Ian Crook facts for kids

Ian Stuart Crook (born 18 January 1963) is an English football manager and former professional player.

He played as a midfielder and started his career with Tottenham Hotspur. He is best known for playing 418 games for Norwich City. There, he played in the Premier League and the UEFA Cup. He also played in Japan for Sanfrecce Hiroshima and in Australia for Northern Spirit. In 1987, he played one game for the England B team.

After playing, Crook became a coach, mostly in Australia. He worked with teams like Newcastle Jets and NSWIS. In 2012, he was the manager of A-League club Sydney FC. He later became an Assistant Manager for Western Sydney Wanderers. In 2004, he also managed the American Samoa national team for a short time.

Playing Career Highlights

Ian Crook began his football journey at Tottenham Hotspur. He joined the club as a schoolboy in 1976. He made his first team debut in 1980. He stayed with the North London club for six years. It was hard for him to get a regular spot in the team. This was because Tottenham's midfield had famous players like Glenn Hoddle and Ossie Ardiles.

Success at Tottenham

Even though he didn't play much, he was part of the team that won the UEFA Cup in 1984. Tottenham beat R.S.C. Anderlecht in a penalty shootout. Crook was an unused substitute in the final. He did play in the semi-final match against Hajduk.

Time at Norwich City

In 1986, Crook moved to Norwich City for £80,000. This move turned out to be one of the best deals for the club. He became a key player in Norwich's most successful period. During his eleven years there, he helped the team finish in the top five of England's top division three times.

He also played in Norwich's exciting UEFA Cup run in the 1993–94 season. He was known for his excellent passing and accurate kicks from set-pieces. Many football experts believed that if he had played for a bigger club, he would have played for the main England team. In a 2001 poll, Crook was voted one of the best players never to have played for England.

Norwich City was relegated from the Premier League in 1995. This ended their nine-year run in the top division. Crook was still with the club at that time.

A Famous Transfer Decision

At the end of the 1995–96 season, Crook agreed to join Ipswich Town. They were Norwich's big rivals. He even posed for photos with his new shirt. But days later, he changed his mind and re-signed with Norwich City. This happened because former Norwich manager Mike Walker returned to the club. Walker persuaded Crook to stay. This caused a big disagreement with Ipswich Town.

Playing Abroad

In 1997, Ian Crook moved to Japan. He was signed by Sanfrecce Hiroshima. He played there until May 1998. Then, he transferred to Northern Spirit FC in Australia. He played for Northern Spirit until he retired as a player in 2000.

Honors and Recognition

In 2002, Norwich fans voted Crook into the Norwich City F.C. Hall of Fame. He also played in the club's 100-year anniversary match at Carrow Road. In 2008, he was voted into the Greatest Ever Norwich City team. This shows how much fans loved him.

Coaching Career

After his playing career, Ian Crook started coaching. He played for and coached Northern Spirit FC in Australia. Then, he took his first manager job at Newcastle Jets. In his first season, he led the Jets from near the bottom to second place. This earned him the NSL Coach of the Year award.

International Coaching

After his success in Newcastle, Crook took on a unique challenge. He became the coach of the American Samoa national football team. This team had never scored a goal in a competitive international game. In early 2004, he also became an assistant coach for the Australian Under-20 team.

Return to Sydney FC

In November 2004, he joined Sydney F.C. as an assistant coach. He worked under manager Pierre Littbarski. They won the A-League title in 2005. They also attended the World Club Championships. Littbarski left the club, but Crook stayed for another six months.

Crook was often linked with a possible return to Norwich as a coach. This happened in 2006 and again in 2007. In January 2007, Crook accepted an assistant manager role in Japan. He joined Avispa Fukuoka to work with Littbarski again. However, they were both dismissed in July 2008.

Manager of Sydney FC

He returned to Australia and became the Head Coach at the New South Wales Institute of Sport. In 2011, he returned to Sydney FC. He worked with former player Steve Corica and manager Vitezslav Lavicka. After Lavicka left, Crook was appointed manager of Sydney FC on 14 May 2012.

However, his time as manager was short. On 11 November 2012, Crook resigned. This was after a tough loss to Melbourne Victory. The week before, they had lost 7–2 to the Central Coast Mariners. His assistant, Steve Corica, took over temporarily.

Western Sydney Wanderers

On 12 June 2014, Ian Crook became an assistant coach for Western Sydney Wanderers. He helped the club win the 2014 AFC Champions League. This was a major achievement for the team. On 25 February 2015, Crook managed the team for a game. This was because the main coach was suspended. The Wanderers won that game against Kashima Antlers in Japan.

Personal Life

Ian Crook made a big impact at Norwich City. He was chosen to be a member of the club's Norwich City F.C. Hall of Fame. This shows how much he was respected and remembered by the fans.

See also

In Spanish: Ian Crook para niños