Michael Appleton

Michael Appleton
Appleton in 2009
Personal information
Full name Michael Antony Appleton[1]
Date of birth (1975-12-04) 4 December 1975 (age 48)[1]
Place of birth Salford, England
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1992–1994 Manchester United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994–1997 Manchester United 0 (0)
1995Wimbledon (loan) 0 (0)
1995Lincoln City (loan) 4 (0)
1997Grimsby Town (loan) 10 (3)
1997–2001 Preston North End 121 (12)
2001–2003 West Bromwich Albion 33 (0)
Total 168 (15)
Managerial career
2011 West Bromwich Albion (caretaker)
2011–2012 Portsmouth
2012–2013 Blackpool
2013 Blackburn Rovers
2014–2017 Oxford United
2017 Leicester City (caretaker)
2019–2022 Lincoln City
2022–2023 Blackpool
2023–2024 Charlton Athletic
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Michael Antony Appleton (born 4 December 1975) is an English professional football manager and former player who was most recently head coach of Charlton Athletic.

As a player, he operated as a midfielder, in a nine-year career that began in 1994 and ended 2003. His playing years were cut short by a serious knee injury. He began his career as a professional for Manchester United. While there, he had brief loan spells at Wimbledon, Lincoln City and Grimsby Town, before securing a permanent transfer to Preston North End in 1997. He moved on to West Bromwich Albion in 2001, playing at the West Midlands club for two seasons, ending his playing career there.

Following his retirement, he became a coach with West Brom, and served as their caretaker manager for one match after Roberto Di Matteo was placed on leave. On 10 November 2011, he earned his first managerial appointment at Portsmouth, before he became manager of Blackpool a year later. After just over two months as Blackpool manager, he left his post with the Seasiders to take charge of Blackburn Rovers in January 2013. He was relieved from his duties on 19 March that same year.[2][3] In July 2014, he was appointed manager of Oxford United, and led the club to promotion to League One in his second season.

  1. ^ a b c Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2002). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2002/2003. Queen Anne Press. p. 20. ISBN 9781852916480.
  2. ^ "Michael Appleton: Blackburn Rovers announce new manager". BBC Sport. 11 January 2013. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  3. ^ "Michael Appleton: Blackburn Rovers sack manager". BBC Sport. 19 March 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2013.