Liam Cooper leaves door open for Leeds United return as he nears Sheffield Wednesday move
Liam Cooper is seemingly Sheffield Wednesday-bound - but has left the door open for a potential return to Leeds United in the future.
After 10 years of service to the Whites, Cooper left Elland Road following the conclusion of the 2023/24 campaign.
He had served as the club’s captain and amassed 284 appearances, lifting the Championship trophy and playing in the Premier League during a busy decade.
A season in Bulgaria with CSKA Sofia followed but Cooper is now back on British shores and looking to get back into the game.
He appears to be nearing a move to crisis-stricken Wednesday, who are rooted to the foot of the Championship table.
The Owls have been permitted to sign two free agents, having initially tried to sign Cooper in the summer.
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Liam Cooper leaves door open
A spell in South Yorkshire may be the Scotland international’s next step, but he has suggested he could again represent Leeds in some capacity.
He told The Athletic: “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. 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.”
Importance of experience
At 34, Cooper is not looking to hang up his boots anytime soon. He boasts a wealth of experience and it is clear to see why Owls boss Henrik Pedersen would find his CV appealing.
Cooper said: “If you’re out of the game too long, it gets more difficult. 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.
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“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.”