I think there was a comparison made by a poster last week regarding a possible comparison in Cooper following Martinez, Rodgers and Potter into management with the Swans.
A quick look through the web has resulted in the following information. Make of it what you will.
Martinez-coached at schools in his hometown in Spain from a young age and such was the respect he had from his fellow pros, practically took over the dressing room from Flynn, and after training he was like a godfather with the players at the local Spanish restaurant (Paco's) in St. Helens Road where most of the playing squad gathered after training for lunch. Prior to returning to Swansea as manager he was player coach at Chester.
Rodgers-playing career cut short with a knee injury at Reading at the age of 18, retired from playing at the age of 20, but still played local non-league football. Became a coach in Reading's academy before taking over as academy director. After studying coaching methods in Spain he was invited by Mourinho in 2004 to become youth manager before taking over as a reserve manager. In 2008 he took over as manager at Watford before joining Reading in 2009 as manager. Following a string of poor results he left by mutual consent 6 months later, prior to joining the Swans in mid-July 2010.
Potter-former pro player who ended his playing career at Macclesfield in 2004, achieving an Open University degree in Social Services in 2005, then became Football Development Officer at the University of Hull, then Technical Director of the Ghana Women's team at the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup Final. He then became assistant coach to the England University squad followed by a similar role at Leeds Metropolitan University where he completed a Masters degree in Leadership and Emotional Intelligence.
His first management role at a football club came in 2010 where he was recommended to the chairman of Swedish club Ostersund by former Swans coach Graeme Jones after they had played the Swans in a pre-season friendly. After two successive promotion he extended his contract and in 2015 his club were promoted to the top league in Sweden.
Cooper-played for Wrexham in 1998 then spells in non-league with various clubs including playing in a Europa League tie for Bangor City. From becoming a coach at Wrexham's Youth Development in 2005 he became one of the youngest coaches to attain a UEFA Pro-Licence holder in 2006 and the respect he gained as a coach saw him become the Head of Wrexham's Development before becoming the U12's coach at Liverpool in 2008. In July 2011 he became academy manager at Liverpool after graduating to the club's U16's coach prior to leaving the club in 2013 to become an FA Youth Coach Educator.
In October 2014 he was appointed Head Coach of the England U16 team by England Head Coach Gareth Southgate and Director of Elite Development DAN ASHWORTH. A year later he took charge of the England U17 team which saw them lose to Spain in the EUFA U17 Championship Final 4-1 in May 2017 before beating the same opposition in October 2017 in the FIFA World U17 Championship Final 5-2.
* the same Dan Ashworth who as Technical Director of Brighton & HA recommended Potter for the Brighton manager job, could well have recommended Cooper to Trevor Birch.