I have pals in the game who had to give up and work on building sites. But I’ve worked hard to get where I am now..
I was never the most naturally gifted player but one thing I’ve got is a big heart, I never give up. I’m just so pleased I stuck at it SAYS LIAM COOPER
If Liam Cooper’s career had drifted off course he might have been working on a boat on the River Humber.
Instead, the big defender is riding the crest of a wave with Leeds United and Scotland.
The 29-year-old will be in the Czech Republic with Steve Clarke’s squad tomorrow for a Nations League tie. At the same time, his dad Dave and brother Joe will be in Hull, grafting on the water.
Even though Cooper is a Premier Lea g ue player a f ter L eeds ’ promotion, it’s his work ethic that’s got him to England’s top flight. It was drilled into him at an early age by father Dave, whose Scottish family are the reason his boy can pull on a dark blue shirt.
In a career that saw Cooper play in League Two at Chesterfield just six years ago, he’s had to fight for everything he’s got. An international cap seemed a million miles away.
But a refusal to give up on his dream earned him a move to Elland Road – and he hasn’t looked back.
Cooper failed to make the starting line up against Israel. But as captain of Leeds, working under coach Marcelo Bielsa, he will be vital to Clarke’s hopes of qualifying for the Euros next summer and then making it to the World Cup in 2022.
But Cooper wi l l take nothing for granted, given where he’s come from and the values he inherited from his father who’ll be back at work on the boats tomorrow morning. He sa i d : “It wa s both d if f icu lt and disheartening at times when I wasn’t playing for Scotland but I come from a family who have never had anything given to us. We never give up. I’ve stuck to my guns, worked hard, got myself in the best shape possible and played well for my club – and from there, you get recognised.
“I’ve done that and hopefully I can stay in the Scotland set-up.
“That attitude comes from my family – we’re working class with good morals. I’ve had it instilled in me from an early age to never give up, to give your all by working as hard as you can.
“My father put that in me since I can remember. He was always tough on me as a kid. If I had a good game, he’d pick something up. He always wanted the best for me, which I understand now because I have kids of my own.
“That’s just how it was. He was super critical. No one likes to get told they’ve played poorly. I had plenty of arguments with him in the car on the way back from games when I was younger but I thank him for it now.
“We grew up in Hull. My dad Dave works on the pallet boats on the River Humber. He takes pallets out to the big ships.
“My brother Joe does the same so they have plenty of cold nights on the river. I’m thankful that my career went in another direction.
“I’ve a lot of friends who were unfortunate in the game. They had to go and get jobs, get on the building sites. I was lucky, I threw all my eggs in one basket but it has paid dividends. “I’ve had to work hard for it. I was never the most naturally gifted player. But one thing I’ve always had is a big heart – I never give up. ”
Cooper is a key figure at Leeds, not just as captain on the pitch but an ambassador for the club off it.
When he signed in 2014 the club were struggling but with new owners and Bielsa at the helm, they’re back competing with English football’s big guns. Cooper is well aware he’s f o l l ow i n g in the footsteps of Scottish icons like Billy Bremner, Eddie and Frank Gray, Gordon McQueen , Gordon Strachan and Gary McAllister by pulling on that famous white shirt. He was hit hard when the Yorkshi re club lost two legendary players in Norman
Hunter and Trevor Cherry in the space of a fortnight.
And the death of Leeds legend Jack Charlton in July was another huge loss to the Elland Road family.
Again, that ’ s when Cooper’s common touch and leadership skills came to the fore.
He said: “There were times I feared I wouldn’t get to where I wanted to go.
“Especially when you’re in League Two in England. At that level, international football and the Premier League are so far away.
“I got my dream move to Leeds but it was difficult in the first few years. There were people getting sacked and no food at the training ground.
“But since Andrea Radrizzani, the president, has come in, he’s been different class. He had a vision, a fiveyear plan to get Leeds back to the Premier League and it’s been brilliant since Marcelo arrived.
“I hear a lot about the Scottish guys who have gone before me at Leeds. Their photos are all over the stadium.
“To be even mentioned in the same conversation as those players is unbelievable. I grew up as a Leeds fan so I know the Scottish heritage.
“Those guys are legends. I also got to know Norman and he had such great stories about what it was like back in the day.
“Covid came and to lose him was a really sad day for Leeds, one that touched and hurt everyone at the club.
“But I said just after Norman passed away that hopefully he can show us the path to the Premier League and I’d like to think that he was looking down on us when we achieved it.”
Leeds have champions Liverpool up first at Anfield on Saturday.
Cooper insists he’s ready for the challenge with club and country.
He even says there are similarities between Bielsa and Clarke.
He said: “I’m ready to come of age now as a Scotland player, 100 per cent.
“It would be unbelievable to end a season of Premier League football with an international tournament.
“I want to bring my experience but I don’t count myself as a top- level player yet.
“I need to prove myself against the likes of Liverpool. I’ve done it in the Championship and League One but the Premier League is a new world.
“Marcelo is a brilliant coach and man manager – and the organisation of the team is excellent. Clarke is quite similar to Marcelo in terms of the analysis we do, so it isn’t too much of a change to come away with Scotland.”