Paul Cook (footballer)

Paul Anthony Cook (born 22 February 1967) is an English professional football manager and former player.

For other people named Paul Cook, see Paul Cook (disambiguation).

Paul Cook
Cook as manager of Wigan Athletic in 2018
Personal information
Full name Paul Anthony Cook[1]
Date of birth (1967-02-22) 22 February 1967[1]
Place of birth Kirkby,[2] England
Position(s) Central midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1983–1984 Marine
1984–1988 Wigan Athletic 83 (14)
1988–1989 Norwich City 6 (0)
1989–1994 Wolverhampton Wanderers 193 (19)
1994–1996 Coventry City 37 (3)
1996–1997 Tranmere Rovers 60 (4)
1997–1999 Stockport County 49 (3)
1999 → Burnley (loan) 12 (1)
1999–2003 Burnley 134 (11)
2001–2002 → Wigan Athletic (loan) 6 (0)
2003–2006 Accrington Stanley 62 (1)
Total 642 (56)
Teams managed
2006–2007 Southport
2007–2012 Sligo Rovers
2012 Accrington Stanley
2012–2015 Chesterfield
2015–2017 Portsmouth
2017–2020 Wigan Athletic
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Cook played as a central midfielder during a playing career that spanned 23 years from 1983 until 2006, notably in the Premier League for Coventry City. He also played in the Football League for Wigan Athletic, Norwich City, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Tranmere Rovers, Stockport County and Burnley.

Cook moved into management in 2006 with Southport and later Sligo Rovers. In February 2012, he returned to English management with Accrington before moving to Chesterfield in October of the same year. In May 2015, he was appointed manager of League Two outfit Portsmouth after a release clause was met in his Chesterfield contract, where he led a late promotion charge which climaxed on the last day of the season when the league title was sealed in dramatic fashion with a 6-1 victory over Cheltenham. In May 2017, he was appointed manager of League One club Wigan Athletic who he led to a league title and promotion into the Championship. After the club were relegated in the 2019–20 season, Cook resigned as Wigan manager in July 2020.

Playing career

Born in Liverpool, Lancashire,[1] Cook began his career at his local non-league team Marine before being quickly signed up by Wigan Athletic, where he featured in almost one hundred games in a four-year spell. Cook then had a brief and unsuccessful spell at Norwich City before moving to the Midlands to play for Wolverhampton Wanderers for £250,000.

He was a very popular player during his time at Wolves, both with the fans and his teammates and became known for his deadly and accurate left foot. After over 190 appearances for Wolves over five seasons in the second tier, he made the short journey to Premier League Coventry City.

He played the majority of the club's games in his first season (1994–95) but fell from favour during the following campaign, where he made only three appearances. In February 1996, he was sold to Tranmere Rovers for £250,000.

Whilst at Tranmere he became a key member of the team, playing sixty games in just eighteen months. In October 1997, Tranmere accepted a bid of £250,000 from Stockport County and so regained the fee they had paid for Cook in the first place. After twelve months at County, Cook began to be regarded as 'too old', despite being just 32. This led to his move to Burnley, initially on loan but fully signing in July 1999 to play under Stan Ternent.

Cook experienced an "Indian summer" to his career, making 130 league appearances over a four-year spell. During this period he established excellent understandings with many players, especially Lee Briscoe and the two often devised new free-kick routines to catch Division One defences off-guard.

After a falling out with the manager, Cook went on loan to one of his old clubs, Wigan Athletic, but made just six appearances before he was re-called to again take his place in the starting line up at Turf Moor. Cook left Burnley at the end of the 2003 season, at the same time as Andy Payton. The two players got a standing ovation from the fans for their contributions to the club.

Cook signed for non-league team Accrington Stanley and went on to become a first team regular in their push for promotion to the Football League. This target was finally achieved in the 2005–06 season when Stanley were crowned Champions. Having achieved this aim, Cook finally retired after almost 600 league appearances for nine different teams.

After the end of the 2005–06 season, Cook was granted a testimonial by Accrington as a thank-you for his hard work. It was played on 2 May 2006 at the Interlink Express (now the Wham) Stadium, Accrington against a Burnley Select XI featuring old teammates Dean West, Lenny Johnrose, Ian Cox, Kevin Ball and son Liam.

Management career

Southport

Cook was appointed manager of Conference side Southport on 13 June 2006,[3] a post he was sacked from in January 2007 following defeat at Northwich Victoria.

Sligo Rovers

He became manager of Sligo Rovers on 27 April 2007, taking over from Rob McDonald, who resigned before the start of the season. At the press conference when he was unveiled he stated that he was from Liverpool and that he will not have anything to do with any journalist from the Irish Sun, (due to the articles printed about Liverpool supporters during the Hillsborough disaster). He guided Sligo to a 6th place league finish in his first season. His second year (2008) saw him guide Sligo to fourth in the league and thus secure a UEFA Cup place.

He departed in January 2009 by mutual consent,[4] but soon returned just weeks later.[5]

In his third season, under severe financial constraints, he guided Sligo to sixth place. In addition, Cook guided Sligo to the final of the FAI Cup which took place on 22 November 2009. Sligo lost 2–1 to Sporting Fingal despite holding a one-goal lead with seven minutes remaining.

Cook's first silverware as Sligo manager came in September 2010, after a 1–0 win over Monaghan United in the final of the League Cup. In November 2010, he guided Sligo Rovers to win the 2010 FAI Cup Final, 2–0 in a penalty shoot-out against Shamrock Rovers.[6] In November 2011, he again brought Sligo Rovers to win the 2011 FAI Cup Final, which for the second year running went to penalties. Sligo Rovers beat Shelbourne 4–1.

Accrington Stanley

Cook spoke with Accrington Stanley and these talks eventually concluded with Cook announcing his move back to his old playing club.[7] He led the team to a 14th-placed finish in League Two at the end of the 2011–12 season and continued to coach the side for the opening months of the following campaign.

Chesterfield

On 25 October 2012 he joined League Two rivals Chesterfield on a two-and-a-half-year contract, taking over from Tommy Wright, who had been in charge of the Derbyshire club on a caretaker basis following the departure of John Sheridan two months earlier.[8] The end of his first season saw him guide Chesterfield to eighth position finishing just two points outside the play-off zone.[9] In the following year he led Chesterfield to the League Two championship and promotion, and they comfortably maintained their new League One status in 2014–15, reaching sixth place and the play-offs.

Portsmouth

In May 2015, Cook was appointed manager at League Two club Portsmouth for a compensation fee.[10] On 6 May 2017, Cook guided Portsmouth to the League Two title.[11]

Wigan Athletic

On 31 May 2017, Cook was appointed manager of newly relegated League One club Wigan Athletic on a three-year-contract, after a compensation package was agreed with Portsmouth.[12] He led Wigan to the League One title and on an impressive FA Cup run that claimed three shocks against top flight opponents West Ham United, Bournemouth and Manchester City.[13] Cook resigned as Wigan manager on 29 July 2020, following the club's relegation due to a 12-point deduction applied after Wigan went into administration earlier in the month.[14]

Media career

He has appeared on RTÉ coverage of matches.[15]

Career statistics

Playing statistics

Source:[16]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Wigan Athletic 1984–85 Third Division 2000000020
1985–86 Third Division 13210003[lower-alpha 1]0172
1986–87 Third Division 27440102[lower-alpha 1]1345
1987–88 Third Division 41820301[lower-alpha 1]0478
Total 831470406110115
Norwich City 1988–89 First Division 4000002[lower-alpha 2]060
1989–90 First Division 2000000020
Total 6000002080
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1989–90 Second Division 28210001[lower-alpha 2]0302
1990–91 Second Division 42600202[lower-alpha 2]1467
1991–92 Second Division 43810201[lower-alpha 2]0478
1992–93 First Division 44120212[lower-alpha 3]0502
1993–94 First Division 36230101[lower-alpha 3]0412
Total 1931970717121421
Coventry City 1994–95 Premier League 343303000403
1995–96 Premier League 3000000030
Total 373303000433
Tranmere Rovers 1995–96 First Division 151000000151
1996–97 First Division 363104000413
1997–98 First Division 90004000130
Total 604108000694
Stockport County 1997–98 First Division 253100000263
1998–99 First Division 240102000270
Total 493202000533
Burnley 1998–99 Second Division 121000000121
1999–2000 Second Division 443421000495
2000–01 First Division 403204000463
2001–02 First Division 285101000305
2002–03 First Division 230613000321
Total 14712133900016915
Wigan Athletic (loan) 2001–02 Second Division 6000000060
Accrington Stanley 2003–04 Football Conference 34160001[lower-alpha 4]0411
2004–05 Football Conference 24000002[lower-alpha 1]0260
2005–06 Football Conference 4000000040
Total 621600030711
Career total 6435639333118272362
  1. Appearances in Football League Trophy
  2. Appearances in Full Members' Cup
  3. Appearances in Anglo-Italian Cup
  4. Appearances in FA Trophy

Managerial statistics
As of match played 22 July 2020
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record Ref.
PWDLWin %
Southport 13 June 2006 3 January 2007 28 5 8 15 017.9 [3][17]
Sligo Rovers 27 April 2007 13 February 2012 203 95 52 56 046.8 [18][19]
Accrington Stanley 13 February 2012 25 October 2012 33 8 7 18 024.2 [20]
Chesterfield 25 October 2012 12 May 2015 145 65 36 44 044.8 [8][10][20]
Portsmouth 12 May 2015 31 May 2017 107 52 27 28 048.6 [20]
Wigan Athletic 31 May 2017 29 July 2020 155 64 41 50 041.3 [20]
Total 671 289 171 211 043.1

References
  1. "Paul Cook". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  2. "Paul Cook:Portsmouth attempt to keep boss after Wigan Athletic offer". BBC Sport. 27 May 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  3. "Cook appointed Southport manager". BBC Sport. 13 June 2006. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  4. "Sligo Rovers" Archived 4 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine.
  5. "Sligo Rovers".
  6. "Kelly's heroics ensure Sligo win battle of Rovers". Irish Examiner. 15 November 2010. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  7. "Cook leaves Rovers for Accrington". RTÉ Sport. 13 February 2012. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  8. "Chesterfield appoint Accrington boss Paul Cook". BBC Sport. 25 October 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  9. "npower League 2 table". BBC Sport. BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
  10. "Paul Cook: Portsmouth appoint Chesterfield boss as manager". BBC Sport. 12 May 2015. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  11. "Portsmouth 6 Cheltenham 1". BBC Sport. 8 May 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  12. "Paul Cook: Wigan Athletic appoint Portsmouth boss as new manager". BBC Sport. 31 May 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  13. "Wigan Athletic: League One promotion caps 'perfect year' says chairman David Sharpe". BBC Sport. 22 April 2018. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  14. Fisher, Ben (29 July 2020). "Paul Cook resigns as manager of troubled Wigan before appeal hearing". Guardian. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  15. "Cook joins RTÉ line-up for TV clash". RTÉ Sport. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
  16. Paul Cook at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  17. "Paul Cook". Southport F.C. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  18. "Paul Cook". League Managers Association. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  19. "Sligo Rovers FC: Matches". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  20. "Managers: Paul Cook". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.