List of Birmingham City F.C. managers

This chronological list of managers of Birmingham City Football Club comprises all those who have held the position of manager of the first team of Birmingham City and its predecessors "Small Heath" and "Birmingham" since the club was first admitted to the Football League in 1892. Each manager's entry includes his dates of tenure and the club's overall competitive record (in terms of matches won, drawn and lost), honours won and significant achievements while under his care. Caretaker managers are included, where known, as well as those who have been in permanent charge.

History

In the early days, team management was undertaken by a club committee. When payment of players was legalised in 1885, Alfred Jones began to act as club secretary on a voluntary basis. Small Heath's election to the newly-formed Second Division of the Football League in 1892 prompted the board of directors to appoint him as the club's first paid official, responsible as secretary-manager for matters on the field in addition to his administrative duties. In his first season the club won the inaugural Second Division championship, and gained promotion to the First Division for the first time the following year via the Test Match system. Jones's 16-year tenure saw three promotions and three relegations, after the last of which in 1908 he resigned. [Matthews (2000), "Jones, Alfred", p. 127.] [Matthews (1995), pp. 8–9.] Successor Alex Watson's two seasons in charge ended with the club having to apply for re-election to the league [Matthews (2000), "Watson, Alexander", p. 231.] and with responsibility for team affairs passing to former player Bob McRoberts, who became the club's first dedicated team manager. [Matthews (2000), "McRoberts, Bob", p. 145–46.]

Frank Richards succeeded Watson as club secretary in 1911, and when the First World War broke out he took over the managerial reins as well. Under Richards Birmingham won the Second Division title in 1921 and signed players such as Joe Bradford, Johnny Crosbie and Dan Tremelling who did much to keep the club in the top flight through the 1920s. He also forgot to enter them in the 1922 FA Cup. [Matthews (2000), "Richards, Frank", p. 190.] [Matthews (1995), pp. 14–15.] Billy Beer [Matthews (2000), "Beer, Billy", pp. 27–28.] and Bill Harvey [Matthews (2000), "Harvey, Billy", p. 107.] kept them in the First Division, albeit in the lower half of the table, before former Arsenal manager Leslie Knighton took charge in 1928. He led them to their first FA Cup final in 1931 and a top-half league finish the following year, but left when Chelsea made him an offer Birmingham were unable to match. [Matthews (2000), "Knighton, Albert Leslie", p. 130.] Former Birmingham defender George Liddell kept them in the top tier until they were relegated in the last season completed before the Second World War, resigning in September 1939 when league football was suspended. His tenure of just over six years made him the club's longest-serving team manager. [Matthews (2000), "Liddell, George", p. 138.]

Harry Storer, appointed just before the war ended, won the championship of the 1945–46 Football League South wartime league and the Second Division title two years later. [Matthews (2000), "Storer, Harry", p. 212.] Under Bob Brocklebank Birmingham were relegated from the First Division, but reached the semifinal of the 1951 FA Cup and signed many of the players moulded by Arthur Turner into a successful team. [Matthews (2000), "Brocklebank, Bob", p. 42.] Turner won promotion in 1955, the next season led the team to their highest league finish of sixth place and their second ever FA Cup final, [Matthews (2000), "Turner, Arthur", p. 225.] and in 1957 reached the semifinals of both the FA Cup and the inaugural Inter-Cities Fairs Cup competition. [Matthews (1995), p. 29.] In 1958 the club experimented with a joint appointment, hiring Pat Beasley to work alongside Turner; the experiment annoyed Turner and after six months prompted his resignation. [Matthews (1995), pp. 61–62.] Beasley and successor Gil Merrick took the club to successive finals of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1960 and 1961. Merrick managed the club to their only major trophy, the League Cup in 1963, beating local rivals Aston Villa 3–1 on aggregate, but four years in the bottom six places earned him the sack. [Matthews (2000), "Merrick, Gil", p. 154.] [cite web
url=http://www.blues.premiumtv.co.uk/page/WhereAreTheyNowDetail/0,,10412~531405,00.html |title=Gil Merrick |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |accessdate=2008-02-18]

Joe Mallett presided over relegation before acting as assistant to Stan Cullis, [Matthews (2000), "Mallett, Joe", p. 147.] who laid the foundations for the team's future success before retiring from football in 1970. [Matthews (2000), "Cullis, Stan", p. 63.] Chosen only after abortive approaches were made to Don Revie, Brian Clough and Ronnie Allen, [Matthews (2000), "Managers", p. 147–48.] Freddie Goodwin converted the attractive but inconsistent football of Cullis's teams to a skilful, aggressive game capable of winning promotion and maintaining top-flight status. [Matthews (1995), pp. 37–38.] The side struggled after Goodwin sold Bob Latchford, so first-team coach Willie Bell was promoted to manager, initially in a caretaker capacity. [cite web
url=http://www.mightyleeds.co.uk/players/bell.htm |title=Willie Bell - Hewn of Scottish granite |work=The Mighty Mighty Whites |accessdate=2008-02-18] After achieving little in two years, [Matthews (1995), p. 39.] Bell was replaced by club director Sir Alf Ramsey, whose brief tenure ended with him leaving the club entirely.ref label|Ramsey|A| Jim Smith brought experienced players to the club [Matthews (1995), pp. 39–42.] but was sacked to make way for Ron Saunders, who had just walked out on league champions and local rivals Aston Villa.ref label|Saunders|B|a

Financial difficulties and instability at board level led to six managerial changes in seven years. Saunders resigned after FA Cup defeat to non-league Altrincham, [cite news
url=http://www.sportinglife.com/football/cups/facup/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/08/01/27/SOCCER_Liverpool.html |title=Havant enter Cup folklore |work=Sporting Life |date=2008-01-27 |accessdate=2008-02-18 |author=Walker, Paul] John Bond seemed out of touch, [Matthews (1995), p. 65.] and in April 1989, once relegation to the Third Division for the first time in the club's history was confirmed, the club's new owners replaced Garry Pendrey with Dave Mackay. [cite news
url=http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/birmingham-city-fc/blues-legends/2008/01/22/blues-legends-garry-pendrey-97319-20408863/ |title=Blues legends - Garry Pendrey |work=Birmingham Mail |author=Tattum, Colin |date=2008-01-22 |accessdate=2008-02-19] Within 18 months, with relegation to the Fourth Division a possibility, Mackay resigned. [Matthews (1995), p. 47–48.] Lou Macari came in, revitalised the side, won the Associate Members Cupref label|FLTrophy|C|a at Wembley, and three weeks later walked out to join Stoke City. [cite news
url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:LTIB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F91E9DD0365A724&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815 |title=Ambitious Macari appointed by Stoke |work=The Times |date=1991-06-19 |accessdate=2008-02-18] Terry Cooper won promotion back to the second tier and kept the team going during four months of administration before he quit, fearing new owner David Sullivan would want to bring in his own man. [cite news
url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:BSMB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=11C4FC4C380BD6E0&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated4&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815 |title=Cooper: Stay put Brucey |author=Walker, Andy |publisher=Sunday Mercury |location=Birmingham |date=2007-10-17 |accessdate=2007-12-12]

Southend United manager Barry Fry, hired at the cost of an FA fine for "poaching", [cite news
url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/birmingham/article2563433.ece |title=First Lady still packing punch in Second City |author=Kempson, Russell |work=The Times |date=2007-10-01 |accessdate=2008-02-17] failed to avoid relegation but combined the Division Two title with another victorious trip to Wembley in the Football League Trophyref label|FLTrophy|C|b in 1995. After one ineffectual season in the second tier which brought his total of players used up to 61, he was sacked. [cite news |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19960508/ai_n14044681 |title=Francis fancied as Fry is sacked |author=Shaw, Phil |work=The Independent |date=1996-05-08 |accessdate=2008-02-17]
Trevor Francis introduced Premier League players to the team and took them to the 2001 League Cup final, but three successive play-off semifinal defeats led to his departure by mutual consent. [cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/1586321.stm |title=Francis leaves Blues |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2001-10-15 |accessdate=2007-10-12] Two months later, after the dispute over his release from previous employers Crystal Palace reached the High Court, Steve Bruce took charge. [cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/birmingham_city/1704971.stm |title=Birmingham unveil Bruce |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2001-12-12 |accessdate=2007-10-12] Bruce, the ninth former player to have served as permanent manager, led the club to promotion via the play-offs in his first season; his tenure of nearly six years made him the club's longest-serving post-war manager.cite web |url=http://www.soccerbase.com/manager_history.sd?teamid=291 |title=Manager History for Birmingham City |work=Soccerbase |publisher=Racing Post |accessdate=2008-02-17] After uncertainty surrounding a takeover bid for the club led Bruce to accept the managerial post at Wigan Athletic,cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wigan_athletic/7100525.stm |title=Bruce leaves Birmingham for Wigan |publisher=BBC |date=2007-11-20 |accessdate=2008-02-17] the current incumbent, former Scotland manager Alex McLeish, was appointed on 28 November 2007, [cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/birmingham_city/7115728.stm |title=Birmingham unveil McLeish as boss |publisher=BBC |date=2007-11-28 |accessdate=2007-11-28] but was unable to avoid relegation at the end of his first part-season. [cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7381773.stm |title= Birmingham 4-1 Blackburn |publisher=BBC Sport |author=McKenzie, Andrew |date=2008-05-11 |accessdate=2008-05-12]

Managers

All first-team matches in national or international competition are counted, except the abandoned 1939–40 Football League season and matches in wartime leagues and cups.

Manager dates and statistics are sourced from Matthews (1995) for Jones and Watson, [Matthews (1995), pp. 141–56.] The Birmingham City FC Archive for McRoberts to Francis, [cite web |url=http://www.bcfc-archive.freeserve.co.uk/managers.htm |title=Managers |work=The Birmingham City FC Archive |publisher=Tony Jordan |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20030410030300/http://www.bcfc-archive.freeserve.co.uk/managers.htm |archivedate=2003-04-10] [cite web |url=http://www.bcfc-archive.freeserve.co.uk/manageranalysis.htm |title=Manager Analysis |work=The Birmingham City FC Archive |publisher=Tony Jordan |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20030410030300/http://www.bcfc-archive.freeserve.co.uk/manageranalysis.htm |archivedate=2003-04-10] and Soccerbase thereafter. Omissions and other discrepancies are corrected with input from Matthews (1995), Matthews (2000) and elsewhere, and are noted in the table. Statistics are complete up to and including 12 October 2008.

Names of caretaker managers are supplied where known, and periods of caretaker-management are highlighted in "italics". Win percentage is rounded to one decimal place.

;Key

M: Matches playedW: Matches wonD: Matches drawnL: Matches lost

Notes

A. Ramsey's biographer has him "locked in an increasingly bitter three-way dispute with his star player, Trevor Francis, and the board". After initially accepting the player's transfer request, the board changed their minds, fearful they would "incur the wrath of already disgruntled fans". Ramsey duly handed in his notice. [cite book
author=McKinstry, Leo |title=Sir Alf |publisher=Harper Sport |location=London |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-00-719378-3 |pages=pp. 486-87] "The Times" reported that "Sir Alf said he told the board two weeks ago that he intended to quit and sever his links with the club. ... He said at a board meeting on February 20 he recommended both Francis and the defender, Joe Gallagher, should be transfer listed. The board agreed but three days later changed their minds about Francis. Sir Alf said he then decided to opt out because of the board's policy." [cite news |title=Francis issue caused Sir Alf to quit |work=The Times |date=1978-03-09 |page=14]

B. note label|Saunders|B|anote label|Saunders|B|bnote label|Saunders|B|c Saunders was announced as Birmingham manager on Thursday 18 February 1982, having walked out on local rivals Aston Villa some two weeks earlier. As the Birmingham derby was scheduled for the Saturday, he took over formally as manager after the derby on Monday 22 February. "Mr Saunders said that the final formalities were in the hands of solicitors and accountants and, subject to completion of the details, he would be taking over on Monday, Norman Bodell, acting as manager since Jim Smith was suddenly dismissed on Monday, will be in charge of the side for the local derby." [cite news |title=Villa's loss becomes Birmingham's gain |work=The Times |author=Jones, Stuart |date=1982-02-19 |page=20 |accessdate=2007-11-23]

C. note label|FLTrophy|C|anote label|FLTrophy|C|bnote label|FLTrophy|C|cnote label|FLTrophy|C|d The Associate Members Cup was renamed the Football League Trophy in 1992. It is popularly known by its sponsored names, the Leyland DAF Cup in 1991 and the Auto Windscreens Shield in 1995.

D. note label|sec|D|anote label|sec|D|bnote label|sec|D|cnote label|sec|D|dnote label|sec|D|e Secretary-manager.

E. Club's first full-time manager.

F. note label|player|F|anote label|player|F|bnote label|player|F|cnote label|player|F|dnote label|player|F|enote label|player|F|fnote label|player|F|gnote label|player|F|hnote label|player|F|i Formerly played for the club.

G. note label|war|G|anote label|war|G|b Took charge of matches in wartime leagues/cups only.

H. BCFC Archive totals omit ten games in 1945–46 FA Cup.

I. Turner was the first manager to manage an English "club side" in European competition, when Birmingham played their first group game in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 1955-58 on 15 May 1956, a goalless draw away at Inter Milan. The competition lasted over three English seasons with the final not played until 1958. (The London XI, a representative side made up of players from several London clubs, were the first English "team" when they played their first group game in the same competition in 1955.)cite web
url=http://www.rsssf.com/ec/ecomp.html |title=European Cups Archive |accessdate=2007-07-27 |author=Ross, James M. |date=2006-07-13 |publisher=RSSSF]

J. Joint managers.

K. Beasley was appointed "acting manager" when Turner left in September 1958, becoming manager in January 1959. [Matthews (1995), p. 62.] He was the first manager to manage an English "club side" to the final of a European competition. The home leg of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 1958-60 final against Barcelona, a goalless draw, was played on 29 March 1960; Barcelona won the away leg 4–1. (The London XI were the first English "team" when they reached the final of the 1955–58 Fairs Cup.)

L. note label|Cullis|L|anote label|Cullis|L|b BCFC Archive has Cullis taking over at Christmas 1965, and, according to a biography, he "eventually returned to the dug-out on Boxing Day 1965", [cite book |author=Holden, Jim |title=Stan Cullis: The Iron Manager |publisher=Breedon Books |location=Derby |date=2000 |page=p. 162 |isbn=1-85983-211-3] but "The Times" reports his date of appointment as 7 December, and their preview of matches to be played on 11 December mentions that "Cullis, so long the master of Wolverhampton Wanderers until being relieved of his duties last season, has now returned to manage Birmingham." [cite news |work=The Times |title=Eventful Day for League Leaders |date=1966-12-11 |page=4 |accessdate=2008-01-31]

M. BCFC Archive totals include the away leg of the Texaco Cup quarter final match against Newcastle United, abandoned at 1–1 and later replayed. [cite web |url=http://www.toonarama.co.uk/seasons/1970s/season73-74.html |work=Toonarama (a Newcastle United fansite) |title=Season 1973/74 |accessdate=2008-01-31]

N. note label|Bruce|N|anote label|Bruce|N|b Soccerbase has Bruce replaced by Black on 19 November 2007. Wigan Athletic announced Bruce as their new manager on that date, but a financial dispute meant he did not officially leave Birmingham until 23 November, when Eric Black took over as caretaker with immediate effect. [cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wigan_athletic/7105078.stm |title=Bruce confirmed as Wigan manager |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2007-11-23 |accessdate=2008-03-15] [cite web |url=http://www.blues.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10412~1172626,00.html |title=Club statement |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=2007-11-23 |accessdate=2008-03-15]

O. Soccerbase has Black leaving on 28 November 2007, the date of McLeish's appointment, but in fact he left the day before. [cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/birmingham_city/7115146.stm |title=Birmingham lose caretaker Black |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2007-11-27 |accessdate=2008-03-15]

P. As BCFC Archive doesn't specify detail for period between Storer and Brocklebank, statistics are sourced from Matthews (1995). [Matthews (1995), p. 184.]

References

;General
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20030326141451/http://www.bcfc-archive.freeserve.co.uk/ The Birmingham City FC Archive] . Tony Jordan. (via archive.org).
* [http://www.soccerbase.com/manager_history.sd?teamid=291 Birmingham City managerial history] at Soccerbase.
* [http://www.fchd.info/SMALLHEA.HTM Small Heath] , [http://www.fchd.info/BIRMINGH.HTM Birmingham] , and fchd|id=BIRMINGC|name=Birmingham City.
* [http://www.footballsite.co.uk/Statistics/ClubbyClub/ClubHistories/Birmingham.htm Birmingham City] at Football Facts & Figures.
*cite book |author=Matthews, Tony |title=Birmingham City: A Complete Record |publisher=Breedon Books |location=Derby |year=1995 |isbn=978-1-85983-010-9
*cite book |author=Matthews, Tony |title=The Encyclopedia of Birmingham City Football Club 1875-2000 |publisher=Britespot |location=Cradley Heath |year=2000 |isbn=978-0-9539288-0-4

;Specific

External links

* [http://www.bcfc.com Birmingham City F.C. official website]