By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Leicester City have sacked manager Steve Cooper following a poor run of form, the Premier League club announced on Sunday.
The Foxes were beaten 2-1 by a Chelsea side managed by former boss Enzo Maresca on Saturday – a defeat which left them two points above the relegation zone.
Cooper took over from Maresca in the summer after the Italian had led Leicester to the 2023-24 Championship title and promotion back into the Premier League.
“Leicester City has parted company with Steve Cooper, who leaves his position as first team manager with immediate effect,” the club said in a statement.”
“Assistant manager Alan Tate and first team coach and analyst Steve Rands have also left the club. Steve, Alan and Steve depart with our thanks for their contribution during their time with the club and with our best wishes for the future.”
“Men’s first team training will be overseen by first team coach Ben Dawson, supported by coaches Danny Alcock and Andy Hughes, as the club begins the process of appointing a new manager, which we hope to conclude as soon as possible,” read the statement.
Cooper took over at Leicester following a stint in charge at Nottingham Forest, who sacked him in December 2023.
The 44-year-old guided Forest to promotion into the top flight in 2022 and, after having kept them in the division the following season, he was dismissed midway through 2023-24 with the club in 17th spot.
Cooper, who guided England’s Under-17s to victory at the 2017 World Cup, also had a two-year spell in charge of Swansea, taking them to the Championship play-off final in 2021 where they lost to Brentford.