List of Birmingham City F.C. managers

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Steve Bruce, Birmingham City's longest-serving post-war manager
Steve Bruce, Birmingham City's longest-serving post-war manager

This chronological list of managers of Birmingham City Football Club comprises all those who have held the position of manager of the first team of Birmingham City and its predecessors Small Heath and Birmingham since the club was first admitted to the Football League in 1892. Each manager's entry includes his dates of tenure and the club's overall competitive record (in terms of matches won, drawn and lost), honours won and significant achievements while under his care. Caretaker managers are included, where known, as well as those who have been in permanent charge.

Contents

[edit] History

In the early days, team management was undertaken by a club committee. When payment of players was legalised in 1885, Alfred Jones began to act as club secretary on a voluntary basis. Small Heath's election to the newly-formed Second Division of the Football League in 1892 prompted the board of directors to appoint him as the club's first paid official, responsible as secretary-manager for matters on the field in addition to his administrative duties. In his first season the club won the inaugural Second Division championship, and gained promotion to the First Division for the first time the following year via the Test Match system. Jones's 16-year tenure saw three promotions and three relegations, after the last of which in 1908 he resigned.[1][2] Successor Alex Watson's two seasons in charge ended with the club having to apply for re-election to the league[3] and with responsibility for team affairs passing to former player Bob McRoberts, who became the club's first dedicated team manager.[4]

Frank Richards succeeded Watson as club secretary in 1911, and when the First World War broke out he took over the managerial reins as well. Under Richards Birmingham won the Second Division title in 1921 and signed players such as Joe Bradford, Johnny Crosbie and Dan Tremelling who did much to keep the club in the top flight through the 1920s. He also forgot to enter them in the 1922 FA Cup.[5][6] Billy Beer[7] and Bill Harvey[8] kept them in the First Division, albeit in the lower half of the table, before former Arsenal manager Leslie Knighton took charge in 1928. He led them to their first FA Cup final in 1931 and a top-half league finish the following year, but left when Chelsea made him an offer Birmingham were unable to match.[9] Former Birmingham defender George Liddell kept them in the top tier until they were relegated in the last season completed before the Second World War, resigning in September 1939 when league football was suspended. His tenure of just over six years made him the club's longest-serving team manager.[10]

Harry Storer, appointed just before the war ended, won the championship of the 1945–46 Football League South wartime league and the Second Division title two years later.[11] Under Bob Brocklebank Birmingham were relegated from the First Division, but reached the semifinal of the 1951 FA Cup and signed many of the players moulded by Arthur Turner into a successful team.[12] Turner won promotion in 1955, the next season led the team to their highest league finish of sixth place and their second ever FA Cup final,[13] and in 1957 reached the semifinals of the FA Cup and the inaugural Inter-Cities Fairs Cup competition.[14] In 1958 the club experimented with a joint appointment, hiring Pat Beasley to work alongside Turner; the experiment annoyed Turner and after six months prompted his resignation.[15] Beasley and successor Gil Merrick took the club to successive finals of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1960 and 1961. Merrick managed the club to their only major trophy, the League Cup in 1963, beating local rivals Aston Villa 3–1 on aggregate, but four years in the bottom six places earned him the sack.[16][17]

Joe Mallett presided over relegation before acting as assistant to Stan Cullis,[18] who laid the foundations for the team's future success before retiring from football in 1970.[19] Chosen only after abortive approaches were made to Don Revie, Brian Clough and Ronnie Allen,[20] Freddie Goodwin converted the attractive but inconsistent football of Cullis's teams to a skilful, aggressive game capable of winning promotion and maintaining top-flight status.[21] The side struggled after Goodwin sold Bob Latchford, so first-team coach Willie Bell was promoted to manager, initially in a caretaker capacity.[22] After achieving little in two years,[23] Bell was replaced by club director Sir Alf Ramsey, whose brief tenure ended with him leaving the club entirely.[24] Jim Smith brought experienced players to the club[25] but was sacked to make way for Ron Saunders, who had just walked out on league champions and local rivals Aston Villa.[26]

Financial difficulties and instability at board level led to six managerial changes in seven years. Saunders resigned after FA Cup defeat to non-league Altrincham,[27] John Bond seemed out of touch,[28] and in April 1989, once relegation to the Third Division for the first time in the club's history was confirmed, the club's new owners replaced Garry Pendrey with Dave Mackay.[29] Within 18 months, with relegation to the Fourth Division a possibility, Mackay resigned.[30] Lou Macari came in, revitalised the side, won the Associate Members Cup[31] at Wembley, and three weeks later walked out to join Stoke City.[32] Terry Cooper won promotion back to the second tier and kept the team going during four months of administration before he quit, fearing new owner David Sullivan would want to bring in his own man.[33]

Southend United manager Barry Fry, hired at the cost of an FA fine for "poaching",[34] failed to avoid relegation but combined the Division Two title with another victorious trip to Wembley in the Football League Trophy[31] in 1995. After one ineffectual season in the second tier which brought his total of players used up to 61, he was sacked.[35] Trevor Francis introduced Premier League players to the team and took them to the 2001 League Cup final, but three successive play-off semifinal defeats led to his departure by mutual consent.[36] Two months later, after the dispute over his release from previous employers Crystal Palace reached the High Court, Steve Bruce took charge.[37] Bruce, the ninth former player to have served as permanent manager, led the club to promotion via the play-offs in his first season; his tenure of nearly six years made him the club's longest-serving post-war manager.[38] After uncertainty surrounding a takeover bid for the club led Bruce to accept the managerial post at Wigan Athletic,[39] the current incumbent, former Scotland manager Alex McLeish, was appointed on 28 November 2007,[40] but was unable to avoid relegation at the end of his first part-season.[41]

[edit] Managers

All first-team matches in national or international competition are counted, except the abandoned 1939–40 Football League season and matches in wartime leagues and cups.

Manager dates and statistics are sourced from Matthews (1995) for Jones and Watson,[42] The Birmingham City FC Archive for McRoberts to Francis,[43] and Soccerbase thereafter.[38] Omissions and other discrepancies are corrected with input from Matthews (1995), Matthews (2000) and elsewhere, and are noted in the table. Statistics are complete up to and including 12 May 2008.

Names of caretaker managers are supplied where known, and periods of caretaker-management are highlighted in italics. Win percentage is rounded to one decimal place.

Key

M: Matches played W: Matches won D: Matches drawn L: Matches lost

Name Nationality From To M W D L Win% Honours and achievements[44] Notes
Jones, AlfredAlfred Jones English 01892-07 July 1892 01908-06 June 1908 566 260 108 198 45.9 Second Division championship 1893
Second Division promotion 1894, 1901, 1903		 [45]
Watson, AlexAlex Watson English 01908-07 July 1908 01910-06 June 1910 78 22 16 40 28.2 [45]
McRoberts, BobBob McRoberts Scottish 01910-07 July 1910 01915-05 May 1915 203 77 47 79 37.9 [46][47]
Richards, FrankFrank Richards English 01915-05 May 1915 01923-05 May 1923 173 78 36 59 45.1 Second Division championship 1921 [45]
Beer, BillyBilly Beer English 01923-05 May 1923 01927-03 March 1927 163 62 36 65 38.0 [47]
Harvey, BillBill Harvey English 01927-03 March 1927 01928-05 May 1928 58 20 16 22 34.5 [47]
Knighton, LeslieLeslie Knighton English 01928-08 August 1928 01933-05 May 1933 229 87 51 91 38.0 FA Cup runner-up 1931 [45]
Liddell, GeorgeGeorge Liddell English 01933-07 July 1933 01939-09 September 1939 267 82 76 109 30.7 [47]
Camkin, BillBill Camkin English 01939-09 September 1939 01944-11 November 1944 0 0 0 0 000.0 [45][48]
Goodier, TedTed Goodier English 01944-11 November 1944 01945-05 May 1945 0 0 0 0 000.0 [48]
Storer, HarryHarry Storer English 01945-06 June 1945 01948-11 November 1948 114 59 30 25 51.8 Football League South wartime league championship 1946
Second Division championship 1948		 [49]
not known 01948-11 November 1948 01949-01 January 1949 9 3 1 5 33.3 [50]
Brocklebank, BobBob Brocklebank English 01949-01 January 1949 01954-10 October 1954 263 102 71 90 38.8
Turner, ArthurArthur Turner English 01954-11 November 1954 01958-02 February 1958 166 74 35 57 44.6 Second Division championship 1955
Club's highest First Division placing (6th) 1956
FA Cup finalist 1956		 [47][51][52]
Turner, ArthurArthur Turner
Beasley, PatPat Beasley		 English
English		 01958-02 February 1958 01958-09 September 1958 17 6 5 6 35.3 [53]
Beasley, PatPat Beasley English 01958-09 September 1958 01960-05 May 1960 95 39 20 36 41.1 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup runner-up 1960 [52][54][55]
Merrick, GilGil Merrick English 01960-05 May 1960 01964-04 April 1964 202 64 46 92 31.7 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup runner-up 1961
League Cup winner 1963		 [47]
Mallett, JoeJoe Mallett English 01964-07 July 1964 01965-12-07 7 December 1965 64 13 16 35 20.3 [56]
Cullis, StanStan Cullis English 01965-12-07 7 December 1965 01970-03-18 18 March 1970 216 89 51 76 41.2 [56]
Dorman, DonDon Dorman
Shorthouse, BillBill Shorthouse		 English
English		 01970-03-18 18 March 1970 01970-05-29 29 May 1970 6 1 0 5 16.7
Goodwin, FreddieFreddie Goodwin English 01970-05-29 29 May 1970 01975-09-18 18 September 1975 269 99 83 87 36.8 Second Division promotion 1972 [57]
Bell, WillieWillie Bell Scottish 01975-09-18 18 September 1975 01977-09-05 5 September 1977 91 28 20 43 30.8
Ramsey, Sir AlfSir Alf Ramsey English 01977-09-08 8 September 1977 01978-03-06 6 March 1978 28 11 4 13 39.3
Smith, JimJim Smith English 01978-03-12 12 March 1978 01982-02-15 15 February 1982 182 59 50 73 32.4 Second Division promotion 1980
Bodell, NormanNorman Bodell English 01982-02-15 15 February 1982 01982-02-22 22 February 1982 2 1 0 1 50.0 [26]
Saunders, RonRon Saunders English 01982-02-22 22 February 1982 01986-01-16 16 January 1986 202 72 53 77 35.6 Second Division promotion 1985 [26]
Leonard, KeithKeith Leonard English 01986-01-16 16 January 1986 01986-01-22 22 January 1986 1 0 0 1 000.0 [58]
Bond, JohnJohn Bond English 01986-01-23 23 January 1986 01987-05-27 27 May 1987 65 17 20 28 26.2
Pendrey, GarryGarry Pendrey English 01987-05-28 28 May 1987 01989-04-26 26 April 1989 98 20 27 51 20.4 [47]
Mackay, DaveDave Mackay Scottish 01989-04-26 26 April 1989 01991-01-23 23 January 1991 91 34 27 30 37.4
Coldwell, BillBill Coldwell English 01991-01-23 23 January 1991 01991-02-07 7 February 1991 3 2 1 0 66.7
Macari, LouLou Macari Scottish 01991-02-07 7 February 1991 01991-06-18 18 June 1991 24 12 6 6 50.0 Associate Members Cup[31] 1991
Cooper, TerryTerry Cooper English 01991-08-09 9 August 1991 01993-11-29 29 November 1993 135 48 36 51 35.6 Third Division promotion 1992
Broadhurst, KevanKevan Broadhurst
Morgan, TrevorTrevor Morgan		 English
English		 01993-11-29 29 November 1993 01993-12-10 10 December 1993 1 0 0 1 000.0
Fry, BarryBarry Fry English 01993-12-10 10 December 1993 01996-05-07 7 May 1996 156 68 44 54 43.6 Football League Trophy[31] 1995
Division Two (level 3) championship 1995
Francis, TrevorTrevor Francis English 01996-05-10 10 May 1996 02001-10-15 15 October 2001 290 139 70 81 47.9 League Cup finalist 2001 [47]
Mills, MickMick Mills
Barron, JimJim Barron		 English
English		 02001-10-15 15 October 2001 02001-12-12 12 December 2001 12 5 4 3 41.7
Bruce, SteveSteve Bruce English 02001-12-12 12 December 2001 02007-11-23 23 November 2007 270 100 70 100 37.0 Division One (level 2) promotion 2002
The Championship (level 2) promotion 2007		 [47][59]
Black, EricEric Black Scottish 02007-11-23 23 November 2007 02007-11-27 27 November 2007 1 0 0 1 000.0 [59][60]
McLeish, AlexAlex McLeish Scottish 02007-11-28 28 November 2007 present 25 5 11 9 20.0

[edit] References

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Matthews (2000), "Jones, Alfred", p. 127.
  2. ^ Matthews (1995), pp. 8–9.
  3. ^ Matthews (2000), "Watson, Alexander", p. 231.
  4. ^ Matthews (2000), "McRoberts, Bob", p. 145–46.
  5. ^ Matthews (2000), "Richards, Frank", p. 190.
  6. ^ Matthews (1995), pp. 14–15.
  7. ^ Matthews (2000), "Beer, Billy", pp. 27–28.
  8. ^ Matthews (2000), "Harvey, Billy", p. 107.
  9. ^ Matthews (2000), "Knighton, Albert Leslie", p. 130.
  10. ^ Matthews (2000), "Liddell, George", p. 138.
  11. ^ Matthews (2000), "Storer, Harry", p. 212.
  12. ^ Matthews (2000), "Brocklebank, Bob", p. 42.
  13. ^ Matthews (2000), "Turner, Arthur", p. 225.
  14. ^ Matthews (1995), p. 29.
  15. ^ Matthews (1995), pp. 61–62.
  16. ^ Matthews (2000), "Merrick, Gil", p. 154.
  17. ^ Gil Merrick. Birmingham City F.C.. Retrieved on 2008-02-18.
  18. ^ Matthews (2000), "Mallett, Joe", p. 147.
  19. ^ Matthews (2000), "Cullis, Stan", p. 63.
  20. ^ Matthews (2000), "Managers", p. 147–48.
  21. ^ Matthews (1995), pp. 37–38.
  22. ^ Willie Bell - Hewn of Scottish granite. The Mighty Mighty Whites. Retrieved on 2008-02-18.
  23. ^ Matthews (1995), p. 39.
  24. ^ Ramsey's biographer has him "locked in an increasingly bitter three-way dispute with his star player, Trevor Francis, and the board". After initially accepting the player's transfer request, the board changed their minds, fearful they would "incur the wrath of already disgruntled fans". Ramsey duly handed in his notice. See McKinstry, Leo (2006). Sir Alf. London: Harper Sport, pp. 486-487. ISBN 978-0-00-719378-3. 
    The Times reported that "Sir Alf said he told the board two weeks ago that he intended to quit and sever his links with the club. ... He said at a board meeting on February 20 he recommended both Francis and the defender, Joe Gallagher, should be transfer listed. The board agreed but three days later changed their minds about Francis. Sir Alf said he then decided to opt out because of the board's policy."
    "Francis issue caused Sir Alf to quit" (via Times Digital Archive 1785–1985), The Times, 1978-03-09, p. 14. 
  25. ^ Matthews (1995), pp. 39–42.
  26. ^ a b c Saunders was announced as Birmingham manager on Thursday 18 February 1982, having walked out on local rivals Aston Villa some two weeks earlier. As the Birmingham derby was scheduled for the Saturday, he took over formally as manager after the derby on Monday 22 February.
    Jones, Stuart. "Villa's loss becomes Birmingham's gain" (The Times Digital Archive 1785-1985), The Times, 1982-02-19, p. 20. Retrieved on 2007-11-23. "Mr Saunders said that the final formalities were in the hands of solicitors and accountants and, subject to completion of the details, he would be taking over on Monday, Norman Bodell, acting as manager since Jim Smith was suddenly dismissed on Monday, will be in charge of the side for the local derby." 
  27. ^ Walker, Paul. "Havant enter Cup folklore", Sporting Life, 2008-01-27. Retrieved on 2008-02-18. 
  28. ^ Matthews (1995), p. 65.
  29. ^ Tattum, Colin. "Blues legends - Garry Pendrey", Birmingham Mail, 2008-01-22. Retrieved on 2008-02-19. 
  30. ^ Matthews (1995), p. 47–48.
  31. ^ a b c d The Associate Members Cup was renamed the Football League Trophy in 1992. It is alternatively known by its sponsored names, the Leyland DAF Cup in 1991 and the Auto Windscreens Shield in 1995.
  32. ^ "Ambitious Macari appointed by Stoke", The Times, 1991-06-19. Retrieved on 2008-02-18. 
  33. ^ Walker, Andy. "Cooper: Stay put Brucey", Birmingham: Sunday Mercury, 2007-10-17. Retrieved on 2007-12-12. 
  34. ^ Kempson, Russell. "First Lady still packing punch in Second City", The Times, 2007-10-01. Retrieved on 2008-02-17. 
  35. ^ Shaw, Phil. "Francis fancied as Fry is sacked", The Independent, 1996-05-08. Retrieved on 2008-02-17. 
  36. ^ "Francis leaves Blues", BBC, 2001-10-15. Retrieved on 2007-10-12. 
  37. ^ "Birmingham unveil Bruce", BBC, 2001-12-12. Retrieved on 2007-10-12. 
  38. ^ a b Manager History for Birmingham City. Soccerbase. Racing Post. Retrieved on 2008-02-17.
  39. ^ "Bruce leaves Birmingham for Wigan", BBC, 2007-11-20. Retrieved on 2008-02-17. 
  40. ^ "Birmingham unveil McLeish as boss", BBC, 2007-11-28. Retrieved on 2007-11-28. 
  41. ^ McKenzie, Andrew. "Birmingham 4-1 Blackburn", BBC Sport, 2008-05-11. Retrieved on 2008-05-12. 
  42. ^ Matthews (1995), pp. 141–56.
  43. ^ Managers and Manager Analysis. The Birmingham City FC Archive. Tony Jordan.
  44. ^ Small Heath, Birmingham, and Birmingham City at the Football Club History Database.
  45. ^ a b c d e Secretary-manager.
  46. ^ Club's first full-time manager.
  47. ^ a b c d e f g h i Formerly played for the club.
  48. ^ a b Took charge of matches in wartime leagues/cups only.
  49. ^ BCFC Archive totals omit ten games in 1945–46 FA Cup.
  50. ^ BCFC Archive doesn't specify detail for period between Storer and Brocklebank, so statistics taken from Matthews (1995), p. 184.
  51. ^ First manager to manage an English club side in European competition when Birmingham played their first group game in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 1955-58 on May 15, 1956, a goalless draw away at Inter Milan. The competition lasted over three English seasons with the final not played until 1958. (The London XI, a representative side made up of players from several London clubs, were the first English team when they played their first group game in the same competition in 1955.)
  52. ^ a b Ross, James M. (2006-07-13). European Cups Archive. RSSSF. Retrieved on 2007-07-27.
  53. ^ Joint managers.
  54. ^ First manager to manage an English club side to the final of a European competition. The home leg of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 1958-60 final against Barcelona, a goalless draw, was played on 29 March 1960; Barcelona won the away leg 4–1. (The London XI were the first English team when they reached the final of the 1955–58 Fairs Cup.)
  55. ^ Beasley was appointed "acting manager" when Turner left in September 1958, becoming manager in January 1959. Matthews (1995), p. 62.
  56. ^ a b BCFC Archive has Cullis taking over at Christmas 1965, but The Times reports his date of appointment as 7 December, and their preview of matches to be played on 11 December mentions that "Cullis, so long the master of Wolverhampton Wanderers until being relieved of his duties last season, has now returned to manage Birmingham."
    "Eventful Day for League Leaders" (Times Digital Archive 1785–1985), The Times, 11 December 1965, p. 4. Retrieved on 2008-01-31. 
  57. ^ BCFC Archive totals include the away leg of the Texaco Cup quarter final match against Newcastle United, abandoned at 1–1 and later replayed.
    Season 1973/74. Toonarama (a Newcastle United fansite). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  58. ^ "Bond favourite for Birmingham job", The Times, 1986-01-23. Retrieved on 2007-11-27. 
  59. ^ a b Soccerbase has Bruce replaced by Black on 19 November 2007. Wigan Athletic announced Bruce as their new manager on that date, but a financial dispute meant he did not officially leave Birmingham until 23 November, when Eric Black took over as caretaker with immediate effect.
    See "Bruce leaves Birmingham for Wigan", BBC Sport, 2007-11-20. 
    "Bruce confirmed as Wigan manager", BBC Sport, 2007-11-23. 
    Club statement. Birmingham City F.C. (2007-11-23). Retrieved on 2008-03-15.
  60. ^ Soccerbase has Black leaving on 28 November 2007, the date of McLeish's appointment, but in fact he left the day before. See "Birmingham lose caretaker Black", BBC Sport, 2007-11-27. Retrieved on 2008-03-15. 

[edit] External links

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