Neil Warnock

3.1. Early spells (1980-1999)

After initial involvement in Sunday League coaching, Warnock's first full managerial role was with Northern Premier League side Gainsborough Trinity in 1981. During his time at Gainsborough, Warnock also played for the club. His Gainsborough side achieved an impressive unbeaten streak for their first 13 home games of the 1980-81 Northern Premier League season, a record that stood until 2022. Under his leadership, Gainsborough finished fifth in the Northern Premier League.

Following his spell at Gainsborough, Warnock managed Burton Albion from 1981 to 1986. He then took charge of Scarborough (1986-1989), where, alongside his assistant Paul Evans, he led the club to win the Football Conference title in 1987. This achievement made Scarborough the first team to gain automatic promotion to the Football League after the abolition of the re-election system.

Warnock had previously spent time as a coach at Peterborough United, where he met Mick Jones. In late 1988, Warnock became manager of Notts County, then in the Third Division, with Jones joining him as assistant. Paul Evans, his assistant from Scarborough, and ex-Scarborough physio Dave Wilson also joined the backroom staff. This team guided Notts County to successive promotions, taking them from the Third Division to the First Division for the 1991-92 season. During this successful period, Warnock notably turned down lucrative offers to manage Chelsea and Sunderland. However, he was dismissed in January 1993 after the club's relegation meant they missed out on a place in the newly formed Premier League.

On 1 February 1993, Warnock arrived at Torquay United as a "consultant" to assist manager Paul Compton. On 24 March 1993, Warnock officially took over as manager following Compton's resignation. He successfully saved the club from relegation from the Football League before departing in May 1993, being replaced by Don O'Riordan. He subsequently declined an offer to manage Lincoln City.

Warnock resumed his successful partnership with Jones, Evans, and Wilson at Huddersfield Town, taking over in July 1993 from Ian Ross. His appointment coincided with Huddersfield's final season at Leeds Road, their home since 1908. Warnock swiftly injected new talent into the squad, signing players like goalkeeper Steve Francis, Darren Bullock, Ronnie Jepson, Tom Cowan, and Pat Scully during his first season, all of whom became key figures in the subsequent promotion season. He also showed faith in young talents from the Centre of Excellence, such as Chris Billy, Simon Baldry, and Andy Booth, who would become a club legend. Despite these additions, Town struggled initially in the 1993-94 season, and Warnock, known for his direct style, offloaded fan favourites like Iwan Roberts, Iffy Onoura, and Chris Marsden. He was initially unpopular, but opinions began to shift during the run to the 1994 Football League Trophy Final, which they lost on penalties to Swansea City. This cup run coincided with an improvement in league form and a surge of optimism, further boosted by the move to the new Alfred McAlpine Stadium for the 1994-95 season. Warnock's side won the Yorkshire Electricity Cup in late 1994 and were strong contenders for automatic promotion, eventually finishing 5th. They triumphed over second-placed Brentford in a thrilling play-off semi-final and then defeated Bristol Rovers at Wembley Stadium to secure promotion. Warnock unexpectedly resigned from Huddersfield just days after their promotion.

Despite his departure from Huddersfield, Warnock made a swift and surprising return to management at Plymouth Argyle, who had just been relegated to Division Three, joining them in June 1995. In his first season, he guided Plymouth to Division Three play-off glory, finishing fourth in the league. A memorable play-off semi-final saw Argyle overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit against Colchester United to win 3-1 at Home Park in the second leg, during which Warnock was famously sent off from the dugout but continued to watch the remainder of the match from the stands with Argyle supporters. The final was the club's first match at Wembley, where a header from Ronnie Mauge secured a 1-0 victory over Darlington and promotion to Division Two. Despite his popularity, Warnock was surprisingly sacked as Argyle manager in February 1997. After this successful period, Warnock experienced two relegations: first with Oldham Athletic in the 1996-97 season, and then with Bury in 1998-99.

3.2. Sheffield United (1999-2007)

Warnock was appointed manager of his boyhood club, Sheffield United, on 2 December 1999. During the 2002-03 season, he led Sheffield United to the semi-finals of both the League Cup and the FA Cup, losing to Liverpool and Arsenal respectively. They also reached the First Division play-off final, where they were defeated 3-0 by Wolverhampton Wanderers. This marked his first play-off loss, having previously achieved four promotions through play-offs in the 1990s.

In 2005, Mick Jones rejoined Warnock's staff as assistant at Bramall Lane. At the end of the 2005-06 season, Sheffield United secured promotion to the Premier League as runners-up in The Championship. The team performed well in their Premier League relegation battle and appeared set for survival for much of the season. However, on the final day, victories for both West Ham United (against Manchester United, with a controversial goal by Carlos Tevez whose contract involved third-party ownership) and Wigan Athletic (against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane, with a last-minute penalty conceded by Sheffield United), ultimately condemned Warnock's side to relegation after just one season in the top flight.

Following the relegation, Warnock resigned from the club on 16 May 2007, stating a need for time out of football. The circumstances of the relegation, particularly the controversy surrounding Carlos Tevez, were a significant talking point. Warnock later wrote in his autobiography that actor and Sheffield United fan Sean Bean confronted him in his office after the final game, blaming him for the relegation in a "foul-mouthed tirade" in front of Warnock's wife and daughter. Bean denied this, calling Warnock "bitter" and "hypocritical", asserting he would never use such language in front of another man's family.

3.3. Crystal Palace (2007-2010)

In the summer of 2007, Warnock held discussions with Milan Mandarić about the vacant managerial role at Leicester City but was not offered the job. He then returned to football management on 11 October 2007, joining Crystal Palace following the dismissal of Peter Taylor. Initially hesitant, he accepted the role, partly aided by his personal friendship with owner and chairman Simon Jordan. Mick Jones also returned from his sabbatical to join Warnock's coaching team. Under Warnock and Jones, Palace underwent a remarkable transformation, moving from relegation candidates to promotion contenders within six months. Warnock's strategic use of young players was a key factor in the team's improved performances and results. Palace ultimately reached the play-offs but were defeated in the semi-final by Bristol City.

Warnock continued as manager for the 2008-09 season, though he had previously indicated that the Crystal Palace job would be his final managerial role due to the club's worsening financial situation. The 2009-10 season saw Palace perform commendably despite severe restrictions imposed by the club's dire finances, which led to them being placed into administration in late January. The Football League imposed a ten-point deduction as a result. Crystal Palace's administrator later stated that Warnock was "let go" after he expressed to the administrator that he lacked the resolve for the fight to save the club.

3.4. Queens Park Rangers (2010-2012)

On 1 March 2010, Neil Warnock was appointed manager of Queens Park Rangers on a three-and-a-half-year deal, with compensation agreed with Crystal Palace. His debut match in charge was a decisive 3-1 home victory against West Bromwich Albion. He successfully guided QPR to comfortably avoid relegation in the 2009-10 season, which included a 2-0 away win against his former club, Crystal Palace, at Selhurst Park.

Warnock was recognized as the Manager of the Month for August 2010. Employing a new 4-2-3-1 formation centered around playmaker Adel Taarabt, who would go on to win the Football League Championship Player of the Year in 2011, QPR led the table for the majority of the 2010-11 season. On 30 April 2011, they secured promotion as Championship champions after a 2-0 win over Watford.

Despite leading the club to the Premier League for the first time in 15 years, Warnock was sacked on 8 January 2012, following a 2-1 home defeat to Norwich City on 2 January 2012. QPR owner Tony Fernandes cited the club's slide into a dangerous league position (17th) after recent poor results as the reason for the dismissal. Warnock expressed his disappointment, stating, "Obviously I'm very disappointed but, having achieved so much, I leave the club with a great sense of pride. I have enjoyed my time here more than anywhere else and the QPR fans have been brilliant with me - they deserve success. My biggest regret is that the takeover didn't happen earlier, because that would have given me the opportunity to bring in the targets I'd pinpointed all last summer and probably given us a better chance to succeed in the Premier League." He indicated his intention to spend time with family and friends before deciding his next career move.

3.5. Leeds United (2012-2013)

On 18 February 2012, Warnock joined Leeds United as manager on a one-and-a-half-year deal, extending until the end of the 2012-13 season. Before officially taking charge from caretaker manager Neil Redfearn, he observed Leeds' 3-2 victory against Doncaster Rovers from the stands on 18 February, revealing he spoke to the players before the game and at half-time. On 28 February 2012, Warnock made his first signing as Leeds manager, bringing in Danny Webber, whom he had previously managed at Sheffield United.

Leeds concluded the season in 14th place in the Championship. During the summer of 2012, Warnock undertook a comprehensive revamp of the Leeds team with several new signings. The 2012-13 season began promisingly with a 4-0 home win in the League Cup against Shrewsbury Town, followed by a 1-0 victory over Wolves at Elland Road on the opening day of the Championship. However, after a series of defeats that saw Leeds United sitting five points above the relegation zone, Warnock mutually parted company with the club on 1 April 2013.

3.6. Second spell at Crystal Palace (2014)

On 27 August 2014, it was announced that Warnock would return for a second managerial spell at Crystal Palace, following the departure of Tony Pulis. However, this return was short-lived. After a period of poor form that saw Crystal Palace enter the relegation zone, Warnock was sacked by the club on 27 December 2014. He was succeeded by Alan Pardew on 2 January 2015.

In 2015, Warnock briefly returned to Queens Park Rangers as a first-team advisor. From 4 November, he was placed in temporary charge of QPR following the departure of Chris Ramsey, serving until 4 December 2015.

3.7. Rotherham United (2016)

On 11 February 2016, Neil Warnock was confirmed as the new Rotherham United manager for the remainder of the 2015-16 season, replacing Neil Redfearn. His first game in charge was a 0-0 draw against Birmingham City, a match notable for seeing both Richard Wood and Joe Mattock sent off. He then experienced two consecutive 2-0 losses, against Reading and Burnley.

However, Rotherham then embarked on an impressive 11-match unbeaten run. This streak included victories against Brentford (2-1), Sheffield Wednesday (1-0), and Middlesbrough (1-0), as well as a thrilling 3-3 draw against Derby County after being 3-0 down with only eight minutes remaining. The run also featured a 1-0 win at Portman Road against Ipswich Town. Warnock was awarded the Championship Manager of the Month for March for his efforts. The final victory of this pivotal run was a dominant 4-0 thrashing of Milton Keynes Dons, which all but guaranteed Rotherham's survival in the Championship at the expense of their opponents. Although Warnock did not stay on as Rotherham manager beyond the end of the season, he later stated that keeping Rotherham in the division was the biggest achievement of his managerial career.

3.8. Cardiff City (2016-2019)

On 5 October 2016, Warnock was appointed first-team manager of Cardiff City. In his inaugural season, he guided them to a 12th-place finish in the Championship. A significant achievement came on 6 May 2018, when Warnock led Cardiff to promotion to the Premier League after a 0-0 draw against Reading. This promotion marked his eighth in the professional leagues, establishing him as the first manager to achieve such a record.

In January 2019, Warnock publicly stated that he considered retirement following the disappearance and eventual death of striker Emiliano Sala. Warnock had personally overseen Sala's signing for a club record of approximately 15.00 M GBP from FC Nantes earlier that month, and the tragic incident deeply affected him. Despite the challenges, he continued to manage, but was unable to keep the team in the Premier League, and Cardiff were relegated back to the Championship at the end of the season. Warnock departed Cardiff on 11 November 2019, after more than three years as manager; his final match was a home loss to Bristol City. He later described his time at Cardiff as some of the best days in his career.

3.9. Middlesbrough (2020-2021)

On 23 June 2020, Warnock was appointed manager of Championship club Middlesbrough. The club was in a precarious position, sitting just outside the Championship relegation zone on goal difference after 38 games. He replaced Jonathan Woodgate, who was sacked from his first managerial role after less than a year. In his first game in charge, on 27 June, Middlesbrough secured a crucial 2-0 victory over Stoke City, climbing to 19th in the league. Having been 21st when Warnock took over, they finished the season in 17th place. Although initially on a short-term contract, Warnock confirmed he would continue as manager for the 2020-21 season. On 17 September 2020, Middlesbrough announced that Warnock had tested positive for COVID-19.

On 30 October 2021, Warnock equalled Dario Gradi's record for the most games managed in English professional football (1,601 matches) during a 2-0 loss to Birmingham City. Three days later, he broke the record in the subsequent match, a 3-1 away loss to Luton Town. On 6 November 2021, Warnock left Middlesbrough by mutual consent, with the club having already identified his successor. His assistants, Kevin Blackwell and Ronnie Jepson, also departed the club. On 9 April 2022, Warnock announced his retirement from football management after 42 years in the dugout.

3.10. Return to Huddersfield Town (2023)

Ten months after announcing his retirement, the 74-year-old Warnock made a surprising return to management on 13 February 2023, when he was appointed manager of Huddersfield Town until the end of the 2022-23 season. This marked his return to the club nearly 30 years after his initial appointment. He officially took charge on 16 February, cutting short a holiday in the USA to replace the previous head coach, Mark Fotheringham. Warnock joined the club with 15 games remaining in the season. His first game in charge was a 2-1 victory over Birmingham City. On 4 May, Warnock successfully guided Huddersfield to Championship safety by defeating Sheffield United 1-0, despite the team having been seven points adrift of safety in March.

On 14 June 2023, Warnock signed a new one-year contract extension with Huddersfield Town. However, on 18 September 2023, the club announced that their home fixture against Stoke City two days later would be his final match in charge, bringing his second spell to an end after just eight games in the new season. Huddersfield played out a 2-2 draw with Stoke City on 20 September, with fans remaining after the match to applaud Warnock in his final game as manager.

3.11. Aberdeen (2024)

On 5 February 2024, it was announced that Warnock would take interim charge of Scottish Premiership club Aberdeen until the end of the 2023-24 season, replacing manager Barry Robson. His first game as Aberdeen manager, on 6 February, resulted in a 2-1 defeat by Rangers at Ibrox Stadium. His first home game was on 10 February against Bonnyrigg Rose, which Aberdeen won 2-0 in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup. Warnock left Aberdeen on 9 March 2024, following a 3-1 win against Kilmarnock in the quarter-final of the Scottish Cup. These two cup ties were his only victories in eight matches as Aberdeen manager. Following Warnock's departure, Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack stated that the club was at an "advanced stage" of finding a longer-term appointment.

3.12. Return to Torquay United (2024)

On 14 May 2024, Warnock was appointed football advisor of National League South club Torquay United. In this role, he assists the new board following the takeover by the Bryn Consortium.

4.1. Club honours

• Burton Albion
  • NPL Challenge Cup: 1984-85
• Scarborough
  • Football Conference: 1986-87
• Notts County
  • Football League Second Division play-offs: 1991
  • Football League Third Division play-offs: 1990
• Huddersfield Town
  • Autoglass Trophy runners-up: 1994
  • Yorkshire Electricity Cup winners: 1994
  • Football League Second Division play-offs: 1995
• Plymouth Argyle
  • Football League Third Division play-offs: 1996
• Sheffield United
  • Football League Championship runner-up: 2005-06
• Queens Park Rangers
  • Football League Championship: 2010-11
• Cardiff City
  • EFL Championship runner-up: 2017-18

4.2. Individual honours

• Hartlepool Player of the Year: 1971-72 season
• Football Conference Manager of the Month: November 1986, December 1986
• Football Conference Manager of the Year: 1986-87
• EFL Championship Manager of the Month: December 2004, August 2005, September 2005, December 2008, August 2010, September 2010, March 2016, August 2017, February 2018, March 2018, October 2020
• BBC London Sports Personality of the Year: 2011
• LMA Special Achievement Award: 2017-18

6.1. Records and impact

Warnock holds several significant records in English football, cementing his place as one of the game's most enduring and successful managers. He holds the record for the most promotions, having guided his teams to eight promotions across different divisions. This achievement underscores his ability to build successful teams and navigate the demanding English league system. Furthermore, he holds the record for the most games managed in English professional football, having overseen 1626 matches, a testament to his sustained presence and commitment to the sport over five decades. His impact extends to his ability to often turn around struggling clubs, instilling a fighting spirit and leading them to outperform expectations, particularly in the lower leagues.

6.2. Controversies

Throughout his extensive career, Neil Warnock has been involved in several notable controversies. A significant incident arose during his tenure at Sheffield United, particularly the club's relegation from the Premier League in 2007. This was controversially linked to the eligibility of Carlos Tevez at West Ham United, a situation that sparked legal disputes and left a lasting sense of injustice for Sheffield United and Warnock. The subsequent public spat with actor Sean Bean regarding the relegation also attracted considerable media attention.

During his first spell at Crystal Palace, the club faced severe financial difficulties, entering administration and incurring a 10-point deduction. Warnock's departure from the club during this period was contentious, with the administrator publicly suggesting he lacked the "stomach for the fight" to save the club. More recently, the tragic disappearance and death of striker Emiliano Sala shortly after his club-record transfer to Cardiff City under Warnock's management deeply affected him and the club, presenting a profound challenge during his time there. Warnock's direct and often fiery communication style, combined with his strong opinions on topics like Brexit, have also contributed to his polarizing public image, often leading to clashes with opposing managers, players, and media.