Liam Cooper looks set to bring his 10-year spell at Leeds United to an end this weekend.
Leeds are set to face Southampton in the Championship play-off final on Sunday which will finally bring a long, gruelling season to an end.
Cooper is out of contract at Elland Road next month and all but confirmed he would be leaving in his pre-match programme notes before last Thursday’s 4-0 win over Norwich City.
The 32-year-old was brought on for the final 10 minutes against the Canaries for his first appearance since the end of March, a clear sign Daniel Farke was looking to give him the reception he deserved, which he got.
Incredibly, Cooper has held the role of club captain since the beginning of 2015 and given that he has managed to retain that under nine different managers, it shows how well respected he is, and what a job he has done.
Cooper shares why Ethan Ampadu is ‘natural’ captain replacement
Cooper’s departure alongside long-time teammate Stuart Dallas and Luke Ayling will effectively signal the end of an era at Leeds.
It will be the first time in over eight years a new club captain will have to be officially appointed, though a couple of players have stepped up and donned the armband this season due to Cooper’s reduced role on the field.
Until his injury, Pascal Struijk had worn it for 12 matches. Ethan Ampadu then stepped into the role in Struijk’s absence, and has done an excellent job.
Ampadu has frequently been hailed as a future captain of Wales and it may not be long before he takes a significant step towards that, by doing it at Leeds.
And in an interview with the Yorkshire Evening Post, Ampadu could not have received a better reference from Cooper for the role, who labelled him as a ‘natural leader’ on and off the pitch.
He said: “Oh, he’s been brilliant. He’s a natural leader. He came into the club, I don’t really think anybody saw it coming. It was a quick one early on in the season and since the first day I met him has been an unbelievable lad.
“He always wants to learn, he wants to drive people, he’s not afraid to dig people out and he’s an exceptional player as well.”
Joe Rodon says Ampadu is already a role model at Leeds
Leeds have one of the youngest squads in the Championship and although he is only 23 himself, Ampadu is already one of the senior heads.
Having broken into first team football at a very young age, Ampadu has already amassed 229 appearances during his club and international career.
And speaking earlier this year, Ampadu’s Leeds and Wales teammate Joe Rodon labelled him as someone younger members of the squad look up to as a role model.
He said: “I am going to big you up here. Since the boss has given him the armband he has stepped into it easy. A lot of the boys look up to him, and not just here, but at the national team as well.
“He’s growing each year and this season him playing none stop it’s only going to make him more comfortable and confident, and long may it continue.”