Profile: Who is Scott Cooper, the next manager at Jamshedpur FC?

The tactician has a massive reputation in Asian football and his potential inclusion is a major step in the right direction.

Scott Cooper is close to coming to India (as revealed by Khel Now earlier) to take over the head coach position at Jamshedpur FC. The Men of Steel are set to appoint him as the successor to Aidy Boothroyd after the end of the 2022-23 season. It was a season that saw a lot of turbulence for the English tactician who is likely to make way for his fellow countryman.

Scott Cooper comes with an immense reputation. He commands huge respect in Thai football for his work with Buriram United. A source who has been tracking the development informed Khel Now a few days back, “Scott Cooper is approached by another ISL team too, but he prefers Jamshedpur FC’s setup over the other team. Also, the club liked Cooper’s profile because he is more than a manager, he is known to build the project.”

A figure like Cooper at the helm is a fabulous step in the right direction for Jamshedpur FC. Their 2022-23 campaign was one to forget as they did not make the playoffs, entering the competition as defending ISL Shield winners. As Scott Cooper inches closer to leading the Men of Steel, here is a look at his profile.

Who is Scott Cooper?

Scott Cooper is an Irish-English professional football manager with a UEFA B Licence. The 52-year-old hails from Sheffield in the United Kingdom. As a modern-day manager, Cooper believes in the attacking style of football and is an expert at developing young players. The source told Khel Now, “Under his coaching, nine players from Buriram United got a call to the Thailand national team.” The Indian contingent at Jamshedpur FC must be raring to work with him.

Work Experience

Scott Cooper’s work experience spans several years with several clubs and national teams. He began his managerial journey with the Montserrat national team in 2004. Later on, he worked with Anguilla national team in 2009. He became a youth coach at Leicester City in 2010 before moving to Thailand and becoming a youth coach at Buriram United. 

In 2013, Scott Cooper became the caretaker manager at Buriram United. His next destination was Muangthong United followed by Mitra Kukar, Ubon UMT United and Police Tero FC. The Englishman’s next role was as that of an advisor to the Philippines national team. Post that he became the caretaker manager and then the manager of the side. Later, Cooper oversaw the Azkals Development Team, which is a football club meant to develop young players for the Philippines national team.

He was last working as the head coach of Port FC in the Thai League, losing only once in 14 fixtures. The next step in Cooper’s career is set to take him to India where he is expected to take the hot seat at Jamshedpur FC.

Philosophy

Scott Cooper puts his faith in an attractive style of attacking football. It is in trend with up-and-coming tacticians who are not afraid to attack and believe that it is the best form of defence. His preference in terms of formation is a 4-3-3 setup.

He strongly believes in giving a chance to energetic young players. His ability to develop young players is one of the chief reasons behind Jamshedpur FC’s decision to secure his services. The ISL outfit is popular for giving young players a platform to showcase their talent and make a name for themselves. 

Career Highlights

Scott Cooper’s time as caretaker manager at Buriram United was exceptional. However, his longest stay and most influential work came with the Philippines national team. In a period spanning four years (from 2018 to 2022), Cooper performed several roles such as team manager, caretaker manager, advisor, technical director and manager.

His vast skillset is a major boost for any club. If and when he takes control of Jamshedpur FC, it will be interesting to see how his approach brings about changes at the club. Post their dismal 2022-23 campaign in the ISL, the Men of Steel desperately need to get back to winning ways.