So, how many of these managerial appointments do you remember? Cue music…
1. Martin O’Neill
- Leicester City (1996/97 – 1999/00)
- Aston Villa (2006/07 – 2010/11)
- Sunderland (2011/12 – 2012/13)
O’Neill’s highest league position was 6th with Aston Villa which remarkably he achieved for three consecutive seasons from 2007/08 to 2009/10. His highest position with Leicester was 9th.
2. Malky McKay
- Cardiff City (2013/14)
Having achieved promotion as champions the previous season, McKay was ungratefully sacked five months into his first Premier League season. His replacement Ole Gunnar Solskjaer failed to arrest the decline and Cardiff finished 20th and were relegated.
3. Gary Megson
- Norwich City (1994/95)
- West Bromwich Albion (2002/03, 2004/05)
- Bolton Wanderers (2007/08 – 2009/10)
Megson’s best finish in the Premier League was 13th with Bolton in 2008/09.
4. John Deehan
- Norwich City (1993/94 – 1994/95)
Having replaced Mike Walker in January, Deehan led the Canaries to very respectable 12th in his first season. Unfortunately, after a promising start to 1994/95, things went a bit ovoid after Christmas. Amazingly, despite being 11th on 23rd March after a victory over Ipswich Town, a disastrous slump to 20th – via a panicked Megson appointment – happened all too quickly. We hope to never see that again. On a happier note, Deehan’s team played some great stuff over that period, but sometimes it just don’t go your way…. Tut. Onwards and upwards!
5. Joe Royle
- Everton (1994/95 – 1996/97)
- Oldham Athletic (2008/09)
The ever-popular Royle (and former NCFC Player of the Year) propelled Everton to 6th in 1995/96.
6. Dave Watson
- Everton (1996/97)
Taking over as ‘acting manager’ from Royle, the ever-reliable and cultured Dave Watson led Everton to safety with a 15th place finish.
7. Scott Parker
- Fulham (2019/20)
Claudio Ranieri was replaced by ex-Canaries loanee Parker in February, but he failed to stop relegation with Fulham finishing in 19th place.
8. Steve Bruce
- Birmingham City (2002/03 – 2005/06, 2007/08)
- Wigan Athletic (2007/08 – 2008/09)
- Sunderland (2009/10 – 2011/12)
- Hull City (2013/14 – 2014/15, 2016/17)
- Newcastle United (2019/20)
The competent and much-travelled Bruce achieved his best top division finish of 10th with Birmingham City in 2003/04. A feat he repeated with Sunderland in 2010/11.
9. Mike Phelan
- Hull City (2016-17)
Phelan replaced Bruce in October and managed the Tigers for three-and-a-half months. Subsequent appointments failed to save Hull and they finished 18th and were relegated.
10. Tim Sherwood
- Tottenham Hotspur (2013/14)
- Aston Villa (2014/15 – 2015/16)
(Excellent ex-NCFC midfielder) Sherwood replaced unpopular Andre Villas-Boas as manager at White Hart Lane in December 2013 and guided Spurs to a pretty acceptable 6th place before being replaced by Mauricio Pochettino.
In summary; many have tried, some have failed, and some have succeeded. Management is difficult, inevitably temporary, and rarely fully appreciated. Glory and failure are near and constant companions. In the words of dear old Greavsie, ‘It’s a funny old game’.
But who will be the next Carrow Road old boy (or girl) to make into a Premiership hotseat (hopefully with NCFC)? Mark Robins? Ian Culverhouse? Even Megson – again! Who knows? (The smart money’s on Steve Bruce carving a notch on another chairman’s goalpost sooner or later.)
Anyway, there’s one more chirpy potential fact to clarify, and it’s a bonus answer! (Possibly)
‘Ooh, who is this person?’ you might ask. Well…
11. Harry Redknapp.
Really?
Yes. Maybe…
I’m sure I read somewhere that Redknapp (who managed West Ham, Portsmouth, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, and Queens Park Rangers in the Premier League) was once a loan player to Norwich for a short period in the early 1970s?
Perhaps someone could corroborate and share the info?
Interesting, eh?
Best wishes all.
OTBC.
Joe Royle also managed Man City in the Premiership after getting them promoted to the Premiership. Manchester City only spent one season back in the top division, leading to Royle being dismissed after relegation in May 2001.
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Well spotted Alex B! Joe Royle did indeed also manage Manchester City for one year in the Premier League in 2000/01. Apols for omission.
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Are we forgetting about Neil Adams?
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Good spot, Jodaut. Adams was caretaker manager for the last five games of the 2013/14 season. But as he was ‘only’ a caretaker manager and his position wasn’t made permanent until after the season finished and Norwich were relegated out of the Premier League, I chose to leave him out. I tried to ignore caretaker managers who were only in charge for a handful of games or fewer. But I agree there is an equally valid argument for leaving him in. Thanks for bringing it up!
(NB. The ‘caretaker’ managers I did leave in all served for significantly more time than a few days or handful of games)
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Hi Jodaut. Adams was caretaker manager for the last five games of 2013/14. He wasn’t made permanent until after the season ended and Norwich were relegated out of the Premier League. I tried to avoid caretaker or temporary managers – unless they served for significantly longer that a few days or a handful of games – so I left him out. Of course with Adams’ subsequent appointment there is an equally valid argument for leaving him in! It was a grey area in terms of criteria. Thanks for mentioning though. Adams is a great bloke.
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Mark Bowen + Kevin Bond were caretakers at QPR (I think).
Neil Adams??
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Hi Rob. Thanks for these – always good to have some alternatives bandied about! Was Bowen and Bond when there were four temporary managers appointed for only a week or so (if memory from my research stands)? Maybe, maybe not. However, as above I tried to avoid the caretaker managers as things started to get messy when investigating it all. All valid suggestions though and gratefully received.
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On your Redknapp question I can’t ever remember him being at city but did read that whilst at West Ham he was first in line to replace Bond as he recommended him to city but the WHA board offered him a new contract.
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Ah, really? Nice one, Alex B!
On the Redknapp player thing, I think I read it in a football biography somewhere. It was only a one line comment, but I think it said he signed to Norwich for a shortish period (eg. one month, two months, or three months), trained with the squad up here, but never actually played for the first team. Was just hoping someone could confirm my memory…
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I think the only one I wouldn’t have got there is Scott Parker – but only because I forgot he was on loan here from [I think] Charlton.
As Jodaut and Rob say, Neil Adams has to be on the list.
Harry Redknapp – that’s probably a no. I’m sure we acquired a few West Ham players at around that time such as Johnny Sissons – who I do remember – and obviously Martin Peters and Jimmy Neighbour had those connections too. Redknapp? As ever I could be wrong but I don’t think so.
A good bit of fun anyway.
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Thanks Martin. Scott Parker wasn’t here for long, but nice to have the connection. Looks like we have to rule out the Redknapp link, unless further information comes in. Wish I could remember where I read it…
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Redknapp came on trial around the time we bought Sissons
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David Stringer? Paul Cook? Could be wrong.
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Great suggestions, Geekayach. Had me scurrying back to the data. Stringer (an excellent manager for us btw) did manage City in the top division but before the Premier League era. Paul Cook (very underused here as a first team player I felt, always scored loads for the reserves) hasn’t managed a team higher than Championship level (where he is currently with Wigan Athletic).
Thanks and best wishes.
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Could Doug Livermore be included? ‘Joint’ manager of Spurs in the first season of the Premier League.
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Ben – I have to admit this – bingo, you’re right! Ex-Canary Doug Livermore was manager of Tottenham Hotspur for the first season of the Premier League. Darn it, I went through eery manager of every club who’s played in the Premier league and missed out dear old Dougie. Blast my cotton socks. Well done, ben, and thanks for pointing it out.
Best wishes.
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Harry Redknapp played 2 Reserve matches for Norwich in 1973/74. I was looking at a programme from that season and spotted that his name was in the appearances list
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John Holland, you diamond! Nice one. Thanks for confirming that. Thought I was going doolally! Best wishes and thanks.
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