Change is quicker in football than most industries and you do not need to tell Leeds United’s Liam Cooper and Stuart Dallas.
The 28-year-olds have signed long-term deals with the Whites today, five years for Cooper and four for Dallas, but they will not rest on that piece of paper.
Dallas, fresh from Northern Ireland duty over the past week, was quick to make it clear there would be no feet up now his long-term future is secure.
Speaking to LeedsLive about the new deal, Dallas, who has gone from a utility man on the bench to undroppable right-back this season, knows change is never far away.
“We’re not going to sit back and rest on that. That can change in an instant. A new manager could come in and might not fancy you as a player,” he said.
“We’ve got to keep improving and keep working hard and obviously we’re delighted to be able to commit our futures and delighted the club’s seen, in us, something that wanted us to stay.
“We’re delighted. Not only for us, but for our families. We’ve both got kids and it’s nice for them to have the reassurance we’re going to be here for another while.”
Cooper too knows about change. Since signing five years ago from Chesterfield, the captain admits he found the step up tough.
In and out of the team, playing second fiddle, trying to figure out the second tier, Cooper is now one of the division’s best.
The rise under Marcelo Bielsa has been remarkable and he will be looking for players to commit to his testimonial at Elland Road if he sees out this new deal.
“If someone had said, when I signed five years ago, you’re going to be here for another 10 years I’d have been like ‘what?’,” he said.
“Because the way football is now, players come and go and you don’t see many players stay at clubs for 10 years, or eight, nine years like Stu.”
