Michael Cooper (footballer)
Michael John Cooper (born 8 October 1999) is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Plymouth Argyle.
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Michael John Cooper[1] | ||
Date of birth | [2] | 8 October 1999||
Place of birth | Exeter,[3] England | ||
Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[2] | ||
Position(s) | Goalkeeper[2] | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Plymouth Argyle | ||
Number | 1 | ||
Youth career | |||
2009–2017 | Plymouth Argyle | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2017– | Plymouth Argyle | 123 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:15, 11 December 2022 (UTC) |
Club career
Michael Cooper made his professional debut in a League One game away to Blackburn Rovers aged 18 years and 6 days old. With starting goalkeeper Kyle Letheren going off injured, Cooper came on for the second half, as the game finished 1–1.[3][4][5] He was also a key member of the Plymouth Argyle Youth Team who reached the last 16 of the FA Youth Cup, making crucial saves in victories over Manchester City and Burnley in 3rd and 4th rounds of the competition.
On 17 December 2019, Cooper signed a new long-term deal at Plymouth Argyle, until the end of the 2021–22 season.[6]
On 5 September 2020, Cooper started in the first match of the Argyle season, playing Queens Park Rangers in the first round of the EFL Cup. Argyle won 3–2 after a spectacular performance from Cooper. Cooper held onto the starting position for the 2020–21 season.
In April 2021, Cooper signed a new long-term deal with Argyle, signing on until 2024.[7] He was also voted Young Player of the Season 2020–21 by Plymouth Argyle supporters,[8] coming second in the senior vote to squad Vice-Captain, Joe Edwards.[9]
The following season he received the EFL League One Golden Glove (jointly with Wycombe's David Stockdale) for keeping the most clean sheets, having kept 18 clean sheets across 46 league games.[10] He was also named as Plymouth's Player of the Season and in the EFL League One Team of the Year.[11][12]
References
- "Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2019" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
- "Michael Cooper". Plymouth Argyle F.C. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- James, Stuart (18 October 2017). "Who is Michael Cooper and why is he regarded as one of England's young stars?". PlymouthLive. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
- "Blackburn Rovers 1 Plymouth Argyle 1". The Plymouth Herald. 17 October 2017. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
- "'Brilliant' debut for Argyle's Cooper". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
- "Coops for Keeps". Plymouth Argyle. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
- "Cooper Signs New Long-Term Deal". Plymouth Argyle. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
- "20/21 Player of the Season Revealed". Plymouth Argyle. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
- 🏆 Young Player of the Season | Mike Cooper, retrieved 1 May 2021
- Wanderers, Wycombe (30 April 2022). "Stocko claims Golden Glove trophy". Wycombe Wanderers. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
- "Cooper wins Player of the Season vote | Plymouth Argyle - PAFC". Plymouth Argyle. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
- "Football Manager EFL Team of the Season line-ups announced". English Football League. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
- "Plymouth beat Port Vale to win League One title". BBC Sport. 7 May 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- Pilnick, Brent (2 April 2023). "Bolton crush Plymouth to win Papa Johns Trophy". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- "EFL Team of the Season line-ups revealed". English Football League. 23 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.