Michael Flynn (footballer)
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Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | [1] | 17 October 1980||
Place of birth | Newport, Wales[1] | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder[1] | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Newport County (manager) | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1999–2000 | Newport County | 20 | (4) |
2000–2001 | Barry Town | 8 | (12) |
2000–2001 | Newport County | 3 | (1) |
2001–2002 | Barry Town | 12 | (12) |
2002–2005 | Wigan Athletic | 37 | (2) |
2004 | → Blackpool (loan) | 6 | (0) |
2005–2007 | Gillingham | 97 | (19) |
2007–2008 | Blackpool | 26 | (3) |
2008–2009 | Huddersfield Town | 25 | (4) |
2008 | → Darlington (loan) | 4 | (0) |
2009–2012 | Bradford City | 91 | (10) |
2012–2015 | Newport County | 82 | (5) |
2015–2017 | Undy Athletic | 4 | (3) |
2017–2018 | Newport County | 5 | (0) |
Total | 420 | (75) | |
Managerial career | |||
2015 | Undy Athletic | ||
2017 | Newport County (caretaker) | ||
2017– | Newport County | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Michael Flynn (born 17 October 1980) is a Welsh professional football manager and former player who played as a midfielder. He is the manager of EFL League Two club Newport County.
Flynn began his career with Newport County, becoming a professional with Barry Town before his break out with Championship side Gillingham. He appeared 91 times for Bradford City. He returned to Newport County and played while obtaining his UEFA Pro License.
Flynn became caretaker manager of Newport County in 2017 amid a relegation battle. After 2017's 'Great Escape', Newport County won FA Cup fixtures against Leeds United, Leicester City and Middlesbrough. In the 2018–19 season Flynn led Newport to the 2019 EFL League Two play-off Final against Tranmere Rovers. In Cup competitions Newport also played Premier League teams in 2018 Tottenham Hotspur, in 2019 Manchester City and West Ham United. In the 2020-21 EFL Cup Newport county beat Championship clubs Swansea City and Watford before losing on penalties to premier league club Newcastle United. In the same season Newport lost to Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion on penalties in the FA Cup.
Playing career
Born in Newport, Flynn started his career playing for Newport County in 1999. A move to League of Wales club Barry Town beckoned in 2000. After forty goals in two seasons, including a goal in a 3–1 win over F.C. Porto in the second qualifying round of the Champions League, he moved to Wigan Athletic in the 2002–03 season.
Flynn spent a lot of his time on the substitutes' bench as Wigan won Division Two title. He made seventeen appearances in the league, fourteen of which came from the bench, and scored one goal. The next season did not start any better for Flynn as he started just one game and made seven appearances from the bench before he was loaned to then League One side Blackpool, where he started six times in the league and once in the FA Cup before returning to Wigan.
In the January transfer window of that season, Flynn joined Championship strugglers Gillingham on a free transfer. Despite his instant success, and his three goals in sixteen starts, Gillingham were relegated to League One on the last day of the season.
Although injury affected his 2005–06 season, Flynn scored six goals. He took over as captain for the 2006–07 season and became top scorer with twelve goals.
It was announced on 8 May 2007 that Flynn had been offered a new contract with Gillingham. He chose not to sign, and left the club when his contract expired at the end of June 2007.
On 5 July 2007, Flynn signed a one-year contract with Blackpool, with an option for a further year. On 3 December 2007, Flynn scored his first goal for Blackpool in the club's 1–1 away draw against Scunthorpe United. On 7 May 2008 he was released by Blackpool. On 23 July 2008, he became Stan Ternent's fifth signing at League One side Huddersfield Town. He, along with five other players, made his Town debut in the 1–1 draw against Stockport County at the Galpharm Stadium on 9 August 2008. On 27 August he scored his first goal for Huddersfield in the second round of the League Cup against Sheffield United. Town went on to lose the game 2–1. His first league goals for Town came in the 3–2 win over Northampton Town at the Galpharm Stadium on 20 September 2008.
Following a short spell on the sidelines following a hamstring injury, he joined Darlington on loan on 27 November 2008. He made his debut in the 1–0 defeat to Morecambe at Christie Park on 13 December. He returned to Huddersfield on 29 December.
On 4 August 2009, Flynn joined local rivals Bradford City on a free transfer. He made his debut four days later in the 5–0 defeat by Notts County at Meadow Lane and scored his first goal of the 2011–12 season in a 3–2 loss to Leeds United. On 28 April 2012 it was announced that he would leave Bradford as his contract was ended by mutual consent along with teammates Chris Mitchell and Craig Fagan.
On 25 July 2012 he re-signed for home-town club Newport County. In the 2012–13 season he was part of the Newport team that finished 3rd in the league, reaching the Conference National playoffs. Newport County won the playoff final versus Wrexham at Wembley Stadium 2–0 to return to the Football League after a 25-year absence with promotion to Football League Two.[2]
In May 2015 Flynn's playing contract came to an end and it was not extended by Newport.[3]
In January 2017 whilst first team coach at Newport Flynn registered as a player. He made his fourth debut for Newport in the League Two match on 28 January 2017 versus Hartlepool United as a second-half substitute.[4]
Coaching experience
He earned his UEFA Pro Licence at the same time as Mikel Arteta.[5]
Flynn worked as academy manager for Newport County, before being released (as both player and coach) by Terry Butcher.[6] In 2015 he then joined Welsh Football League Division Two side Undy Athletic as player-coach, intend to combine this part-time role with a job as an estate agent or a publican.[6]
In August 2015, Newport County Supporters Trust took over interim control of the club, and appointed Flynn on a voluntary basis as club ambassador. He would later serve in other roles including marketing until October. On 8 October 2015 Flynn rejoined Newport County as first team coach under new manager John Sheridan.[7] In January 2016 Warren Feeney was appointed team manager and Flynn was retained as first team coach. In July 2016 Newport County appointed Flynn to a newly created role as Football and Business Development Director.[8] In October 2016 Flynn again rejoined the Newport County coaching staff under newly appointed manager Graham Westley.[9][10]
Managerial career
On 9 March 2017 Flynn was appointed caretaker manager of Newport County for the remainder of the 2016–17 season following the sacking of Graham Westley with Newport 11 points adrift at the bottom of League Two.[11] Flynn said his wife didn't want him to take the job.[6] Wayne Hatswell returned to the club as Assistant Manager to Flynn. Flynn led the team to Football League survival, avoiding relegation with a win in the final match of the season and confirming the second 'great escape' in the club's history.[12] On 9 May 2017 Flynn was appointed permanent team manager on a two-year contract.[13]
On 7 January 2018 a 2–1 home win over Championship club Leeds United in the FA Cup third round meant Newport progressed to the FA Cup fourth round for the first time since 1979 and they were drawn at home to Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur.[14] On 27 January 2018 Newport achieved a 1–1 draw to force a replay at Tottenham's temporary home ground of Wembley Stadium.[15] Tottenham won the replay 2–0.[16] In Flynn's first full season in management Newport County finished the 2017–18 season in 11th place in League Two.
The following season, Flynn led Newport to another major FA Cup upset, with a 2–1 victory over Premier League side Leicester City to send them through to the fourth round of the competition.[17] In the FA Cup fourth round Newport drew the away match 1–1 against Championship club Middlesbrough on 26 January 2019 [18] and on 5 February 2019 County won the replay at home 2–0.[19] The match provided the only managerial meeting of Flynn and fellow Pillgwenlly-born manager Tony Pulis. Pulis spoke highly about Newport's achievement after previous turmoil, describing Flynn as having achieved a "fantastic job" and also praising Newport's team management consultant Lennie Lawrence.[20]
County progressed to the FA Cup fifth round for the first time since 1949 and were drawn at home against reigning Premier League champions Manchester City. County lost the match 4–1.[21] Before and after the match, Flynn received praise from a number of managers across the business, including his former UEFA pro-licence classmates Mikel Arteta and Thierry Henry, for progressing to the late stages of the competition. Flynn, a Liverpool fan, was also later invited by manager Jurgen Klopp to join a coaching session at Liverpool's Melwood ground.[5]
Newport finished the 2018–19 season in seventh place in League Two, thus qualifying for the League Two play-offs. In the semi-final against Mansfield Town, Newport drew the first leg 1–1 at home, drew the second leg 0–0 at Mansfield and then won the semi-final penalty shoot-out.[22] In the League Two playoff final at Wembley Stadium on 25 May 2019 Newport lost to Tranmere Rovers, 1-0 after a goal in the 119th minute.[23]
On 27 August 2019, Newport County faced West Ham United of the Premier League in Round 2 of the EFL Cup, losing the tie 2–0.[24] In September 2019, Flynn was closely linked with the team manager vacancy at Lincoln City following the departure of Danny Cowley. County went on to confirm they had granted permission to "another EFL club" to interview Flynn.[25] On 17 September Flynn confirmed through a club press release that he was no longer in talks for the prospective role.[25] In October 2019 he signed a new contract with Newport, until June 2022.[26] Newport also reached the semi-final of the EFL Trophy, losing to Salford City on penalties on 19 February 2020.[27] On 19 February 2020 Newport reached the semi-final of the EFL Trophy, losing to Salford City on penalties.[27] The 2019-20 season was suspended on 13 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, with Newport 15th in League Two and the season was formally terminated on 9 June 2020.[28] Points per game was subsequently adopted to determine the final League Two table with Newport County rising one place to 14th in the league.
On 22 September 2020 Newport County beat Championship club Watford 3-1 at home in the third round of the EFL Cup to reach the fourth round for the first time in the club's history.[29] Newport were drawn at home to Premier League club Newcastle United in the fourth round and after drawing 1-1 in normal time Newcastle won the penalty shoot-out.[30] Flynn won the League Two Manager of the Month award for October 2020 after Newport won six of their seven league games in October, leaving Newport top of the League Two table.[31] Newport again reached the third round of the 2020-21 FA Cup to face Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion at home on 10 January 2021.[32] Newport lost to Brighton on penalties having drawn 1-1 after extra time.[33]
Personal life
Born in Newport, he was born to his mother Kerry and father John, both of Bettws. His mother had Michael at the age of 20 and he grew up with his great aunt Sheila and uncle Ted on Baldwin Street in the Pillgwenlly area of Newport.[34] His uncle worked at Newport Docks. Flynn has spoken of his uncle and aunt's Catholic values and its influence on his upbringing. He also described himself as a shy child, and a short but keen young footballer. He played for a range of youth sides including Albion Rovers Under 10s, Pill AFC, Newport Civil Service and Newport YMCA.[35]
Flynn worked part-time jobs early in his career, stacking shelves while a youth player for Newport. He worked as a postman in 2001 prior to his first professional contract with Barry Town.[36] Flynn married his wife Victoria in 2016, and has five children; one daughter and two sons from previous relationships: Dionne (b. 2000), Charlie (b. 2014) and Theo (b. 2014) and two sons with his wife Victoria: Edward (b. 2015) and Samuel (b. 2017).[35][37]
Flynn went to St Joseph's High School as a child, where he was a schoolmate of former West Ham United F.C. player and Wales international James Collins, who is two years younger than Flynn.[38] Flynn attended Staffordshire University obtaining a 2:1 degree in BA Sports Journalism and Media Law. Flynn holds a UEFA Pro Licence, which he obtained alongside Thierry Henry at the Football Association of Wales Dragon Park headquarters in 2013. He was previously a director of a Newport estate agency named Crook, Hudson & Flynn, and is now a director of estate agency David Spencer Ltd.[39]
Managerial statistics
- As of match played 30 January 2021[40]
Team | From | To | Record | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
P | W | D | L | Win % | |||
Newport County | 9 March 2017 | Present | 212 | 87 | 56 | 69 | 41.0 |
Total | 212 | 87 | 56 | 69 | 41.0 |
References
- ^ a b c "Mike Flynn". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
- ^ Hughes, Dewi (5 May 2013). "Wrexham 0–2 Newport". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
- ^ "Newport County: Aaron O'Connor one of 11 senior players to leave". BBC Sport. 12 May 2015.
- ^ "Newport County 3–1 Hartlepool United". BBC Sport. 28 January 2017.
- ^ a b "FA Cup: Goalkeeper's wife has twin girls and rise of the supermarket shelf-stacker". BBC Sport. 6 February 2019.
"We have had Mauricio Pochettino, Claude Puel, Thomas Christiansen, they are all fantastic managers but this is the creme de la creme. He is a master, somebody that I just idolise and probably the best in the business, along with Jurgen Klopp, because I am a Liverpool fan," Flynn said.
- ^ a b c "Michael Flynn: Newport manager's rise from would-be estate agent to club legend". BBC Sport. 6 May 2019.
- ^ "Michael Flynn: Former player to continue on Newport County staff". BBC Sport. 9 October 2015.
- ^ "Former midfielder Flynn excited by new Exiles role". South Wales Argus.
- ^ "Michael Flynn: Former midfielder returns to Newport County coaching team". BBC Sport. 13 October 2016.
- ^ "Michael Flynn returns to coaching role with Newport County". South Wales Argus.
- ^ "Newport County sack manager Graham Westley". BBC Sport. 9 March 2017.
- ^ "Newport County 2–1 Notts County". BBC Sport. 6 May 2017.
- ^ "Mike Flynn appointed permanent Newport County manager". BBC Sport. 9 May 2017.
- ^ "Newport County 2–1 Leeds United". BBC Sport. 7 January 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
- ^ Pritchard, Dafydd (27 January 2018). "Newport County 1–1 Tottenham Hotspur". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ Pearlman, Michael (7 February 2018). "Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Newport County". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ Pearlman, Michael (6 January 2019). "Newport County 2–1 Leicester in FA Cup third round". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
- ^ Pearlman, Michael (26 January 2019). "Middlesbrough 1-1 Newport County in FA Cup third round". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ "Newport County 2-0 Middlesbrough in FA Cup fourth-round replay". BBC Sport. 5 February 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ "Tony Pulis won't do hometown club any favours on Saturday". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
- ^ Pearlman, Michael (16 February 2019). "Newport 1-4 Man City: Phil Foden double helps City into FA Cup quarter-finals". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ "Mansfield Town 0-0 (3-5 pens) Newport County: Day sends County to Wembley". BBC Sport. 12 May 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ Pearlman, Michael (25 May 2019). "League Two play-off final: Newport County 0-1 Tranmere Rovers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ Newport County v West Ham
- ^ a b "CLUB STATEMENT | Manager Michael Flynn". www.newport-county.co.uk. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
- ^ "Michael Flynn: Manager handed new Newport County contract". BBC Sport. 3 October 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ a b FA Trophy semi final
- ^ League Two season ended
- ^ Newport beat Watford
- ^ Newcastle beat Newport
- ^ Flynn October 2020 Manager of the Month
- ^ Newport v Brighton
- ^ Brighton beat Newport
- ^ "FIRST PERSON: Newport County midfielder and youth development coach Michael Flynn". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
- ^ a b "FIRST PERSON: 'I am proud to be from Newport ' – County manager Michael Flynn". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
- ^ Ellis, Adam (18 May 2017). "Newport County's 'Great Escape' fills Flynn with pride". The League Paper. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
- ^ "It's the perfect end to the perfect week for Exiles boss Michael Flynn". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
- ^ Penman, Andrew (21 August 2019). "Newport County unlikely to sign ex-Wales star James Collins". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
- ^ "DAVID SPENCER LIMITED - Officers (free information from Companies House)". Companies House. 24 March 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
- ^ "Managers: Michael Flynn". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
External links
- Michael Flynn at Soccerbase
- 1980 births
- Living people
- Footballers from Newport, Wales
- Welsh footballers
- Association football midfielders
- Newport County A.F.C. players
- Barry Town United F.C. players
- Wigan Athletic F.C. players
- Blackpool F.C. players
- Gillingham F.C. players
- Huddersfield Town A.F.C. players
- Darlington F.C. players
- Bradford City A.F.C. players
- Undy A.F.C. players
- English Football League players
- National League (English football) players
- Cymru Premier players
- Welsh football managers
- Newport County A.F.C. managers
- English Football League managers