Derby County midfielder Conor Hourihane admits to looking up to Steve Cooper as he discusses a potential coaching career.
The pair spent a few months together at Swansea, when Cooper signed the former Aston Villa man in his final season in charge. Hourihane played an important role for the Welsh boss in their bid to return to the Premier League, but they eventually fell just short.
Hourihane, who is keen to get into coaching, has already started his coaching badges. The 31-year-old revealed he took a lot from his previous coaches, but it was Nottingham Forest boss Cooper who received the most praise.
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"You can take little bit of aspects from everyone," he told DerbyshireLive. "I probably have a soft spot for a couple just because maybe I had fond times with them.
"I had six months and fans probably won't like hearing this with Steve Cooper. He was brilliant. A really good guy and I still text him now and again. It was just his way with the lads and he had this incredible knack that even if you were not playing in a game, everyone still liked him.
"That's so important as a manager. I know it's hard to keep everyone happy, but if you can keep the majority of them happy and believing in your work every day, enjoying coming to work every day and creating that environment and culture, and Steve had that down to a tee."
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