Joel Cooper
Personal information
Full name Joel William Cooper[1]
Date of birth (1996-02-29) 29 February 1996[2]
Place of birth Ballyclare, Northern Ireland[3]
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[3]
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 Linfield
Number 9
Youth career
Ballyclare Colts
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2015 Ballyclare Comrades 46 (8)
2015–2018 Glenavon 80 (13)
2018–2020 Linfield 62 (18)
2020–2022 Oxford United 6 (0)
2021 → Linfield (loan) 20 (3)
2022 → Port Vale (loan) 6 (0)
2022– Linfield 43 (16)
International career
2015–2017 Northern Ireland U21 5 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 October 2023

Joel William Cooper (born 29 February 1996) is a Northern Irish professional footballer who plays as a winger for NIFL Premiership club Linfield.

Cooper began his career with his local NIFL Championship club Ballyclare Comrades, playing 49 games before joining Glenavon in the NIFL Premiership in 2015. He won the Irish Cup and NIFL Charity Shield with Glenavon and was named as Northern Ireland Young Player of the Year for the 2015–16 season. He signed with Linfield in 2018 and won two. Irish Premiership titles and an Irish League Cup title, as well as the Northern Ireland Football Writers' Association Player of the Year award for the 2019–20 season. He moved to the English Football League after signing with Oxford United for an undisclosed fee in July 2020, though spent the second half of the 2020–21 season back on loan at Linfield, where he would win another Irish Premiership and Irish Cup title. He joined Port Vale on loan for the second half of the 2021–22 season. He returned to Northern Ireland and rejoined Linfield in May 2022, helping them to win the Northern Ireland Football League Cup the following year.

Club career

Ballyclare Comrades

Cooper started his career playing on the left-side of a 4–4–2 at Ballyclare Comrades after being brought to Dixon Park from Ballyclare Colts by Stephen Hughes.[4][5] He made a total of 20 appearances under Eddie Hill in the 2013–14 season and scored eight goals in 29 games in the 2014–15 campaign as the Comrades posted mid-table finishes in the NIFL Championship.[6] He spent a week on trial at Scottish League One club Stranraer in July 2015.[7]

Glenavon

Cooper was signed to Glenavon as manager Gary Hamilton "felt he had everything to step up a level" into the NIFL Premiership.[8] In his first season at the club, he helped them reach the Irish Cup final at Windsor Park on 7 May 2016; Cooper started the match as Glenavon defeated favourites Linfield 2–0.[9] At the end of the 2015–16 season, Cooper was named the Northern Ireland Young Player of the Year after scoring eight goals and providing 20 assists for the "Lurgan Blues".[10][11]

Glenavon won the NIFL Charity Shield on 30 July 2016 after beating league champions Crusaders 1–0 at Mourneview Park.[12] Cooper scored seven goals in 41 appearances as Glenavon posted a sixth-place finish at the end of the 2016–17 season.[3] His departure from the club was announced in August 2017 as he accepted a scholarship offer from the University of New Hampshire in the United States.[13] However, he did not end up taking the scholarship and returned to Glenavon, scoring two goals in 17 games during the 2017–18 season.[3][14]

Linfield

On 24 January 2018, Cooper agreed a pre-contract deal with Linfield, with a three-year contract due to start ahead of the 2018–19 season.[14] He was utilised as part of an interchangeable three behind the striker in a 4–2–3–1 system and scored seven goals in 33 league games as Linfield won the Premiership title at the end of the 2018–19 season.[4] He also featured in the first leg of the Champions Cup, a 1–1 draw with Dundalk at Windsor Park, but missed the second leg with a nose injury;[15] Dundalk won the return fixture 6–0. The "Blues" also finished as runners-up in the County Antrim Shield, losing 4–3 to Crusaders.[16]

In his second season with Linfield, Cooper scored 11 league goals and provided a further 17 assists, as the club were crowned 2019–20 league champions.[17] In addition to 33 domestic appearances, he also featured five times in the UEFA Europa League, where Linfield reached the final round of qualification before losing to Qarabağ on the Away goals rule.[3] He was named as Northern Ireland Football Writers' Association Player of the Year; Cooper said "It's been a crazy few months for me and while 2020 probably hasn't been a great year for a lot of people it's been brilliant for me".[10][18]

Oxford United

On 23 July 2020, Cooper signed a three-year contract with Oxford United in League One after joining for an undisclosed fee.[19][20][17] Cooper became the third player from an Irish league side to join Oxford, following in the footsteps of Gavin Whyte and Mark Sykes.[17] Cooper made his Oxford debut on 12 September, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 2–0 defeat at Lincoln City in the first match of the 2020–21 season.[21] He made his full debut for Oxford at the Kassam Stadium three days later in an EFL Cup match against Watford, providing the assist for Robert Hall's goal, though the "U's" would lose in a penalty shoot-out after the match finished 1–1.[22] Cooper returned home to Northern Ireland in November to deal with ongoing personal issues and manager Karl Robinson looked to secure him a loan move in order to maintain his fitness as the issues at home required Cooper's continued presence.[23][24]

Speaking in August 2021, Robinson confirmed that the personal issues had been resolved and that Cooper was ready to play for Oxford again.[25] However, he played just two League One and three EFL Trophy games, scoring twice against Tottenham Hotspur U21s.[26] On 9 May 2022, the club announced that Cooper would leave at the end of the 2021–22 season and "will now return to Northern Ireland as a free agent having reached agreement with the U’s to terminate his contract".[27]

Loan to Linfield

In December 2020, it was announced that Cooper would return to Linfield on loan for the remainder of the 2020–21 season once the January transfer window opened.[28] However, despite having three weeks' notice, the Irish Football Association failed to complete his registration in time to play on 23 January, much to manager David Healy's frustration.[29] On 21 May 2021, Cooper scored the winning goal for Linfield as the club defeated Larne in the Irish Cup final to claim a league and cup double.[30]

Loan to Port Vale

On 27 January 2022, Cooper joined League Two side Port Vale on loan until the end of the 2021–22 season.[31] He made his debut at Vale Park as a late substitute on 29 January and would make a further five appearances – all away from home – between then and 5 March.[32]

Return to Linfield

On 24 May 2022, Cooper returned to NIFL Premiership side Linfield on a three-year contract.[33] He was named as Northern Ireland Football Writers' Association Player of the Month after scoring six goals in March, including four against Newry City.[34] He scored the opening goal of the 2023 Northern Ireland Football League Cup final, which Linfield won 2–0 against Coleraine.[35] He scored sixteen goals from 42 appearances in the 2022–23 season.[3]

International career

Cooper was called up to the Northern Ireland under-21 squad by manager Jim Magilton in August 2015, at which point he had acquired the nickname of the ‘Mourneview Messi’.[36] He won a total of five youth team caps.[37] In August 2020, Cooper was called up by manager Ian Baraclough to join the Northern Ireland senior squad for UEFA Nations League matches against Romania and Norway in September.[20][38][39]

Style of play

Cooper is a versatile winger who is able to play on either flank.[37]

Career statistics

As of match played 29 April 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Ballyclare Comrades 2013–14[3][40] NIFL Championship 2010000–201
2014–15[3][6] NIFL Championship 26710101[lower-alpha 1]1298
Total 468101011499
Glenavon 2015–16[3] NIFL Premiership 3164100–357
2016–17[3] NIFL Premiership 34532103[lower-alpha 2]0417
2017–18[3] NIFL Premiership 1522000–172
Total 80139310309316
Linfield 2018–19[3] NIFL Premiership 3371020–367
2019–20[3] NIFL Premiership 291100326[lower-alpha 3]23815
Total 62181052627422
Oxford United 2020–21[41] League One 4010101[lower-alpha 4]070
2021–22[32] League One 2000003[lower-alpha 4]252
Total 60101042122
Linfield (loan) 2020–21[3] NIFL Premiership 2035100–234
Port Vale (loan) 2021–22[32] League Two 60–––60
Linfield 2022–23[3] NIFL Premiership 33121043214216
2023–24[3] NIFL Premiership 0000000000
Total 33121043214216
Career total 2535418412516629769
  1. ↑ Appearance in Irish Intermediate Cup
  2. ↑ One appearance in NIFL Charity Shield, two appearances in UEFA Europa League
  3. ↑ Five appearances in UEFA Europa League, one appearance in Champions Cup
  4. 1 2 Appearance in the EFL Trophy

Honours

Glenavon

Linfield

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Notification of shirt numbers: Oxford United" (PDF). English Football League. p. 51. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  2. ↑ "English Football League Two 2021/2022". .footballsquads.co.uk. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Joel Cooper at Soccerway
  4. 1 2 "Interview: Joel Cooper programme article". The Official Website of Linfield FC. 12 January 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  5. ↑ "FOOTBALL: Ballyclare's Joel Cooper trains with Northern Ireland squad". Northern Ireland World. 27 May 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  6. 1 2 "2014/15 season statistics" (PDF). ballyclarecomrades.com. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  7. ↑ "Cooper is out to impress at trial". Northern Ireland World. 9 July 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  8. ↑ Van Dort, Patrick (21 July 2020). "Joel Cooper 'ready' for move to next level as Oxford United close in on Linfield ace". Northern Ireland World. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  9. 1 2 Petrie, Richard (7 May 2016). "Irish Cup final 2016: Glenavon beat Linfield 2–0". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "Joel Cooper Wins Northern Ireland Player Of the Year". Oxford United. 18 October 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  11. ↑ "FOOTBALL: Comrades' delight as ex-player Cooper wins Young Player of Year". Northern Ireland World. 27 April 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  12. 1 2 "Charity Shield: Ten-man Glenavon defeat Crusaders". BBC. 30 July 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  13. ↑ "Glenavon's Cooper heads to the US". BBC Sport. 16 August 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  14. 1 2 "Cooper signs Linfield pre-contract deal". BBC Sport. 24 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  15. 1 2 "Cooper to miss Champions Cup". BBC Sport. 10 November 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  16. 1 2 "Late Crusaders comeback stuns Linfield". BBC Sport. 12 March 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  17. 1 2 3 4 "Joel Cooper: Linfield winger agrees three-year deal with Oxford United". BBC Sport. 23 July 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  18. ↑ "Northern Ireland Football Awards: Joel Cooper picks up Player of Year award". BBC Sport. 18 October 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  19. ↑ "Joel Cooper To Sign For Oxford United". Oxford United F.C. 23 July 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  20. 1 2 Fullerton, Darren (24 August 2020). "Oxford United new boy Joel Cooper handed instant chance to impress with Northern Ireland". Belfast Live. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  21. ↑ "Goals from Anthony Scully and Adam Jackson saw new-look Lincoln claim a win over Oxford". BBC Sport. 12 September 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  22. ↑ "Watford knocked Oxford United out of the Carabao Cup on penalties after scoring late to force the shootout". BBC Sport. 15 September 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  23. ↑ Roberts, James (2 December 2020). "Oxford United reveal reason for Joel Cooper's absence". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  24. ↑ "Cooper to return to Irish Premiership". BBC Sport. 4 December 2020. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  25. ↑ Roberts, James (19 August 2021). "Karl Robinson praises Joel Cooper and says winger will get first-team chance". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  26. ↑ Roberts, James (27 January 2022). "Joel Cooper joins League Two club on loan". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  27. ↑ "Joel Cooper Departs". Oxford United. 9 May 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  28. ↑ "Joel Cooper Rejoins Linfield". Oxford United F.C. 18 December 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  29. ↑ "Cooper withdrawal 'a registration issue'". BBC Sport. 23 January 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  30. 1 2 Sterling, Mark (22 May 2021). "Irish Cup final: Healy savours 'raw emotion' of win as Linfield beat Larne 2–1 in decider". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  31. ↑ Mounteney, Luke (27 January 2022). "Joel Cooper joins Port Vale". Port Vale F.C.
  32. 1 2 3 "Games played by Joel Cooper in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  33. ↑ "Joel Cooper: Winger agrees Linfield return after departure from Oxford United". BBC Sport. 24 May 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  34. ↑ McNabb, Johnny (9 April 2023). "Linfield ace Joel Cooper named NIFWA Player of the Month after netting six goals during March". Belfast News Letter. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  35. 1 2 "Linfield defeat Coleraine in BetMcLean Cup final". BBC Sport. 12 March 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  36. ↑ Gillespie, John (18 August 2015). "Ex-Ballyclare player Cooper - dubbed 'Mourneview Messi' - gets NI U21 call-up". Northern Ireland World. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  37. 1 2 Baggaley, Michael (27 January 2022). "Port Vale sign winger Joel Cooper from Oxford". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  38. ↑ "Ian Baraclough names squad for UEFA Nations League games against Romania and Norway". Irish Football Association. 24 August 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  39. ↑ "Daniel Ballard called up to Northern Ireland senior men's squad". 27 August 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  40. ↑ "2013/14 season statistics" (PDF). ballyclarecomrades.com. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  41. ↑ "Games played by Joel Cooper in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  42. ↑ Hanna, Gareth (25 May 2021). "Linfield win Danske Bank Premiership to draw level with Rangers' world record for domestic league titles". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  43. ↑ FC, Linfield. "Latest News: Joel Cooper - NIFWA March Player of the Month". The Official Website of Linfield FC. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
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