Ian Porterfield

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John (Ian) Porterfield (born in Dunfermline, Scotland on 11 February 1946) is an experienced football coach who has worked at both club and international level in the past 25 years. He is currently the coach of the national football team of Armenia.

Porterfield started his career with Raith Rovers, moving south of the border in 1967 to join Sunderland where he experienced his finest moment as a player when he scored the winner at Wembley Stadium in the 1973 FA Cup Final. As underdogs, Sunderland defeated a Leeds Utd side containing experienced internationals such as Billy Bremner, Eddie Gray, Norman Hunter and Johnny Giles. He stayed at Sunderland for ten years before moving onto Sheffield Wednesday as first a player and the player-coach.

Upon retirement as a player he went on to manage Rotherham United winning the Third Division Championship before joining Sheffield United on June 6, 1981. He was given the task of getting the Blades, newly relegated to the Fourth Division back into the First Division in five seasons with a long-term contract exceeding that particular time-frame.

Given funds by new Chairman, Reg Brearley, Porterfield strengthen the team and achieved step 1 of his mission, winning the Fourth Division Championship in his first season. Despite huge financial losses, Brearley continued to provide transfer funds for United's march toward the top division. However, United were never in the hunt for promotion, finishing 11th.

The following season, the playing staff was cut and promotion was achieved, but only due to Hull City only beating Burnley F.C. 2-0. A third goal would have seen them promoted instead. However, ground improvement required by promotion to the Second Division meant there was no further funds for new players. Porterfield was unable to complete the final step into the First Division and finally paid the price being replaced by Billy McEwan on March 27, 1986.

He also managed Aberdeen (1986-88}, was assistant manager at Chelsea (1988-89) and manager at Reading (1988-91) before returning to the top job at Chelsea (1991-93). After experiencing mixed success with British football clubs, he made the brave venture overseas to coach the national sides of Zambia, Saudi Arabia and Zimbabwe, both very much developing countries on the football map.

He was given the task of rebuilding the Zambian team following a tragic air crash in 1993 that claimed the lives of many of the nation's most gifted players. However he was to resign before the rebuilding process was completed after becoming entangled in a row over money with the former Wimbledon and Aston Villa player John Fashanu.

In January 1996 he returned to British football to become the assistant manager of struggling Premier League team Bolton Wanderers. The club had been rooted to the bottom of the table for the most part of the season and Bolton's new manager Colin Todd was looking to his former Sunderland team mate Porterfield to assist an unlikely escape from relegation.

A drink-driving charge in May 1996 prompted his hasty resignation from Bolton and he has since returned abroad to manage both the Oman and Trinidad & Tobago national teams.

In 2003 he was appointed as the manager of Korean club side Busan I'Park and he led them to the 2004 FA Cup victory. The team went on to claim the K-League first half title, as it simultaneously continued its unbeaten run through the group stage of the AFC Champions League.

He left Busan I'Park on April 4th 2006, and is currently considering several offers to manage clubs from around the world.

Ian signed a contract to coach the Armenian National team in August 2006. He is under contract there until the end of 2007.

[edit] Trivia

Ian Porterfield has the distinction of being the very first manager to be sacked in the FA Premier League, when he was fired by Chelsea.

Preceded by Alex Ferguson	Aberdeen FC manager 1986-1988	Succeeded by Alex Smith
Preceded by Bobby Campbell	Chelsea F.C. Manager 1991-1993	Succeeded by David Webb