Neil began his professional career at Airdrieonians in 2000, playing half a season in the Scottish Football League First Division before moving to Barnsley. He played 142 games across all competitions in his four-year spell at Barnsley, and then signed for Mansfield Town on a free transfer. After a season at Mansfield, he returned to Scotland's First Division with Hamilton Academical, featuring in 246 matches across a decade and winning promotion to the Scottish Premier League in 2008.
He became Hamilton's player-manager in 2013 and led them to promotion to the Scottish Premiership in 2014. In January 2015 he was appointed manager of Norwich City, as the second youngest manager in the Football League at the time. Neil guided Norwich to promotion to the Premier League, by winning the 2015 Football League Championship play-off final. Norwich suffered relegation the following season, and in March 2017, Neil was sacked. He was appointed Preston North End's manager on 4 July 2017 and led the team to seventh place in the 2017–18 Championship. On 11 February 2022 Neil was appointed manager of Sunderland. They were promoted from League One to the Championship, winning 2–0 in the play-off final. He left later that year to become the manager of Stoke City.
On 15 September 2001, Neil scored his first goal in English football, concluding a 2–0 home win over Crewe Alexandra.[8] He netted again on 8 November in a 2–2 draw at Preston North End,[9] in a campaign which ended in relegation. Neil spent the following two seasons in the Second Division, scoring the decisive goals in 3–2 wins at Rushden & Diamonds and Stockport County on 10 April and 8 May 2004.[10][11]
On 28 May 2005, having been told that he was surplus to the requirements of Mansfield manager Carlton Palmer, Neil returned to the Scottish First Division, signing a two-year deal at Hamilton Academical.[15] He made his Accies debut on 13 August, as they began the season with a 0–1 loss to St Johnstone at New Douglas Park. Seventeen days later, he scored his first goal for his new team in the second round of the Scottish Challenge Cup, netting the only goal away to Ross County when he headed in Brian Carrigan's cross just before half time.[16] On 22 October, he got his first league goal for them, in the first minute of the second half of a 3–0 home win against Brechin City.[17] Neil played the entirety of the 2005 Scottish Challenge Cup Final on 6 November, a 2–1 loss to St Mirren at the Excelsior Stadium in Airdrie.[18] The Accies also reached the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup, with Neil scoring a penalty kick in the fourth round replay at Alloa Athletic, a 3–0 win.[19]
Neil played 30 league games in 2007–08, as Hamilton won the division and promotion to the Scottish Premier League.[20] He scored once that season, opening a 4–0 home win over Stirling Albion on 15 September 2007 with a 40-yard free kick.[21]
On 6 May 2011, Neil signed a new three-year contract.[22]
Managerial career
Hamilton Academical
After manager Billy Reid vacated his managerial position at Hamilton in April 2013, Neil (who had already been involved in coaching the club's youth teams)[23][24] was appointed player-manager on an interim basis. He was made manager on a permanent basis on 24 May 2013, at the age of 31.[25] Assisted by Frankie McAvoy, Neil led the club to promotion back to the top flight in his first full season, winning through the play-off system in May 2014.[26] Hamilton then enjoyed a good start to the 2014–15 Scottish Premiership, defeating Celtic away for the first time in 76 years.[26][24]
In January 2015, Neil obtained permission from Hamilton to speak to Norwich City about their managerial vacancy.[26] On 9 January, he was confirmed as their new manager at 33 years old, the second youngest in the Football League after Mansfield's Adam Murray.[27] The following day in his first game, he managed his team to a 2–1 victory at Championship leaders AFC Bournemouth.[28] Norwich gained 17 wins from 25 games played under Neil in the 2014–15 season.[29][30] They finished third in the Championship and entered the play-offs, where in the semi-finals they beat East Anglia derby rivals Ipswich Town 4–2 on aggregate over two legs.[31] On 25 May, Neil led Norwich to a 2–0 victory over Middlesbrough in the 2015 Football League Championship play-off final, as goalscorers Cameron Jerome and Nathan Redmond secured promotion to the 2015–16 Premier League.[29] During the 2015 close season, Neil signed a new contract with Norwich City.[32]
Norwich were relegated after a single season in the Premier League. Neil had his contract terminated in March 2017, with the Canaries 8th in the Championship table.[33] They had won seven of their last 24 games in The Championship and were nine points outside the top six play-off places.[34] Neil admitted to regret over summer recruitment, which led to his sacking in March.[35]
On 21 March 2021, Neil left Preston North End by mutual consent with the club 16th in the Championship table.[37]
Sunderland
On 11 February 2022, Neil was appointed as the new manager of Sunderland, on a 12-month rolling contract.[38] On 21 May 2022, Neil guided Sunderland to promotion back to the Championship after a four-year absence after they beat Wycombe Wanderers 2–0 in front of almost 50,000 Sunderland fans at Wembley in the 2022 EFL League One play-off final.[39]
Stoke City
On 28 August 2022, Neil was appointed as the new manager of Stoke City, after the dismissal of Michael O'Neill.[40] His first game in charge ended in a 1–1 draw against Swansea City.[41] Stoke ended the 2022–23 season in 16th place.[42] On 10 December 2023, Neil was sacked following a 1–0 loss to Sheffield Wednesday. Stoke were 20th in the table at the time of his departure.[43]
Career statistics
Player
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
