Terry Cooper, a full back in the great Leeds United team of the 1960s and 70s, has died at the age of 77, the club announced last night.
Cooper played 351 times for Leeds, scoring 11 goals — most famously the winner in the 1968 League Cup final against Arsenal. The next season, he was part of the side that won the First Division title under Don Revie.
Initially a winger, he was converted into a tough-tackling left back by Revie, and won 20 caps for England — including playing in the 1970 World Cup. He later went into management, at clubs including Bristol Rovers, Bristol City and Birmingham City.
“The thoughts of everyone at Leeds United are with Terry’s family and friends at this difficult time,” Leeds said in an official statement.
Aston Villa have agreed a deal to sign the Jamaica winger Leon Bailey for a fee of about £30 million.
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Villa announced yesterday that they expected to sign the 23-year-old Bayer Leverkusen player, subject to a medical and personal terms being agreed. Bailey has spent four seasons with Leverkusen, making over 100 appearances after his move from Genk. He earned a place in the Bundesliga team of the season in 2018 and will head to Villa Park with ten caps for his country to his name.
If he signs he will be Villa’s third signing of the summer following the arrival of Emiliano Buendía from Norwich City for a club-record deal for about £33 million and Ashley Young who is joining the club from Inter Milan.
Manchester City have offered Villa £100 million for the England midfielder Jack Grealish, a fee that would set a new British transfer record if it is accepted.
The Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Raúl Jiménez yesterday scored in a friendly against Stoke City, his first goal since fracturing his skull in November.
The 30-year-old Mexican has not played in the Premier League since suffering his terrible injury in a clash of heads with David Luiz at the Emirates and must now play with a head guard. Jiménez, left, played 74 minutes yesterday, coolly slotting home a rebound after Nélson Semedo’s shot had been parried. The game ended 1-1.
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The former Wales assistant manager Osian Roberts is set to be appointed as Patrick Vieira’s No 2 at Crystal Palace. The Welshman resigned from his role as technical director at Morocco last month after two years at the helm.
Roberts had previously been a long-serving member of staff at the Football Association of Wales, where he oversaw the training programme on which Vieira completed his coaching badges.
After various roles within the governing body, Roberts was made assistant to Chris Coleman in 2015 and played a key part in his country’s run to the Euro 2016 semi-finals. Vieira has already brought in Kristian Wilson, with whom he worked at New York City and Nice, as first-team coach.
