Terry Cooper obituary

01-Aug-2021 13:05:43 | Guardian

Exuberant defender for Leeds United and England who went on to become a successful football manager

The footballer Terry Cooper, who has died aged 77, was England’s ebullient left-back in the 1970 World Cup finals in Mexico and Leeds United’s classy, exciting defender when they were at their brutal best in the late 1960s and early 70s.

Although England were knocked out in the quarter-finals in Mexico, Cooper did not want for winners’ medals. With Leeds he won the First Division championship in 1968-69, the League Cup in 1968, and the Fairs Cup in Europe – twice – in 1968 and 1971. An offence-minded defender, he was particularly effective in partnership with the Leeds left-winger Eddie Gray, whom he would join in attacking forays.