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Gary Megson
Personal information
Full name Gary John Megson
Date of birth (1959-05-02) 2 May 1959 (age 66)
Place of birth Manchester, England
Height 5 ft 10 in
Playing position Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1977–1979 Plymouth Argyle 78 (10)
1979–1981 Everton 22 (2)
1981–1984 Sheffield Wednesday 123 (13)
1984 Nottingham Forest 0 (0)
1984–1985 Newcastle United 24 (1)
1985–1989 Sheffield Wednesday 110 (12)
1989–1992 Manchester City 82 (2)
1992–1995 Norwich City 46 (1)
1995 Lincoln City 2 (0)
1995 Shrewsbury Town 2 (0)
Total 489 (41)
Teams managed
1995–1996 Norwich City
1996–1997 Blackpool
1997–1999 Stockport County
1999 Stoke City
2000–2004 West Bromwich Albion
2005–2006 Nottingham Forest
2007 Leicester City
2007–2009 Bolton Wanderers
2011–2012 Sheffield Wednesday
2017 West Bromwich Albion (caretaker)
  • Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Gary John Megson (born 2 May 1959) is an English former football player and manager. He is known for guiding West Bromwich Albion to the Premier League twice. He has managed several clubs, including Norwich City, Blackpool, Stockport County, Stoke City, Nottingham Forest, Leicester City, Bolton Wanderers, and Sheffield Wednesday.

Gary is the son of former player Don Megson and the brother of Neil Megson, who also played football.

Playing Career Highlights

As a player, Gary Megson was a strong midfielder who played for nine different clubs. He started his career at Plymouth Argyle. His good performances led to a move to Everton.

Time at Sheffield Wednesday

After two years at Everton, Gary joined Sheffield Wednesday. His father had also played for this club. Gary quickly became a key player for Wednesday. He helped the team get promoted to the top league in the 1983–84 season. This was a big achievement, as the club had not been in the top league for 14 years. During his first three years there, he hardly missed any games.

Moving to Other Clubs

In 1984, Gary moved to Nottingham Forest. However, his time there was very short, and he did not play any first-team games. He then moved to Newcastle United. He played regularly for Newcastle for the rest of the 1984–85 season.

Gary then returned to Sheffield Wednesday. He again became an important part of the team. In 1989, he joined Manchester City. He spent three and a half seasons there. He helped City get promoted in his first season. He also helped them finish fifth in the league in his last two seasons.

Norwich City and End of Playing Career

In 1992, Gary moved to Norwich City. He played for three seasons at Carrow Road. He was a key player when Norwich finished third in the first-ever Premier League season. This allowed them to play in the UEFA Cup for the first time.

When the manager, Mike Walker, left in 1994, Gary became assistant to the new manager, John Deehan. When Deehan resigned in April 1995, Gary briefly became the caretaker manager. However, he could not save Norwich from being relegated. After this, he left Norwich and played short spells at Lincoln City and Shrewsbury Town. In December 1995, he returned to Norwich as manager after Martin O'Neill left. He stayed until the end of that season.

Managerial Career

Early Management Roles

Gary Megson's first steps into management were at Norwich City. He was an assistant manager before taking over as caretaker in 1995. He could not prevent the team from being relegated. He then left Norwich to play for other clubs. Later that year, he returned to Norwich as manager. The team finished 15th in Division One that season.

In 1996, Gary became manager at Blackpool. He helped the team avoid relegation. He then moved to Stockport County in July 1997. Stockport had just been promoted to Division One. In Gary's first season, they did very well, finishing close to the play-off spots. He left Stockport in 1999.

Gary then took over as manager of Stoke City in the summer of 1999. The team's results improved, and they went on a ten-match unbeaten run. However, new owners took over the club and brought in their own manager.

Success at West Bromwich Albion

Gary Megson became manager of West Bromwich Albion in March 2000. The club was in danger of being relegated to the third tier of English football. He quickly brought in new players to make the team stronger. Albion managed to stay safe by winning their final game of the season.

The next season, Gary led the club into the play-offs. In 2001–02, West Brom won promotion to the Premier League for the first time. They overcame a big points lead from their rivals, Wolverhampton Wanderers. This big achievement earned Gary the Nationwide Division One Manager of the Year award.

After one season, the club was relegated from the Premier League. However, Gary led a successful promotion campaign the following season. This meant West Brom returned to the Premier League. Despite this success, Gary left the club in October 2004.

Nottingham Forest and Leicester City

In January 2005, Gary Megson was appointed manager of Nottingham Forest. He could not save them from being relegated to the third tier of English football. This was the first time in over 50 years for the club. He resigned in February 2006.

In September 2007, Gary became the new manager of Leicester City. He was there for only 41 days and nine games. Bolton Wanderers wanted him as their manager. After some discussions, he was allowed to leave Leicester and join Bolton.

Managing Bolton Wanderers

Gary Megson took over as manager of Bolton Wanderers in October 2007. The team was at the bottom of the Premier League table. His first win came in November when Bolton beat Manchester United 1–0. This was their first home win against United in 30 years.

In February 2008, Bolton reached the last 16 of the UEFA Cup for the first time in their history. They beat Atlético Madrid. Bolton's league form was difficult, but they managed to stay in the Premier League. This was the first time Gary had kept a team in the Premier League as a manager.

In the 2008–09 season, Gary won the Premier League Manager of the Month award for November 2008. He brought in new players like Johan Elmander and Fabrice Muamba. Bolton finished 13th in the league that season.

In the 2009–10 season, Bolton had a tough start. After a period without wins, Gary was relieved of his duties as manager in December 2009.

Return to Sheffield Wednesday

On 4 February 2011, Gary Megson was appointed manager of his former club, Sheffield Wednesday. At the time, the club was third in League One. He was sacked on 29 February 2012. His last game was a 1–0 victory over Sheffield United. He had one of the best win percentages of any manager in Sheffield Wednesday's history.

Assistant and Caretaker at West Bromwich Albion

Gary returned to West Bromwich Albion in July 2017. He worked as an Assistant Head Coach. In November 2017, he became the caretaker head coach after the manager was sacked. He left the club when a new manager was appointed.

Career Statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Plymouth Argyle 1977–78 Third Division 24 2 4 0 0 0 0 0 28 2
1978–79 Third Division 42 8 1 0 4 0 0 0 47 8
1979–80 Third Division 12 0 0 0 5 0 3 0 20 0
Total 78 10 5 0 9 0 3 0 95 10
Everton 1979–80 First Division 12 1 3 1 0 0 0 0 15 2
1980–81 First Division 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 1
Total 22 2 3 1 0 0 0 0 25 3
Sheffield Wednesday 1981–82 Second Division 40 5 1 0 2 0 0 0 43 5
1982–83 Second Division 41 4 7 5 5 1 0 0 53 10
1983–84 Second Division 42 4 4 0 6 1 0 0 52 5
Total 123 13 12 5 13 2 0 0 148 20
Newcastle United 1984–85 First Division 20 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 22 2
1985–86 First Division 4 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 6 0
Total 24 1 2 1 2 0 0 0 28 2
Sheffield Wednesday 1985–86 First Division 20 3 5 0 0 0 0 0 25 3
1986–87 First Division 35 6 6 1 3 0 1 0 45 7
1987–88 First Division 37 2 4 0 4 0 2 0 47 2
1988–89 First Division 18 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 20 1
Total 110 12 15 1 9 0 3 0 137 13
Manchester City 1988–89 Second Division 22 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 23 1
1989–90 First Division 19 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 22 0
1990–91 First Division 19 1 3 0 2 0 2 0 26 1
1991–92 First Division 22 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 26 0
Total 82 2 8 0 5 0 2 0 97 2
Norwich City 1992–93 Premier League 23 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 25 1
1993–94 Premier League 22 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 24 0
1994–95 Premier League 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Total 46 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 50 1
Lincoln City 1995–96 Third Division 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 4 0
Shrewsbury Town 1995–96 Second Division 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Career total 489 41 49 8 40 2 8 0 586 51

Managerial Statistics

Team From To Record
G W D L Win %
Norwich City 21 December 1995 31 July 1996 &&&&&&&&&&&&&027.&&&&&027 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.&&&&&05 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&09.&&&&&09 &&&&&&&&&&&&&013.&&&&&013 &&&&&&&&&&&&&018.52000018.52
Blackpool 5 July 1996 1 July 1997 &&&&&&&&&&&&&052.&&&&&052 &&&&&&&&&&&&&021.&&&&&021 &&&&&&&&&&&&&015.&&&&&015 &&&&&&&&&&&&&016.&&&&&016 &&&&&&&&&&&&&040.38000040.38
Stockport County 1 July 1997 25 June 1999 &&&&&&&&&&&&0102.&&&&&0102 &&&&&&&&&&&&&035.&&&&&035 &&&&&&&&&&&&&027.&&&&&027 &&&&&&&&&&&&&040.&&&&&040 &&&&&&&&&&&&&034.31000034.31
Stoke City 14 July 1999 15 November 1999 &&&&&&&&&&&&&022.&&&&&022 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&09.&&&&&09 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.&&&&&07 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.&&&&&06 &&&&&&&&&&&&&040.91000040.91
West Bromwich Albion 9 March 2000 26 October 2004 &&&&&&&&&&&&0221.&&&&&0221 &&&&&&&&&&&&&094.&&&&&094 &&&&&&&&&&&&&050.&&&&&050 &&&&&&&&&&&&&077.&&&&&077 &&&&&&&&&&&&&042.53000042.53
Nottingham Forest 10 January 2005 16 February 2006 &&&&&&&&&&&&&059.&&&&&059 &&&&&&&&&&&&&017.&&&&&017 &&&&&&&&&&&&&018.&&&&&018 &&&&&&&&&&&&&024.&&&&&024 &&&&&&&&&&&&&028.81000028.81
Leicester City 13 September 2007 24 October 2007 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&09.&&&&&09 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&03.&&&&&03 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.&&&&&04 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&02.&&&&&02 &&&&&&&&&&&&&033.33000033.33
Bolton Wanderers 25 October 2007 30 December 2009 &&&&&&&&&&&&&098.&&&&&098 &&&&&&&&&&&&&027.&&&&&027 &&&&&&&&&&&&&026.&&&&&026 &&&&&&&&&&&&&045.&&&&&045 &&&&&&&&&&&&&027.55000027.55
Sheffield Wednesday 4 February 2011 29 February 2012 &&&&&&&&&&&&&062.&&&&&062 &&&&&&&&&&&&&028.&&&&&028 &&&&&&&&&&&&&012.&&&&&012 &&&&&&&&&&&&&022.&&&&&022 &&&&&&&&&&&&&045.16000045.16
West Bromwich Albion (caretaker) 20 November 2017 29 November 2017 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&02.&&&&&02 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&02.&&&&&02 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00 &0&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00.00
Total &&&&&&&&&&&&0654.&&&&&0654 &&&&&&&&&&&&0239.&&&&&0239 &&&&&&&&&&&&0170.&&&&&0170 &&&&&&&&&&&&0245.&&&&&0245 &&&&&&&&&&&&&036.54000036.54

Honours

As a manager

West Bromwich Albion

Individual

  • Premier League Manager of the Month: November 2008
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