1. Playing Career
Bell began his football career at his hometown club, Leicester City, in Leicester, England. However, he did not manage to break into the first team. At the age of 20, he moved to Germany to continue his playing career.
From 1982 to 1987, Bell played for VfL Hamm. Subsequently, in 1987, he joined 1. FSV Mainz 05, where he spent two seasons. During his time at Mainz, he made 40 appearances and scored 6 goals in the 2. Bundesliga. He retired from professional playing in 1989 at the age of 28.
2. Coaching Career
Colin Bell's extensive coaching career began immediately after his retirement from playing in 1989. He has managed a variety of teams across different leagues and countries, with a significant part of his career dedicated to women's football since 2011.
2.1. Early Coaching Roles
Bell started his coaching journey at TuS Koblenz, where he managed the team for seven years. In 1996, he moved to 1. FC Köln, joining their coaching staff. His most high-profile early appointment came in 1999 when he took on the managerial role at Dynamo Dresden. However, this period was not successful; the team failed to qualify for the restructured Regionalliga and consequently dropped to the Oberliga (level four) for the first time in their history, leading to Bell's dismissal before the season concluded. Following this, he had coaching spells managing SV Waldhof Mannheim, the reserve team of 1. FSV Mainz 05, and SC Preußen Münster. He later returned to TuS Koblenz in a dual role as an assistant manager and youth coach.
2.2. Club Coaching Career
Bell's club coaching career progressed through various roles, notably shifting his focus to women's football in 2011.
2.2.1. SC 07 Bad Neuenahr
In 2011, Colin Bell transitioned into women's football, taking on the managerial position at SC 07 Bad Neuenahr in Germany's Women's Bundesliga. This appointment marked a significant turning point in his career, initiating an eight-year period primarily dedicated to coaching women's teams.
2.2.2. 1. FFC Frankfurt
Two seasons later, in 2013, Bell was appointed manager of 1. FFC Frankfurt, a prominent club in German women's football (now part of Eintracht Frankfurt Women). His tenure until 2015 was highly successful. Under his leadership, the team secured a runner-up finish in the Frauen-Bundesliga during the 2013-14 season. They also won the DFB-Pokal Frauen in 2014. The pinnacle of his time at Frankfurt came in the 2014-15 season when he guided the team to win the UEFA Women's Champions League. Additionally, he led 1. FFC Frankfurt to win the Hesse Cup in 2013. He departed the club in December 2015.
2.2.3. Avaldsnes IL
Following his success in Germany, Bell moved to Norway in December 2015 to coach Avaldsnes IL, a leading club in the Toppserien, the top-tier women's football league. He managed the team through the 2016 season. During his time there, Avaldsnes IL achieved consecutive runner-up finishes in the Toppserien in both the 2015 and 2016 seasons. They also reached the final of the Norwegian Women's Cup in 2015, finishing as runner-up.
2.2.4. SC Sand
In July 2016, Bell returned to Germany to manage SC Sand in the Frauen-Bundesliga. In the 2016-17 season under his guidance, SC Sand reached the final of the DFB-Pokal Frauen, ultimately finishing as runner-up.
2.2.5. Huddersfield Town A.F.C. (Assistant Head Coach)
On 29 June 2019, Bell took on a brief role as Assistant Head Coach at EFL Championship club Huddersfield Town. He left this position later that year.
2.2.6. Aberdeen F.C. Women
Until recently, Bell was the manager for Aberdeen F.C. Women. His appointment was in September 2024, prior to his move to the China U-20 national team.
2.3. National Team Coaching Career
Bell has also held significant roles as a manager for various national football teams, making a notable impact at the international level.
2.3.1. Republic of Ireland women's national team
On 8 February 2017, Colin Bell was appointed as the Senior International Manager of the Republic of Ireland women's national football team, succeeding Sue Ronan. He officially began his duties on 13 February 2017 and served in this capacity until June 2019. Under his leadership, the team achieved a 4th-place finish in the 2017 Cyprus Cup.
2.3.2. South Korea women's national team
On 18 October 2019, Colin Bell was appointed as the manager of the South Korea women's national football team. This marked a historic moment as he became the first ever foreign manager for the South Korea women's national team, taking over from Choi In-cheol. His contract initially ran until the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup.
Under Bell's guidance, South Korea achieved several significant milestones:
- They secured a runner-up finish in the 2019 EAFF E-1 Football Championship.
- Although their campaign for a historic first Olympic appearance was halted by the China women's national team in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Asian qualifiers, Bell led South Korea to their first ever AFC Women's Asian Cup final in the 2022 edition.
- This achievement simultaneously secured South Korea's third consecutive and fourth overall qualification for the FIFA Women's World Cup. In the 2022 Women's Asian Cup final, South Korea ultimately finished as runner-up, losing to China.
2.3.3. China U-20 women's national team
On 8 October 2024, Colin Bell was appointed as the manager of the China women's national under-20 football team, which is his current role.
3. Honours
Colin Bell has accumulated several significant honours throughout his coaching career, particularly in women's club and national team football.
3.1. Club Honours
- 1. FFC Frankfurt (Women)
- UEFA Women's Champions League: Winner (2014-15)
- DFB-Pokal Frauen: Winner (2013-14)
- Frauen-Bundesliga: Runner-up (2013-14)
- Hesse Cup: Winner (2013)
- Avaldsnes IL
- Toppserien: Runner-up (2015, 2016)
- Norwegian Women's Cup: Runner-up (2015)
- SC Sand
- DFB-Pokal Frauen: Runner-up (2016-17)
3.2. National Team Honours
- Republic of Ireland (Women)
- Cyprus Cup: 4th Place (2017)
- South Korea (Women)
- EAFF E-1 Football Championship: Runner-up (2019)
- AFC Women's Asian Cup: Runner-up (2022)