Neil Cox (footballer)
 Neil Cox AFC Wimbledon (assistant manager) | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Neil James Cox[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 8 October 1971 | ||
| Place of birth | Scunthorpe, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||
| Playing position | Defender | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | AFC Wimbledon (assistant manager) | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1990–1991 | Scunthorpe United | 17 | (1) |
| 1991–1994 | Aston Villa | 40 | (3) |
| 1994–1997 | Middlesbrough | 106 | (3) |
| 1997–1999 | Bolton Wanderers | 80 | (7) |
| 1999–2005 | Watford | 219 | (20) |
| 2005–2006 | Cardiff City | 27 | (2) |
| 2006–2008 | Crewe Alexandra | 58 | (1) |
| 2010–2011 | Leek Town | 4 | (0) |
| Total | 551 | (37) | |
| National team | |||
| 1993–1994 | England U21 | 6 | (0) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 2010–2011 | Leek Town | ||
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. | |||
Neil James Cox (born 8 October 1971) is a retired English professional footballer. He spent most of his career playing as a central defender or right-back for Watford but also made over 100 appearances for Middlesbrough. Cox also played for Scunthorpe United, Aston Villa and Bolton Wanderers, and was capped at Under-21 level by England. His final Football League club was then League One outfit Crewe Alexandra. Cox retired from professional football in 2008, going on to become a property developer in Portugal.[2] Cox subsequently returned to the game in 2010 after being appointed manager of Leek Town.[3] When the club had injury concerns Cox registered himself as a player with the league, making 4 appearances. Cox was in charge just one season before he resigning for personal reasons. In October 2012, Cox joined Football League Two club AFC Wimbledon as assistant manager to former Watford teammate Neal Ardley.
Playing career
Scunthorpe United
Cox began his career at Scunthorpe United, having been born locally. He made his first team debut in 1990 at the age of 19, he would make only 17 appearances for the club however, leaving to join Aston Villa after just one season with The Iron.
Aston Villa
Whilst at Villa, Cox came on as a substitute as Villa beat Manchester United in the 1994 League Cup Final.
Middlesbrough
Cox became Middlesbrough's first ever £1 Million pound signing when Bryan Robson brought him from Aston Villa. Cox scored in Middlesbrough's 2-1 home win against Liverpool in November 1995.
Watford
Famously overhead kicked over his own crossbar to clear a ball for a corner.
Crewe Alexandra
Cox scored twice for The Railwaymen. His first goal came in a 3–1 win over Cheltenham Town on 12 September 2006.[4] He also scored against MK Dons in the FA Cup the following season.[5] Cox signed for Crewe in June 2006 after being released by Cardiff City.[6]
Cox retired at the end of the 2007–08 season; the home game against Oldham Athletic was the last of his career.
Managerial career
Leek Town
In October 2010 he returned to the game after being appointed as the new manager of Leek Town.[3] When the club had injury concerns Cox regsistered himself as a player with the league. In unexpected circumstances Cox resigned as Leek Town manager after a 1–0 home victory against Quorn, citing personal reasons.[7]
AFC Wimbledon
On 10 October 2012, it was announced that Cox would reunited with former Watford team-mate Neal Ardley as his assistant manager at Football League Two side AFC Wimbledon. The pair took charge of what was viewed as an extremely difficult task to keep the Dons in the football league, only to secure their status on the final day of the 2012-13 season.
Honours
- Football League Cup: 1994; runner-up 1997
References
- ↑ Hugman, Barry J. (ed) (2008). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2008–09. Mainstream. ISBN 978-1-84596-324-8.
- ↑ Whitbread, Joe."Former Watford captain Neil Cox still unhappy with departure five years on", Watford Observer, Watford, 27 March 2010
- 1 2 White, Andy (6 October 2010). "Leek appoint former Watford captain Cox". The Non-League Paper. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
- ↑ "Crewe 3–1 Cheltenham". BBC. 12 September 2006. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
- ↑ "Crewe 2–1 MK Dons". BBC. 10 November 2007. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
- ↑ Crewe sign veteran defender Cox
- ↑ Perkin, Alex (17 April 2011). "Cox Drops Resignation Bombshell". Retrieved 17 April 2011.
