Brian Flynn (footballer)
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Brian Flynn | ||
Date of birth | 12 October 1955 | ||
Place of birth | Port Talbot, Glamorgan, Wales | ||
Height | 5 ft 3.5 in (1.61 m)[1] | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1972–1977 | Burnley | 120 | (8) |
1977–1982 | Leeds United | 154 | (11) |
1982 | → Burnley (loan) | 2 | (0) |
1982–1984 | Burnley | 80 | (11) |
1984–1985 | Cardiff City | 32 | (0) |
1985–1986 | Doncaster Rovers | 27 | (0) |
1986–1987 | Bury | 19 | (0) |
1987 | Limerick City | 10 | (1) |
1987–1988 | Doncaster Rovers | 24 | (1) |
1988–1993 | Wrexham | 100 | (5) |
Total | 568 | (37) | |
International career | |||
1975–1984 | Wales | 66 | (7) |
Managerial career | |||
1989–2001 | Wrexham | ||
2002–2004 | Swansea City | ||
2004–2012 | Wales U-21 | ||
2010 | Wales (caretaker) | ||
2013 | Doncaster Rovers | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Brian Flynn, (born 12 October 1955) is a Welsh former footballer and manager. As a player, he was a Welsh international, who played as a midfielder.
Flynn managed the Wales national under-21 football team until May 2012, coming close to taking Wales to their first major championship in 57 years. On 13 September 2010, Flynn was confirmed caretaker manager of the Wales national football team after John Toshack stepped down, prior to the appointment of Gary Speed. He is currently a free agent, after spending 18 months as a scout for Swansea City.[2]
Playing career
Flynn started his career with Burnley, and made his league debut for them in the 1973–74 season, when they were in the old First Division. After 120 league appearances he transferred to Leeds United in November 1977. He moved back to Burnley in November 1982 (after an earlier brief loan spell) and after 80 more league games Flynn moved to Cardiff City in November 1984.[3]
Flynn later played for Doncaster Rovers, Bury, Limerick City and Wrexham.[4] He made his final Football League appearances in the 1992–93 season whilst with Wrexham, with his final game coming on 3 November 1992 against Scunthorpe United.[5]
He earned 66 full Welsh caps between 1975 and 1984, scoring 7 goals.[4]
Management career
Wrexham
He became manager of Wrexham in 1989, and remained in charge until 2001.[6] During his twelve years in charge Wrexham won the Welsh Cup three times gaining entry to the Cup Winners Cup. They achieved notable FA Cup giant-killing victories over reigning league champions Arsenal and Premier League West Ham United.[7][8] Flynn also led Wrexham to promotion into the second division.[8] At the time of his departure from Wrexham he was the league's third longest serving manager behind Alex Ferguson and Dario Gradi.[7]
Swansea City
He was appointed as Swansea City manager in September 2002, replacing Nick Cusack.[9]
Cusack's last game in charge on 18 September 2002 had seen Swansea lose 1–0 away to Boston United and move to last place in the Football League for the first time in their history. Flynn's first game on 21 September 2002 was no better for Swansea with them losing 1–0 at home to Torquay United.[10] He set about trying to rebuild the side giving debuts to 21 players in his first season[10] Their Football League status was only maintained on the last day of the season with them winning 4–2 at home to Hull City.[10][11] The following season started well for Swansea and they made the FA Cup 5th round but after a loss of form, Flynn was replaced by Kenny Jackett.[10][12]
Wales
Flynn joined the Welsh national set-up in 2004 as under-21 coach. His management of the Welsh under-21 side has seen some of the best results in its history. Flynn came agonisingly close to taking the Welsh team to the 2009 UEFA under-21 Championships, guiding the side to the top of a group containing France and Romania, including a superb away win against the latter. Unfortunately, competition rules stipulated that even group winners had to go through a two-legged play-off round in order to qualify, and Wales were knocked out 5–4 on aggregate against their neighbours, England.
Following the departure of John Toshack as Wales manager in September 2010, Flynn was appointed as Wales caretaker manager.[13] He took charge of two games, both defeats. On 8 October 2010 Wales were beaten 1–0 in Cardiff by Bulgaria and on 12 October 2010 they lost 4–1 to Switzerland at St. Jakob-Park in Basel.[14][15]
Flynn vacated his position with Wales Under 21s in May 2012 at the end of his contact. He was credited with an important role in the development of Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey, Joe Allen and Wayne Hennessey.[16][17]
Doncaster Rovers
Having already been working for Doncaster Rovers as a scout, he was appointed as caretaker manager of the club on 7 January following Dean Saunders move to Wolverhampton Wanderers. At that point he was assisted by player Rob Jones who had been briefly installed as caretaker earlier that morning.[18] On 17 January Flynn was confirmed as permanent manager with a contract till the end of the season.[19] His first game in permanent charge of Doncaster on 19 January 2013 saw his side win 2–0 against Leyton Orient.[20]
On 27 April 2013, Flynn secured promotion with Doncaster, and the League One title, with a 1–0 win against Brentford at Griffin Park. Victory for Brentford would have seen them promoted at Doncaster's expense, and they were awarded a penalty-kick in injury-time, but missed and Doncaster scored from the resulting counterattack to earn the victory.[21]
At the end of the season, Flynn expressed a desire to step down as manager and return to a role of developing and recruiting players. Doncaster offered him a senior role in this as well as helping to choose the new manager.[22] For the 2013–14 season he was named as Director of Football[23] including overseeing the newly formed development squad[24] which would be playing competitive games.
Scouting career
On December 1st 2016, Flynn returned to Swansea City as a scout.[25] After Swansea's relegation to the Championship at the end of the 2017-18 Season[26], Flynn and the rest of the scouting team were relived of their duties.[27]
Managerial statistics
- As of 3 May 2013[28]
Team | From | To | Record | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
P | W | D | L | Win % | |||
Wrexham | 24 November 1989 | 24 September 2001 | 622 | 223 | 173 | 226 | 35.9 |
Swansea City | 19 September 2002 | 18 March 2004 | 82 | 28 | 22 | 32 | 34.1 |
Wales U21 | 18 March 2004 | 31 May 2012 | 37 | 19 | 5 | 13 | 51.4 |
Wales | 19 September 2010 | 14 December 2010 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.0 |
Doncaster Rovers | 17 January 2013 | 3 May 2013 | 20 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 50.0 |
Total | 763 | 280 | 204 | 279 | 36.7 |
References
- ^ "Brian Flynn". Leeds United Player Profile. Leeds-fans.org.uk. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
- ^ https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/44642682
- ^ "Brian Flynn: Burnley FC". Sporting Heroes. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
- ^ a b Brian Flynn at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database
- ^ Rollin (ed), Jack (1993). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1993–94. Headline. ISBN 0-7472-7895-4.
{{cite book}}
:|last=
has generic name (help) - ^ "Brian Flynn praises Wrexham manager Andy Morrell". BBC. 21 February 2012. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
- ^ a b "BRIAN FLYNN LEAVES WREXHAM". www.leaguemanagers.com. Archived from the original on 15 December 2007. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ a b Mark Currie (6 January 2012). "Bryan Flynn so proud of Wrexham FC's FA Cup win over Arsenal". Daily Post. Trinity Mirror North West & North Wales Limited. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|dead-url=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Tony Rees (20 September 2002). "Flynn sees youth as Swansea's salvation". The Guardian. London: Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
- ^ a b c d "History". www.swanseacity.net. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
- ^ "Swansea Results 2002/3". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
- ^ "Swansea Results 2003/4". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
- ^ "Flynn accepts Wales caretaker job". BBC News. 13 September 2010.
- ^ "Wales 0–1 Bulgaria". www.11v11.com. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
- ^ "Switzerland 4–1 Wales". www.11v11.com. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
- ^ "Brian Flynn". www.faw.org.uk. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
- ^ GMT (9 July 2012). "BBC Sport – Geraint Williams named Wales Under-21 manager". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
- ^ Published on Monday 7 January 2013 11:27 (7 January 2013). "Brian Flynn takes charge of Doncaster Rovers – Doncaster Rovers". South Yorkshire Times. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Rovers Get Their Men!". Doncaster Rovers official site. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
- ^ "BBC Sport – Doncaster 2–0 Leyton Orient". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
- ^ "Brentford 0–1 Doncaster". BBC Sport. 27 April 2013.
- ^ "Club Statement". Doncaster Rovers Official Site. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
- ^ "Doncaster Rovers boss Brian Flynn named director of football". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
- ^ "Player: PD Post Frickley Athletic". DRFC Official Site. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/38161256
- ^ https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/44100748
- ^ https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/44642682
- ^ "Brian Flynn – Managerial statistics". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
- Use dmy dates from April 2012
- 1955 births
- Living people
- Sportspeople from Port Talbot
- Welsh footballers
- Welsh expatriate footballers
- Wales international footballers
- Wales under-23 international footballers
- Wales national football team managers
- Association football midfielders
- English Football League players
- Burnley F.C. players
- Bury F.C. players
- Cardiff City F.C. players
- Doncaster Rovers F.C. players
- Leeds United F.C. players
- Wrexham A.F.C. players
- Welsh football managers
- Wrexham A.F.C. managers
- Swansea City A.F.C. managers
- Doncaster Rovers F.C. managers
- Wales national football team non-playing staff
- English Football League managers
- Limerick F.C. players
- League of Ireland players
- Expatriate association footballers in the Republic of Ireland
- British expatriates in Ireland
- Wales national under-21 football team managers