Crystal Palace: Steve Cooper in the frame to succeed Roy Hodgson when he leaves Selhurst Park

Eagles retain admiration in former Nottingham Forest manager
Palace interviewed Cooper in the summer
Getty Images
Nizaar Kinsella20 December 2023

Steve Cooper is a contender to succeed Roy Hodgson when he leaves Crystal Palace.

Cooper was sacked by Nottingham Forest on Tuesday and Palace are expected to re-open talks with the 44-year-old.

There is no indication that Hodgson is under immediate threat of his losing his job but his contract expires at the end of the season and Palace need to line up a replacement.

Roy Hodgson has been criticised in recent weeks
AFP via Getty Images

Palace interviewed Cooper in the summer and remain admirers of the former England Under-17 head coach.

Cooper is considered an ideal candidate to lead a new era at Palace built around their new £20m academy.

Producing their own young talent is a key part of the clubs’ plans and Cooper has a brilliant track record of developing players as a youth coach with Wrexham, Liverpool and within the England set-up at the FA.

He had a hand in developing Trent Alexander-Arnold, Phil Foden, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Jadon Sancho, and led England to Under-17s World Cup glory in 2017.

Cooper also managed Conor Gallagher and Marc Guehi at Swansea and brought through Brennan Johnson at Forest, where he has been replaced by Nuno Espirito Santo.

Hodgson has come in for some criticism from Palace supporters in recent weeks but the Eagles secured a 2-2 draw at Manchester City last weekend.

Palace, who are 15th in the Premier League, face rivals Brighton at Selhurst Park on Thursday.

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