Neil Warnock

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Neil Warnock
Personal information
Full name Neil Warnock
Date of birth
Place of birth    Sheffield, England
Club information
Current club Crystal Palace
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 0(2)
52 0(5)
60 0(5)
72 0(7)
37 0(6)
57 (10)
04 0(0)
21 0(1)   
Teams managed
1986–1989
1989–1993
1993
1993–1995
1995–1997
1997–1998
1998–1999
1999–2007
2007–
Scarborough
Notts County
Torquay United
Huddersfield Town
Plymouth Argyle
Oldham Athletic
Bury
Sheffield United
Crystal Palace

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

Neil Warnock [1] is a football manager, currently in charge of Crystal Palace. Warnock was born in Sheffield and is a lifelong supporter of Sheffield United Football Club,[2] which he managed from 1999 to 2007.

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 league 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. Towards the end of his playing career, Warnock went part-time and owned a greengrocer's in Barnsley called "The Orange Bowl". He later ran his own chiropody practice in Tinsley, Sheffield while working his way up the non-league managerial ladder.

After being involved in Sunday League coaching, his first full managerial job was with Northern Premier League side Gainsborough Trinity in 1981. Since then, he has managed Burton Albion, Scarborough (getting them promoted to the Football League in 1986), Notts County (promotion to the top flight in 1991), Huddersfield Town (play-off winners), Plymouth Argyle (play-off winners), Oldham Athletic, Bury and Sheffield United. Warnock also acted as 'consultant' at Torquay United in 1993, saving the club from relegation out of the league. He also turned down lucrative management jobs at Chelsea, Sunderland (while at Notts County) and also at Portsmouth (while at Sheffield United in 2005).also with Crawley town

From 1990 to 1996, Warnock was a familiar face at Wembley Stadium, as he led Notts County (twice), Huddersfield Town (twice) and Plymouth Argyle to the Twin Towers, winning four of the five matches and his only defeat being on penalties in the 1994 final of the Autoglass Trophy.On the 21st August 1994 he was charged for interfering with dogs and charge with six months community service which he refused to attend.

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, in a game which they lost 3-0.[3]

On May 13, 2007, Sheffield United were relegated from the Premiership when they were beaten 2-1 by Wigan Athletic on the final day of the season.[4] Three days later, Warnock resigned with immediate effect as the manager of Sheffield United. After 7 years in charge, Warnock was the third longest serving manager in the club's history.

Warnock returned to football management in October 2007 at Crystal Palace, replacing the sacked Peter Taylor.[5] He made an immediate impact leading Palace from second bottom in October 2007 to the play-off semi finals at the end of the 2007-08 season with an amazing record of only 7 defeats in 35 matches.


[edit] Disputes

Warnock, who is qualified as a referee,[6] but has never officiated at the very top level, is renowned for his outbursts, which some see as controversial. He has had high profile disputes with many inside the game, some of which are detailed below.

[edit] Players

  • Stéphane Henchoz – Over an alleged spitting incident in the League Cup semi-final between Sheffield United and Liverpool.[7]
  • Peter Swan - A player for Warnock at Argyle and Bury, he called Warnock "a prick".[8]
  • 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.[9]
  • Stephen Hunt – After a recent match against Reading 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".[10]
  • Michael Johnson – In a 2005–06 Championship game with Derby County, Warnock reacted to a challenge by Johnson on Paul Ifill and was accused of playing a part in getting the opposition player sent off. This led to a face to face confrontation between the two and the Derby fans were incensed by Warnock's actions. Warnock asserted that the tackle was a bad one and that his reaction had made no difference to the outcome.[11]

[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.[12]
  • 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.[13]
  • Mick Jones – A long-term assistant to Warnock, the pair did not speak for several years after Jones opted to remain at Plymouth Argyle as manager after Warnock was sacked, rather than follow him to Oldham Athletic.[14] They are now a managerial partnership again at Crystal Palace.[15]
  • 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. [16]
  • Kevin Blackwell – Warnock told the press that he wished he'd had the money to spend on players that Blackwell had in the season 2004-2005.[17] Blackwell had previously been Warnock's assistant at Sheffield United for several years and indeed Warnock helped Blackwell out for years, working with him at Scarborough, Huddersfield, Torquay, Plymouth et al. 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 over 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.[18]
  • 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.[19]
  • 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 Steve Sidwell which Warnock felt warranted a red card as well. Reading coach Wally Downes took exception to his actions, and 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. Later Wally Downes admitted a misconduct charge to the FA,[20] was fined £2,000 and given a one-match touchline ban.
  • Gareth Southgate – Accused Southgate on Sky Sports News (shown 19 March 2007) of fielding a weaker starting XI against relegation-threatened Manchester City. Warnock claimed Southgate was "helping out" a friend, City manager Stuart Pearce.[21]
  • Rafael Benitez – Warnock has repeatedly voiced his dissatisfaction with the fact that Rafael Benitez fielded a weakened side against Fulham at the end of the 2006/2007 season (Liverpool FC at the time had nothing to play for in the Premier League). Warnock felt the resulting Fulham win caused Sheffield to be relegated to the Championship, even though Warnock himself subsequently failed to win Sheffield's final league game, which would have helped them stay up eventually. Even a year later, Warnock has failed to put the incident behind him and stated that "he wished that Benitez never won anything while at Liverpool"[22].


[edit] Referees

  • David Elleray – Warnock called him a "bald-headed bloke", whilst criticizing his decision making ability.[23]
  • 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.[24]
  • 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 assistant referees (also telling the then Ipswich manager that the assistant 'had been his best player'), perhaps revealing why Warnock is seen as one of the more controversial football managers in England. [25]
  • Richard Beeby – Warnock heavily criticised Beeby in February 2008 after he played on for longer than the designated added time at the end of a match between Bristol City and Palace, which led to Bristol City equalising 55 seconds after full-time should have been blown, even claiming Beeby celebrated City's equaliser.[26] Warnock was subsequently charged with "improper conduct" by the FA.[27] In response, he "admitted the charge and requested a personal hearing".[28] Warnock was subsequiently fined £2,000.

[edit] Fans

  • Nottingham Forest – Under Warnock's management, Notts County briefly rivalled the Reds (Nottingham Forest) in the early 1990s. Also, Warnock's subsequent team, Sheffield United, defeated Forest in a play-off semi-final in 2003.[29][30]
  • Leicester City – When Leicester restructured their debt after going into administration in 2002, they gained promotion to the Premiership, at the expense of Sheffield 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. Any team now going into administration is automatically deducted 10 points, although even with this punishment Leicester would still have been two points clear of United.[31]
  • Sean Bean – In a recent tabloid serialisation of Warnock's autobiography, "Made In Sheffield", Warnock claims that minutes after the final game of the 2006-07 season Bean burst into his office, blaming Warnock for the team's relegation in a "foul-mouthed tirade" while Warnock's wife and daughter[32] were present. Bean denied this, calling Warnock "bitter" and "hypocritical", and arguing that he would never use such language in front of another man's wife and children.[33]
  • Bury – Warnock's reputation started poorly with Bury fans and finally was destroyed when he was seen applauding Bolton Wanderers' fourth goal in a cup tie. He had the accolade of receiving abuse from the whole stadium when Bury played away to Oldham Athletic where he was held in similar regard.[34]
  • Bristol City – Warnock claimed he was punched by a Bristol City fan, during chaotic scenes after Palace had lost to Bristol in the Play-Off Semi Final, Second Leg on 13 May 2008.
  • Many football fans have come up with the name 'Colin Wanker', which is an anagram to Neil Warnock

[edit] Chairmen & directors

  • He seems to have got on very well with former Bury FC chairman Terry Robinson, given that Robinson moved to Sheffield United as chairman not long after Warnock had taken the manager's job there.[34]

[edit] Honours

[edit] Promotions

Runners-up (promotion to Premier League) - Sheffield United

[edit] Manager of the month

[edit] Cups

[edit] Other

Hartlepool United Player of the Year, 1971-72 season

[edit] Managerial stats

Team Nat From To Record
G W D L Win %
Scarborough Flag of England August 1, 1986 January 1, 1989 78 30 25 23 38.46%
Notts County Flag of England January 5, 1989 January 14, 1993 209 90 49 70 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 30 44 34 27.78%
Plymouth Argyle Flag of England June 22, 1995 February 3, 1997 88 35 24 29 39.77%
Oldham Athletic Flag of England February 21, 1997 May 7, 1998 69 27 22 20 39.13%
Bury Flag of England June 2, 1998 December 2, 1999 77 29 19 29 37.66%
Sheffield United Flag of England December 2, 1999 May 15, 2007 388 123 165 100 31.7%
Crystal Palace Flag of England October 11, 2007 Present 39 16 13 10 41.03%

Statistics are correct as of 22:00, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] References

  1. ^ Birthdate confirmation: article at The Independent website. Retrieved on December 15, 2007.
  2. ^ Confirmed as a fan of Sheffield United: article at The Independent website, via the FindArticles service. Retrieved on December 15, 2007.
  3. ^ 1,000th game as Blades' manager, v. Arsenal, 2006: soccerbase.com website. Retrieved August 8, 2007.
  4. ^ Relegation in 2007: Match report at BBC.co.uk website, retrieved May 13, 2007.
  5. ^ Warnock appointed as Palace boss. BBC Sport (2007-10-11). Retrieved on 2007-10-11.
  6. ^ One-on-One Neil Warnock, FourFourTwo Magazine website, retrieved 2007-05-14.
  7. ^ Warnock and Houllier spat over Henchoz 'spit', Edinburgh Evening News website, 2003-01-22, retrieved 2007-05-16.
  8. ^ Warnock's Walks on the Wildside Keep Blades on edge, Guardian Unlimited website, 2003-04-12, retrieved 2007-05-07.
  9. ^ Horsfield Puzzled at Blades Snub, SportingLife.com website, 2006-03-23, retrieved 2007-05-07.
  10. ^ Warnock denies claim over gesture, BBC.co.uk website, 2007-01-21, retrieved 2007-05-07.
  11. ^ Michael Johnson dispute, BBC.co.uk website, 2006-02-01, retrieved 2007-05-06.
  12. ^ "Blades cut down Liverpool", BBC Sport, 2003-01-08. Retrieved on 2007-10-19. 
  13. ^ "Ternent accuses Warnock", BBC Sport, 2001-04-29. Retrieved on 2007-10-19. 
  14. ^ Neil Warnock (2007). Neil Warnock:Made in Sheffield, p.202–203. ISBN 978-0-340-93720-4. 
  15. ^ "Warnock appointed new Palace boss", BBC Sport, 2007-10-11. Retrieved on 2008-02-17. 
  16. ^ Warnock Laughs off Kinnear jibe, BBC.co.uk website, 2004-10-20, retrieved 2007-05-16.
  17. ^ Kevin Blackwell's spending power whilst at Leeds United: FindArticles.com website.
  18. ^ Sent Off, 18 April 2006.
  19. ^ Improper Conduct Charge, 18 March 2006.
  20. ^ Sent Off, with Wally Downes, 20 January 2007.
  21. ^ Warnock: 'Disgrace' Southgate helped pal Pearce: ESPNsoccernet.com website, 20 March 2007.
  22. ^ citation needed
  23. ^ Calling David Elleray "some bald-headed bloke": from The Fiver, at the Guardian Unlimited website. Retrieved on December 18, 2007.
  24. ^ Warnock rages at referee Poll: BBC.co.uk website. Retrieved on January 12, 2008.
  25. ^ Neil Warnock - Sky Sports Clip on Youtube, Youtube website, retrieved 16 May 2007.
  26. ^ Bristol City 1-1 Crystal Palace: Neil Warnock furious with ref over leveller: from The Mirror website, retrieved on March 22, 2008.
  27. ^ "Warnock charged with improper conduct", Bristol City v. Crystal Palace, 2008: from an article at the Your Local Guardian website. Retrieved on March 22, 2008.
  28. ^ Warnock admits charge, requests personal hearing: TheFA.com official website. Retrieved on March 22, 2008.
  29. ^ Warnock's Sheffield United defeat Nottingham Forest, play-off semi-final, 2003: soccerbase.com website. Retrieved on January 12, 2008.
  30. ^ Forest fans' dislike of Warnock: BBC.co.uk (Derby) website. Retrieved on January 12, 2008.
  31. ^ 2002-03 League Table, proving Leicester were 'correct' promotion team, regardless of any potential points deduction: Rec. Sport. Soccer Statistics Foundation website. Retrieved May 17, 2007.
  32. ^ Warnock's family, wife and one daughter: article at The Independent website, via the FindArticles service. Retrieved on December 15, 2007.
  33. ^ Sean Bean's dispute with Warnock: Football365.com website. Retrieved August 9, 2007.
  34. ^ a b Bury fans, Warnock, and Terry Robinson: from The Independent website, via the FindArticles service. Retrieved on January 12, 2008.
  35. ^ "Warnock: Secret sale damned Notts to the drop", ThisIsNottingham.co.uk, 2007-08-10. Retrieved on 2007-10-19. 
  36. ^ Falling out with Dan McCauley, Plymouth chairman: feature at ThisIsCornwall.co.uk website. Retrieved August 24, 2007.
  37. ^ Falling out with Terry Fisher, Huddersfield chairman: interview at icHuddersfield website. Retrieved August 24, 2007.

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