-pays-tribute-rangers-17969913 |website=glasgowlive.co.uk |date=24 March 2020 |publisher=Glasgow Live |access-date=24 March 2021}}</ref>

Ex-Rangers forward, [[David Templeton]], was named after Cooper by his father, ex pro [[Henry Templeton]]. David Templeton's full name is David Cooper Templeton.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McLean |first1=Euan |title=David Templeton: I grew up a Celtic fan but Gers-daft dad named me after Davie Cooper |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/david-templeton-i-grew-up-a-celtic-1077623 |work=Daily Record |date=5 December 2010 |location=Scotland |access-date=13 April 2021}}</ref> Ibrox features a matchday hospitality suite named Club Cooper, where various photographs of Cooper are displayed on the walls.<ref>{{cite web |title=Club Cooper |url=https://www.rangers.co.uk/club-cooper/6Pb0Cug8gWmImV5OKs9S4w |website=rangers.co.uk |publisher=Rangers Football Club |access-date=30 September 2021|url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210806160402/https://www.rangers.co.uk/club-cooper/6Pb0Cug8gWmImV5OKs9S4w|archive-date=6 August 2021}}</ref>

[[File:Davie Cooper Stand - geograph.org.uk - 3004348.jpg|thumb|The Davie Cooper Stand at [[Fir Park]].]]

After Cooper's death, Motherwell renamed [[Fir Park]]'s North Stand in his honour. The [[2005 Scottish League Cup Final]] between Rangers and Motherwell paid tribute to Cooper's memory. Ticket stubs had an image of him printed on them, and a percentage of the programme sales went towards establishing a centre for special needs children.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rangers1.co.uk/cooper.htm |title=Davie Cooper Profile |publisher=Rangers Website |access-date=8 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009025803/http://www.rangers1.co.uk/cooper.htm |archive-date=9 October 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sportinglife.com/football/scottishpremier/rangers/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/05/03/15/SOCCER_Scotland_Smith.html&TEAMHD=rangers |title=CIS Cup Final Preview |work=Sporting Life |access-date=8 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605020858/http://www.sportinglife.com/football/scottishpremier/rangers/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer%2F05%2F03%2F15%2FSOCCER_Scotland_Smith.html&TEAMHD=rangers |archive-date=5 June 2011 }}</ref>

In 1999, four years after Cooper's death, a statue of the player was erected in his honour at the [[Hamilton Palace]] Sports and Recreation Grounds.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Sporting Statues Project: Davie Cooper: Hamilton Palace Sports Grounds, Hamilton, South Lanarkshire |url=http://www.offbeat.group.shef.ac.uk/statues/STUK_Cooper_Davie.htm |website=offbeat.group.shef.ac.uk |publisher=University of Sheffield |access-date=20 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181023160721/http://www.offbeat.group.shef.ac.uk/statues/STUK_Cooper_Davie.htm|archive-date=23 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The bronze statue was created by artist Kenny Mackay and erected by [[South Lanarkshire|South Lanarkshire Council]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Football stars pay tribute to legend Cooper |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12013720.football-stars-pay-tribute-to-legend-cooper/ |work=The Herald|date=19 March 1999 |location=Glasgow |access-date=24 March 2021}}</ref> Former team-mate [[Ally McCoist]] and Rangers ambassador [[Mark Hateley]] laid a [[wreath]] at the statue in March 2020, 25 years after Cooper's death in memory of the player.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jack |first1=Christopher |title=Rangers pay tribute to Davie Cooper 25 years after his death |url=https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/sport/18328214.rangers-pay-tribute-davie-cooper-25-years-death/ |work=Glasgow Times|date=23 March 2020 |access-date=24 March 2021}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
===International===
{| class=wikitable style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref>{{SFA Profile|id=1320}}</ref>
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="7"|[[Scotland men's national football team|Scotland]]
|1979||2||0
|-
|1984||5||2
|-
|1985||6||2
|-
|1986||5||2
|-
|1987||2||0
|-
|1989||1||0
|-
|1990||1||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!22!!6
|}

:''Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first.''
{| class="wikitable"
! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
|-
| 1 || align=right | 28 February 1984 || [[Hampden Park]], [[Glasgow]], Scotland || {{fb|WAL}} || align=center | 1–0 || align=center | 2–1 || [[1983–84 British Home Championship|British Home Championship]]
|-to reach
| 2 || align=right | 12 September 1984 || Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland || {{fb|YUG}} || align=center | 1–0 || align=center | 6–1 || [[Exhibition game|Friendly match]]
|-
| 3 || align=right | 10 September 1985 || [[Ninian Park]], [[Cardiff]], Wales || {{Fb|WAL}} || align=center | 1–1 || align=center | 1–1 || [[1986 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|1986 FIFA World Cup qualifying]]
|-
| 4 || align=right | 20 November 1985 || Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland || {{fb|AUS}} || align=center | 1–0 || align=center | 2–0 || [[1986 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA–OFC play-off)|1986 FIFA World Cup play-off]]
|-
| 5 || align=right | 12 November 1986 || Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland || {{Fb|LUX}} || align=center | 1–0 || align=center | 3–0 || [[UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying Group 7|UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying]]
|-
| 6 || align=right | 12 November 1986 || Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland || {{fb|LUX}} || align=center | 2–0 || align=center | 3–0 || UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying
|}

==Honours==
'''Clydebank'''
*[[Scottish Football League Second Division|Scottish Second Division]]: [[1975–76 Scottish Second Division|1975–76]]<ref>{{cite web |title=The life and times of Davie Cooper |url=https://www.clydebankpost.co.uk/sport/13942879.the-life-and-times-of-davie-cooper/ |work=Clydebank Post|date=26 March 2015 |access-date=22 June 2021}}</ref>

'''Rangers'''
*[[Scottish Football League Premier Division|Scottish Premier Division]]: [[1977–78 Scottish Premier Division|1977–78]],<ref name="1977/78">{{cite web |title=1977/78 – Rangers 2–1 Celtic (aet) |date=14 March 2009 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_cups/7943586.stm |publisher=BBC News |access-date=22 June 2021}}</ref> [[1986–87 Scottish Premier Division|1986–87]],<ref name="Dundee Courier">{{cite web |last1=Strachan |first1=Graeme |title=Dundee man shares cherished memories of Scottish football hero Davie Cooper 25 years after his passing |url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/dundee/1206757/dundee-man-shares-cherished-memories-of-scottish-football-hero-davie-cooper-25-years-after-his-passing/ |work=The Courier |date=21 March 2020 |access-date=22 June 2021}}</ref> [[1988–89 Scottish Premier Division|1988–89]]<ref name="Dundee Courier" />
*[[Scottish Cup]]: [[1978 Scottish Cup Final|1977–78]],<ref name="Dundee Courier" /> [[1979 Scottish Cup Final|1978–79]],<ref name="Dundee Courier" /> [[1981 Scottish Cup Final|1980–81]]<ref name="Dundee Courier" />
*[[Scottish League Cup]]: [[1977–78 Scottish League Cup|1977–78]],<ref name="Dundee Courier" /> [[1978–79 Scottish League Cup|1978–79]],<ref name="Dundee Courier" /> [[1981–82 Scottish League Cup|1981–82]],<ref name="Dundee Courier" /> [[1983–84 Scottish League Cup|1983–84]],<ref name="Dundee Courier" /> [[1984–85 Scottish League Cup|1984–85]],<ref name="Dundee Courier" /> [[1986–87 Scottish League Cup|1986–87]],<ref name="Dundee Courier" /> [[1987–88 Scottish League Cup|1987–88]]<ref name="Dundee Courier" />

'''Motherwell'''
*[[Scottish Cup]]: [[1991 Scottish Cup Final|1990–91]]<ref name="Dundee Courier" />

'''Individual'''
*[[Scottish Football Hall of Fame]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Spencer |first1=Stuart |title=2018 Scottish Football Hall of Fame Nominations Launch. |url=https://scottishfootballmuseum.org.uk/2018-scottish-football-hall-of-fame-nominations-launch/ |website=scottishfootballmuseum.org.uk |publisher=Scottish Football Museum |access-date=22 June 2021 |archive-date=24 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624204522/https://scottishfootballmuseum.org.uk/2018-scottish-football-hall-of-fame-nominations-launch/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*Rangers Greatest Ever Team – 1999 Poll
'''Other'''
*[[Tennents' Sixes]]: [[1984 Tennent's Sixes|1984]],<ref name = "six">{{ Cite news | url = https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003741/19930123/044/0044 | title = Davie's six pack | newspaper = [[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]] | date = 23 January 1993 | access-date = 9 April 2023 | url-access=subscription | via = [[British Newspaper Archive]] }}</ref> [[1989 Tennent's Sixes|1989]]<ref name = "six"/>

==See also==
* [[List of footballers in Scotland by number of league appearances]] (500+)

==References==
'''General'''
*{{Citation|last=Drysdale|first=Neil|title=Coop: The Life of Davie Cooper|publisher=Black & White|year=2013|isbn=9781845026370}}
*{{Citation|last1=Cooper |first1=David |title=True blue : the Davie Cooper story |year=1987 |publisher=Mainstream |location=Edinburgh |isbn=9781851580699}}
'''Specific'''
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book |last1=Clark |first1=Graham |title=Davie Cooper : tribute to a legend |date=1995 |publisher=Mainstream |location=Edinburgh |isbn=9781851587896 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NovZAAAACAAJ}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Davie Cooper}}
*[https://rangers.co.uk/club/history/hall-of-fame/davie-cooper/ Rangers FC] – Cooper's entry in the Rangers Hall of Fame.
*{{SFA profile}}
*[http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football/rangers-fc/davie-cooper-6057/league-appearances_a13717/ Sporting Heroes] – Career record.

{{Scotland squad 1986 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg = gold
| fg = navy
| list =
{{Scottish Football Hall of Fame}}
{{Rangers F.C. Hall of Fame}}
{{Motherwell F.C. Hall of Fame}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cooper, Davie}}
[[Category:1956 births]]
[[Category:1995 deaths]]
[[Category:Footballers from Hamilton, South Lanarkshire]]
[[Category:Scottish men's footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football wingers]]
[[Category:Clydebank F.C. (1965) players]]
[[Category:Rangers F.C. players]]
[[Category:Motherwell F.C. players]]
[[Category:Scottish Football League players]]
[[Category:Scotland men's under-21 international footballers]]
[[Category:Scotland men's international footballers]]
[[Category:1986 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:Scottish Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Burials in South Lanarkshire]]
[[Category:Clydebank F.C. (1965) non-playing staff]]
[[Category:Deaths from subarachnoid hemorrhage]]
[[Category:20th-century Scottish sportsmen]]