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Phil Parkinson
Phil Parkinson with the League Two play-off trophy in 2013
Personal information
Full name Philip John Parkinson[1]
Date of birth (1967-12-01) 1 December 1967 (age 56)[1]
Place of birth Chorley, Lancashire, England[1]
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder[1]
Team information
Current team
 Wrexham (manager)
Youth career
Southampton
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1985–1988 Southampton 0 (0)
1988–1992 Bury 145 (5)
1992–2003 Reading 361 (20)
Total 506 (25)
Managerial career
2003–2006 Colchester United
2006 Hull City
2008–2011 Charlton Athletic
2011–2016 Bradford City
2016–2019 Bolton Wanderers
2019–2020 Sunderland
2021– Wrexham
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Philip John Parkinson (born 1 December 1967) is an English professional football manager and former player who played as a midfielder. He is currently manager of EFL League One side Wrexham.

Parkinson acquired a Social Science degree early into his career as a manager[3] and is the only manager to take an English fourth-tier league club to the final of a major cup competition at Wembley Stadium, leading Bradford City of League Two to the 2013 League Cup final. During his career, he has achieved promotion five times: with Colchester to the Championship in 2006, with Bradford to League One in 2013, with Bolton Wanderers to the Championship in 2017, and with Wrexham to League Two in 2023 and League One in 2024.

Playing career

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Early playing career

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Parkinson, a former Southampton trainee,[4] made his Football League debut in 1988 with Bury, and later joined Reading for £50,000 in July 1992.[5]

Reading

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Parkinson was named player of the season for two consecutive years (1997–98 and 1998–99) and was also a key member of the 1993–94 Football League Second Division championship-winning team. He captained the team to promotion from the Second Division in 2001–02 and soon after promotion success, Parkinson celebrated his testimonial year with a memorable night at Madejski Stadium, where 20,000 fans watched former Reading teammates such as Shaka Hislop, Michael Gilkes and Jeff Hopkins take on an England XI including the likes of Paul Gascoigne, John Barnes and Chris Waddle.[6] Parkinson's final competitive appearance for Reading was a League Cup defeat against Cambridge United on 10 September 2002.[7][8]

Although Parkinson rarely featured on the field in his final season as Reading returned to the First Division, he remained a well-respected member of the squad until his departure to Layer Road.

In a 2005 poll to compile the Royals' best-ever XI, Parkinson was voted the best central midfielder with 60.3% of the vote.[9]

Managerial career

[edit]

Colchester United

[edit]

Parkinson left Reading early in 2003 after 11 seasons to take his first steps in management with Colchester United. Despite showing promising signs as he steered the U's to safety upon arrival in February 2003, the 2003–04 season started poorly as Colchester slipped to three straight league defeats, only softened by a victory in the League Cup. Colchester's form improved and a strong FA Cup run, LDV run and a good finish to the season left optimism for U's supporters.[citation needed]

The 2005–06 season saw them finish in second place, thereby gaining an unlikely promotion to the Championship, despite having the lowest average attendance of the division. However, he resigned in June 2006 with a year left to run on his contract.[10]

Hull City

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Parkinson was confirmed as the new manager of Hull City in late June 2006,[11] following the departure of Peter Taylor. Hull agreed to pay Colchester £400,000 compensation. When he led Hull against his old club, however, he was embarrassed as his former club romped home 5–1.[12] After another defeat in the next match at home to Southampton 4–2, he left by "mutual consent" in early December, leaving Hull in the relegation zone.[13]

Charlton Athletic

[edit]

Parkinson then joined Charlton Athletic in January 2007 as assistant manager to Alan Pardew, having previously worked together at Reading. He was close to a return to management with Huddersfield Town in April 2007, but made a last-minute decision to remain with Charlton.[14] Parkinson later extended his contract with Charlton until 2010.[15] Following Pardew's departure in November 2008, he was appointed caretaker manager[16] and given the job permanently on New Year's Eve 2008, despite failing to win any of his eight matches in caretaker charge.[17] Under his management, Charlton were relegated to the third tier of English football for the first time in nearly 30 years.

In League One, Charlton started off very well, winning their first six league matches, but that run was brought to an end after a 1–1 draw at home to Southampton, Parkinson's ex-manager Alan Pardew's side. Charlton continued to do well and were in the top two until the new year where Norwich overtook them and they then never returned to the top two, finishing fourth in the league. In the play-offs, they had to play Swindon Town over the two legs and lost the first one 2–1 at the County Ground. In the second, however, they turned it around and led 2–0 but Swindon fought back and it finished 3–3 on aggregate. Swindon then continued and won on penalties 5–4 to condemn Parkinson and his men to another season in League One. Having not won a league game since November, Parkinson was sacked on 4 January 2011, the day after his side's 4–2 loss at home to Swindon.[18][19]

Bradford City

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Parkinson was appointed manager of Bradford City on 28 August 2011.[20] He won the League Two Manager of the Month award for December 2011 after victories over promotion candidates Shrewsbury Town and Crewe Alexandra. Parkinson also enjoyed a promising run in the Johnstones Paint Trophy with the Bantams taking them to the Northern division semi-finals with victories over Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United as well as an away victory against local rivals Huddersfield Town on penalties, before their run ended with a defeat to Oldham Athletic. He led Bradford to safety finishing 18th in League Two, then stating that he wanted a promotion push for next season.

On 11 December 2012, Parkinson's Bradford side progressed to the semi-final of the League Cup following an historic victory over Premier League club Arsenal after a penalty shoot-out.[21]

Parkinson then led Bradford to another historic victory in the first leg of the League Cup semi-finals at Valley Parade, defeating Premier League Aston Villa 3–1 in front of 23,245 fans.[22] Despite a 2–1 defeat in the second leg at Villa Park, Bradford won the tie 4–3 on aggregate to progress to the 2013 League Cup Final at Wembley Stadium.[23] In the final, Bradford lost 5–0 to Premier League Swansea City.[24][25] After the match, Parkinson criticised referee Kevin Friend for sending Matt Duke off, which resulted in a penalty and described the match as "harsh".[26]

His role in taking Bradford City to the League Cup final resulted in him being rewarded with the Outstanding Managerial Achievement award. In a statement, Parkinson said, "I'm very honoured to receive this award. My name might be on it but it is a team award – not just the team on the pitch but the team off it as well."[27] A strong run of form towards the end of the season secured City a playoff place. After a win over two legs against Burton Albion, Bradford City were promoted to League One after beating Northampton Town, 3–0.[28] After the match, reflecting on all that Parkinson and the rest of the team had achieved during this remarkable season, he said it was beyond his wildest dreams.[29] Shortly after, Parkinson signed a new three-year deal with the club, along with coaches Steve Parkin and Nick Allamby.[30]

Parkinson would follow up the groundbreaking 2012–13 cup upsets with a historic 4–2 victory over Chelsea in the FA Cup at Stamford Bridge on 24 January 2015.[31] Bradford City went 2–0 down in the first half, but fought back in stunning fashion to record what Robbie Fowler called the "greatest FA Cup upset of all time".[32] Fans of Bradford City have gone on to call him the real "special one" following the win at Stamford Bridge. Bradford are still the only team, at any level, to have ever overcome a 2–0 deficit at Stamford Bridge and win during the reign of José Mourinho. Mourinho entered the Bradford dressing room after the game and shook the hand of every player as a sign of his respect.[33]

Bradford City followed up their historic victory against Chelsea with a 2–0 win in the fifth round at home to Sunderland on 15 February 2015. Their cup run ended in the quarter-final with a 3–0 defeat to Championship side Reading on 16 March.[34]

Bradford reached the League One play-offs in the 2015–16 season under Parkinson's management, but exited at the semi-finals after being beaten 4–2 on aggregate over two legs by Millwall.[35]

Parkinson was the fifth-longest-serving manager in English league football at the conclusion of the 2015–16 season, having been with Bradford for four years and 286 days. His time in charge of the club came to an end in June 2016, however, as Parkinson left Bradford to join Bolton Wanderers, who had recently been relegated into League One.[36]

Bolton Wanderers

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On 10 June 2016, both Parkinson and assistant manager Steve Parkin signed two-year deals to join Bradford's fellow League One side Bolton, thus ending Wanderers' three-month search for a replacement for Neil Lennon.[36][37] Parkinson led Bolton to an unbeaten first month of the season, topping the table and winning League One's August Manager of the Month award. This was Bolton's best start to a season in 82 years.[38] After failing to win any games in September,[39] Parkinson was named manager of the month again for October - his second in the first three months of the season.[40] Parkinson won the award for the third time that season in March 2017, with Bolton seven points clear of third place.[41]

Bolton ended the season with a 3–0 win against Peterborough United which was enough to seal promotion back to the Championship at the first attempt as runners up. Bolton finished on 86 points, four points ahead of Scunthorpe United in third.[42] Promotion was achieved in spite of the club being under a transfer embargo imposed by the EFL, with Bolton limited to free transfers and short-term loan deals, whilst remaining under a pre-determined wage cap.[43]

Parkinson's newly promoted Bolton side struggled at the beginning of the 2017–18 season, only earning their first win of the season against Sheffield Wednesday in mid-October, as the club languished at the foot of the Championship table with just five points from 12 games, six points adrift of safety.[44] Parkinson's side would subsequently embark on a six-game unbeaten run following the win, however the club remained inside the relegation zone at its conclusion, having drawn five of the six games.[45] Such was the poor start to the season, it took Parkinson's reinvigorated Bolton side until early December to emerge from the relegation zone, after beating Barnsley 3–1 at home.[46] Bolton earned their first away victory of the season on 30 December 2017, producing a shock 1–0 win at high-flying Sheffield United.[47] Parkinson's Bolton side won back-to-back league matches for the first time since winning promotion on 1 January 2018, by defeating struggling Hull City 1–0. The result saw Bolton emerge from the relegation zone on New Year's Day.[48] Bolton's improved results coincided with Gary Madine hitting form, with the striker scoring the only goals in both victories to bring his tally for the season up to nine goals.[49]

Parkinson resigned as Bolton manager on 21 August 2019.[50]

Sunderland

[edit]

On 17 October 2019, Parkinson was unveiled as the Sunderland manager on a two-and-a-half-year contract.[51] He parted company with Sunderland on 29 November 2020.[52]

Wrexham

[edit]

On 1 July 2021, Parkinson was appointed manager of National League side Wrexham on a 12-month rolling contract.[53] Parkinson was awarded the National League Manager of the Month award for March 2022 after leading the team to four wins and a draw.[54] This award came two days after Wrexham had defeated league leaders Stockport County 2–0 in the FA Trophy semi-final to win a place in the final at Wembley against Bromley.[55] In the final, Wrexham would finish as runners-up to Bromley.[56] In the league, they finished second behind Stockport County before losing 5–4 at home to Grimsby Town in the play-off semi-finals.[57] In the following season, Wrexham, under Parkinson, achieved promotion to League Two as National League champions in the 2022–23 season. This marked a return for Wrexham to the English Football League after a 15-year absence.[58] Wrexham would ultimately accrue 111 points in total, four points clear of Notts County in second place.[59] The 111 league points total set a record for the top five divisions of English league football. In their 2023–24 League Two campaign, they would achieve a second successive promotion in second place behind Stockport County.[60]

Wrexham's impressive form carried over into the 2024–25 season, an unbeaten four games to start the season seeing Parkinson named League One Manager of the Month for August 2024.[61]

Managerial statistics

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As of match played 16 November 2024
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record Ref.
P W D L Win %
Colchester United 25 February 2003 14 June 2006 187 79 54 54 042.25 [62]
Hull City 29 June 2006 4 December 2006 24 5 6 13 020.83 [62]
Charlton Athletic 22 November 2008 4 January 2011 114 44 37 33 038.60 [16][62]
Bradford City 28 August 2011 10 June 2016 274 101 86 87 036.86 [20][62]
Bolton Wanderers 10 June 2016 21 August 2019 157 49 34 74 031.21 [62]
Sunderland 17 October 2019 29 November 2020 48 19 15 14 039.58 [63][62]
Wrexham 1 July 2021 Present 185 113 40 32 061.08 [62]
Total 989 410 272 307 041.46 —

Honours

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Player

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Reading

Individual

Manager

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Colchester

Bradford City

Bolton Wanderers

Wrexham

Individual

  1. League One - March 2003, September 2003, January 2006, August 2009, November 2010, December 2014, August 2016, October 2016, March 2017
  2. League Two - December 2011[73]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "Phil Parkinson". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  2. ^ Dunk, Peter, ed. (1987). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 336. ISBN 978-0-356-14354-5.
  3. ^ "Bradford manager Phil Parkinson: 'I represent all the people who lost loved ones'". The Daily Telegraph. 6 March 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  4. ^ Holley, Duncan; Chalk, Gary (2003). In That Number – A post-war chronicle of Southampton FC. Hagiology Publishing. p. 614. ISBN 0-9534474-3-X.
  5. ^ "Sport in Short: Football". The Independent. London. 6 July 1992. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  6. ^ "Phil Parkinson Testimonial". Hob Nob Anyone?. 13 May 2002. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  7. ^ "Cambridge 3–1 Reading". BBC. 10 September 2002. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  8. ^ "Games played by Phil Parkinson in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  9. ^ "Revealed – The Royals' best-ever XI as voted for by fans on this site". Reading FC. 22 August 2005. Archived from the original on 13 April 2008. Retrieved 14 June 2006.
  10. ^ "Colchester boss Parkinson resigns". BBC Sport. 14 June 2006. Retrieved 14 June 2006.
  11. ^ "Parkinson confirmed as Hull boss". BBC Sport. 29 June 2006. Retrieved 29 June 2006.
  12. ^ "Colchester 5–1 Hull". BBC Sport. 29 November 2006. Retrieved 4 April 2007.
  13. ^ "Hull part company with Parkinson". BBC Sport. 4 December 2006. Retrieved 5 December 2006.
  14. ^ "Parkinson in Huddersfield U-turn". BBC Sport. 4 April 2007. Retrieved 4 April 2007.
  15. ^ "Parkinson signs new Charlton deal". BBC Sport. 10 April 2007. Retrieved 10 April 2007.
  16. ^ a b "Pardew and Charlton part company". BBC Sport. 22 November 2008. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  17. ^ "Parkinson to manage Addicks revival". cafc.co.uk. 31 December 2008. Retrieved 31 December 2008.[permanent dead link‍]
  18. ^ Gibbs, Thom (4 January 2011). "Charlton sack manager Phil Parkinson". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  19. ^ "Charlton Athletic sack manager Phil Parkinson". BBC Sport. 4 January 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  20. ^ a b "Phil Parkinson appointed Bradford City manager". BBC Sport. 28 August 2011. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  21. ^ Woodcock, Ian (11 December 2012). "Bradford 1-1 Arsenal (3-2 pens)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  22. ^ McNulty, Phil (8 January 2013). "Bradford 3–1 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  23. ^ McNulty, Phil (22 January 2013). "Aston Villa 2–1 Bradford (3–4)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  24. ^ a b "Bantams battered by Swans". ESPN. 25 February 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  25. ^ "Bradford 0–5 Swansea". BBC Sport. 24 February 2013.
  26. ^ "Bradford City boss Parkinson bemoans Duke red card". Goal.com. 24 February 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  27. ^ "Football League Awards: Matej Vydra named Player of the Year". BBC Sport. 25 March 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  28. ^ a b "Bradford 3-0 Northampton". BBC Sport. 18 May 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  29. ^ "Bradford City: Phil Parkinson delighted by dream start". BBC Sport. 18 May 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  30. ^ "Phil Parkinson signs new Bradford City deal". BBC Sport. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  31. ^ Emons, Michael (24 January 2015). "Chelsea 2-4 Bradford City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  32. ^ Robbie Fowler (24 January 2015). "FA Cup: Bradford beating Chelsea greatest shock". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  33. ^ "Classy Mourinho the 'icing on the cake' for Bradford". ESPN. 25 January 2015.
  34. ^ "Reading 3–0 Bradford City". BBC Sport. 16 March 2015.
  35. ^ "Millwall 1–1 Bradford (Agg 4-2)". BBC Sport. 20 May 2016.
  36. ^ a b "Phil Parkinson: Bolton Wanderers appoint Bradford City boss as new manager". BBC Sport. 10 June 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  37. ^ "Phil Parkinson appointed Bolton Wanderers manager". Bolton Wanderers F.C. 10 June 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  38. ^ a b "Phil Parkinson named August Sky Bet League One Manager of the Month". Bolton Wanderers F.C. 9 September 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  39. ^ "Bolton Wanderers FC Fixture List". Bolton Wanderers F.C. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  40. ^ a b "Phil Parkinson named Sky Bet League One October Manager of the Month". Bolton Wanderers F.C. 11 November 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  41. ^ a b "Phil Parkinson named Sky Bet League One March Manager of the Month". Bolton Wanderers F.C. 7 April 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  42. ^ "Bolton Wanderers 3–0 Peterborough United". BBC Sport. 30 April 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  43. ^ "Wanderers placed under transfer embargo by the Football League". The Bolton News. 24 December 2015.
  44. ^ "Bolton Wanderers 2–1 Sheffield Wednesday". BBC Sport. 14 October 2017.
  45. ^ "Bolton Wanderers 2–2 Reading". Sky Sports. 21 November 2017.
  46. ^ "Bolton Wanderers 3–1 Barnsley". BBC Sport. 2 December 2017.
  47. ^ "Sheffield United 0–1 Bolton Wanderers". BBC Sport. 30 December 2017.
  48. ^ "Bolton Wanderers 1–0 Hull City". BBC Sport. 1 January 2018.
  49. ^ "Phil Parkinson dismisses 'absurd' tactical talk at Bolton Wanderers". The Bolton News. 1 January 2018.
  50. ^ "Phil Parkinson: Bolton Wanderers manager resigns from League One club". Bbc.co.uk. 22 August 2019.
  51. ^ "SAFC Appoint Phil Parkinson". Sunderland AFC. 17 October 2019. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  52. ^ "Sunderland part company with Parkinson". BBC Sport.
  53. ^ "Phil Parkinson takes charge at Wrexham AFC". www.wrexhamafc.co.uk. 1 July 2021.
  54. ^ a b "MANAGER OF THE MONTH: Phil Parkinson wins National League award". www.wrexhamafc.co.uk. 4 April 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  55. ^ "REPORT : Wrexham AFC 2–0 Stockport County". www.wrexhamafc.co.uk. 2 April 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  56. ^ a b Aled Williams (22 May 2022). "Bromley beat Wrexham to lift FA Trophy". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  57. ^ Williams, Aled (28 May 2022). "Wrexham 4–5 Grimsby Town (aet)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  58. ^ "Report: Wrexham AFC 3–1 Boreham Wood". www.bbc.com. 22 April 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  59. ^ "Torquay United 1–1 Wrexham". BBC Sport. 29 April 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  60. ^ a b Pritchard, Dafydd (27 April 2024). "Wrexham 2–1 Stockport County". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  61. ^ a b "August's Sky Bet League One Manager & Player of the Month winners". www.efl.com. 13 September 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  62. ^ a b c d e f g "Managers: Phil Parkinson". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  63. ^ "SAFC appoint Phil Parkinson". 17 October 2019.
  64. ^ "REPORT : Wrexham AFC 3–1 Boreham Wood". www.bbc.com. 22 April 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  65. ^ "LMA News - LMA Annual Awards, sponsored by Barclays, review". 26 March 2014. Archived from the original on 26 March 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  66. ^ "Sir Alex Ferguson wins Manager of Year award". 21 May 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  67. ^ "Parkinson named FA Cup Manager of the Year by the LMA". Bradford City FC. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  68. ^ "Parkinson wins Football Manager Outstanding Managerial Achievement Award". www.efl.com. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  69. ^ "The Football League | News | FL Awards | FL Awards | Past Winners". 6 June 2013. Archived from the original on 6 June 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  70. ^ "The Football League Award 2013 winners announced". www.efl.com. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  71. ^ "Parkinson named Manager of the Month". 7 February 2020.
  72. ^ "Parkinson takes manager prize". Sky Sports. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  73. ^ "League Managers Association - PHIL PARKINSON". www.leaguemanagers.com. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  74. ^ "MANAGER OF THE MONTH : Phil Parkinson scoops September award". www.wrexhamafc.co.uk. 10 October 2022. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  75. ^ "Pride For Phil And Inih As National League Winners Announced". www.thenationalleague.org.uk. 15 February 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  76. ^ Scott, Tom (11 May 2023). "Vanarama National League Big Winners Announced". The National League. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
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