Ian Crook facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ian Stuart Crook | ||
| Date of birth | 18 January 1963 | ||
| Place of birth | Romford, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1976–1980 | Tottenham Hotspur | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1980–1986 | Tottenham Hotspur | 39 | (1) |
| 1986–1997 | Norwich City | 418 | (24) |
| 1997–1998 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 24 | (4) |
| 1998–2000 | Northern Spirit | 34 | (6) |
| Total | 515 | (35) | |
| International career | |||
| 1987 | England B | 1 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2001–2004 | Newcastle Jets | ||
| 2004 | American Samoa | ||
| 2010–2012 | NSWIS | ||
| 2012 | Sydney FC | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Ian Stuart Crook, born on January 18, 1963, is an English football manager and a former professional player. He was a talented midfielder who played for several well-known clubs.
As a player, Ian Crook started his career with Tottenham Hotspur. He then made a huge impact playing 418 games for Norwich City, where he played in the top English league, the Premier League, and in European competitions like the UEFA Cup. He also played in Japan for Sanfrecce Hiroshima and in Australia for Northern Spirit before he retired as a player. He even played one game for the England B team in 1987.
After his playing days, Crook became a coach, mostly in Australia. He coached teams like Newcastle Jets and the New South Wales Institute of Sport. He was the manager of A-League club Sydney FC in 2012 and later became an Assistant Manager for Western Sydney Wanderers. For a short time in 2004, he was also the manager of the American Samoa national team.
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Playing Career Highlights
Ian Crook began his football journey at Tottenham Hotspur. He joined the club as a schoolboy in 1976. He played his first senior game in 1980. Even though it was tough to get a regular spot in the team because of other famous midfielders, he was part of the squad that won the UEFA Cup in 1984. He was an unused substitute in the final match, but he did play in the semi-final.
Becoming a Norwich City Legend
In 1986, Crook moved to Norwich City. This move turned out to be one of the best decisions for the club! He became a central 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 journey during the 1993–94 season. He was known for his amazing passing skills and how accurate he was with free-kicks and corners.
Many football experts believed that if he had played for a bigger club, he would have played for the main England team. In a poll by Four Four Two magazine in 2001, fans voted him as one of the best players who never played for the full England team.
He was still with Norwich when they were relegated from the Premier League in 1995. This ended their nine-year run in the top division, which had started the same year Crook joined them.
There was a famous moment when he almost left Norwich to join their big rivals, Ipswich Town, in 1996. He even posed for photos with their shirt! But then, the former Norwich manager, Mike Walker, returned to the club and convinced Crook to change his mind and stay with Norwich.
Later Playing Years
In 1997, Ian Crook moved to Japan to play for Sanfrecce Hiroshima. He played there until May 1998. After that, he transferred to Northern Spirit FC in Australia, where he played until he retired as a player in 2000.
Norwich fans truly loved Ian Crook. In 2002, they voted him into the Norwich City F.C. Hall of Fame. He even played in the club's 100-year anniversary match at Carrow Road. In 2008, he was voted into the "Greatest Ever Norwich City Eleven" by the fans.
Coaching and Management Career
After finishing his playing career, Ian Crook started coaching. He played for and coached Northern Spirit FC in Australia before becoming a manager for the first time at Newcastle Jets. In his first season, he helped the Jets improve a lot, earning him the "NSL Coach of the Year" award.
After his success in Newcastle, Crook took on a unique challenge: coaching the American Samoa national football team. This team had never scored a goal in a competitive international game before! In early 2004, he also became an assistant coach for Australia's Under-20 team.
Coaching in Sydney
In November 2004, he joined Sydney FC as an assistant coach. He helped the team win the A-League title and even go to the World Club Championships in 2005. He stayed with Sydney FC for another six months after the main manager left.
Over the years, Ian Crook was often mentioned as a possible manager for Norwich City, especially in 2006 and 2007.
In January 2007, Crook became an assistant manager for a Japanese team called Avispa Fukuoka, but he left in July 2008. He then had a second period as manager at the Newcastle Jets.
On January 21, 2009, Crook returned to Norwich City as a first-team coach. In June 2010, he went back to Australia to become the Director of Coaching for Sydney Olympic Football Club. He later became the Head Coach at the New South Wales Institute of Sport.
He returned to Sydney FC in 2011 as a coach. Then, on May 14, 2012, Ian Crook was appointed manager of Sydney FC. However, on November 11 of the same year, he decided to resign as head coach after some tough losses, including a big 7–2 defeat.
Assistant Coach Role
On June 12, 2014, Ian Crook was appointed assistant coach for Western Sydney Wanderers. He played a part in the club's success when they won the 2014 AFC Champions League. He even took charge of the team for a couple of games when the main manager was suspended, leading them to a 3–1 victory against a Japanese team.
Personal Life
Ian Crook made a lasting impact at Norwich City. His dedication and skill led to him being elected as a member of the Norwich City F.C. Hall of Fame. He is remembered fondly by fans for his contributions to the club's history.
See also
In Spanish: Ian Crook para niños
