Brian Flynn

Brian Flynn, (born 12 October 1955) is a Welsh former footballer and manager. As a player, he was a Welsh international, who played as a midfielder.

For other people named Brian Flynn, see Brian Flynn (disambiguation).

Brian Flynn
Personal information
Full name Brian Flynn
Date of birth (1955-10-12) 12 October 1955
Place of birth Port Talbot, Glamorgan, Wales
Height 5 ft 3.5 in (1.61 m)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1972–1977 Burnley 120 (8)
1977–1982 Leeds United 154 (11)
1982 → Burnley (loan) 2 (0)
1982–1984 Burnley 80 (11)
1984–1985 Cardiff City 32 (0)
1985–1986 Doncaster Rovers 27 (0)
1986–1987 Bury 19 (0)
1987 Limerick City 10 (1)
1987–1988 Doncaster Rovers 24 (1)
1988–1993 Wrexham 100 (5)
Total 568 (37)
National team
1974–1984 Wales 66 (7)
Teams managed
1989–2001 Wrexham
2002–2004 Swansea City
2004–2012 Wales U-21
2010 Wales (caretaker)
2013 Doncaster Rovers
2019– Wrexham (assistant manager)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Flynn managed the Wales national under-21 football team until May 2012, coming close to taking Wales to their first major championship in 57 years. On 13 September 2010, Flynn was confirmed caretaker manager of the Wales national football team after John Toshack stepped down, prior to the appointment of Gary Speed.

Playing career

Flynn started his career with Burnley, and made his league debut for the club in the 1973–74 season, when it was in the old First Division. After 120 league appearances he transferred to Leeds United in November 1977. He moved back to Burnley in November 1982 (after an earlier brief loan spell) and, after 80 more league games, Flynn moved to Cardiff City in November 1984.[2]

Later playing for Doncaster Rovers, Bury, Limerick City and Wrexham,[3] Flynn made his final Football League appearances in the 1992–93 season with Wrexham, with his final game coming on 3 November 1992 against Scunthorpe United.[4]

He earned 66 full Welsh caps between 1975 and 1984, scoring 7 goals.[3]

Management career

Wrexham

He became manager of Wrexham in 1989, and remained in charge until 2001.[5] During his twelve years in charge Wrexham won the Welsh Cup three times gaining entry to the Cup Winners Cup. They achieved notable FA Cup giant-killing victories over reigning league champions Arsenal and Premier League West Ham United.[6][7] Flynn also led Wrexham to promotion into the second division.[7] At the time of his departure from Wrexham he was the league's third longest serving manager behind Alex Ferguson and Dario Gradi.[6]

Swansea City

He was appointed as Swansea City manager in September 2002, replacing Nick Cusack.[8]

Cusack's last game in charge on 18 September 2002 had seen Swansea lose 1–0 away to Boston United and move to last place in the Football League for the first time in their history. Flynn's first game on 21 September 2002 was no better for Swansea with them losing 1–0 at home to Torquay United.[9] He set about trying to rebuild the side giving debuts to 21 players in his first season[9] Their Football League status was only maintained on the last day of the season with them winning 4–2 at home to Hull City.[9][10] The following season started well for Swansea and they made the FA Cup 5th round but after a loss of form, Flynn was replaced by Kenny Jackett.[9][11]

Wales

Flynn joined the Welsh national set-up in 2004 as under-21 coach. His management of the Welsh under-21 side has seen some of the best results in its history. Flynn came agonisingly close to taking the Welsh team to the 2009 UEFA under-21 Championships, guiding the side to the top of a group containing France and Romania, including a superb away win against the latter. Unfortunately, competition rules stipulated that even group winners had to go through a two-legged play-off round in order to qualify, and Wales were knocked out 5–4 on aggregate against their neighbours, England.

Following the departure of John Toshack as Wales manager in September 2010, Flynn was appointed as Wales caretaker manager.[12] He took charge of two games, both defeats. On 8 October 2010 Wales were beaten 1–0 in Cardiff by Bulgaria and on 12 October 2010 they lost 4–1 to Switzerland at St. Jakob-Park in Basel.[13][14]

Flynn vacated his position with Wales Under 21s in May 2012 at the end of his contract. He was credited with an important role in the development of Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey, Joe Allen and Wayne Hennessey.[15][16]

Doncaster Rovers

Having already been working for Doncaster Rovers as a scout, he was appointed as caretaker manager of the club on 7 January following Dean Saunders move to Wolverhampton Wanderers. At that point he was assisted by player Rob Jones who had been briefly installed as caretaker earlier that morning.[17] On 17 January Flynn was confirmed as permanent manager with a contract till the end of the season.[18] His first game in permanent charge of Doncaster on 19 January 2013 saw his side win 2–0 against Leyton Orient.[19]

On 27 April 2013, Flynn secured promotion with Doncaster, and the League One title, with a 1–0 win against Brentford at Griffin Park. Victory for Brentford would have seen them promoted at Doncaster's expense, and they were awarded a penalty-kick in injury-time, but missed and Doncaster scored from the resulting counterattack to earn the victory.[20]

At the end of the season, Flynn expressed a desire to step down as manager and return to a role of developing and recruiting players. Doncaster offered him a senior role in this as well as helping to choose the new manager.[21] For the 2013–14 season he was named as Director of Football[22] including overseeing the newly formed development squad[23] which would be playing competitive games.

Return to Wrexham

On 21 February 2019, Flynn returned to Wrexham as assistant manager to recently appointed manager Bryan Hughes, who started his playing career at Wrexham under Flynn [24]

Scouting career

On 1 December 2016 Flynn returned to Swansea City as a scout.[25] After Swansea's relegation to the Championship at the end of the 2017–18 season,[26] Flynn and the rest of the scouting team were relieved of their duties.[27]

Managerial statistics
As of 5 October 2019[28]
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record
PWDLWin %
Wrexham 24 November 1989 24 September 2001 622 223 173 226 035.9
Swansea City 19 September 2002 18 March 2004 82 28 22 32 034.1
Wales U21 18 March 2004 31 May 2012 37 19 5 13 051.4
Wales 19 September 2010 14 December 2010 2 0 0 2 000.0
Doncaster Rovers 17 January 2013 3 May 2013 20 10 4 6 050.0
Wrexham (Caretaker) 25 September 2019 6 October 2019 3 1 1 1 033.3
Total 766 281 205 280 036.7

References
  1. "Brian Flynn". Leeds United Player Profile. Leeds-fans.org.uk. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
  2. "Brian Flynn: Burnley FC". Sporting Heroes. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
  3. Brian Flynn at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database
  4. Rollin (ed), Jack (1993). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1993–94. Headline. ISBN 0-7472-7895-4.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  5. "Brian Flynn praises Wrexham manager Andy Morrell". BBC. 21 February 2012. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
  6. "BRIAN FLYNN LEAVES WREXHAM". www.leaguemanagers.com. Archived from the original on 15 December 2007. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  7. Mark Currie (6 January 2012). "Bryan Flynn so proud of Wrexham FC's FA Cup win over Arsenal". Daily Post. Trinity Mirror North West & North Wales Limited. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  8. Tony Rees (20 September 2002). "Flynn sees youth as Swansea's salvation". The Guardian. London: Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
  9. "History". www.swanseacity.net. Archived from the original on 14 November 2015. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  10. "Swansea Results 2002/3". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  11. "Swansea Results 2003/4". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  12. "Flynn accepts Wales caretaker job". BBC News. 13 September 2010.
  13. "Wales 0–1 Bulgaria". www.11v11.com. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  14. "Switzerland 4–1 Wales". www.11v11.com. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  15. "Brian Flynn". www.faw.org.uk. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  16. GMT (9 July 2012). "BBC Sport – Geraint Williams named Wales Under-21 manager". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  17. "Brian Flynn takes charge of Doncaster Rovers – Doncaster Rovers". South Yorkshire Times. 7 January 2013. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  18. "Rovers Get Their Men!". Doncaster Rovers official site. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  19. "BBC Sport – Doncaster 2–0 Leyton Orient". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  20. "Brentford 0–1 Doncaster". BBC Sport. 27 April 2013.
  21. "Club Statement". Doncaster Rovers Official Site. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  22. "Doncaster Rovers boss Brian Flynn named director of football". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  23. "Player: PD Post Frickley Athletic". DRFC Official Site. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  24. "Brian Flynn: Former boss returns to Wrexham as assistant". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  25. Phillips, Rob (1 December 2016). "Swansea City reappoint former manager Brian Flynn as a scout". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  26. "Premier League: Liverpool finish fourth as Swansea are relegated". BBC Sport. 13 May 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  27. Wathan, Chris (28 June 2018). "Swansea City dismiss scouting team". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  28. "Brian Flynn – Managerial statistics". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
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