Richie Wellens

Richard Paul Wellens (born 26 March 1980) is an English professional football manager and former player who played as a midfielder. He is the manager of EFL League Two club Salford City.

Richie Wellens
Wellens playing for Leicester City in 2010
Personal information
Full name Richard Paul Wellens[1]
Date of birth (1980-03-26) 26 March 1980[1]
Place of birth Manchester, England
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder[1]
Club information
Current team
 Salford City (manager)
Youth career
1997–1999 Manchester United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2000 Manchester United 0 (0)
2000–2005 Blackpool 191 (16)
2005–2007 Oldham Athletic 87 (8)
2007–2009 Doncaster Rovers 84 (9)
2009–2013 Leicester City 129 (4)
2012 → Ipswich Town (loan) 7 (0)
2013–2016 Doncaster Rovers 88 (3)
2015–2016 → Oldham Athletic (loan) 3 (0)
2016 Shrewsbury Town 12 (0)
2016 Salford City 6 (1)
2016–2017 Macclesfield Town 2 (0)
Total 609 (41)
Teams managed
2017–2018 Oldham Athletic
2018–2020 Swindon Town
2020– Salford City
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Wellens began his career at Manchester United before signing for Blackpool in 2000, where he went on to win promotion from League Two via the playoffs in 2001. In 2005, he left them to move to Lancashire rivals Oldham Athletic where he made 87 appearances in two seasons at the club. After his spell at Oldham, Wellens made his successful move to Doncaster Rovers in the summer of 2007 where he became an instant fans' favorite, helping the club rise into the Championship for the first time in 50 years. His time at Doncaster came to an end in 2009 after he had helped the club to consolidate their Championship position as he moved to Leicester City. In his time in the Midlands, Wellens made 129 appearances, scoring four goals, and winning the club's Player of the Year in 2011. After a short loan spell with Ipswich Town, Wellens rejoined Doncaster in 2013.

Wellens' first role in management came when he joined Oldham Athletic as first team manager from September 2017 to June 2018 when Wellens was sacked[3] following the club's relegation to League Two. Wellens then took over the vacant managerial position at Swindon Town in the summer of 2018 where he led the club to win the 19–20 League Two title on PPG during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Club career

Manchester United

Born in Manchester,[1] Wellens started his career at Manchester United, playing alongside the likes of Wes Brown and John O'Shea. His only first team appearance for the club was as a substitute in a 3–0 League Cup defeat to Aston Villa on 13 October 1999.[4]

Blackpool

Frustrated at the lack of opportunities at Manchester United, he moved to Blackpool in March 2000.[5][6] Wellens became an instant first team regular at the club and before long he was a fan's favourite. While at the club he helped them win promotion via winning the 2001 Football League Third Division play-off Final which he played in at the Millennium Stadium. He would return to win at the Cardiff stadium two more times with Blackpool, both with the Football League Trophy; first in 2002[7] after scoring a crucial opening goal against Huddersfield Town in the first leg of the North Area Final, and again in 2004,[8] the same season he was placed in the 2003–04 Football League Second Division PFA Team of the Year. He made 226 appearances with Blackpool before his move in 2005 to Oldham Athletic.

Oldham Athletic

In 2005, he left Blackpool for his local side Oldham Athletic, with Scott Vernon going the other way.[9] This was done to bypass the 50% sell-on clause that Manchester United had added during Wellens' transfer to the Seasiders.[10] In summer 2007, after turning down an improved contract offered by Oldham, he signed a two-year contract with fellow League One side Doncaster Rovers.[11] Wellens made the 2004–05, 2006–07 and 2007–08 League One PFA Team of the Year. Overall, he made 101 appearances and scored 8 times for Oldham.

Doncaster Rovers

Wellens was a member of the Doncaster side that gained promotion to the Championship in 2007–08. His midfield performances brought him several individual awards, several key goals and helped the team gain promotion. His first competitive goal for Doncaster was in August 2007 in the Football League Cup with the second strike in a 4–1 victory over Lincoln City; however, this wasn't the first time he had hit the back of the net for Doncaster: in his very first appearance in a Donny shirt, Wellens chipped the ball over the opposition goalkeeper and into the net from 40 yards in a pre-season friendly against non-league Retford United. Wellens made 97 appearances, scoring 10 times, during his spell with Doncaster prior to his £1,000,000 move to Leicester City.

Leicester City
Wellens and Steve Howard playing for Leicester City in June 2010

On 7 July 2009, Wellens joined Leicester City for a potential fee of £1.2m, signing a three-year contract.[12] Their biggest signing of the summer, Wellens was named by the BBC Sport as the club's key player for the 2009–10 season.[13] He made his debut in a 2–1 win over Swansea City on 8 August 2009,[14] scoring his first goal in a 2–0 win over Middlesbrough on 2 May 2010.[15] Wellens featured in all but three matches for Leicester in the Championship that season. He played a crucial role in Nigel Pearson's team that reached the play-offs semi-finals, where they lost to Cardiff City on penalties.[16]

In his second season at the club, Wellens continued to play in midfield under the reign of both Paulo Sousa and Sven-Göran Eriksson. He was named Championship Player of the Month for January,[17] and won the club's player of the year award on 3 May 2011.[18]

During the 2011–12 season, Wellens ended the season, back under the returning Nigel Pearson, with 46 appearances in all competitions and captaining the side 19 times, but his season ended early when he suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury, ruling him out of action for six months.[19] On 4 October, Wellens joined Ipswich Town a one-month loan deal,[20] and returned to Leicester after an "impressive" seven game spell.[21]

On 23 July 2013, Wellens left Leicester City by mutual consent, having played a total of 149 games and scoring 6 goals over his four seasons with them.[22]

Return to Doncaster Rovers

On 2 August, Wellens signed a short-term contract with former club Doncaster Rovers.[23] Having started five of Doncaster's first six games, Wellens extended his contract until January 2014.[24]

At the end of the season, he expected to leave the club following a collapsed takeover of the club,[25] but signed a new two-year deal at the beginning of September.[26]

Shrewsbury Town

Wellens joined Shrewsbury Town on a free transfer in January 2016, signing an 18-month contract.[27] Having helped Shrewsbury to safety in League One, making twelve appearances in the second half of the 2015–16 season, he was made available on a free transfer less than five months later with manager Micky Mellon unable to guarantee him first-team football.[28] He left in August after having game time limited.[29]

Salford City

In September 2016, Wellens signed for National League North side Salford City.[30] He left the club in October.[31]

Macclesfield Town

Wellens signed for National League team Macclesfield Town in November.[32]

Managerial career

Oldham Athletic

On 4 July 2017, Wellens returned to Oldham Athletic as a first-team coach.[33] Following the departure of John Sheridan on 25 September, Wellens was put in charge of Oldham Athletic on an caretaker basis, with his first game in charge being a 3–2 against Peterborough United.[34] Wellens said he was ready to be a manager, and hoped he and the club could adopt an approach for long-term success.[35] After a five-match unbeaten run, he was appointed manager on a permanent basis on 18 October 2017 on a two-year contract, following a recommendation from Paul Scholes.[36] He was dismissed on 8 June 2018 after Oldham's relegation to League Two.[37] Wellens admitted it was "the right time" to part ways,[38] and admitted he had made mistakes that he hoped to learn from for a future managerial role.[39]

Swindon Town

On 13 November 2018, Wellens was appointed manager of League Two side Swindon Town following the sacking of Phil Brown.[40] His first game in charge was a 4–0 home defeat to Carlisle United, described as "the worst possible start".[41] Wellens secured his first win as manager a week later, with a goal from Elijah Adebayo giving his side a 1–0 away win to Port Vale,[42] and his first home victory came three days later, when academy graduate Sol Pryce scored twice on his league début to help Swindon win 3–2 against Stevenage.[43] Wellens would guide Swindon to a 13th-place finish, ending the season with a 3–1 comeback victory against Notts County, who were relegated out of the Football League for the first time in their 157-year history as a result.[44]

In the 2019–20 season, Wellens won the League Two title with Swindon Town on PPG during the global COVID-19 pandemic after the season was called off in March.

Salford City

On 4 November, Wellens was appointed as the new manager of his former club Salford City, now playing in League Two.[45][46] The first game of Wellens' reign came on 7 November, with a 2–0 win against Hartlepool in the FA Cup first round at Moor Lane, courtesy of goals from Bruno Andrade and Emmanuel Dieseruvwe in extra-time.[47] Wellens suffered his first loss as Salford manager in his first league game in charge, a 2–0 loss against Bolton Wanderers the following week.[48][49] His first league win came on 21 November against Bradford City, a 3–0 league victory with two goals from Luke Burgess and another from Ian Henderson.[50]

Approach and philosophy

Wellens favours his teams to play attacking football, believing long ball and defensive minded football to not be suitable to long-term success.[51] He cites former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson as a major influence on his approach.[51] Using a preferred formation of 4-2-3-1,[52] Wellens likes his teams to play out from the back and be patient,[53] Wellens likes his player to maintain a high level of intensity, even during training sessions.[54]

Personal life

Wellens' son, Charlie, is also a footballer who is currently contracted to Manchester United.[55]

Career statistics
Source:[56]
Club Season Division League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
Manchester United 1999–2000 FA Premier League 00–100010
Blackpool 1999–2000 Second Division 8000000080
2000–01 Third Division 39810301[lower-alpha 1]0448
2001–02 Second Division 36120205[lower-alpha 1]1452
2002–03 39130102[lower-alpha 1]0451
2003–04 41320304[lower-alpha 1]0503
2004–05 League One 28342002[lower-alpha 1]0345
Total 191161229014122619
Oldham Athletic 2005–06 League One 45440101[lower-alpha 1]0514
2006–07 42440103[lower-alpha 2]0504
Total 8788020401018
Doncaster Rovers 2007–08 League One 45620214[lower-alpha 3]0537
2008–09 Championship 3934010–443
Total 8496031409710
Leicester City 2009–10 Championship 41120102[lower-alpha 4]0461
2010–11 4522042–514
2011–12 4115000–461
2012–13 2020000040
Total 129411052201476
Ipswich Town (loan) 2012–13 Championship 700000–70
Doncaster Rovers 2013–14 Championship 3700020–390
2014–15 League One 39341202[lower-alpha 1]1475
2015–16 12010201[lower-alpha 1]0160
Total 8835160311025
Oldham Athletic 2015–16 League One 3000000030
Shrewsbury Town 2015–16 League One 120000000120
Career total 6014042326329269848
  1. Matches in the Football League Trophy
  2. 1 match in the Football League Trophy and 2 matches in League One play-offs
  3. 2 matches in the Football League Trophy and 2 matches in League One play-offs
  4. Matches in Championship play-offs

Managerial statistics
As of match played 30 January 2021
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record Ref.
PWDLWin %
Oldham Athletic 25 September 2017 8 June 2018 43 14 16 13 032.6 [3][57]
Swindon Town 13 November 2018 4 November 2020 83 35 17 31 042.2 [57]
Salford City 4 November 2020 Present 19 8 5 6 042.1 [57]
Total 145 57 38 50 039.3

Honours

Club

Blackpool

Doncaster Rovers

Individual

Blackpool

Oldham Athletic

Doncaster Rovers

Leicester City

Manager

Swindon Town

References
  1. "Richie Wellens". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  2. "Player Profiles − Richard Wellens". OldhamAthletic.co.uk. Oldham Athletic Association Football Club. Archived from the original on 15 June 2005. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  3. "Richie Wellens: Oldham Athletic sack manager after relegation from League One". BBC Sport. 8 June 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  4. "Villa make merry with United's fledglings". The Independent. 13 October 1999. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  5. Butler, Cliff; Ponting, Ivan (June 2000). Manchester United Official Yearbook 2000: The Definitive Guide to the 1999–2000 Season. Carlton Books. p. 171. ISBN 978-0-2339978-3-4. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  6. "Richard Wellens − Squad Number 14". BlackpoolFC.co.uk. Blackpool Football Club. Archived from the original on 11 April 2001. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  7. "Seasiders relish return to scene of past success". Independent. 25 March 2002. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  8. "Blackpool 2–0 Southend". BBC. 21 March 2004. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  9. "Latics snap up Wellens". Manchester Evening News. 1 July 2005. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  10. Gillatt, Peter (30 November 2009). Blackpool FC On This Day: History, Facts and Figures from Every Day of the Year. Pitch Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-905411-50-2.
  11. "Doncaster sign midfielder Wellens". BBC Sport. 4 July 2007. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  12. "Foxes sign Wellens from Doncaster". BBC Sport. 8 July 2009. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  13. "Championship club-by-club guide". BBC Sport. 6 August 2009. Retrieved 23 August 2009.
  14. "Leicester 2–1 Swansea". BBC Sport. 8 August 2009. Retrieved 23 August 2009.
  15. "Leicester 2–0 Middlesbrough". BBC Sport. 2 May 2010. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  16. "Cardiff 2-3 Leicester (agg 3-3): Cardiff advance to a Championship play-off final against Blackpool at Wembley after a dramatic penalty shoot-out win". BBC Sport. 12 May 2010. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  17. "Wellens Wins Monthly Award". LCFC.com. 11 March 2011. Archived from the original on 23 September 2011.
  18. "Richie Wellens wins Leicester City player of year award". BBC Sport. 4 May 2011. Retrieved 4 May 2011.
  19. "Leicester's Richie Wellens may be out for six months". BBC Sport. 26 April 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  20. "Ipswich sign Leicester midfielder Richie Wellens on loan". BBC Sport. 4 October 2012. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
  21. "Richie Wellens: Ipswich Town wait on Leicester City loan decision". BBC Sport. 12 November 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  22. "Richie Wellens: Leicester City agree to cancel deal". BBC Sport. 23 July 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  23. "Richie Wellens: Doncaster sign ex-Leicester midfielder". BBC Sport. 2 August 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
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  26. "Richie Wellens signs new Doncaster Rovers deal". BBC Sport. 1 September 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
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  29. "Midfielder Richie Wellens has left Shrewsbury Town by mutual consent". Sky Sports. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  30. http://nonleague.pitchero.com/news/salford-snap-up-experienced-wellens-49504/
  31. http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/salfordcityfc/news/two-in-three-out-1714348.html
  32. "Richie Wellens: Macclesfield Town sign ex-Man Utd and Leicester midfielder". BBC Sport. 30 November 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
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  38. Keay, Sheldan (27 June 2018). "Richie Wellens says it was probably the right time to part ways with Oldham Athleic". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  39. Wellens, Richie (29 June 2018). "Richie Wellens says it was probably the right time to part ways with Oldham Athleic". The Coaches' Voice. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  40. "Swindon Town appoint ex-Oldham Athletic boss as manager". BBC Sport. 13 November 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  41. "Swindon Town 0-4 Carlisle United: New Swindon manager Richie Wellens suffers a heavy defeat in his first game as Carlisle win at the County Ground". BBC Sport. 17 November 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  42. "Port Vale 0-1 Swindon Town: Elijah Adebayo's first-half strike earns Richie Wellens his first win as Swindon manager after victory at Port Vale". BBC Sport. 24 November 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  43. "Swindon Town 3-2 Stevenage: Academy graduate Sol Pryce enjoys a dream league debut with a brace as Swindon beat Stevenage 3-2 at the County Ground". BBC Sport. 27 November 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  44. "Swindon Town 3-1 Notts County: Magpies relegated to National League". BBC Sport. 4 May 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
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  47. "Salford City 2-0 Hartlepool United (aet): New boss Richie Wellens starts with a win as Salford need extra-time to beat non-league Hartlepool in the FA Cup first round". BBC Sport. 7 November 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  48. "Bolton Wanderers 2-0 Salford City: Richie Wellens suffers a first defeat as Salford manager as his former striker Eoin Doyle sets Bolton on the way to a 2-0 win". BBC Sport. 13 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  49. "Bolton 2-0 Salford: Richie Wellens suffers first defeat as Salford boss". Sky Sports. 13 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  50. "Salford City 3-0 Bradford City: Salford produce a sparkling first-half performance to beat Bradford thanks to two goals from Luke Burgess on his first league start". BBC Sport. 21 November 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  51. Fisher, Ben (11 September 2019). "Richie Wellens driven by Alex Ferguson's influence as Swindon soar". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  52. Thorpe, Chris (5 September 2019). "The importance of Swindon Town recruit to Richie Wellens". Football League World. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  53. Bate, Adam (8 January 2020). "Richie Wellens interview: On taking Swindon top by playing football". Sky Sports. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  54. Reynolds, Shaun (3 October 2019). "Richie Wellens underlines importance of hard work to Swindon Town squad after a number of sub-standard GPS tracker results are filed". This Is Wiltshire. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  55. Marshall, Adam (18 September 2019). "Injury update for United's Europa League opener". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  56. "Games played by Richie Wellens in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  57. "Managers: Richie Wellens". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  58. "League One & League Two clubs vote to end seasons early". BBC Sport. 9 June 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
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