Paul Mariner facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Paul Mariner

Mariner managing Plymouth Argyle in 2010
Personal information
Full name	Paul Mariner
Date of birth	(1953-05-22)22 May 1953
Place of birth	Farnworth, England
Date of death	9 July 2021(2021-07-09) (aged 68)
Playing position	Centre forward
Youth career
1971–1973	Chorley
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1973–1976	Plymouth Argyle	135	(56)
1976–1984	Ipswich Town	260	(96)
1984–1986	Arsenal	60	(14)
1986–1988	Portsmouth	56	(9)
1988	Wollongong City	2	(0)
1989–1992	Albany Capitals	17	(1)
1992–1993	San Francisco Bay Blackhawks	10	(0)
Total		555	(179)
National team
1977–1985	England	35	(13)
Teams managed
2003	Harvard Crimson (assistant)
2004–2009	New England Revolution (assistant)
2009–2010	Plymouth Argyle
2012–2013	Toronto FC
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Paul Mariner (born 22 May 1953 – died 9 July 2021) was a famous English football player and coach. He played as a centre forward, which means he was a main attacker who scored goals.

Paul Mariner started his football journey at Chorley before becoming a professional player in 1973 with Plymouth Argyle. He scored many goals for Plymouth, becoming one of their best players ever. Later, he joined Ipswich Town in 1976. There, he won important trophies in England and Europe under the coach Bobby Robson.

During his time at Ipswich, he was chosen to play for the England national team. He played for England in the 1980 European Championships and the 1982 World Cup. In total, he played 35 games for England and scored 13 goals. After Ipswich, he played for Arsenal and Portsmouth before playing for clubs in Australia and the USA.

After he stopped playing, Paul Mariner became a coach. He coached in Japan and the USA, including at Harvard University. He also worked as an assistant coach for Major League Soccer club New England Revolution. In 2009, he returned to Plymouth Argyle as their head coach and later as manager. He also managed Toronto FC in Major League Soccer. Paul Mariner also worked as a football commentator, sharing his knowledge with fans.

Paul Mariner's Playing Career

Paul Mariner began his football career as an amateur player at Chorley. His strong attacking style quickly caught the eye of Plymouth Argyle, who signed him in 1973.

Time at Plymouth Argyle and Ipswich Town

At Plymouth, Paul had an amazing goal-scoring record, netting 56 goals in 135 games. This impressive performance led Bobby Robson, a famous coach, to bring him to Ipswich Town in 1976 for a club record fee. Paul chose Ipswich over other big clubs like West Bromwich Albion and West Ham United.

Paul made his debut for Ipswich in September 1976. He quickly became known as a classic "number 9" forward. This meant he was a strong player who could handle tough challenges from defenders and score many goals. He was not just a player who waited for the ball; he could also create his own chances.

Mariner during his time with Ipswich Town

Playing for England

Just six months after joining Ipswich, Paul Mariner played his first game for England. He came on as a substitute in a big 5–0 win against Luxembourg at Wembley. He played well in his early England games, even though he didn't score at first. He soon became a regular choice for the England team.

In 1978, Ipswich Town reached the FA Cup final at Wembley and famously beat Arsenal 1–0. Paul Mariner was a key part of that team. He also helped Ipswich win the UEFA Cup in 1981, scoring important goals along the way. This was a huge achievement for the club.

Paul continued to score for England, including a great goal against Norway in a World Cup qualifier. He was chosen for the 1982 World Cup squad in Spain. In England's first match, he scored in an impressive 3–1 win against France. This was his sixth goal in six consecutive games for England, a rare feat! England went out of the tournament later, but Paul's performance was memorable.

Later Club Career

After Ipswich, Paul Mariner joined Arsenal in 1984. He played well for Arsenal at first, scoring seven goals in his first 15 games. However, injuries started to affect his playing time. He played his last game for England in 1985.

In 1986, he left Arsenal and joined Portsmouth. He played there for two seasons. Later, he moved to play football in other countries, including Australia and the USA, for clubs like Albany Capitals and San Francisco Bay Blackhawks. He also played for Naxxar Lions in Malta.

Paul Mariner's Coaching Career

After he stopped playing football in 1993, Paul Mariner started a new career in coaching.

Coaching in the USA

He first worked as a football expert for BBC Radio before coaching youth football in America. In 2003, he became an assistant coach at Harvard University. The next year, in 2004, he joined New England Revolution in Major League Soccer as an assistant coach to Steve Nicol. He spent five years helping the team.

Return to Plymouth Argyle

In October 2009, Paul Mariner returned to one of his old clubs, Plymouth Argyle, as their new head coach. A couple of months later, he became the team's manager. However, the team was struggling, and they were relegated from the Football League Championship in 2010. Paul remained part of the coaching staff for a while before leaving in December 2010 for a new opportunity.

Managing Toronto FC

In January 2011, Paul Mariner joined Toronto FC in Major League Soccer as Director of Player Development. In June 2012, he became the head coach of Toronto FC. He led the team to their first win of the season, a 3–0 victory against Montreal Impact. Although the team improved briefly, he left the club in January 2013.

Broadcasting Career

After his coaching time in Toronto, Paul Mariner went back to the New England Revolution in 2014. This time, he worked as a broadcaster, giving expert commentary for the team's TV and radio games for six seasons. He also worked as an analyst for ESPN from 2009 to 2020, sharing his football knowledge with a wider audience.

Personal Life

Paul Mariner was born in Farnworth, England, on 22 May 1953. He grew up in Horwich. He married Alison Roscoe in 1976, and they had three sons. They later divorced.

Paul Mariner sadly passed away on 9 July 2021, at the age of 68, due to brain cancer.

Career Statistics

Other includes the UEFA Cup, UEFA Cup Winner's Cup, and FA Charity Shield.

Managerial Statistics

Honours and Awards

As a Player

Plymouth Argyle

• Third Division runner up: 1974–75

Ipswich Town

• FA Cup: 1977–78
• UEFA Cup: 1980–81

Individual Awards

• Plymouth Argyle Player of the Year: 1974–75, 1975–76
• Plymouth Argyle Team of the Century
• Football League First Division PFA Team of the Year: 1980–81
• Ipswich Town Player of the Year: 1982–83
• Ipswich Town Hall of Fame: Inducted 2011

See also

In Spanish: Paul Mariner para niños