I fulfilled my childhood dream with Leeds United after Bielsa changed everything
Marcelo Bielsa changed 'everything' at Leeds United, according to the man who captained the club back to the Premier League in 2020. Liam Cooper had already been appointed as the Whites' skipper before the arrival of the Argentinian, but credits the manager with making a huge difference to the entire club.
Promotion back to the top flight ranks as the highlight of an incredible 10 years at Elland Road for Cooper, who is now embarking a new journey in Bulgaria with CSKA Sofia. But the Scotland international is still happy to talk about fond memories in a Leeds United shirt, admitting it was a dream come true to wear the famous kit.
Cooper joined Leeds from Chesterfield in 2014, but it wasn't until Bielsa's arrival in 2018 that things really began to change for the better, sparking a four-year roller-coaster that made Leeds one of the most talked about sides in the country.
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“It’s been a great time for me to captain Leeds,” Cooper said. “I’m a fan of the team and I’ve fulfilled my childhood dream. The club is very close to my heart, and it always will be.
“My aim was to make my mark, and I believe I have. Now there are a lot of good players and coaches, I hope they continue the great line. I was very happy there; I hope it will be the same here.
"The promotion we got to the Premier League was certainly very special. The match in which I led the team with the captain’s armband in the first game in the elite was also great for me. I still keep the shirt. I can single out Marcelo Bielsa.
“We didn’t develop before him, and in six months he changed the understanding and culture in the club. He made the players believe and changed our way of thinking. Every day we were like a family. I am proud of what we have achieved.”
Cooper leaves a Leeds side trying to emulate Bielsa's achievements, with Daniel Farke's side aiming to win promotion at the second attempt following last season's play-off heartbreak. United have suffered just one league defeat so far this term, and take on Coventry City at Elland Road on Saturday.