FORMER Reading FC player Neale Cooper has passed away after collapsing last weekend.
The 54-year-old was found in the stairwell of flats near his home in the Bucksburn area of Aberdeen on Sunday morning.
He died at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary yesterday afternoon. His death is not being treated as suspicious, though police inquiries are continuing.
Cooper joined Reading in 1991 when he linked up with ex-boss Mark McGhee.
The pair had both been part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s Aberdeen team which beat Real Madrid in Gothenburg to win the 1983 European Cup Winners’ Cup.
He also won two league titles with the Dons, the Scottish Cup four times and the Scottish League Cup once.
Neale Cooper, right, celebrates winning the 1983 European Cup Winners' Cup with Aberdeen team-mates Eric Black and John Hewitt.
But Cooper’s stint with the Royals was hampered by injury and the combative midfielder made only seven league appearances before moving to Dunfirmline Athletic.
Cooper, who was born in Darjeeling, India, also played for Aston Villa, Rangers and Ross County.
He launched his coaching career with Ross County in 1996 and also managed Gillingham and Peterhead and had two stints as boss of Hartlepool United.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here