'Leaving my comfort zone' - Leeds United summer transfer decision having knock-on effect

Moving to Bulgaria has taken Liam Cooper out of his comfort zone, he admits, after fulfilling his childhood dream with Leeds United for nearly 10 years. The 33-year-old was released by the Whites this summer and eventually agreed terms with CSKA Sofia earlier this month.

After spending his entire career in the north of England, it is a big move for Cooper to go out to eastern Europe when he has two young children. Stiliyan Petrov, arguably the best known Bulgarian footballer in the UK, and Ilia Gruev, Cooper’s former Leeds team-mate, were crucial in reassuring the centre-back about the move.

"Stiliyan Petrov and Ilia Gruev talked to me a lot,” he told Gong.bg. “About the fans, expectations and that Sofia is a nice city. My whole career was in England and I didn't hesitate to try this.

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“I'm leaving my comfort zone, it's something new and nice. I didn't have another option. I had important talks with CSKA. Everything is possible and depends on us.

“We have to use the bad start as motivation to improve. We will follow the coaches and every victory will bring us more confidence. We will fight and give until the end. We will give everything for the sake of the club.”

The former Hull City trainee made 284 appearances for Leeds, more than the likes of Nigel Martyn, Mervyn Day and John Sheridan, across 10 seasons after arriving in August 2014. Leading the team to promotion under Marcelo Bielsa in 2020 stands out as one of the crowning moments of his time with the club.

"It's been a great period for me to captain Leeds,” he 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."