Steve Cooper was sacked by Leicester City on Sunday evening – which means now the Foxes are on the search for a new manager.
Cooper departing Leicester came as a shock to many, with the news quite out of the blue following Saturday’s defeat to Chelsea.
Leicester fans had mixed opinions on Coopers departure. However, the general consensus is that Cooper had to leave the Foxes.
The 44-year-old departed with very few fond memories at the King Power Stadium. An abysmal record, combined with a lacklustre summer transfer window means the Steve Cooper era at Leicester will certainly not be looked back fondly on.
However, saying this, a move Cooper was involved with will have a monumental impact on the club for years to come.
Steve Coopers leaving gift to Leicester is Abdul Fatawu
Amid a sea of poor performances by Leicester first-team squad players – there has been a shining light, and that’s Abdul Fatawu.
The Ghana international impressed on loan at King Power Stadium last season, helping Enzo Maresca’s side to the Sky Bet Championship title and promotion to the Premier League.
This season, Cooper and club decided to make the move permanent, with Fatawu signing a five-year contract with the Foxes back in June.
On Leicester’s Premier League return, Fatawu was awarded man of the match against Spurs, then had a decent game against Fulham – but then was dropped.
Cooper was reluctant to start Fatawu, much to the bafflement of Leicester supporters. The winger dazzling Championship displays had fans itching to see him more in the Premier League.
Eventually, Cooper caved in, and he forced his way back into the side, and since Fatawu has produced some outstanding Leicester displays.
Unfortunately, Fatawu is now out for the season, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t set to be a superstar for years to come for the Foxes. The new manager will be delighted with this parting gift from Cooper.
Abdul Fatawu was delighted to join Leicester
And the feeling of love is reciprocated from Fatawu, which makes it even better from a Leicester fans standpoint.
When joining the club on a permanent, the Ghanaian expressed his delight to be coming to the King Power for good.
“I feel amazing,” Fatawu told Leicester club media. “It’s so good to be back and I’m just back to focus again for next season. I feel so much motivation to be in the Premier League.
It’s something new to me. I’m going to go hard for that, with the team. I can’t wait to see [my team-mates]. I’ve missed them so much. They are like a family now. I didn’t think I’d miss some of them, but when I went away, I was really missing them! I can’t wait to see them.”
Fatawu and Leicester is a match made in heaven, and one of the only bits of good work that happened with Cooper at the helm.