Frank Burrows
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Frank Burrows (born January 30, 1944 ) is a soccer manager, and former player.
Frank Burrows began his football career at Scottish club Raith Rovers F.C.. In 1965 he moved south to England and joined Scunthorpe United F.C.. Impressive performances as a defender for Scunthorpe led to him being signed by Swindon Town F.C. for the 1968-69 season as a replacement for the departing Mel Nurse. Burrows was a major factor in helping Swindon to their most successful ever season in which they won promotion and the League Cup.
Burrows played alongside team captain Stan Harland in the middle of a defence that conceded just 35 goals in 46 League matches. He went on to make over 350 appearances for Swindon. At the start of the 1973-74 season he was made a player coach, such was the feeling that he was a natural leader as well as a solid defender.
The 1975-76 season saw his coaching come more into prominence. The season had not gone well for Swindon with a defeat at the hands of Tooting & Mitcham United F.C. in the FA Cup and a slide down the Football League Division Three table into a perilous position. After a disastrous 4-0 defeat at Chesterfield F.C. manager Danny Williams was sacked and Burrows was appointed manager, doing enough to save the club from relegation.
Ambitious as a manager, Burrows left Swindon to be appointed Assistant Manager to Jimmy Dickinson at Portsmouth F.C.. When Dickinson resigned in 1979 Burrows replaced him. Burrows enjoyed success at Portsmouth as a manager, and after leaving the club in 1982 he became manager at Swansea City F.C.. He then spent a period on the coaching staff at West Ham United F.C. before becoming manager of Cardiff City F.C. in May 1986. He helped revive the fortunes of the Bluebirds before moving on again.
In 1989 he returned to Portsmouth as assistant manager to John Gregory, before being appointed manager in 1990. However, he left the following year after some poor performances.
He later managed Swansea City and Cardiff City and was manager of the Cardiff side which won promotion to Division Two in 1999.
From 2000 until 2004, Burrows was assistant manager to Gary Megson at West Bromwich Albion and helped them win promotion to the Premiership twice. Burrows took charge of two games as caretaker-manager following Megson's departure, but left the Hawthorns once Bryan Robson arrived.
Preceded by Jimmy Dickinson |
Portsmouth Manager 1979-1982 |
Succeeded by Bobby Campbell |
Preceded by Alan Durban |
Cardiff City Manager 1986-1989 |
Succeeded by Len Ashurst |
Preceded by John Gregory |
Portsmouth Manager 1990-1991 |
Succeeded by Graham Paddon (caretaker) |
Preceded by Terry Yorath |
Swansea City Manager 1991-1995 |
Succeeded by Bobby Smith |
Preceded by Kenny Hibbitt (caretaker) |
Cardiff City Manager 1998-2000 |
Succeeded by Billy Ayre |
Preceded by Gary Megson |
West Bromwich Albion Manager 2004 (caretaker) |
Succeeded by Bryan Robson |
Categories: 1944 births | Living people | Scottish footballers | Raith Rovers F.C. players | Scunthorpe United F.C. players | Swindon Town F.C. players | FA Premier League managers | Portsmouth F.C. managers | Cardiff City F.C. managers | Swansea City A.F.C. managers | West Bromwich Albion F.C. managers