Leeds United’s Liam Cooper explains why he rejected Whites for Hull City earlier in his career

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The Leeds United skipper could have moved to Elland Road far sooner than he actually did.

Liam Cooper of Leeds United

Leeds United captain Liam Cooper has explained why he turned down the Whites for Hull City earlier in his career.

Cooper only played 11 times for Leeds in last season’s Championship, but has proved one of the new campaign’s most pleasant surprises.

He has captained United in all six of the league games in which he’s appeared so far, conceding only two goals in that time.

But the 26-year-old, who is now in his fourth season at Elland Road, has told BBC West Yorkshire Sport he could have been a Leeds player long before then.

“I started [playing football] when I was seven, but because there were no teams for under-7s I played under-9s for a team called Cottingham Rangers and stayed there until I was old enough to play in their normal team,” he said.

Liam Cooper of Hull City

“I went for trials at Hull twice – didn’t get in, and then managed to get in. I had trials at Leeds – they asked me back. But obviously, being from Hull, I went there.

“My brother was also at Leeds for year and then he made the change and came to Hull as well.”

Thomas Christiansen’s decision to hand Cooper the captaincy was kept quiet until the day of Leeds’ first game of the season at Bolton, with several candidates considered.

Thomas Christiansen, manager of Leeds United

Reliving the moment he learned of his appointment, the former Chesterfield man said: “I walked into the Marcron Stadium and it [the armband] was on my peg.”

According to Christiansen, Cooper, who has missed Leeds’ last two league and cup fixtures, is in contention to return against Ipswich Town on Saturday, although the player was non-committal about his availability.