Leicester City sacks manager Steve Cooper

Leicester City has sacked manager Steve Cooper following a poor run of form, the Premier League club announced on Sunday.

FILE PHOTO: Leicester City manager Steve Cooper. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

Leicester City has sacked manager Steve Cooper following a poor run of form, the Premier League club announced on Sunday.

The newly promoted team have endured a run of four winless games in the league, leaving them in 16th place in the table with 10 points in total.

“Leicester City has parted company with Steve Cooper, who leaves his position as first team manager with immediate effect,” the club said in a statement.

“Assistant manager Alan Tate and first team coach and analyst Steve Rands have also left the club. Steve, Alan and Steve depart with our thanks for their contribution during their time with the club and with our best wishes for the future.”

Leicester said first team coach Ben Dawson, and coaches Danny Alcock and Andy Hughes will oversee training until the team find a new manager.

Cooper, sacked by Nottingham Forest last season, was appointed by Leicester in June to replace Maresca who had taken the club straight back to the Premier League as it won the Championship.

Leicester began the season with a 1-1 draw at home to Tottenham Hotspur, but failed to record a win in its opening six league games.

Successive victories over Bournemouth and Southampton last month had eased the pressure somewhat before three defeats in its last four games led to Cooper’s downfall.

A stoppage time penalty from Jordan Ayew in Saturday’s game at home to Chelsea gave it hope of snatching a draw, but another loss proved too much for the club.

Leicester’s next game is away to Brentford on Saturday.

Cooper is the second Premier League manager to be sacked this season after Manchester United parted ways with Erik ten Hag last month.