Bristol City manager hunt takes new twist with John Mousinho & Steve Cooper developments | OneFootball

The Robins are eyeing a new manager following the departure of caretaker boss Roy Hodgson.

Bristol City are searching for a new manager following Roy Hodgson's departure from Ashton Gate, and it seems that the Robins are making significant strides.

The club appointed the former England manager on a short-term basis until the end of the season, replacing the sacked Gerhard Struber, having previously been in charge in 1982.

While neither promotion nor relegation was at stake, the club wanted to set high standards at Ashton Gate heading into the 2026-27 campaign, and the 78-year-old did a decent enough job of doing that by taking 11 points from their remaining seven games.

Both John Mousinho and Steve Cooper have been linked to the vacant Bristol City post, and there have now been some notable developments regarding both.

Bristol City hold talks with John Mousinho as Steve Cooper considered

The Robins are eyeing their seventh manager in six years as they look to build on the good work done by Hodgson and climb up the Championship table next term.

Getting their next appointment right is vital if they want to shrug off their tag as the second tier's longest-serving club and reach the Premier League for the first time since 1980.

And now it seems they are targeting a man who has done an admirable job of promoting Portsmouth to the second tier and maintaining their status on a tight budget.

That is because Bristol City have held talks with Mousinho to become their next manager, according to talkSPORT.

The publication adds that he is highly thought of by the Robins' hierarchy and was even on their radar before they appointed Liam Manning in 2023.

However, they have also reported that Cooper, who is currently in charge of Danish side Brondby and has not managed in English football since he was at the helm at Leicester City in 2024, has been sounded out about the job.

The Welshman did stellar jobs at Swansea City and Nottingham Forest before a forgettable spell with the Foxes, while he has experienced a mixed time in Denmark.

Given his Championship pedigree, Cooper would make an appealing option for the Robins, especially if they are to set the target of a top six finish next term, as he achieved promotion via the play-offs with the Tricky Trees.

Would Mousinho be a good fit at Ashton Gate?

Having ended his playing career with Oxford United in 2023, Mousinho immediately became manager of Portsmouth, which must have been considered a risk, given it was his first dip into management.

However, in his first full campaign at Fratton Park, the former centre-back guided Pompey to the League One title, finishing five points clear of second-placed Derby County and 10 points clear of third-placed Bolton Wanderers.

Since taking the South Coast club up to the second tier, he has maintained their status with financial constraints, finishing 16th last term and 18th this time round.

This season was certainly a challenging one for Portsmouth as they toyed with relegation until the closing stages, but Mousinho was able to rally his players and take 15 points from their remaining eight matches, defeating Ipswich Town and Middlesbrough in the process.

Given what he has achieved at Fratton Park, there is a feeling that he has done all he can with the club and that a fresh challenge would suit the 40-year-old if it were to arise.

It had previously been reported that Mousinho was a front-runner for the Bristol City job alongside Michael Skubala, although he is now likely to remain at Lincoln City.

While there are some doubts over whether Mousinho would be the right man to take the club forward, he possesses several traits that would make him a good fit.

As a development-focused coach, he has shown his ability to improve young players, which would surely be a long-term strategy at Ashton Gate.

Furthermore, he favours a more progressive style of football, which would warm the supporters to him, while his calm and composed nature should rub off on the players.

Of course, Bristol City would be taking a punt on Mousinho, but given what he has achieved at Portsmouth, he is surely deserving of taking the reins at a more settled Championship club.