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Gary Brazil

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Gary Brazil
Brazil in 2010
Personal information
Full name Gary Nicholas Brazil[1]
Date of birth (1962-09-19) 19 September 1962 (age 62)[1]
Place of birth Royal Tunbridge Wells, England[1]
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder, striker
Youth career
1979–1980 Crystal Palace
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1980–1985 Sheffield United 62 (9)
1984 → Port Vale (loan) 6 (3)
1985–1989 Preston North End 166 (58)
1989–1990 Newcastle United 23 (2)
1990–1996 Fulham 214 (47)
1996 Cambridge United 1 (1)
1996–1997 Barnet 19 (2)
1997–1998 Slough Town 50 (7)
Total 541 (129)
Managerial career
1999–2000 Notts County (caretaker)
2001–2002 Notts County (caretaker)
2014 Nottingham Forest (caretaker)
2017 Nottingham Forest (caretaker)
2017–2018 Nottingham Forest (caretaker)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Gary Nicholas Brazil (born 19 September 1962) is an English former professional footballer and football manager, who is the academy manager at Nottingham Forest. He scored 160 goals in 658 league and cup games in an 18-year professional career.

Starting at Crystal Palace, he turned professional with Sheffield United in 1980. Five years later, following a loan spell with Port Vale, he signed with Preston North End. He spent four seasons with Preston, then spent one season at Newcastle United, before transferring to Fulham in 1990. After six years with the club, he moved on to Cambridge United, Barnet, and finally Slough Town. He helped Sheffield United to win promotion out of the Third Division in 1983–84 and was named Preston North End's Player of the Year in 1987, having helped the club to win promotion out of the Fourth Division in 1986–87.

He went into coaching in 1999, and spent two periods as manager of Notts County and three spells as a caretaker manager at Nottingham Forest, where he was appointed academy manager in 2014.

Playing career

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Sheffield United

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Having joined Crystal Palace straight from school in 1979, Brazil stayed with Palace for just twelve months before taking the opportunity of first-team football with Sheffield United, signing on a free transfer in August 1980.[3] In nearly five years at Bramall Lane he played 78 games, of which 30 were as a substitute, scoring 10 goals. The "Blades" suffered relegation out of the Third Division in 1980–81 under Harry Haslam. After Ian Porterfield took charge, they then made an immediate return as champions of the Fourth Division in 1981–82. A mid-table finish in 1982–83 followed, before a second promotion in three years was achieved with a third-place finish in 1983–84. However, they had only finished ahead of Hull City on goals scored.[4] In August 1984 he joined Port Vale on loan, and scored three goals in six Fourth Division appearances for John Rudge's "Valiants".[1]

Preston North End

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Brazil was sold on to Preston North End for £25,000 in August 1985 but could not prevent Tommy Booth's "Lilywhites" from being relegated out of the Third Division.[3] The next season again was a disappointment. However, Brazil was now a regular and scoring frequently. Preston finished the season in 91st place in the Football League and were forced to seek re-election, forcing the powers that be at Deepdale to make vast changes. Brazil was voted Player of the Year in 1987, as the club won promotion in second place, with Brazil and John Thomas scoring 48 goals between them.[5] The 1987–88 campaign was one of consolidation. However, Preston narrowly missed out on a Wembley cup final when they lost to Burnley in the Football League Trophy semi-final. A promotion push in 1988–89 ended in defeat to former club Port Vale in the play-off semi-finals. However, Brazil had already departed, having been picked up by Newcastle United for a fee of £200,000 (of which half was made up in a swap deal with Ian Bogie) in February 1989.[3] In all competitions, he had played 202 games for Preston, scoring 72 goals.

Newcastle United and Fulham

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Brazil started just three games of the rest of the season, as Newcastle suffered relegation out of the First Division. Manager Jim Smith gave him just five starts in 1989–90 behind strike partners Mark McGhee and Micky Quinn in the first-team pecking order at St James' Park. In September 1990, he moved on to Fulham for a fee of £110,000.[3] In six seasons at Craven Cottage Brazil played 254 matches and scored 60 goals. He hit five goals in 1990–91, as the "Cottagers" almost exited the Third Division at the wrong end under the stewardship of Alan Dicks. Brazil finished as the club's top scorer in 1991–92 with 14 goals, as the club missed out on the play-offs by three places and four points. Following an indifferent 1992–93 campaign, he finished as the club's top scorer again in 1993–94 with 14 goals; however, his scoring record was not enough to prevent the club slipping into the bottom tier under Don Mackay. An unsuccessful promotion campaign followed in 1994–95 under Ian Branfoot's stewardship, with Fulham finishing two places and three points outside the play-offs.

Later career

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Upon leaving Fulham at the end of 1995–96 he had spells at Cambridge United and Barnet, also of the Third Division.[3] Fulham would finally win promotion out of the division in 1996–97 under new boss Micky Adams. In February 1997, he moved into Conference football with Slough Town. He had fifteen months with Slough, scoring ten goals in 69 games.

Managerial and coaching career

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Notts County

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After retiring as a player, Brazil joined Notts County as a coach and then as assistant manager to Sam Allardyce.[6] Following Allardyce's departure to Bolton Wanderers in October 1999, Brazil was prompted to take charge of a "Magpies" team that was enjoying a promising start to the season. The team faltered during the first half of 2000 and finished the 1999–2000 season in eighth place, two places but 17 points outside the play-offs. Brazil was demoted back down to assistant manager in May 2000, making way for Jocky Scott.[7] He did receive a second chance at the helm between October and November 2001 after Scott was sacked following repeated clashes with the board,[8] but this short reign was ended abruptly when Brazil was fired after failing to win a game over five weeks. He went on to serve Doncaster Rovers as youth team coach.[9]

Nottingham Forest

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In May 2012, he was appointed as a youth team coach at Nottingham Forest, replacing the departed Eoin Jess; he was to work alongside Steve Chettle.[10] Brazil progressed through the ranks to become Academy Manager at the club in 2014.[11] He became caretaker manager of the first-team after the sacking of Billy Davies in March 2014. During his temporary reign, he handed debuts to Ben Osborn, Dimitar Evtimov and Stephen McLaughlin, as well as a league debut to Dorus de Vries, before returning to his role as Academy manager whilst Stuart Pearce took over as first-team manager.[12][13]

He was handed a second spell as caretaker manager of the club after the departure of Philippe Montanier in January 2017. On 9 February, following a good start to his caretaker spell, Brazil was confirmed as manager for the rest of the 2016–17 season.[14] He was named as EFL manager of the week after overseeing a 3–0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion at the City Ground on 4 March, having changed the game with his substitution of Zach Clough.[15] However, after Forest underwent a series of five defeats in seven games the club appointed Mark Warburton as first-team manager on 14 March.[16]

Credited with the progress of Oliver Burke, Ben Osborn, Joe Worrall, Matty Cash, Jordan Smith and Ben Brereton, Brazil signed a signed a new long-term contract five months later.[17][18] Warbuton was sacked on New Year's Eve, leaving Brazil to again take on the role as caretaker manager.[19] On 7 January, he oversaw Forest's 4–2 victory over Arsenal in the Third Round of the FA Cup.[20] Aitor Karanka was appointed as manager the following day.[21]

On 14 October 2020, Nottingham Forest announced that Brazil had signed a new long-term contract with the club. The club announced that he now held the role of Director of Football Development, in which he will assist with Forest's domestic scouting, footballing philosophy and loan programme alongside his role in the club's academy.[22] Brazil's academy graduates have generated over £50 million in transfer revenue for Forest.[23] On 25 May 2021, Nottingham Forest announced that their academy had been upgraded to Category One status. Brazil said "The current and future investments in facilities by Mr Marinakis will take us to another level. It is a fantastic opportunity for the club and it will be really exciting for the staff and players to challenge themselves at the elite end of academy football."[24]

Personal life

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He is the father of former England youth player Ellie Brazil,[25] as well as Jack Brazil, former coach of New Mongol Bayangol.[26]

Career statistics

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[27][28]
Club Season League FA Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Sheffield United 1980–81 Third Division 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
1981–82 Fourth Division 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
1982–83 Third Division 33 5 5 0 2 0 40 5
1983–84 Third Division 19 2 4 1 5 0 28 2
1984–85 Second Division 19 2 4 1 5 0 28 3
Total 62 9 9 1 7 0 78 10
Port Vale (loan) 1984–85 Fourth Division 6 3 0 0 0 0 6 3
Preston North End 1984–85 Third Division 17 3 0 0 1 0 18 3
1985–86 Fourth Division 43 14 1 1 5 3 49 18
1986–87 Fourth Division 45 18 5 1 7 1 57 20
1987–88 Third Division 36 14 2 1 7 5 45 20
1988–89 Third Division 25 9 2 0 6 2 33 11
Total 166 58 10 3 26 11 202 72
Newcastle United 1988–89 First Division 7 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
1989–90 Second Division 16 2 1 0 3 1 20 3
Total 23 2 1 0 3 1 27 3
Fulham 1990–91 Third Division 42 4 3 1 3 0 48 5
1991–92 Third Division 46 14 1 0 6 5 53 19
1992–93 Second Division 30 7 0 0 0 0 30 7
1993–94 Second Division 46 14 1 0 9 5 56 19
1994–95 Third Division 32 7 2 0 6 0 40 7
1995–96 Third Division 18 1 2 0 7 1 27 2
Total 214 47 9 1 31 11 254 59
Cambridge United 1996–97 Third Division 1 1 0 0 1 0 2 1
Barnet 1996–97 Third Division 19 2 1 0 0 0 20 2
Slough Town 1996–97 Conference 12 3 0 0 1 1 13 4
1997–98 Conference 38 4 8 1 10 1 56 6
Total 50 7 8 1 11 2 69 10
Career total 541 129 38 6 79 25 658 160

Managerial statistics

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As of 8 January 2018[29]
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record
P W D L Win %
Notts County (caretaker) 14 October 1999 28 June 2000 39 12 10 17 030.8
Notts County (caretaker) 10 October 2001 7 January 2002 20 4 6 10 020.0
Nottingham Forest (caretaker) 24 March 2014 3 May 2014 9 2 2 5 022.2
Nottingham Forest (caretaker) 14 January 2017 14 March 2017 11 4 1 6 036.4
Nottingham Forest (caretaker) 31 December 2017 8 January 2018 2 1 1 0 050.0
Total 81 23 20 38 028.4

Honours

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Individual

Sheffield United

Preston North End

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 40. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. ^ Rollin, Jack, ed. (1980). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1980–81. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 298. ISBN 0362020175.
  3. ^ a b c d e Scott, Kenneth H. "Player Details | Gary Nicholas Brazil | toon1892". toon1892.com. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  4. ^ a b Ellis, Adam (3 February 2016). "Where Are They Now? Sheffield United's Division 3 promotion winners 1983/1984". The League Paper. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  5. ^ "Big Interview - Gary Swann". Lancashire Evening Post. 16 May 2008. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  6. ^ Davies, Matt (26 June 2016). "So just who is left in the frame for the Forest job?". Nottingham Post. Retrieved 15 October 2016.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ "Anti-climax for Notts County". BBC Sport. 28 June 2000. Retrieved 11 May 2009.
  8. ^ Pierson, Mark (11 October 2001). "Scott departs at Notts County as Brazil moves up". The Independent. Retrieved 11 May 2009.[dead link]
  9. ^ "Brazil's new role at Rovers". BBC Sport. 6 May 2004. Retrieved 11 May 2009.
  10. ^ "Gary Brazil joins Nottingham Forest academy staff". BBC Sport. 15 May 2012. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
  11. ^ "Championship: Gary Brazil has been appointed Academy manager at Nottingham Forest". Sky Sports. 23 January 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  12. ^ "Gary Brazil hopes to play a part in developing more young talent at Nottingham Forest next season". Nottingham Post. 29 April 2014. Archived from the original on 4 May 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  13. ^ "Keep them coming". Nottingham Forest Official. 16 August 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  14. ^ "Nottingham Forest: Gary Brazil & Jack Lester to stay in charge of first-team affairs". BBC Sport. 9 February 2017. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  15. ^ "Sky Bet EFL: Team of the Week". www.efl.com. 6 March 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  16. ^ "Mark Warburton: Nottingham Forest appoint former Rangers boss as manager". BBC Sport. 14 March 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  17. ^ "Gary Brazil: Nottingham Forest academy boss signs long-term contract". BBC Sport. 9 August 2017. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  18. ^ Taylor, Paul (9 August 2017). "Gary Brazil signs new long-term contract at Nottingham Forest". Nottingham Post. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  19. ^ "Mark Warburton: Nottingham Forest sack manager after nine months in charge". BBC Sport. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  20. ^ "Nottingham Forest 4-2 Arsenal". BBC Sport. 7 January 2018. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  21. ^ "Aitor Karanka: Nottingham Forest appoint ex-Middlesbrough boss as new manager". BBC Sport. 8 January 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  22. ^ "Brazil signs long-term contract". www.nottinghamforest.co.uk. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  23. ^ Taylor, Paul. "'Why would you go anywhere else?': Gary Brazil's pride in the Forest academy". The Athletic. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  24. ^ Club, Nottingham Forest Football. "Nottingham Forest FC - Forest Academy Secures Category 1 Status For 2021-22 Season". Nottingham Forest FC. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  25. ^ Clapson, Sarah (18 February 2017). "Gary Brazil making his family proud as Nottingham Forest boss". Nottingham Post. Retrieved 8 June 2017.[permanent dead link]
  26. ^ "The British Coaches Abroad Association » NEW: JACK BRAZIL INTERVIEW!". www.britishcoachesabroad.com. Archived from the original on 18 June 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  27. ^ Gary Brazil at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  28. ^ "Slough Town FC". www.sloughtownfc.net. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  29. ^ Gary Brazil management career statistics at Soccerbase
  30. ^ "Alex put the case for the defence". Lancashire Evening Post. 13 August 2011. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
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