How Steve Cooper’s first Brondby game compared to his Leicester City opener

Add as preferred source on Google

Steve Cooper has arrived in Denmark in impressive fashion, and after he was sacked by Leicester City last season, the former Nottingham Forest boss has been getting to work in Europe.

The 45-year-old parted ways with the Foxes in November, with Ruud van Nistelrooy taking charge of the East Midlands outfit for the rest of the campaign before Marti Cifuentes won the race for the King Power Stadium vacancy in the summer.

Once the manager of Swansea City in the Championship, the Wales-born head coach spent a prolonged period out of football before taking on the challenge with Brondby, and now he has managed his first game in charge of the club.

EFL Analysis has taken a look at how Cooper fared in that clash, comparing it to his first few weeks in charge of Leicester in the 2024/25 campaign.

• READ MORE – How Sheffield United and COH Sports feel after Ruben Selles decision is made

Steve Cooper gets off to the perfect start at Brondby

Following back-to-back defeats, Brondby were looking for a reaction under their new head coach in his first game, and they got exactly that.

He got a taste of the Copenhagen derby in that opening match, as FC Copenhagen made the trip to the Brondby Stadium.

Despite the visitors currently sitting at the top of the Danish Superliga, it was the home side who took the lead, as Cooper was able to celebrate for the first time just before the break as Michael Gregoritsch opened the scoring from the penalty spot.

Former Southampton man Mohamed Elyounoussi equalised in the 64th minute for Copenhagen, but it was the dream start for Cooper as Stijn Spierings restored Brondby’s lead less than 10 minutes later to secure all three points.

• READ MORE – Birmingham City snubbed by experienced former Premier League ace after ‘£1m’ offer

Leicester City struggled with Steve Cooper in charge

This start is exactly what the former Leicester boss needed, especially after a terrible time in charge of the Foxes last year.

It took seven games for Cooper to pick up his first Premier League win with the 2015/16 champions, and supporters really took to him considering his links to rivals Nottingham Forest.

He did take a point in his first game in charge of Leicester against Tottenham Hotspur, but in 12 league matches, he won just two times, drawing four games and losing the other six.

Brondby are eyeing up a European spot this season, while the club is also targeting a Superliga title challenge and Cooper has made the perfect start on his journey in Denmark.