Was Sacking Steve Cooper the Right Choice by Leicester?

Leicester City’s decision to part ways with Steve Cooper has recently come under scrutiny following results since then, with Sunday Times football columnist Martin Samuel claiming the club made the wrong call.

Foxes fans expressed their frustration during their 2-0 defeat to Arsenal earlier this month, protesting against the club’s current direction. Despite securing promotion under Enzo Maresca last season, Leicester now find themselves 19th in the Premier League table after 25 games, collecting just 17 points. However, they remain only two points adrift of safety.

Leicester fans plan protest against club hierarchy during Arsenal clash on live TV - amid fears of another Championship relegation https://t.co/gu4ByyIHOD

— Mail Sport (@MailSport) February 12, 2025

Many supporters are calling for a “footballing reset,” but Samuel argues they already had one—with Cooper. “Leicester had a footballing reset. His name was Steve Cooper, and many of the same fans now demanding change wanted him gone, largely due to his past with Nottingham Forest,” Samuel wrote.

Cooper was appointed on June 20 as Maresca’s successor but lasted just 12 league matches before being dismissed on November 24. While Cooper’s style of play wasn’t electrifying, Samuel insists he was working with a weak squad and deserved more time.

The Numbers Game

The statistics paint a grim picture. Under Cooper, Leicester averaged 0.83 points per game. That figure has dropped to 0.53 since his departure, a return that almost guarantees relegation.

While neither tally is particularly safe, last season’s survival threshold suggests that Cooper’s record might have been enough to keep them up.

Ipswich, Leicester and Southampton are on course to become the worst bottom three in Premier League history 😳

They’re projected to finish with a cumulative total of 63 points

Interestingly, the current record of 66 points was set by the bottom three from the season before… pic.twitter.com/G44kMVpqWx

— The Lower Tiers (@LowerTiers) February 24, 2025

Samuel added: “Yes, a reset is needed, but it’s not just those in the boardroom who have misjudged this season. Cooper deserved more time.”

The Club’s Stance

Leicester chairman Aiyawatt ‘Top’ Srivaddhanaprabha addressed the growing unrest in his matchday programme notes, acknowledging fans’ frustrations but urging unity in the battle against the drop. Since taking over on November 29, Van Nistelrooy has overseen 15 matches, winning just three, drawing one, and losing 11. His side has scored only 16 goals while conceding 36, leaving them with a goal difference of -20.

For comparison, Cooper’s tenure over the same number of games saw Leicester win three, draw five, and lose seven. While not a major improvement, the slight uptick in results suggests that the decision to sack him has yet to pay off.

Leicester City took a gamble by removing Steve Cooper, but based on current results, it’s a move that hasn’t worked. With survival still within reach, the pressure is now firmly on Van Nistelrooy to turn things around before it’s too late.