Mike Cooper

Michael Cooper is a talented young English professional goalkeeper who plays for Plymouth Argyle. In April 2021 he signed a new long term deal until 2024. Mike was voted Young Player of the season 2020-21 by the Plymouth Argyle supporters. The following season he received EFL League One Golden Glove (jointly with Wycombe’s David Stockdale) for keeping the most clean sheets, having kept an amazing 18 clean sheets across 46 League games. Mike was also named as Plymouth’s Player of the season and in the the PFA League One Team of the year.

Away from league action he has featured in the EFL Trophy defeat to Chelsea and has also participated in elite training camps with the England set-up.

Mike stepped up from Argyle’s apprentice ranks after signing a two-year professional contract in April 2018. He made his professional debut in a League One game away to Blackburn Rovers when he came on for the second half, as the game finished 1–1.

He was also a key member of the Argyle Youth Team who reached the last 16 of the FA Youth Cup, making crucial saves in victories over Manchester City and Burnley in Rounds 3 and 4.

Manager Derek Adams has no plans to loan out the highly rated Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper for the time being and instead wants Cooper to get more experience of men’s football by playing for the Pilgrims in the Central League and Premier League Cup, a knockout competition for under-23s sides.

Michael started his playing career with his local team the West Hill Wasps U11s. He attended St Peter’s School in Lympstone prior to joining Plymouth College. Michael was a young member of the 2013-14 season’s successful Milk Cup squad reaching the semi-finals against the Corinthians; starting in all the fixtures. He made his under 18’s debut aged just 15 playing in three fixtures and started in 10 fixtures during the successful South West Youth Alliance campaign and Merit League 1 fixtures of 2015-16.

He was invited to an England goalkeeping training camp and also had great deal of exposure to first team training with goalkeeping coach Rhys Wilmot.