Following retirement, he moved into coaching and worked in the Middlesbrough academy, later progressing into the first team before taking charge on a temporary basis in 2009.
[3] In the summer of 1991, he was transferred to Division Two side Millwall for the sum of £300,000 spending two successful seasons at The Den.
It was at Forest where Colin arguably played the best football of his career, his form earning him two England caps in 1995 against Sweden and Brazil.
[5] After experiencing the joys of two promotions and the heart-break of a relegation, "Super Coops" was re-purchased by his first club, Middlesbrough, in a £2,500,000 deal.
He almost gave up the game in 2002 after his son, Finlay, died in an accident at the family home[6] just hours after their victory over Manchester United in the FA Cup.
[19] On 9 March 2011, Cooper was appointed as assistant to interim manager Peter Jackson at League Two side Bradford City.
[26] On 24 May 2013, he became manager at Football League Two side Hartlepool United, replacing John Hughes, who had been sacked the previous month.
During this programme, three legendary figures, representing one of each of the North-East's top three clubs (Middlesbrough, Sunderland, and Newcastle United), come to the studio and discuss recent footballing events.
In 2006, Colin and his wife Julie, formed the charity the Finlay Cooper Fund, named after his son who died in a tragic accident in 2002, which raises money for children's causes.