Manager Profile of English Premier League

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Rafa Benitez

Rafael Benitez is regarded as one of the best tacticians in the world game and it is on the European scene that he has had his biggest successes with Liverpool.

The Champions League requires tactical acumen and Benitez has rarely come out second best when pitted against some of the heavy hitters of world coaching. He won the competition with the Reds in 2005, was a finalist in 2007 and took them to the last four in 2008.

It all begun for Benitez in 1986 when he joined Real Madrid's coaching staff. Later that year he took over Castilla B [Real Madrid's youth team] where he won two Second Division titles in 1987 and 1989. He went on to enjoy success with the Real Madrid Youth B and under-19 sides before a brief stint as assistant manager for the club's senior side in 1994. His first forays into senior management away from Real Madrid proved unsuccessful and he was sacked by both Valladolid and Osasuna.

Benitez was known as something of a promotion expert during his time in Spain and led Extremadura to the Spanish first division after taking over in 1997. He repeated the trick with Tenerife before Valencia came calling in 2001.

Fresh challenge

Valencia's fans are notoriously demanding but Benitez was able to fulfil all their expectations by helping the club to their first league title in 31 years in 2002. The following season Valencia finished a disappointing fifth but Benitez was again able to establish a winning formula in 2004 as he brought the title home for the second time in three years. There was success in Europe, too, as Valencia won the UEFA Cup, defeating Marseille 2-0 in the final.

Benitez opted for a fresh challenge that summer, taking up the reins at Liverpool. His first season will of course be remembered for that astonishing Champions League final triumph against AC Milan in Istanbul. Trailing 3-0 at half-time, to a Kaka-inspired Milan, Benitez replaced Steve Finnan with Dietmar Hamann at half-time. Hamann succeeded in negating the threat of the Brazilian, Liverpool hit back through Steven Gerrard, Vladimir Smicer and Xabi Alonso, and forced penalties after extra-time. The rest was history as Jerzy Dudek saved from Andrea Pirlo and Andriy Shevchenko in the shoot-out to clinch a stunning victory. That was Benitez's finest hour as a manager. The club finished fifth in the league that season.

The following season, Liverpool won the FA Cup, also on penalties after a 3-3 draw with West Ham United. They also reached the finals of the Carling Cup and Club World Championship, losing on both occasions. The Reds did, however, claim the European Super Cup and a third place finish in the league.

The Reds finished in the same position in the 2006/7 campaign and reached the Champions League final once again. This time it was disappointment for Benitez who watched his side lose 2-1 to Milan.

The 2007/08 season yielded no trophies for the Reds, although they did reach the semi-finals of the Carling Cup and Champions League, only to be knocked out by Chelsea. A fourth place finish was attained in the league.

Premier League record

2006: Celebrates 50th Premier League win - (Liverpool 4-0 Fulham, 9th December)
2007: Manages 100th Premier League match - (Liverpool 2-0 Chelsea, 20th January)

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Arsene Wenger

Arsene Wenger began his managerial career in 1981 as youth coach at RC Strasbourg, the club he had a short spell with as a player. He went on to become assistant manager of AS Cannes before accepting his first senior management position with AS Nancy Lorraine in 1984. In three seasons with Nancy he enjoyed little success, culminating in the side's relegation to Ligue 2 in his final year.

His managerial fortunes took a turn for the better in 1987 when he became manager of AS Monaco. In his first season he won the French League Championship and was named French Manager of the Year. In 1991, he accrued more silverware after guiding his side to victory in the French Cup. He parted company with the club in 1994 following a poor start to the season.

The Frenchman's career took an unexpected twist later that year, when he was appointed manager of Japanese J-League team Nagoya Grampus Eight. During a successful 18 months, Wenger won Japan's Manager of the Year award in 1995, as well as the Emperor's Cup and Japanese Super Cup in 1996. At the same time he took the struggling side from the bottom three to runners-up in the J-League.

Relatively unknown

His success as a manager alerted the attention of Arsenal and he was installed at Highbury in September 1996, becoming the first overseas manager to take charge of the Gunners. The relatively unknown head coach proved a big hit with the North London side with his revolutionary approach to training and tactics soon paying dividends. In the 1997/98 season he guided the club to a league and FA Cup double and, in doing so, was awarded the 1998 FA Carling Premiership Manager of the Year award.

In the four-year period that followed, Arsenal finished second in the league in consecutive seasons, before they once again managed the double in 2001/02. The side won the FA Cup the year after and in 2003/04 they made Premier League history, becoming the first side to win the title without a single defeat during the season - Wenger and his men were duly hailed as 'the Invincibles'.

The 2004/05 season saw Arsenal pick up a fourth FA Cup under Wenger and the Frenchman become the most successful Gunners manager in terms of trophy wins. In 2005/06, the club made it to the Champions League final for the first time in their history but lost 2-1 to Barcelona.

Arsenal's 1-1 home draw to Birmingham City on 12th January 2008 was a milestone for Wenger - his 650th match in charge at the club. He has now overseen more matches than any other manager in the club's history.

Premier League record

1997/98: Wins FA Carling Premiership (Arsenal), Winner of FA Carling Premiership Manager of the Year award
1998/99: Runner-up in FA Carling Premiership (Arsenal)
1999: Manages 100th Premier League match (Arsenal 1-0 Blackburn Rovers, 6th April)
1999/00: Runner-up in FA Carling Premiership (Arsenal)
2000/01: Runner-up in FA Carling Premiership (Arsenal)
2001: Manages 200th Premier League match (Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal, 23rd December)
2001/02: Wins Barclaycard Premiership (Arsenal), Winner of Barclaycard Premiership Manager of the Year award
2002/03: Runner-up in Barclaycard Premiership (Arsenal)
2003/04: Wins Barclaycard Premiership (Arsenal), Winner of the Barclaycard Premiership Manager of the Year award
2004: Manages 300th Premier League match (Norwich 1-4 Arsenal, 28th August)
2004/05: Runner-up in Barclays Premiership (Arsenal)
2007: Manages 400th Premier League match (Aston Villa 0-1 Arsenal, 14th March)
Celebrates 250th Premier League win as Arsenal beat Wigan Athletic 2-0 at the Emirates (24th November)

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Sir Alex Ferguson

Sir Alex Ferguson has won more trophies than any other manager in English football and is considered one of the best in history.

Starting out as an apprentice tool-worker, Ferguson moved into to part-time football when he was 23. He turned professional and joined Dunfermline in 1964 where he played as a centre forward. But after an unsuccessful spell at Glasgow Rangers and further moves to Falkirk and Ayr United, he gave up playing ten years later to become a manager. He cut his teeth with East Stirling and St Mirren before moving to Aberdeen in 1978. Managing to break the old firm monopoly, Ferguson won the title in 1979/80, 1983/84 and 1984/85. His feat of winning the Cup Winners Cup against Real Madrid in 1883 will also go down as one of his proudest managerial achievements.

Manchester United came calling in1986 and after a slow start, he won his first trophy with the Red Devils, the 1990 FA Cup against Crystal Palace in the final. His next mission was to end the club's 26-year title draught. He achieved just that, but not before winning another Cup Winners Cup in 1991. His first title arrived in the inaugural 1992/93 Premier League season, and he backed that up with the first of his doubles the next campaign.

Sensational treble

Ferguson has won the Premier League ten times in all, and never been afraid to shake his squad up with key signings and departures which have generally proved to the club's benefit. In the summer of 1995 key men Mark Hughes, Paul Ince and Andrei Kanchelskis all left the club but Ferguson had faith in youngsters David Beckham, the Neville brothers, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt, and they duly helped the club to the league title and FA Cup as Ferguson secured the second of the three domestic doubles he has won since moving to Old Trafford.

From a trophy perspective, Ferguson's stand-out seasons have so far proved to be the 1998/99 and 2007/08 campaigns. The Scot won a sensational treble of FA Carling Premiership, FA Cup and European Cup in 1999, with his side scoring twice in the dying seconds of the latter final to snatch the trophy from Bayern Munich's grasp when all looked lost and fans were starting to leave the Nou Camp stadium.

Last season, the 66-year-old won that trophy for the first time since 1999 as his side saw off Chelsea on penalties in Moscow after an exciting 1-1 draw. The Blues were the main challengers for the Barclays Premier League, but United finished as champions on the final day after defeating Wigan Athletic. It was their second league title in a row, having previously gone three years without winning it.

Ferguson, always aware of the need to invest and inject new life into his squad, has gradually replaced the youth who came through in the mid-90s, and it is now the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney who form the spine of a strong United squad.

Premier League record

1993: Wins FA Carling Premiership (Manchester United)
1994: Manages 100th Premier League match (Arsenal 0-0 Manchester United, 26th November), Winner of FA Carling Premiership Manager of the Year award
1994: Wins FA Carling Premiership (Manchester United)
1994: Manages 100th Premier League match (Arsenal 0-0 Manchester United, 26th November)
1995: Runner-up in FA Carling Premiership (Manchester United)
1996: Wins FA Carling Premiership (Manchester United), Winner of FA Carling Premiership Manager of the Year award
1997: Wins FA Carling Premiership (Manchester United), Winner of FA Carling Premiership Manager of the Year award
1998: Runner-up in FA Carling Premiership (Manchester United)
1999: Wins FA Carling Premiership (Manchester United), Winner of FA Carling Premiership Manager of the Year award
2000: Wins FA Carling Premiership (Manchester United), Winner of FA Carling Premiership Manager of the Year award
2001: Wins FA Carling Premiership (Manchester United)
2003: Wins Barclaycard Premiership (Manchester United), Winner of Barclaycard Premiership Manager of the Year award
2005: Celebrates 300th Premier League win (Manchester United 3-1 Aston Villa, 22nd January)
2005: Manages 500th Premier League match (Everton 1-0 Manchester United, 20th April)
2006: Runner-up in Barclaycard Premiership (Manchester United)
2007: Manages 600th Premier League match (Manchester United 2-1 Everton, 23rd December)
2007: Wins Barclays Premiership (Manchester United), Winner of Barclays Premier League Manager of the Year award
2008: Wins Barclays Premier League (Manchester United), Winner of Barclays Premier League Manager of the Year award

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Luiz Felipe Scolari

Having accepted his first role in management in 1982, Luiz Felipe Scolari has moved clubs an unbelievable 20 times in a career spanning 26 years.

With his uncompromising approach and unpredictable tactics, the Brazilian's methods may not have been to everyone's liking in the past, but his 2002 World Cup winner's medal proves he has the skills to achieve great things with new club Chelsea.

After retiring from playing with Brazilian side CSA in 1981, Scolari took over the vacant manager's post at the club, winning the Alagoano state championship in his first and only season. Short spells with Juventude and Brasil de Pelotas followed before he travelled to Saudi Arabia to take charge of club side Al Shabab in 1984.

He headed back to his native Brazil in 1986 for a second spell with Brasil de Pelotas, before returning to Juventude. In 1987, he moved to Gremio, with whom he won the Gaucho state championship in the same year.

After a quick bout with Goias in 1988, Scolari moved to the Middle East, where he had a two year stint with Al Qadisya. In 1989, his side won the Kuwait Emir Cup, before leaving his post to become Kuwait manager. In his first national coaching position he engineered a victory in the 10th Gulf Cup of Nations final, before the start of the Gulf War signalled his return to his homeland.

Scolari's next move was to Brazilian side Criciuma, helping the club win the 1991 Copa do Brasil. Later that year he went back to Saudi Arabia, taking charge of Al-Ahli before having another go with Al Qadisiva.

In 1993, he returned to former club Gremio, where he enjoyed an amazing trophy haul, including the 1995 Copa Libertadores and 1996 Brazilian Championship. After three years, he left the club and joined Palmerias, via an eleven match spell with Japan's Jubilo Iwata.

Numerous trophies

In three seasons with the Sao Paulo side, Scolari collected numerous trophies, including the Copa do Brasil and the Mercosur Cup in addition to the club's first, and his second, Copa Libertadores title. Despite losing to Manchester United in the 1999 Intercontinental Cup final, Scolari was named South American Coach of the Year.

That accolade helped him on his way to becoming Brazil manager in June 2001, after a short spell with Cruzeiro. Prior to his arrival, the national team were in disarray, with many people suggesting the almost unthinkable, that Brazil could fail to qualify for the World Cup. However, Scolari turned the side's fortunes around and they eventually sealed a spot in the 2002 finals.

Far from favourites in Japan and South Korea, the coach oversaw a run of five straight wins for Brazil, as the team claimed a place in the final. They duly beat Germany 2-0, providing Scolari with his most impressive piece of silverware. During this campaign he proved himself to be far more adaptable than he had ever been given credit for, bringing in a previously unused system and adopting improved man-management skills.

Scolari turned his attentions to Portugal in 2003, overseeing the host nation's qualification from the Euro 2004 group stage. Victories over England and the Netherlands saw them reach the final, where they were victims of a 1-0 defeat to Greece. Nonetheless, in qualifying for the final, the Brazilian became Portugal's most successful coach.

Two years later and Portugal qualified for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Scolari continued his impressive form against England, orchestrating a third victory over the nation in as many major tournaments. The quarter-final win over the Three Lions secured Portugal's place in the semi final, where they were beaten by France.

During Euro 2008 the 59-year-old announced he was joining Chelsea at the start of the 2008/09 season. His last act as Portugal manager was to coach his side during the quarter final defeat to Germany. He quickly got to work on improving the Blues squad, bringing in Barcelona's Deco.

Having had such a diverse career so far, Scolari has proved himself to be a vastly gifted manager, one who is tipped to enjoy success at Stamford Bridge in the years to come.

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Martin O'Neill

Having taken over from David O'Leary in August 2006, Martin O'Neill arrived at Villa Park on a wave of euphoria, with more than 1,000 Aston Villa fans turning up to welcome their esteemed new coach.

The Northern Irishman earned the respect of many after successful spells at Leicester City and Celtic, and immediately proved why he had been so highly sought after, as Villa began the 2006/07 season with a nine match unbeaten run. An 11th place finish was more than bettered in 2007/08, when O'Neill guided his side to sixth spot and Intertoto Cup qualification.

O'Neill took his first steps as a manager in 1987 at non-league Grantham Town, after a playing career that saw him win the European Cup with Nottingham Forest under legendary coach Brian Clough, and captain Northern Ireland during the 1982 World Cup.

With Grantham facing closure, O'Neill quickly transformed the team's fortunes and they were unlucky to miss out on promotion from the Beazer Homes League Midland Division. After a second season with Grantham, he moved to Shepshed Charterhouse where he had a two month spell.

From humble beginnings, O'Neill's managerial career received a boost when he took charge of Wycombe Wanderers, with whom he twice won the FA Trophy and achieved promotion to the Football League in 1993.

Fantastic coach

Having spent five years at the helm at Adams Park, O'Neill was appointed Norwich City manager in the summer of 1995. His reign lasted only six months before he resigned, citing differences with the chairman as his reason for leaving. Almost immediately, he was appointed Leicester manager.

Under O'Neill, the Foxes were promoted to the FA Carling Premiership via the play-offs in 1996. It was in the Premiership that O'Neill built his reputation as a fantastic coach. In the four top flight seasons he enjoyed at Filbert Street, the side never finished outside of the top half of the table. In addition, O'Neill led the side to League Cup glory in 1997 and 2000, making him the first Leicester manager to win silverware in 26 years.

O'Neill crossed the border to join Celtic in June 2000. In his first season, the club won the Scottish domestic treble, with a particular highlight being the 6-2 win against Rangers in his first Old Firm derby. In five years under O'Neill, the Bhoys took part in the 2003 UEFA Cup final, won three Scottish Premier League titles, three Scottish Cups and a League Cup. In the all-important encounters with Rangers, O'Neill achieved a record seven consecutive victories. During his time in Glasgow he was awarded an OBE for services to football.

Three days before Celtic's Scottish Cup final win over Dundee United in May 2005, the club announced that O'Neill would leave his post after the match to care for his wife, who had been diagnosed with cancer. He spent just over a year out of the game before accepting the Aston Villa job.

In the 2007/08 season, O'Neill's second at the club, Villa showed a massive improvement with the manager exercising his skills to get the most out of the smallest squad in the Barclays Premier League. Although the Villans finished sixth and qualified for the Intertoto Cup, they will count themselves unlucky to have missed out on a UEFA Cup spot on the final day of the season.

Premier League record

1999: Manages 100th Premier League match (Leicester City 0-2 Sheffield Wednesday, 6th February)
2000: Celebrates 50th Premier League win (Newcastle United 0-2 Leicester City, 15th April)
2007: Manages 200th Premier League match (Bolton Wanderers 1-1 Aston Villa, 28th October)

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Harry Redknapp

Harry Redknapp has gained a reputation over the years not only for his canny knack of getting excellent value for money in the transfer market, but also for grooming young players and turning them into accomplished footballers.

Redknapp came through the ranks at West Ham United as a winger, and represented the club 149 times in the top flight before moving to Bournemouth in 1972. He spent four years on the south coast and also had a very brief stint with Brentford, playing just one match.

It was in management where Redknapp would truly make his name and with some experience as the assistant manager of North American Soccer League side Seattle Sounders already under his belt, he took the same role at Bournemouth under David Webb at the beginning of the 1982/83 season. Redknapp was appointed as manager when Webb's successor Don Megson was sacked in late 1983 with the club near the bottom of the Third Division.

Redknapp saved Bournemouth from relegation, and in the same season his team caused one of the biggest FA Cup upsets of all time as they defeated Manchester United in the third round. Promotion to the Second Division was secured in the 1986/87 campaign with a club record 97 points. He kept the club in the division for two years before suffering relegation in the third season up. While at Bournemouth he helped bring through his son Jamie who went on to become an England international.

Quickly back

The East Londoner resigned in 1992 and became the assistant manager to Billy Bonds at West Ham United for the beginning of the 1992/93 season. After over year in that role, Redknapp took the top job when Bonds left in August 1994. While with the Hammers, Redknapp was key to the development of Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole, Michael Carrick and his nephew Frank Lampard, all current England internationals. Throughout his time at Upton Park, Redknapp kept West Ham in the FA Carling Premiership, and even helped the club to a fifth place finish in 1998/99. That ensured qualification for the Intertoto Cup which West Ham won the following season to qualify for the UEFA Cup.

May 2001 saw Redknapp depart West Ham but he was quickly back in the game, being appointed director of football at Portsmouth the following month. But the club's poor form in the First Division under Graham Rix saw Redknapp step into the hot-seat in March 2002. The following season he led them to promotion, and kept them in the top flight in 2003/04. However, in late 2004 he resigned after a disagreement with owner Milan Mandaric.
Redknapp's passion for the game is evident from his inability to keep away from it and he was soon back in the fray, this time taking over at Portsmouth's local rivals Southampton within two weeks. He could not, however, keep the Saints in the top flight and they were doomed to spending the 2005/06 season in the Championship. Redknapp remained at the helm but left in December of that campaign. Within a week, he was back at Pompey.

The 61-year-old looked as though he may suffer the same fate of relegation that season but a fine late run ensured the club's safety. Redknapp has since achieved superb ninth and eighth placed finishes in the Premier League. Last season, he also guided Pompey to their first FA Cup in 69 years with a 1-0 win over Cardiff City at Wembley.

Premier League Record

1997: Manages 100th Premier League match - (West Ham United 0-1 Nottingham Forest, 1st January)
2007: Manages 400th Premier League match - (Portsmouth 2-1 Newcastle United, 14th April)
2008: Celebrates 150th Premier League win - (Portsmouth 2-0 Wigan Athletic, 29th March)

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Phil Brown ( Hull City )

Phil Brown finished his playing career in 1996, having been a full-back for Hartlepool United, Halifax Town, Bolton Wanderers and Blackpool. He became Sam Allardyce's assistant manager at Blackpool, before returning to Bolton where he would coach for Bruce Rioch. In 1999, Brown was appointed as an assistant manager to Colin Todd at Bolton. When Todd resigned seven matches into the 1999/00 season, Brown took charge for five matches, impressively winning four in the process. Brown was reunited with Allardyce when the latter took over in September that season, and reverted to his role as caretaker manager.

He helped the club to promotion to the top flight in the 2000/01 season via the play-offs. Allardyce and Brown ensured the club avoided relegation in the following two seasons, before Bolton started to become a force. They finished eighth in the 2003/04 campaign and also reached the final of the League Cup, losing 2-1 to Steve McClaren's Middlesbrough. It is unsurprising that Brown names Allardyce as one of the major influences on his managerial career after six years of success.

Several clubs

Brown's good work earned him the chance to take over from George Burley as Derby County manager in June 2005. However, he was sacked just seven months into his tenure after winning only seven of 33 matches. He left with Derby lying 19th in the Championship, although they did go on to avoid relegation. A 3-1 defeat by their FA Cup fourth-round opponents Colchester United spelt the end for Brown.

He was appointed as first-team coach at Hull in October 2006, working under Phil Parkinson. He became joint caretaker alongside Colin Murphy in December of that year after Parkinson was fired by the Tigers. Three wins and a draw in his six matches prompted the club to appoint Brown on a permanent basis at the beginning of 2007. The 49-year-old ensured Hull narrowly avoided relegation in the 2006/07 season as the club finished 19th in the Championship.

Brown led the Tigers to a historic promotion through the play-offs last season, taking several clubs by surprise along the way. He ensured a 3rd place finish, ending the season just four points behind Stoke City who were promoted automatically. The Tigers saw off Watford 6-2 on aggregate in the play-off semi-finals, setting up a meeting with Bristol City in the final. Dean Windass scored the only goal of the match, a magnificent volley, in front of 86703 fans to ensure promotion to the top flight for the first time in the club's history. Brown described this as "the best day of my life."

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David Moyes ( Everton )

The term 'working his way through the ranks' has never been more appropriate than when used to describe the start of David Moyes' career in management.

The former defender made 143 appearances for Preston North End before becoming a coach at the club. He was soon named assistant to Gary Peters before replacing him as manager of the struggling Northenders in January 1998. A successful period under Moyes saw the side avoid relegation, win promotion to the second tier of English football in 2000, and miss out on Barclaycard Premiership promotion the following season, losing 3-0 to Bolton Wanderers in the First Division play-off final. In March 2002, after a reign in which he won nearly half of the 243 matches he presided over, Moyes left Deepdale to replace Walter Smith at Everton.

He arrived at Goodison Park with a big job to do, with the club fighting against top-flight relegation. The Toffees' won their first match under the Scot's tutelage, a 2-1 victory over Fulham, with the team already signalling a vast improvement. Fine performances followed and the club maintained their Premier League status for the 11th successive year.

The 2002/03 season was Moyes' first full term in charge, and the Toffees got off to a fantastic start, with a run of six successive wins propelling them to third in the first half of the season. In recognition of their early form, Moyes received the Barclaycard Manager of the Month Award in November. Good team performances coupled with Wayne Rooney's emergence saw the Merseyside club maintain their push for a European place, until the final day of the season, where defeat to Manchester United brought their challenge to an end. Nonetheless, the improvement on the previous season was immense, and Moyes was recognised for his accomplishment with the League Managers Association's Manager of the Year Award.

Fourth spot

After a disappointing 2003/04 season ended with the club in 17th place in the league, Moyes' men impressed the following year. They secured fourth spot and with it the chance to qualify for Champions League football for the first time in the club's history. Despite Rooney's departure to Manchester United, Moyes' side exceeded all expectations with the Toffees manager awarded his second LMA Manager of the Year Award.

The start of the 2005/06 term came as a reality check. Failure to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League and getting knocked out of the UEFA Cup was disappointing for a side that had shown so much promise. Having brought in an array of new faces who took time to settle, Everton's league form failed to match up to the previous season's, with the side finishing 11th in the league.

The next season Moyes' side flourished, securing a sixth place finish in the Barclays Premiership and the return of European football to Goodison Park the following season. And in 2007/08, the 45-year-old used Everton's UEFA Cup place to prove he possessed the tactical expertise to succeed on the European stage, with his side reaching the last 16 of the tournament. Consistency was the order of the day, and in the Barclays Premier League Everton achieved a club record points total of 65, a fifth place finish and a second successive season in Europe.

After much media interest and speculation, Moyes signed a new five-year contract in October 2008, re-affirming his commitment to the club following an early exit from both the UEFA and Carling Cup competitions.

Premier League record

2004: Manages 100th Premier League match (Newcastle United 1-1 Everton, 28th November)
2005: Wins 50th Premier League match (Birmingham 0-1 Everton, 29th October)
2007: Takes charge of 200th Premier League match (Everton 2-1 Wigan Athletic, 11th August)

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Gareth Southgate ( Middlesbrough )

Gareth Southgate made his last appearance as a professional player in the UEFA Cup final as Middlesbrough took on Sevilla. Southgate played a central role in taking Boro to their first ever European final and it was somewhat cruel that in his last outing he was part of a side which lost 4-0.

He would take over as manager at the club later that summer, however. Steve McClaren's impressive feat of helping Boro into that final had helped persuade the Football Association that he was the man to take over the England hot-seat. The Watford-born Southgate was his replacement.

As a player Southgate was a reliable centre-back and defensive lynchpin for the three clubs he represented: Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Middlesbrough, although he regularly played in midfield for the former. An even tempered individual and a crowd favourite with all three clubs, he captained every team that he played for including England for whom he won 57 caps after making his debut against Portugal in December 1995. Southgate was a model of consistency as a player and now has a promising managerial career ahead of him.

Paid dividends

The first official match of that career on 19th August 2006 proved something of a rude awakening. Boro led newly promoted Reading 2-0 thanks to first-half goals from Stewart Downing and Yakubu but Steve Coppell's side hit back through Dave Kitson, Steve Sidwell and Leroy Lita to win 3-2.
Southgate led Boro to a 12th place finish that season and also guided them into the FA Cup quarter finals. They lost 1-0 to Manchester United in a replay at Old Trafford after forcing a 2-2 draw in the first match.

His second season in charge was also respectable. The Teesiders finished 13th in the Barclays Premier League and again reached the quarter finals of the FA Cup. Southgate spent a club record fee on striker Afonso Alves and will be hoping that he has acquired a 30-goal-a-season man.

The highest point of the season was arguably a 2-1 win over Arsenal at the Riverside Stadium in December, as Southgate's ploy of continuous pressing paid dividends.

Southgate is currently working towards his UEFA Pro Licence. He will be hoping to take what he has learned on the FA Coaching courses back to Middlesbrough.

Premier League record

2007: Manages 50th Premier League match - (Middlesbrough 1-1 Tottenham, 3rd November)

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Tony Adams ( Portsmouth )

Tony Adams joined the band of young English managers cutting their teeth in the Barclays Premier League when he took over at Portsmouth.

Adams, who is the 10th English manager in this season's top flight, was promoted from Pompey's first team coach following the departure of Harry Redknapp to Tottenham Hotspur.

The former England captain started his managerial career with Wycombe Wanderers in November 2003 after studying a sports science degree at Brunel University.

His time as helm was an unsuccessful one as Wanderers were relegated at the end of the season and Adams resigned in November 2004 after a year in charge, citing personal reasons.

This setback failed to deter the former Arsenal centre-half, who won four top flight division titles, three FA Cups, two Football League Cups, a UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, and three FA Community Shields with the Gunners.

Coaching education

Keen to further his coaching education, Adams moved to the Netherlands in July 2005 where he coached Feyenoord's reserve/junior side.

He joined fellow Dutch outfit Utrecht as a first team trainee coach for a brief spell at the start of 2006.

Then in June of that year, Adams returned to England and Portsmouth to become Redknapp's assistant when Kevin Bond left the club.

Adams' spell on the south coast coincided with good times at Portsmouth. In his first season at Fratton Park, they ended the campaign ninth in the Barclays Premier League which was their highest finish since 1955.

They then clinched the Barclays Asia Trophy later that summer after a penalty shoot-out victory over Liverpool.

In the following season, Pompey improved on the previous campaign by finishing in eighth place, also lifting the FA Cup which qualified them for Europe and the UEFA Cup for the first time in their history.

When Redknapp departed for Tottenham in October 2008, Adams was installed as the new manager and he will be aiming to establish Portsmouth as one of the leading clubs in the Barclays Premier League.