Latest news with #JoelCooper
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Coleraine confirm Cooper capture on multi-year deal
Coleraine have announced the signing of Irish Premiership title winner Joel Cooper on a "multi-year deal".Cooper's contract at Linfield expired at the end of the season and the 29-year-old had been heavily linked with a move to the Showgrounds midway through the campaign. However, it did not hamper the attacker's form as he scored 19 goals to help Linfield win the Irish Premiership for the first time in three seasons. His performances throughout the season saw him win the Northern Ireland Football Writers' Player of the Year, Ulster Footballer of the Year, Northern Ireland Football League Player of the Year and PFA NI Player of the Year. Coleraine manager Ruaidhri Higgins he was excited to start working with Cooper, who he described as a "winner"."He's won over and over again and knows what it takes," said former Derry City boss Higgins, who replaced Dean Shiels as manager in May."He's an extremely talented footballer that anyone would want to work with."I'm excited to start working with him and the conversations I've had with Joel, he's a very driven individual and he will come here looking to achieve and take this club to the next level."Cooper started his career at Ballyclare Comrades and made the move to top flight side Glenavon, where he won the Irish Cup in made the switch to David Healy's Linfield in 2018 and helped the Blues win three Irish Premiership titles in a row as well as an Irish form saw him earn a move to League One side Oxford United, but he returned to the Irish Premiership with Linfield on an initial loan spell in 2022 before a permanent deal was struck between the played a key role in two League Cup triumphs and as the Blues won the Irish Premiership title this season. "If you want to achieve and get other players to follow – you need winners in your changing room and I think he will lead with his actions," added Higgins."What he achieved last season was incredible and I think he will be absolutely brilliant for this football club."Cooper is the latest high-profile addition to Coleraine, who have signed Kodi Lyons-Foster from Glentoran and Stephen Fallon from Linfield.
BBC News
21-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Linfield's 2024-25 season in review
2024-25 League position: ChampionsPlayer of the season: Joel CooperAfter a two-year gap, Linfield regained the Gibson Cup. The Blues were comfortable winners in the end, becoming the first team to ever claim the league title before the end-of-season split and finishing 22 points clear of their nearest challengers. Having had to fend off interest from Scotland in their manager David Healy before enduring endless speculation about star forward Joel Cooper in January, the title charge was not without its stresses, but that never showed on the pitch where they were by far the league's most consistent side. The Blues will be aware that their 85 points was the same tally they amassed in 2023-24 when finishing runners-up to Larne and will be braced for a stronger set of challengers next loss of Cooper is a serious blow, but in January signings Kieran Offord and Callumn Morrison, they have already recruited some firepower with a view to filling the void. 2025-26 signings so far:2025-26 departures so far: Joel Cooper (Coleraine)
BBC News
21-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Coleraine's 2024-25 season in review
2024-25 League position: 5thPlayer of the season: Matthew Shevlin2024-25 Review: The Bannsiders' first season as a full-time outfit was always going to be one of adjustment, although few could have predicted the campaign would feature quite so much upheaval on the Ballycastle Road. The change in status brought about a change of playing staff, and there were inconsistent performances in the early stages of the year, although Matthew Shevlin remained a reliable source of games unbeaten before the split saw them secure a top-six spot, but that was not enough to keep manager Dean Shiels in his the time of the play-offs, former Derry City boss Ruaidhri Higgins was in place to preside over a final defeat by Cliftonville that cost his new side European football next year. The expected arrival of Joel Cooper from Linfield has already seen Henry Ross, the executive chairman and majority shareholder at the club, make a huge transfer splash, while the signing of Kodi Lyons-Foster from Glentoran should significantly bolster their else they recruit before the 2025-26 season will surely be one of the stories of the Irish Premiership summer. 2025-26 signings so far: Kodi Lyons-Foster (Glentoran), Joel Cooper (Glentoran)2025-26 departures so far: Kyle Spence (unattached), Paddy Burns (unattached), Kyle McClelland (end of loan)
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Cooper named Ulster Footballer of the Year
Linfield forward Joel Cooper has been named as Ulster Footballer of the who will join Coleraine in the summer, scored 19 league goals as the Blues won the Gibson Cup before the was also named Northern Ireland Writers Player of the Year and PFA NI Premiership Player of the Ireland winger Danielle Maxwell was chosen as Women's Player of the scored 11 goals as she helped Cliftonville to an unbeaten Women's Premiership campaign before moving to defender Matthew Orr was named Men's Young Player of the Year after playing a key role in the title win in his first season with the first striker Kascie Weir won the inaugural Women's Young Player of the Year following a breakout season with the Glens and Northern her fourth cap for her country, the 18-year-old scored the winner against Romania last month in the Nations boss David Healy was the first recipient of the Manager of the Year award after winning his sixth Gibson Cup with the helping Bangor to promotion by scoring 24 league goals, Ben Arthurs picked up the Championship Player of the Year McKinney was awarded Disability Player of the Year after his stellar contributions for the Northern Ireland powerchair football team and his club Belfast Trailblazers Linfield physio Terry Hayes received the Dr Malcom Brodie Lifetime Achievement award as he brought the curtain down on a 50-year association with the club as both a player and physio.
Belfast Telegraph
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
I can't wait to play for Ruaidhri Higgins, says Coleraine-bound Joel Cooper after Ulster Footballer of the Year delight
Coleraine-bound star Joel Cooper has spoken of his excitement at the prospect of playing under new Bannsiders boss Ruaidhri Higgins — and the winger will go to The Showgrounds with an extra spring in his step after being named the Ulster Footballer of the Year following a spectacular season with Linfield.
