Paul Ince – Blackburn Rovers F.C. Manager
Paul Ince – Blackburn Rovers Manager
Paul Emerson Herbert Carlyle Ince (born 21 October 1967 in Ilford, Greater London) is an English football manager who is currently the manager of Premier League club Blackburn Rovers. He is a former player who won numerous honours with Manchester United, became the first black player to captain the England team and the first black Briton to manage a team in the highest tier of English football.[1] His career saw him play for seven English clubs, including stints at Manchester United and Liverpool, as well as the Italian side, Inter Milan.
Personal information
Full name : Paul Emerson Herbert Carlyle Ince
Date of birth : 21 October 1967 (1967-10-21) (age 41)
Place of birth : Ilford, England, Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Playing position : Midfielder (retired)
Club information : Blackburn Rovers (manager)
League : Barclays English Premier League Football Club
Managerial career
Swindon Town (player-coach)
After much speculation and prolonged discussions – On 31 August 2006, Paul Ince signed a one-year contract with Swindon Town as a player/coach. Swindon were rumoured to have beaten the likes of Birmingham City, West Bromwich Albion and Crewe Alexandra for his signature. A key factor in the transfer was Ince’s long standing friendship with Town manager Dennis Wise, who had played alongside him occasionally in the England team during the 1990s. He made his full debut for Swindon in the 2-1 victory over MK Dons on 12 September 2006.
Ince only played one other game for Swindon after the MK victory – before the club announced that Ince had felt he could not fulfil his playing duties with the club and that his contract had been terminated by mutual consent, although he continued coaching at the club to complete his coaching badges.
Macclesfield Town
On 23 October 2006, Ince was confirmed as the new player-manager of Macclesfield Town in succession to Brian Horton. However, he was ineligible to play for the Silkmen until January when the transfer window opened, as Swindon Town still held his registration.[6] He joined Macclesfield with the club bottom of League Two, seven points off their nearest rivals. He then revived confidence and after a 3-0 win against Chester they managed to climb off the bottom of the table. They subsequently avoided relegation, albeit on the last day of the season. On 4 January 2007 Ince was named as League Two Manager of the Month for December.
Milton Keynes Dons
Ince was unveiled as the new Milton Keynes Dons manager along with his assistant Ray Mathias and fitness coach Duncan Russell on 25 June 2007.[7] The Dons reached the top of their Division in September 2007[8] and other clubs began to take a serious interest. In October and November 2007, he denied rumours that he was being linked with managerless Premiership teams Wigan,[9] Derby County[10] and Championship team Norwich City.[11]
Ince was named as League Two “manager of the month” in October and December 2007, and again in April 2008.[12][13][14]
Ince’s first silverware as manager came in the Football League Trophy Final at Wembley on March 31, 2008, with the MK Dons defeating Grimsby Town 2-0. He then secured the Dons’ return to Coca-Cola League 1 in April 2008 after they beat Stockport County 3-2. On April 26, the Dons became League Two champions after they beat Bradford City 2-1.
Blackburn Rovers
In the close-season it was speculated that Ince had been contacted by Blackburn Rovers in their search to appoint a new manager, something that Ince himself denied.[15] However, the BBC reported that Ince would be named as Blackburn manager by the end of the week of 19 June.[16] He was appointed on 22 June and became the first black British manager in England’s top division.[17] On the first day of the 2008/2009 FA Premier League season, Blackburn Rovers faced Everton at Goodison Park – this was Paul Ince’s first premiership game with Blackburn Rovers. David Dunn opened the scoring for Ince’s side and Roque Santa Cruz and Andre Oojer later scored in a 3-2 win. Ince’s 2008 summer signings include England International goalkeeper Paul Robinson, Julio Santa Cruz, Danny Simpson (Loan), Vince Grella, Carlos Villanueva (Loan), Robbie Fowler, Mark Bunn and Keith Andrews.
Source: Paul Ince, Blackburn Rovers F.C. Manager, Barclays English Premier League Football Club information at wikipedia.org