Steve Cooper

Steve Cooper happy with history, but only has eyes for the future

26th August
First team

Steve Cooper is glad to be making history at Swansea City, but the head coach’s only focus is on building on an excellent start to the new season.

The 3-0 victory over Birmingham on Sunday means Cooper’s record of four wins and a draw from his first five league games at the helm becomes the best record of any full-time Swansea manager or coach from their opening quintet of fixtures.

In addition, the Swans are now unbeaten in 14 league fixtures on home turf, their longest unbeaten sequence since moving to the Liberty Stadium in 2005.

It all means they are in the midst of a best start to a season since 1978-79, when John Toshack was in charge and Cooper himself was yet to be born.

And while the 39-year-old is pleased to see those landmarks racked up, it’s the more immediate priority of continuing to win games and accumulate points that is his sole focus.

“It is good we have done that as a club, because the bottom line is this club is not about any one individual,” he said.

“I just want us to be as together as we can, as players, as a staff and make sure we are all in the best place possible for the games and challenges that lie ahead.

“We have done some good things, and hopefully we can continue to do that.

Swansea City head coach Steve Cooper

“Of course, I would rather be having results where we achieve these things as a group rather than it being the other way.

“But the bottom line is it is only a good start and we want to build on it.

“It will only be more than a good start if we continue to build on it, and it’s the same for the home record.

“That is something that takes credit from last season too, but the bottom line is we have to keep turning up to work here every time we play at the Liberty.

“We have to work hard, commit to the gameplan and believe in ourselves.

“We have had some tough moments so far, and we have come back to win but it has to be the case that we get back here on Wednesday night ready to perform and get another result.”

Steve Cooper

Record of every Swansea City boss over their first five league games in charge (does not include interim or caretaker coaches or managers)

Walter Whittaker – 1912-13 – Three wins, two draws

William Bartlett – 1914-15 – Three wins, two defeats

Joe Bradshaw – 1919-20 – One win, one draw, three defeats

Jimmy Thomson – 1926-27 – Two wins, three draws

No manager from 1932-34, team run by committee

Neil Harris – 1934-35 – Two wins, two draws, one defeat

Hayden Green – 1945-46 – Five defeats

Billy McCandless – 1947-48 – Three wins, one draw, one defeat

Ronnie Burgess – 1955-56 – Two wins, three defeats

Trevor Morris – 1958-59 – Two wins, one draw, two defeats

Glyn Davies – 1965-66 – One win, one draw, three defeats

Billy Lucas – 1966-67 – Three draws, two defeats

Roy Bentley – 1969-70 – Three draws, two defeats

Harry Gregg – 1972-73 – One win, two draws, two defeats

Harry Griffiths – 1974-75 – One win, four defeats

John Toshack – 1977-78 - Two wins, two draws, one defeat

John Toshack – 1983-84 – One win, one draw, three defeats

Colin Appleton – 1984-85 – One draw, four defeats

John Bond – 1984-85 – One win, four defeats

Tommy Hutchinson – 1985-86 – Two wins, one draw, two defeats

Terry Yorath – 1986-87 – Three wins, one draw, one defeat

Ian Evans – 1987-88 – Two wins, two draws, one defeat

Terry Yorath – 1989-90 – One draw, four defeats

Frank Burrows – 1990-91 – One win, two draws, two defeats

Bobby Smith – 1995-96 – Two wins, two draws, one defeat

Kevin Cullis – 1995-96 – Two defeats from two fixtures in charge

Jan Molby – 1995-96 – Three wins, two draws.

Micky Adams – 1997-98 – Three defeats from three fixtures in charge

Alan Cork – 1997-98 – Two wins, one draw, two defeats

John Hollins – 1998-99 – One win, one draw, three defeats

Colin Addison – 2001-02 – One win, two draws, two defeats

Nick Cusack – 2001-02 into 2002-03 – Three draws, two defeats

Brian Flynn – 2002-03 – One win, two draws, two defeats

Kenny Jackett – 2003-04 – One win, four defeats

Roberto Martinez – 2006-07 – Three wins, one draw, one defeat

Paulo Sousa – 2009-10 – One win, two draws, two defeats

Brendan Rodgers – 2010-11 – Two wins, three defeats

Michael Laudrup – 2012-13 – Two wins, one draw, two defeats

Garry Monk – 2014-15 – Three wins, two defeats

Francesco Guidolin – 2015-16 – One win, two draws, two defeats

Bob Bradley – 2016-17 – One win, two draws, two defeats

Paul Clement – 2016-17 – Three wins, two defeats

Carlos Carvalhal – 2017-18 – Three wins, one draw, one defeat

Graham Potter – 2018-19 – Two wins, two draws, one defeat

Steve Cooper – 2019-20 – Four wins, one draw