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Gary Bowyer

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Gary Bowyer
Gary Bowyer in 2019
Personal information
Full name Gary David Bowyer[1]
Date of birth (1971-06-22) 22 June 1971 (age 53)[1]
Place of birth Manchester, England
Position(s) Full-back
Youth career
Westfields
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1989–1990 Hereford United 14 (2)
1990–1995 Nottingham Forest 0 (0)
1995–1997 Rotherham United 38 (2)
Total 52 (4)
Managerial career
2012–2013 Blackburn Rovers (caretaker)
2013 Blackburn Rovers (caretaker)
2013–2015 Blackburn Rovers
2016–2018 Blackpool
2019–2020 Bradford City
2021 Salford City (interim)
2021–2022 Salford City
2022–2023 Dundee
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Gary David Bowyer (born 22 June 1971) is an English professional football coach and former player who was most recently the manager of Scottish club Dundee.

As a player, he made 52 league appearances for Hereford United, Nottingham Forest and Rotherham United in a professional career that lasted eight years, before retiring due to injury in 1997, aged 25. He won the Football League Trophy with Rotherham United in 1995–96, his only honour as a player.

After working as a coach at a number of clubs, he has managed Blackburn Rovers, Blackpool, Bradford City and Salford City (twice). He guided Blackpool to promotion, via the play-offs, from League Two to League One in 2016–17.

Early and personal life

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Bowyer was born on 22 June 1971 in Manchester, Lancashire, England.[1] His father, Ian, was also a professional footballer;[2][3] the two played together at Hereford United.[4]

Playing career

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After playing in non-League football for Westfields, Bowyer, a full-back, signed for Football League team Hereford United on non-contract terms, making 14 appearances in the 1989–90 season.[5] After the season ended, Bowyer moved to Nottingham Forest, but he did not make a senior Football League appearance for club.[5] Bowyer later signed for Rotherham United, making 38 appearances in the League over the next two seasons, before retiring due to injury at the age of 25.[5][6] Whilst at Rotherham he was a part of the team that won the 1996 Football League Trophy final.[7]

Coaching career

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Youth coach and move into management

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After retiring as a player, Bowyer began his coaching career working part-time at Ilkeston,[8] before being appointed as under-17s coach at Derby County, where he spent six years as an academy coach. He then became under-18s coach for Blackburn Rovers in 2004.[9] He became their reserve-team manager in 2008, and in December 2012 he was appointed as caretaker manager following the dismissal of Henning Berg, steering them to a 3–1 victory over Barnsley in his first game in charge.[10] It was later announced that Bowyer would remain in charge until the end of January.[11] Bowyer was re-appointed caretaker manager on 19 March 2013, following the sacking of Michael Appleton,[12] until the end of the season;[13] however, on 26 March Bowyer said he was unsure how long he would remain in the position, in case the club hired a new permanent manager,[14] and on 8 April Bowyer was summoned to India for a meeting with the club's owners.[15] Bowyer was appointed the permanent manager of Blackburn on 24 May, on a 12-month rolling contract.[16]

In September 2015, he called for goal-line technology to be implemented.[17] On 10 November, Bowyer was sacked as manager of Blackburn Rovers.[18]

Blackpool and Bradford City spells

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On 1 June 2016, Bowyer was appointed as manager of Blackpool on a one-year rolling contract, following the club's relegation to EFL League Two.[19] On 28 May 2017, Bowyer guided Blackpool to an immediate return to EFL League One in his first season in charge after his side beat Exeter City 2–1 in the League Two play-off final.[20] He resigned as Blackpool manager on 6 August 2018.[21][22]

In February 2019 he was linked with the vacant managerial position at Bradford City.[23] On 4 March, Bowyer replaced David Hopkin as Bantams manager, signing a contract until the end of the season,[24] with Andy Todd as his assistant.[25] Bowyer retained the club's other coaching staff—including Martin Drury, who had been caretaker manager prior to his appointment—[26] and said that all of City's squad players would have a chance to fight for a first-team place.[27] In April, he signed a new contract with Bradford City until 2021.[28] He was nominated for the League Two Manager of the Month award for October,[29] but later said he was not a "fan" of such awards.[30] Bowyer was sacked by Bradford City on 3 February 2020.[31]

Derby County youth and Salford City

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He joined Derby County, as coach of their under-23s side, in September 2020.[32] On 23 March 2021, it was announced that Bowyer was to become manager of League Two side Salford City on a deal lasting until the end of the season, replacing Richie Wellens.[33] The deal came after an arrangement was reached between Salford co-owner Gary Neville and Derby manager Wayne Rooney, whereby Salford would pay no fee to Derby but would pay his wages for the duration of his spell in charge.[34] He described the move to Salford as the first ever managerial loan.[35] His first game in charge was on 27 March, a 1–0 away defeat to Exeter City,[36] and picked up his first win on 5 April, two Ian Henderson goals giving Salford a 2–0 win against Forest Green Rovers.[37] After achieving 17 points from eight matches to help boost his side's play-off aspirations, Bowyer was awarded the League Two Manager of the Month award for April.[38] On 10 May he returned to his role as an academy coach at Derby County;[39] however, two days later on 12 May, it was announced that he had returned to manage Salford City after signing a two-year contract.[40] On 2 August, Billy Barr joined as his assistant manager.[41]

On 21 August 2021, he was booked for shoving Jonny Williams of Swindon Town in a 1–0 defeat, Salford's fourth game without a win at the beginning of the season,[42] the club's worst start to a season since the 2014 takeover.[43]

On 17 May 2022, Bowyer was sacked by Salford having narrowly missed out on the play-offs.[44][45]

Dundee

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On 8 June 2022, Bowyer was appointed manager of Scottish Championship club Dundee.[46][47] The Dundee board said they liked his youth strategy and success at Blackpool.[48] Bowyer was named the Scottish Championship's Manager of the Month for November 2022, with his team having won every game that month.[49] He would win the award again for March 2023,[50] as he led the club on a promotion push and would win the Scottish Championship with Dundee at the end of the season.[51][52]

On 10 May 2023, Bowyer was named as the SPFL Scottish Championship Manager of the Year.[53] Later that day, Bowyer departed Dundee as manager, alongside assistant Billy Barr.[54][55]

Managerial statistics

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As of match played 5 May 2023[56]
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record
P W D L Win %
Blackburn Rovers (caretaker) 27 December 2012 11 January 2013 4 3 1 0 075.0
Blackburn Rovers (caretaker) 19 March 2013 24 May 2013 9 3 3 3 033.3
Blackburn Rovers 24 May 2013 10 November 2015 118 41 43 34 034.7
Blackpool 1 June 2016 6 August 2018 115 42 40 33 036.5
Bradford City 4 March 2019 3 February 2020 48 14 15 19 029.2
Salford City (interim) 23 March 2021 10 May 2021 11 6 2 3 054.5
Salford City 12 May 2021 17 May 2022 52 21 14 17 040.4
Dundee 8 June 2022 10 May 2023 48 26 14 8 054.2
Total 404 155 132 117 038.4

Honours

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Player

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Rotherham United

Manager

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Club

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Blackpool

Dundee

Individual

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Salford

Dundee

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Gary Bowyer". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  2. ^ "Bowyer recalls childhood cup memories, including dad's trip to church". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
  3. ^ "Sons and Daughters". Bob Dunning. Archived from the original on 31 August 2010. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
  4. ^ "BBC Sport – Rivaldo: World Cup winner and son score in same Brazilian match". BBC Sport.
  5. ^ a b c "Profile". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
  6. ^ "Unlikely saviour Gary Bowyer plots Indian summer for Blackburn, and receives assurances over Jordan Rhodes" – The Independent, 20 November 2013
  7. ^ a b "Rotherham's 1996 Auto Windscreens Shield winning side: Where are they now?". itsmillerstime.co.uk. 14 April 2017. Archived from the original on 22 April 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  8. ^ "Blackburn's stand-in boss Bowyer returns to Derby with Cup success in mind". Derby Telegraph. 8 January 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2015.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ "Where Are They Now?". Nottingham Forest F.C. official website. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
  10. ^ "Bowyer's praise after team display". Blackburn Rovers F.C.
  11. ^ "Blackburn: Gary Bowyer & Terry McPhillips in charge for January". BBC Sport. 3 January 2013.
  12. ^ "Michael Appleton: Blackburn Rovers sack manager". BBC Sport. 19 March 2013.
  13. ^ "Blackburn Rovers: Gary Bowyer confirmed as caretaker manager". BBC Sport. 22 March 2013.
  14. ^ "Blackburn Rovers: Gary Bowyer managing 'game by game'". BBC Sport. 26 March 2013.
  15. ^ Ben Smith and Andy Cryer (8 April 2013). "Blackburn: Gary Bowyer called to India for meeting with Venky's". BBC Sport.
  16. ^ "Gary Bowyer: Blackburn Rovers caretaker manager appointed boss". BBC Sport. 24 May 2013.
  17. ^ "Gary Bowyer: Blackburn Rovers boss calls for goal-line technology". BBC Sport.
  18. ^ "Gary Bowyer: Blackburn Rovers sack manager after poor start". BBC Sport.
  19. ^ "Bowyer Named New Blackpool Manager". Blackpool F.C. 1 June 2016.
  20. ^ a b Smyth, Rob (28 May 2017). "Blackpool 2–1 Exeter City: League Two play-off final – as it happened". theguardian.com.
  21. ^ "Gary Bowyer: Blackpool manager leaves after one game of the season". BBC Sport. 6 August 2018.
  22. ^ "Club Statement: Gary Bowyer" – Blackpool F.C.'s official website, 6 August 2018
  23. ^ "Bowyer on Bantams link: "I'm waiting for an opportunity to arise"". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
  24. ^ "Gary Bowyer: Bradford City appoint former Blackburn and Blackpool boss as manager". BBC Sport. 4 March 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  25. ^ "BOWYER TAKES BANTAMS REINS". www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk.
  26. ^ Simon Parker (9 March 2019). "Bradford City boss won't make coaching changes". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  27. ^ "Bowyer's clean slate to Bantams squad". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
  28. ^ "Gary Bowyer: Bradford City manager signs new deal until 2021". BBC Sport. 2 April 2019.
  29. ^ "Bradford City boss nominated for manager of the month". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
  30. ^ "Bowyer reveals he's not fan of awards after being nominated". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
  31. ^ "Bradford City sack manager Gary Bowyer" – Telegraph & Argus, 3 February 2020
  32. ^ "Bowyer: To be part of this academy is something I couldn't turn down". Derby County F.C.
  33. ^ "Gary Bowyer: Salford City appoint former Blackburn Rovers boss as manager". BBC Sport. 23 March 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  34. ^ Conway, Ryan (25 March 2021). "No fee for Bowyer loan to Salford in deal done after Neville called Rooney". The Athletic. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  35. ^ Robertson, Gregor (12 April 2021). "Gary Bowyer: I may be first manager to ever be out on loan". The Times. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  36. ^ "Exeter City 1-0 Salford City: Exeter halt a run of three successive defeats as Gary Bowyer's first game as Salford manager ends in a 1-0 loss at St James Park". BBC Sport. 27 March 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  37. ^ "Forest Green 0-2 Salford: Ian Henderson double sinks Rovers". Sky Sports. 5 April 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  38. ^ a b "League Two Manager and Player of the Month (April 2021)". salfordcityfc.co.uk. 7 May 2021.
  39. ^ Turner, Andy (9 May 2021). "Bowyer in charge at Manchester United after Derby County return confirmed". Derby Telegraph. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  40. ^ McDougall, John (12 May 2021). "Gary Bowyer appointed permanent Salford boss and sends Wayne Rooney message". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  41. ^ James, Alex (2 August 2021). "'Amazing project' - Billy Barr explains his decision to leave Blackburn Rovers for Salford City". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  42. ^ "Salford City 0-1 Swindon Town: Salford's winless start to the League Two season continues as Jack Payne's second-half goal sees Swindon win at Moor Lane". BBC Sport. 21 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  43. ^ "Gary Bowyer not concerned about results coming as Salford lose to Swindon". Newschain. 21 August 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  44. ^ "Club Statement (17/05/2022)". salfordcityfc.com. 17 May 2022.
  45. ^ "Former Bantams boss Bowyer sacked by Salford". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
  46. ^ "Gary Bowyer appointed manager". Dundee Football Club - Official Website. 8 June 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  47. ^ "Gary Bowyer: Dundee appoint former Salford boss as manager". Sky Sports.
  48. ^ Cran, George. "New Dundee boss Gary Bowyer on creating winning culture at Dens Park and tapping into Blackpool success".
  49. ^ a b "Bowyer voted Manager of Month | SPFL". spfl.co.uk. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  50. ^ a b "Bowyer named Manager of Month | SPFL". spfl.co.uk. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  51. ^ "The 'anorak' leading Dundee's promotion charge" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  52. ^ a b "Dundee back in Premiership after eight-goal epic". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  53. ^ a b Cran, George. "Dundee boss Gary Bowyer wins Championship Manager of the Season as doubts persist over his future at Dens Park". The Courier. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  54. ^ "Gary and Billy depart". Dundee Football Club - Official Website. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  55. ^ Coyle, Andy (10 May 2023). "Gary Bowyer exits Dundee days after winning Championship title". STV News. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  56. ^ Gary Bowyer management career statistics at Soccerbase
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