Mark Cooper - A Profile

Mark Cooper is reported to be a possible candidate to take over the vacant manager's post at Hereford United.

Asked by PA Sport about the Hereford vacancy he was reported to have replied "That kind of job would definitely interest me."

Below is a look at his career to date.

Mark Cooper was born at Wakefield, West Yorkshire in 1968. His father was the former Leeds United player Terry Cooper.

Cooper started his football career as a trainee with Bristol City in 1987 but it wasn't until he moved to Exeter two years later that he made his debut at first team level.

In September 1991, Cooper moved to Birmingham City where he played a total of 39 games, and scored 4 goals but a year later he was transferred to Fulham for £40,000. However he failed to play regularily for the Cottagers and went out on loan to Huddersfield in 1993.

Cooper moved to Wycombe Wanderers for a month in January 1994 and then back to Exeter where he seldom missed a game over two seasons.

In July 1996 he was transferred to Hartlepool United where he made 31 appearances and scored 9 goals. A year later he went on loan to Macclesfield where he played eight times.

Then it was back to London and a spell with Leyton Orient before joining Rushden and Diamonds for nearly two seasons.

In 2000 he moved to Hednesford and then Forest Green Rovers in March 2001 where he later became club captain. In May 2002 he was on the move again, this time to Tamworth where he was appointed assistant manager a year later. Finally he took over the managership in summer 2004.

As a manager he had some success with Tamworth particuarily in the FA Cup. In two successive seasons he took them to the third round. However he couldn't repeat that success in the Conference League and in 2007 with the club on the bottom spot he left by 'mutual consent'.

Days later he was appointed as manager of Kettering Town who at the time were in the Conference North. It took him just one season to get them promoted and as well a fourth round FA cup-tie against Fulham.

In November last year Peterborough United came calling after Darren Ferguson had left and Cooper signed a three and a half year deal to manager the ambitious Championship club.

At the time Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony seemed pleased with Cooper's appointment.

"People say he has got no experience but Darren Ferguson hadn't managed in his life before he came here and look at the job he did," said MacAnthony.

"I think Mark Cooper will do a terrific job for our football club.

"He could only work with what he had got at Kettering but the players fought for him and they were organised, whereas we are probably lacking a bit of organisation.

"In the Championship you need to battle and grind out results and the players will have to work hard for their places.

"But he has said he gives everyone a clean slate, so now the players have got to go out there and impress him and win games.

"And if they don't and he needs to go out and bring in players then I will back him."

It didn't work out and Cooper was sacked on February 1st after just twelve games in charge.

However Cooper thinks he has benefitted from his short time at London road.

"I'm still young for a manager. I've managed in the Championship at a young age and learnt a lot about how to deal with people, up as well as down in the club like directors of football and chairmen," he said.

"I've learnt a great deal from it and it will stand me in good stead for years to come."

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