Peter Reid

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Reid spent three years at Maine Road as player-manager, and guided them to two fifth-place finishes in the First Division, the first of which saw them finish above their city rivals Manchester United. He was persuaded to resume his playing career after leaving Manchester City, and briefly played for Southampton, Notts County and Bury before returning to management with Sunderland in 1995. He won promotion to the Premier League with the club on two occasions and achieved two seventh-place finishes in the top division. He combined his role at the Stadium of Light with the job as manager of the England U21 for a brief spell in 1999. His seven-year association with Sunderland ended in 2002 and he returned to management a year later, helping Leeds United avoid relegation from the Premier League. Reid left Elland Road the following season. He was appointed manager of Coventry City in 2004 but his tenure lasted less than a year. He then worked as a pundit for the BBC at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and also worked for Sky Sports and ESPN before returning to management with Thailand in 2008. He won the T&T Cup with the country before returning to England as assistant manager to Tony Pulis at Stoke City, and helped them to an eleventh-place finish in the Premier League. He then managed Plymouth Argyle, taking over in June 2010, but was sacked after just over a year at the Devon club.

In Their Own Story

The 1990–91 season saw Manchester City finish fifth in the First Division, one place above their city rivals Manchester United. It was a statement finish for a club that had been in flux, and it was achieved under a manager who had only just taken over. The following season, Reid's City equalled that fifth-place finish, proving the first was no fluke. But the shift to the Premier League in 1992–93 brought a downturn; City slipped to ninth place with a style of play that had grown stale. After a poor start to the 1993–94 season, Reid was dismissed, ending his three-year tenure at Maine Road.

Reader's Guide

Reid's managerial career began on 7 November 1990 at Manchester City, when he was appointed caretaker manager after the departure of Howard Kendall back to Everton. Reid was appointed player-manager on a permanent contract on 15 November. In 1990–91, Manchester City finished fifth (one place above neighbours Manchester United) and equalled this achievement the following season. In the first season of the Premier League (1992–93), City slipped into ninth place with an increasingly stale brand of 'long ball' football and Reid was sacked after a poor start to the following season. Reid bought Keith Curle and Terry Phelan for £2.5 million each. Colin Hendry was sold to be eventually replaced by Michel Vonk. Clive Allen was also sold in December 1991.

Did You Know?

• Reid was voted PFA Footballer of the Year in 1985, the same year he collected a Football League title and European Cup Winners' Cup winner's medal.
• He came 4th in the World Soccer player of the year award in 1985 behind Michel Platini, Preben Elkjaer and Diego Maradona.
• Reid's first full season as Manchester City manager was 1991–92, not 1990–91.
• The claim that Reid bought Keith Curle and Terry Phelan for £2.5 million each is misleading because they were signed in different years, not simultaneously at the same price.