Michael Cooper (footballer)
English footballer
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Michael John Cooper (born 8 October 1999) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for EFL Championship club Sheffield United.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Michael John Cooper[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 8 October 1999[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Exeter,[3] England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[2] | ||
| Position | Goalkeeper[2] | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Sheffield United | ||
| Number | 1 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2009–2017 | Plymouth Argyle | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2017–2024 | Plymouth Argyle | 151 | (0) |
| 2024– | Sheffield United | 77 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23:57 25 February 2026 (UTC) | |||
Career
Plymouth Argyle
Michael Cooper made his professional debut for Plymouth Argyle 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]
Sheffield United
On 15 August 2024, Cooper joined Sheffield United for an undisclosed fee.[12] Upon arrival, he became their first-choice goalkeeper following the departure of Wes Foderingham on 30 June. On 24 August, Cooper made his debut in a 1–1 draw away at Norwich City.[13]
Career statistics
- As of match played 12 April 2026
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Plymouth Argyle | 2017–18[14] | League One | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2018–19[15] | League One | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2019–20[16] | League Two | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2020–21[17] | League One | 46 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 52 | 0 | |
| 2021–22[18] | League One | 46 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 52 | 0 | |
| 2022–23[19] | League One | 29 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 0 | |
| 2023–24[20] | Championship | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | |
| Total | 151 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 170 | 0 | ||
| Sheffield United | 2024–25[21] | Chamionship | 43 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[b] | 0 | 46 | 0 |
| 2025–26[22] | Championship | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 0 | |
| Total | 77 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 80 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 228 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 250 | 0 | ||
- Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
- Appearances in EFL Championship play-offs