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LEEDS UNITED captain Liam Cooper boozed until the early hours after being crowned Championship winners – and then took the trophy to bed with him!

The Scots skipper posted a snap of him on Twitter wishing fans a “good night” at 4.56 am today.

Liam Cooper was pictured at 5am holding the Championship title
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Liam Cooper was pictured at 5am holding the Championship title
The Leeds skipper was up celebrating all night
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The Leeds skipper was up celebrating all night

Bleary-eyed Liam was pictured taking a drink from a bottle of Stella Artois and was still wearing his ‘Champions 20’ top as he reclined under his duvet with the trophy.


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Leeds – who last night hammered Charlton 4-0 at Elland Road – were handed the cup after the final home game of the season.

But the Whites stars and manager Marco Bielsa have been slammed for celebrating outside the stadium in front of fans and even booking an open top bus.

Supporters had been told to stay at home.

Chief executive Angus Kinnear had said: “We must consider the health of people in our community before we celebrate.”

But thousands of fans greeted the squad as the players emerged from the stadium in their chartered bus.

And local news site LeedsLive said: “It was an inevitable outpouring of emotion, with fans unable to resist the urge of flocking to their cathedral in Beeston.

“What happened next though, was a coordinated and planned exercise from the club which flew in the face of everything they had said in the days building up to the match.

“As the squad began to emerge on an open-top bus outside the stadium, a huge roar went up from the masses. Then Marcelo Bielsa appeared and the noise was deafening.

“But for the vast majority of fans who had stayed at home and followed the club's own advice, it was a kick in the teeth. They were missing out on something that they rightly thought would not happen.

“They should have been offered the same vantage point as everyone else, watching Bielsa and his disciples celebrate inside the stadium. But they ended up feeling left out.

Leeds' title celebrations continued into the night
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Leeds' title celebrations continued into the nightCredit: Getty Images - Getty
Leeds are back in the big time for the firs time in 16 years
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Leeds are back in the big time for the firs time in 16 years Credit: Getty Images - Getty

 

“If the bus celebrations weren't contradictory enough, the club's statement attempting to justify the actions was just bizarre.”

A Leeds United spokesman said: Following consultation with the SAG and [Leeds City] Council, Leeds United arranged for a bus to be parked outside the East Stand reception as a contingency to assist dispersal should a crowd congregate at Elland Road despite a month-long campaign from the club and supporter groups to encourage supporters to stay at home.

“The safety group believed was that a brief appearance from the players with the Championship trophy, would help to signal an end to proceedings, encouraging fans to head home safely.”

Leeds claim open-top bus celebrations were to help fans stay away from Elland Road after ploy totally backfires
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