Adrian Heath
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Adrian Paul Heath[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 11 January 1961 | ||
| Place of birth | Newcastle-under-Lyme, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1979–1982 | Stoke City | 95 | (16) |
| 1982–1988 | Everton | 226 | (71) |
| 1988–1989 | Espanyol | 24 | (1) |
| 1989–1990 | Aston Villa | 9 | (0) |
| 1990–1992 | Manchester City | 75 | (4) |
| 1992 | Stoke City | 6 | (0) |
| 1992–1995 | Burnley | 115 | (29) |
| 1995–1996 | Sheffield United | 4 | (0) |
| 1996–1997 | Burnley | 5 | (0) |
| Total | 559 | (121) | |
| National team | |||
| 1981–1982 | England U21 | 8 | (3) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 1996–1997 | Burnley | ||
| 1999 | Sheffield United | ||
| 2005 | Coventry City (caretaker) | ||
| 2007 | Coventry City (caretaker) | ||
| 2008–10 | Austin Aztex (manager) | ||
| 2011– | Orlando City S.C. (manager) | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Adrian Paul Heath (born 11 January 1961) is an English football manager and former player. He manages American USL Pro Orlando franchise. As a player he is remembered as part of the Everton side of the 1980s, where he won several trophies. He also played for Stoke City, Espanyol, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Burnley and Sheffield United.
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[edit] Playing career
Born in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Heath was scouted by Terry Miles for Port Vale, and as Heath's father was a Port Vale supporter he seemed to be heading for Vale Park until the club's assistant manager revealed he did not rate the youngster – Miles quit the club in protest.[2] Heath instead started his playing career at the Stoke City. He became a regular in the first team, making 95 appearances. Heath joined Everton in January 1982 for a then club record fee of £700,000. He became the club's top scorer in his first full season, scoring 18 in all competitions in the 1983–84 season. Despite the fact that Heath only played 17 games in the 1984–85 campaign, his scoring got into double figures every season until 1988.
A goal for which many fans remember Heath is credited with changing Everton's fortunes in the 1983–84 road to the League Cup Final at Oxford United. Grabbing a poor Kevin Brock back-pass, Heath scored a goal away at Oxford to equalize the match and earn Everton a chance to turn things around.
Heath then became something of a journeyman, with a spell in Spain with Espanyol. After a single season he returned to England, where he spent the remainder of his career. In 1990 Manchester City manager Howard Kendall signed Heath from Aston Villa. Heath was one of a number of former Everton players signed by Kendall, and the transfer marked the third different club at which Heath had played under Kendall.[3] His debut came as a substitute against Charlton Athletic in January 1990.[3] During the 1990–91 season Heath forged a strike partnership with Niall Quinn, the short and agile Heath contrasting with Quinn's aerial ability. The pair started 33 matches together, though Heath scored only one goal, in the second match of the season.[4] Heath's barren run lasted 46 matches, and made him the subject of frequent abuse from the crowd, particularly when Heath was selected ahead of fan favourite Clive Allen.[5] The run finally came to an end in November 1991, when Heath scored two goals in a League Cup tie at Queen's Park Rangers.[6] As the 1991–92 season progressed, Heath lost his place in the team to young striker Mike Sheron. In March 1992 Heath returned to his first club Stoke City.
Heath also had a notable three year stint at Burnley. In all, over £2 million was spent on fees for Heath during his career.
[edit] Managerial career
Heath began his managerial career as player-manager of Burnley in March 1996. He left after the 1996–97 season having finished ninth in the Second Division. Two years later he was appointed manager of Sheffield United but he left the club after only five months.
He also worked with former Everton team-mate Peter Reid at Sunderland, Leeds United and Coventry City. When Reid left Coventry in January 2005, Heath stepped in as caretaker. He remained at the club under Reid's successor Micky Adams and again acted as caretaker in January 2007 before leaving the club after Iain Dowie was appointed.[7][8]
Heath was appointed manager of USL-1 expansion team Austin Aztex in February 2008.[9] Austin Aztex have a close relationship with English side Stoke City, where Heath started his career. Heath moved with the team when they relocated to Florida to become Orlando City, playing in the USL PRO division, leading them to the regular season title and the league championship in their inaugural year.
[edit] Honours
[edit] with Everton
Football League Division One (now Premier League)
- Winner – 1984–85, 1986–87
- Winner – 1984
- Runner-up −1989
- Runner-up – 1984
- Winner – 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987
- Winner – 1985
[edit] with Burnley
Football League Second Division playoffs
- Winner – 1994
[edit] References
- ^ "Adiran Heath profile". Zero Zero. http://www.zerozero.pt/jogador/adrian_paul_heath/actual/ficha/0/default/126859. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
- ^ Kent, Jeff (December 1991). Port Vale Tales: A Collection Of Stories, Anecdotes And Memories. Witan Books. pp. 29. ISBN 0950898163.
- ^ a b Penney, Ian (1995). The Maine Road Encyclopedia. Edinburgh: Mainstream. p. 93. ISBN 1-85158-710-1.
- ^ James, Gary (2006). Manchester City - The Complete Record. Derby: Breedon. p. 449. ISBN 1-85983-512-0.
- ^ Buckley, Andy; Burgess, Richard (2000). Blue Moon Rising: The Fall and Rise of Manchester City. Bury: Milo. pp. 32–3. ISBN 0-9530847-4-4.
- ^ James, Manchester City - The Complete Record, pp. 450–1
- ^ Adams sacked by City
- ^ Dowie takes over as Coventry boss
- ^ "Aztex Announce Head Coach". SunHerald. 2008-02-21. Archived from the original on 2008-02-28. http://web.archive.org/web/20080228032157/http://www.sunherald.com/447/story/383634.html. Retrieved 2008-02-21.
[edit] External links
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| New creation | Austin Aztex head coach 2008– |
Incumbent |
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- 1961 births
- People from Newcastle-under-Lyme
- Living people
- English footballers
- England under-21 international footballers
- England B international footballers
- La Liga footballers
- Stoke City F.C. players
- Everton F.C. players
- Aston Villa F.C. players
- RCD Espanyol footballers
- Manchester City F.C. players
- Burnley F.C. players
- Sheffield United F.C. players
- English football managers
- Burnley F.C. managers
- Sheffield United F.C. managers
- Coventry City F.C. managers
- Newcastle United F.C. non-playing staff
- USL First Division coaches
- Sunderland A.F.C. non-playing staff
