Chris Coleman (footballer)

Chris Coleman
OBE
Coleman as manager of Wales in 2016
Personal information
Full name Christopher Patrick Coleman[1]
Date of birth (1970-06-10) 10 June 1970 (age 54)[2]
Place of birth Swansea, Wales
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[2]
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
AEL Limassol (manager)
Youth career
0000–1986 Manchester City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1986–1987 Manchester City 0 (0)
1987–1991 Swansea City 160 (2)
1991–1995 Crystal Palace 154 (13)
1995–1997 Blackburn Rovers 28 (0)
1997–2002 Fulham 136 (8)
Total 478 (23)
International career
1992–2002 Wales 32 (4)
Managerial career
2003–2007 Fulham
2007–2008 Real Sociedad
2008–2010 Coventry City
2011–2012 AEL
2012–2017 Wales
2017–2018 Sunderland
2018–2019 Hebei China Fortune
2022–2023 Atromitos
2024– AEL Limassol
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Wales (as manager)
UEFA European Championship
Bronze medal – third place 2016
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Christopher Patrick Coleman OBE (born 10 June 1970) is a Welsh professional football coach and former player who is the manager of Cypriot First Division club AEL Limassol.

As a player, Coleman usually played in defence, while also occasionally appearing as a forward. He began his career at Manchester City, leaving as a teenager to make his debut for hometown team Swansea City in 1987. In 1991, he joined Crystal Palace, whom he represented in the Premier League. He spent a year-and-a-half at league champions Blackburn Rovers before signing for Fulham in 1997, helping the team to two promotions from the third tier to the top flight. He won 32 caps playing for Wales. Coleman's playing career ended at the age of 32, when his leg was broken in a car crash.

Coleman at the St David Awards in 2016

Following this, he started his coaching career at Fulham. In his first full season as manager, he guided the club to ninth place in the 2003–04 Premier League. After leaving Fulham, Coleman was appointed manager of Real Sociedad, where he resigned in January 2008 due to differences with the incoming president. He returned to England to manage Coventry City, but was dismissed in May 2010 following a poor run of results. Coleman then managed Greek side AEL for the first half of the 2011–12 season before resigning due to financial troubles at the club. In 2012, he took over as Wales national team manager after the death of Gary Speed, and led Wales to UEFA Euro 2016, their first major tournament since the 1958 FIFA World Cup, where they made the semi-finals.

  1. ^ "Coleman: Christopher Patrick Coleman: Manager". BDFutbol. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  2. ^ a b Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2001). The 2001–2002 Official PFA Footballers Factfile. London: AFS. p. 65. ISBN 978-0-946531-34-9.