Steve Cooper happy with history, but only has eyes for the future
Steve Cooper is glad to be making history at Swansea City, but the head coach’s only focus is on building on an excellent start to the new season.
The 3-0 victory over Birmingham on Sunday means Cooper’s record of four wins and a draw from his first five league games at the helm becomes the best record of any full-time Swansea manager or coach from their opening quintet of fixtures.
In addition, the Swans are now unbeaten in 14 league fixtures on home turf, their longest unbeaten sequence since moving to the Liberty Stadium in 2005.
It all means they are in the midst of a best start to a season since 1978-79, when John Toshack was in charge and Cooper himself was yet to be born.
And while the 39-year-old is pleased to see those landmarks racked up, it’s the more immediate priority of continuing to win games and accumulate points that is his sole focus.
“It is good we have done that as a club, because the bottom line is this club is not about any one individual,” he said.
“I just want us to be as together as we can, as players, as a staff and make sure we are all in the best place possible for the games and challenges that lie ahead.
“We have done some good things, and hopefully we can continue to do that.
“Of course, I would rather be having results where we achieve these things as a group rather than it being the other way.
“But the bottom line is it is only a good start and we want to build on it.
“It will only be more than a good start if we continue to build on it, and it’s the same for the home record.
“That is something that takes credit from last season too, but the bottom line is we have to keep turning up to work here every time we play at the Liberty.
“We have to work hard, commit to the gameplan and believe in ourselves.
“We have had some tough moments so far, and we have come back to win but it has to be the case that we get back here on Wednesday night ready to perform and get another result.”
Record of every Swansea City boss over their first five league games in charge (does not include interim or caretaker coaches or managers)
Walter Whittaker – 1912-13 – Three wins, two draws
William Bartlett – 1914-15 – Three wins, two defeats
Joe Bradshaw – 1919-20 – One win, one draw, three defeats
Jimmy Thomson – 1926-27 – Two wins, three draws
No manager from 1932-34, team run by committee
Neil Harris – 1934-35 – Two wins, two draws, one defeat
Hayden Green – 1945-46 – Five defeats
Billy McCandless – 1947-48 – Three wins, one draw, one defeat
Ronnie Burgess – 1955-56 – Two wins, three defeats
Trevor Morris – 1958-59 – Two wins, one draw, two defeats
Glyn Davies – 1965-66 – One win, one draw, three defeats
Billy Lucas – 1966-67 – Three draws, two defeats
Roy Bentley – 1969-70 – Three draws, two defeats
Harry Gregg – 1972-73 – One win, two draws, two defeats
Harry Griffiths – 1974-75 – One win, four defeats
John Toshack – 1977-78 - Two wins, two draws, one defeat
John Toshack – 1983-84 – One win, one draw, three defeats
Colin Appleton – 1984-85 – One draw, four defeats
John Bond – 1984-85 – One win, four defeats
Tommy Hutchinson – 1985-86 – Two wins, one draw, two defeats
Terry Yorath – 1986-87 – Three wins, one draw, one defeat
Ian Evans – 1987-88 – Two wins, two draws, one defeat
Terry Yorath – 1989-90 – One draw, four defeats
Frank Burrows – 1990-91 – One win, two draws, two defeats
Bobby Smith – 1995-96 – Two wins, two draws, one defeat
Kevin Cullis – 1995-96 – Two defeats from two fixtures in charge
Jan Molby – 1995-96 – Three wins, two draws.
Micky Adams – 1997-98 – Three defeats from three fixtures in charge
Alan Cork – 1997-98 – Two wins, one draw, two defeats
John Hollins – 1998-99 – One win, one draw, three defeats
Colin Addison – 2001-02 – One win, two draws, two defeats
Nick Cusack – 2001-02 into 2002-03 – Three draws, two defeats
Brian Flynn – 2002-03 – One win, two draws, two defeats
Kenny Jackett – 2003-04 – One win, four defeats
Roberto Martinez – 2006-07 – Three wins, one draw, one defeat
Paulo Sousa – 2009-10 – One win, two draws, two defeats
Brendan Rodgers – 2010-11 – Two wins, three defeats
Michael Laudrup – 2012-13 – Two wins, one draw, two defeats
Garry Monk – 2014-15 – Three wins, two defeats
Francesco Guidolin – 2015-16 – One win, two draws, two defeats
Bob Bradley – 2016-17 – One win, two draws, two defeats
Paul Clement – 2016-17 – Three wins, two defeats
Carlos Carvalhal – 2017-18 – Three wins, one draw, one defeat
Graham Potter – 2018-19 – Two wins, two draws, one defeat
Steve Cooper – 2019-20 – Four wins, one draw
