Neil Warnock

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This article is about the football manager. Neil Warnock is also the name of the music agent for bands including Motörhead, Status Quo and Deep Purple.
Neil Warnock
Personal information
Full name Neil Warnock
Date of birth December 1, 1948 (age 58)
Place of birth    Sheffield, England
Nickname Colin
Playing position Manager
Club information
Current club Sheffield United
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1967-1969
1969-1971
1971-1973
1973-1975
1975-1976
1976-1978
1978
1978-1979
Chesterfield
Rotherham United
Hartlepool United
Scunthorpe United
Aldershot
Barnsley
York City
Crewe Alexandra
24 (2)
52 (5)
60 (5)
72 (7)
37 (6)
57 (10)
4 (0)
21 (1)   
Teams managed
1986-1989
1989-1993
1993
1993-1995
1995-1997
1997-1998
1998-1999
1999-present
Scarborough
Notts County
Torquay United
Huddersfield Town
Plymouth Argyle
Oldham Athletic
Bury
Sheffield United

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only.
* Appearances (Goals)

Neil Warnock (born December 1, 1948) is the current football manager of Sheffield United.

He was appointed as manager of Sheffield United in December 1999 and is currently the sixth longest serving manager in league football. Warnock was born in Sheffield and is a lifelong fan of the Blades.

Contents

[edit] Career

Warnock played for Chesterfield, Rotherham United, Hartlepool United, Scunthorpe United, Aldershot, Barnsley, York City, and Crewe Alexandra, making a total of 326 appearances in an eleven year playing career. As a player he was a bustling though none too quick wide midfielder who served lower league clubs well but was never in demand by larger teams.

His first managerial job was with Northern Premier League side Burton Albion in 1981. Since then, he has managed Gainsborough Trinity, Scarborough, Notts County, Huddersfield Town, Plymouth Argyle, Oldham Athletic and Bury before reaching his current position. During December 2005, Warnock was offered a position at Portsmouth, but he refused in favour of staying on at United.

In 2003, Warnock led Sheffield United to the semi-finals of the FA Cup and League Cup as well as the final of the First Division play-off. This was the first time in his management career that he had lost a play-off contest, having previously been successful at Notts County (twice), Huddersfield Town and Plymouth Argyle. He finally led his Blades team to the Premiership in 2006.

On September 23, 2006, Warnock led the Blades in his 1,000th game as a manager against Arsenal at the new Emirates Stadium.

Rival fans nicknamed him Colin, as, when combined with the insult "wanker", it is an anagram of Neil Warnock. The anagram first appeared in 1997, in Exeter City fanzine 'There's a Good Time Coming', towards the end of Warnock's period in charge of local rivals Plymouth Argyle.

[edit] Disputes

Warnock, who is qualified as a chiropodist and a referee, is renowned for his controversial outbursts. He has had high profile disputes with many inside the game.

[edit] Players

  • Stéphane Henchoz - Over an alleged spitting incident in the League Cup semi-final between Sheffield United and Liverpool.
  • Peter Swan - A player for Warnock at Argyle and Bury, he called Warnock "a prick".[citation needed]
  • Geoff Horsfield - Warnock told him he was unwanted after a permanent deal had been agreed to bring him to Sheffield United from West Bromwich Albion in a £1.2m deal, Warnock reportedly told him he didn't want him anywhere near Sheffield United and to go and train with West Brom.[citation needed]
  • Stephen Hunt - After a recent match again Reading FC Warnock condemned the behaviour of the Royals' Stephen Hunt. He is said to have commented: "Hunt has proved on a few occasions that he's a clever type, and his challenge on Nick Montgomery earlier in the game wasn't clever either".[citation needed]

[edit] Managers

  • Gérard Houllier - See Stéphane Henchoz above. Also involved an argument about United's allegedly physical approach against Liverpool in the League Cup Semi Final 1st leg, a match in which Liverpool had 5 men cautioned to United's one.[citation needed]
  • Phil Thompson - See Stéphane Henchoz above.
  • Gary Megson - Following allegations that Warnock tried to void a 2002 match by reducing his team to six players. For details of this match, see Battle of Bramall Lane.
  • Stan Ternent - A longstanding feud. Most recently (2001) involved claims that Warnock sent an "emissary" to listen to tactical discussions.[1]
  • Joe Kinnear - Kinnear remarked that Warnock was a 'prat' after a 1-1 draw between Sheffield United and Kinnear's Nottingham Forest in 2004-05.[citation needed]
  • Kevin Blackwell - Warnock told press that he wished he'd had the money to spend on players Blackwell did in the season 2004-2005, this was the last season at Elland Road after "Living The Dream" had caused severe financial difficulties and no money was available.[citation needed] Blackwell had previously been Warnock's assistant at Sheffield United for several years. Another dispute occurred on 18 April 2006 in a match between Leeds United and Sheffield United at Bramall Lane when Warnock was sent from the touch-line after making a comment to Blackwell about a tackle by Gary Kelly on a Sheffield United player that Warnock deemed a bookable offence, and would have resulted in the Leeds player being sent off.[2]
  • Nigel Worthington - on 18 March 2006 Worthington apparently refused to shake hands with Warnock resulting in Warnock sticking two fingers up at him, an incident over which the FA charged Warnock with improper conduct.[3]
  • Wally Downes - On 20th January 2007, in a match against Reading, Keith Gillespie was sent off seconds after he came onto the pitch, for swiping Reading's Stephen Hunt in the face. After a protracted departure from the pitch, Warnock performed a stamping motion on the sideline directed towards referee Mark Halsey - referring to an earlier tackle made by a Reading player which Warnock felt warranted a red card as well. Reading coach Wally Downes interpreted Warnock's actions as telling his players to "Do em".[citation needed] Downes pushed Warnock, who did not retaliate, causing a mass brawl on the sidelines. Both Warnock and Downes were sent to the stands as a result.[4]
  • Gareth Southgate - Accused Southgate on Sky Sports News (shown 19 March 2007) of fielding a weaker starting XI against relegation-threatened Manchester City. Neil claimed Southgate was "helping out" a friend, City manager Stuart Pearce.[5]

[edit] Referees

  • David Elleray - Warnock called him a "bald-headed bloke", whilst criticising his decision making ability.[citation needed]
  • Graham Poll - Following what Warnock believed to be a mistake by Poll which led to Arsenal scoring in the FA Cup semi-final in 2003.

In a Sky Sports documentary, Warnock agreed to be filmed in a personal documentary about his life on and off the pitch. During a match at home to Ipswich Town, Warnock was seen to swear at and verbally abuse one of the linesmen (also telling then Ipswich manager that the linesman 'had been his best player') perhaps revealing why Warnock is seen as one of the more controversial football managers in England.[citation needed]

[edit] Fans

  • Sheffield Wednesday - Fans of Sheffield United's arch rivals are regularly angered by Warnock's remarks. After one United victory over Wednesday at the Owls' Hillsborough home, Warnock is said to have run over to a stand filled with Wednesday fans and performed a war dance.[citation needed]
  • Nottingham Forest - Under Warnock's management, Notts County briefly rivalled the Reds (Nottingham Forest) in the early 1990s. As well as this, many Forest fans have accused him of underhand tactics during games between their team and Sheffield United, particularly the playoff semi final second leg in 2003. Forest supporters' dislike of him has only increased the already huge popularity he enjoys amongst Notts County supporters.[citation needed]
  • Leicester City - After Leicester restructured their debt after going into administration in 2002, they gained promotion to the Premiership, at the expense of United, who had to make do with a play-off place. After United failed to gain promotion Warnock revealed his anger at the Leicester situation. Incensed that City could have got into such a state yet continued to compete at the top of the table, with no punishment, Warnock complained to the press, claiming United should have Leicester's place in the Premiership and the club should have been relegated or booted out the League. Most Leicester fans saw this as sour grapes, and were angered that Warnock would be prepared to see a club die in order to gain a hollow promotion for his own side.[citation needed] Sour grapes or no, any team now going into administration are automatically deducted 10 points.
  • West Bromwich Albion - After the Battle of Bramall Lane, Albion fans nicknamed Warnock, 'Colin', since Neil Warnock is an anagram of 'COLIN WANKER'

[edit] Honours

[edit] Promotions

[edit] Manager of the month

  • 2002-03 (Championship): January
  • 2003-04 (Championship): November
  • 2004-05 (Championship): December

[edit] Other

Winner, Hartlepool FC 'Player of the Year' 1971-72

Nominated, BBC Yorkshire Sports Personality Awards 2006

[edit] Managerial stats

Team Nat From To Record
G W L D Win %
Scarborough Flag of England August 1, 1986 January 1, 1989 78 30 23 25 38.46
Notts County Flag of England January 5, 1989 January 14, 1993 209 90 70 49 43.06
Torquay United Flag of England February 15, 1993 June 2, 1993 15 5 5 5 33.33
Huddersfield Town Flag of England July 15, 1993 June 5, 1995 108 44 30 34 40.74
Plymouth Argyle Flag of England June 22, 1995 February 3, 1997 88 35 29 24 39.77
Oldham Athletic Flag of England February 21, 1997 May 7, 1998 69 22 27 20 31.88
Bury Flag of England June 2, 1998 December 2, 1999 77 19 29 29 24.67
Sheffield United Flag of England December 2, 1999 Present 380 163 117 100 42.89

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Harry Dunn
Scarborough F.C. manager
1986-1989
Succeeded by
Colin Morris
Preceded by
John Barnwell
Notts County F.C. manager
1989-1993
Succeeded by
Mick Walker
Preceded by
Paul Compton
Torquay United F.C. manager
1993
Succeeded by
Don O'Riordan
Preceded by
Ian Ross
Huddersfield Town F.C. manager
1993-1995
Succeeded by
Brian Horton
Preceded by
Steve McCall (caretaker)
Plymouth Argyle F.C. manager
1995-1997
Succeeded by
Mick Jones
Preceded by
Graeme Sharp
Oldham Athletic A.F.C. manager
1997-1998
Succeeded by
Andy Ritchie
Preceded by
Stan Ternent
Bury F.C. manager
1998-1999
Succeeded by
Steve Redmond (caretaker)
Preceded by
Russell Slade (caretaker)
Sheffield United F.C. manager
1999-
Succeeded by
Incumbent
The Club | Records | History | Seasons
Staff | Neil Warnock | Former players | Current Squad
Bramall Lane | Steel City derby
The Blades | The Greasy Chip Butty Song


Sheffield United F.C. - Current Squad

1 Kenny | 2 Bromby | 4 Davis | 5 Morgan | 6 Jagielka | 7 Shelton | 8 Stead | 9 Hulse | 10 Webber | 12 A. Quinn | 13 Bennett | 14 Sommeil | 15 Kozluk | 16 Kilgallon | 17 Montgomery | 18 Tonge | 19 Gillespie | 20 Armstrong | 21 Leigertwood | 22 Lucketti | 23 Fathi | 24 Short | 26 Geary | 27 Nadé | 28 S. Quinn | 29 Gerrard | 30 Li | 31 Law | 32 Kâzım-Richards | 33 Annerson | 34 Ashmore | 37 Marrison | 38 Hurst | 39 Seck | –– Gyaki | –– Hao | Manager: Warnock

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