Coach Shaun Cooper was appointed as part of Gary O’Neil’s backroom staff in November 2022, having made 240 appearances for the club between 2005 and 2012.
He progressed from development squad manager, a position he took up in October 2018 after Carl Fletcher became Loan Player Manager at Vitality Stadium, and previously was the lead coach of the club’s under-13s.
In his first season with the development squad, Cooper lea his team to Central League Cup glory, as the side also reached the last 16 of the Premier League Cup.
In 2019/20, the Cherries went on to top their group in the Premier League Cup and again progressed to the last 16 of the competition, which was eventually cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Cooper presided over a cup double in 2020/21, his team regaining the Central League Cup and winning the Hampshire Senior Cup (delayed from 2019/20) after goalkeeper Mark Travers headed a late leveller against Eastleigh before they triumphed on penalties.
In 2021/22, the development squad finished third in their Premier League Cup group.
A host of players coached by Cooper have gone on to play for the AFC Bournemouth first team, including Jaidon Anthony, Jordan Zemura and Gavin Kilkenny.
Raised on the Isle of Wight, Cooper started his playing career as a 12-year-old at Portsmouth, graduating from the youth ranks and going on to play seven games for the club.
Having spent eight years at Fratton Park, he joined the Cherries in 2005 and established himself as a first-team regular.
A versatile performer who was deployed in defence and midfield, Cooper skippered the Cherries to their Greatest Escape from relegation in 2008/09 when they overcame a 17-point deduction to preserve their Football League status.
Although a serious hip injury restricted him to just six appearances as Eddie Howe’s team claimed runners-up spot in League Two in 2009/10, Cooper starred as the Cherries reached the League One play-offs the following season.
After leaving the club in 2012, Cooper had spells at Crawley Town, Portsmouth, Torquay United and Sutton United before hanging up his boots in December 2017 following a brief stay with Poole Town.