Mike Phelan

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Mike Phelan
Personal information
Full name	Michael Christopher Phelan
Date of birth	24 September 1962 (1962-09-24) (age 45)
Place of birth	Nelson, England
Playing position	Midfielder/Right Back (Retired)
Club information
Current club	Manchester United (First Team Coach)
Senior clubs1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1979–1985 1985–1989 1989–1994 1994–1995	Burnley Norwich Manchester United West Bromwich Albion	168 0(9) 194 (10) 102 0(2) 021 0(0)
National team
1989	England	001 0(0)
Teams managed
2001–	Manchester United (first team coach)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. * Appearances (Goals)

Michael Christopher Phelan (born 24 September 1962 in Nelson, Lancashire) was an English football player. He was a versatile player and played in midfield and defence. Phelan is currently employed as Manchester United's First Team Coach, working alongside Sir Alex Ferguson and Carlos Queiroz.

[edit] Football career

Mike Phelan began his career at Burnley, signing as an associated schoolboy in July 1979, as an apprentice two years later and as a professional in July 1980. He made his league debut in January 1981 against Chesterfield and whilst at Turf Moor, gained England Youth caps and a Third Division champions medal in 1982. But in 1985, Burnley were relegated to the Fourth Division, and Phelan moved to Norwich City.

Norwich won the Second Division title in his first season at the club. He became club captain when Steve Bruce joined Manchester United in December 1987, captaining them to fourth place in the First Division and a place in the FA Cup semi-finals in his first full season as captain.

He was called into the England squad for the Rous Cup games against Chile and Scotland but did not play due to a hamstring injury. His success drew the attention of larger clubs and he followed Steve Bruce to Old Trafford for £750,000 in July 1989. At Manchester United, he won his first international cap (against Italy) and an FA Cup winner's medal in his first season. This was followed the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1991, the League Cup in 1992, and the Premiership title in 1993 before he dropped down a division to join West Bromwich Albion in 1994.

Phelan was often deployed at right-back during his stint at Manchester United, but following the arrival of Denis Irwin in 1990 he mostly played on the right or in the centre of midfield. By 1993, however, he was very much a bit-part player due to growing competition from younger players like Andrei Kanchelskis, Paul Ince and Lee Sharpe. By the time of his departure, even his place on the substitutes bench was being threatened by a new generation of youngsters such as David Beckham and Nicky Butt. He had missed out on a place in the 1994 FA Cup winning squad, and had not played in enough Premier League games to merit a title medal.

After leaving Old Trafford, Phelan signed for West Bromwich Albion, where he spent 18 months and played just 21 games, his first team chances limited by players such as Kevin Donovan and Lee Ashcroft.

He returned to Carrow Road in December 1995 as Assistant Manager to Gary Megson and managed the Norwich Reserves. When Megson was fired and joined Blackpool, Phelan followed him, returning to his native North-West. A year later he followed Megson to Stockport County. His career total stands at Burnley (168 league games, nine goals), Norwich City (194 games, 10 goals), Manchester United (102 games, two goals) and West Bromwich Albion (21 games).

Following Megson's sacking as Stockport boss on 25 June 1999, Andy Kilner took over as manager. Phelan moved on shortly afterwards, taking up a role at Manchester United's Centre of Excellence. With Steve McClaren's departure to Middlesbrough in the summer of 2001, Phelan was promoted to first team coach.

In 2002, Norwich fans voted Phelan into the club's Hall of Fame.

[edit] External links

• Career information at ex-canaries.co.uk

Sporting positions
Preceded by Steve Bruce	Norwich City Captain 1987-1989	Succeeded by Mark Bowen