Gary Rowett
Pictured with Birmingham City in 2016
Personal information
Full name Gary Rowett[1]
Date of birth (1974-03-06) 6 March 1974 (age 50)[1]
Place of birth Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, England[1]
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Birmingham City (interim manager)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1991–1994 Cambridge United 63 (9)
1994–1995 Everton 4 (0)
1995 → Blackpool (loan) 17 (0)
1995–1998 Derby County 105 (2)
1998–2000 Birmingham City 87 (6)
2000–2002 Leicester City 49 (2)
2002–2004 Charlton Athletic 13 (1)
2005–2007 Burton Albion 43 (1)
Total 381 (21)
Managerial career
2012–2014 Burton Albion
2014–2016 Birmingham City
2017–2018 Derby County
2018–2019 Stoke City
2019–2023 Millwall
2024– Birmingham City (interim)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Gary Rowett (born 6 March 1974) is an English professional football manager and former player who is interim manager of EFL League One club Birmingham City.

As a player, he was a defender, and played in the Premier League for Everton, Derby County, Leicester City and Charlton Athletic. He also played in the Football League for Cambridge United, Blackpool, Birmingham City and Burton Albion. His professional career ended in 2004, through a knee injury.

In May 2009, he was appointed assistant manager to Paul Peschisolido at Burton, and took over as manager in 2012. He was appointed the manager of Birmingham City in October 2014 and served until December 2016. He became Derby County manager in March 2017, and joined Stoke City in May 2018. After failing to mount a promotion challenge, he was sacked in January 2019 and was appointed manager of Millwall that October, before leaving by mutual consent four years later. He rejoined Birmingham City in March 2024.

Playing career

He started his career at Cambridge United as a product of their youth system. He was part of the Cambridge team which achieved fifth place in the 1991–92 Second Division, which remains the club's best league finish to date. They were also play-off semi-finalists that year. He was also part of their best ever League Cup run when they reached the quarter-finals the following season. After three seasons at the Abbey Stadium he earned a move to the Premiership with Everton in March 1994 for £200,000. Everton won the FA Cup in his first full season, but Rowett was not involved in the 1995 FA Cup run or the final against Manchester United. After failing to break into the first team, Rowett went on loan to Blackpool before being sold to Derby County in part-exchange for Craig Short.[3] Rowett spent three seasons at Derby, followed by a two-year spell with Birmingham City, where he helped the club reach the play-offs.

In June 2000, Rowett returned to the Premier League by joining Leicester City. Southampton had been interested in him and bid £2 million, but could not better Leicester's £3 million due to the costs of their new stadium.[4] He competed in the UEFA Cup, where they lost in the first round on penalties to Red Star Belgrade.[5] His first top-flight goal for the club on 3 February 2001 won the game 2–1 against Chelsea at Filbert Street, within seconds of the opposition's goal by Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.[6]

In May 2002, he switched to Charlton Athletic for £3.5 million.[7] Charlton manager Alan Curbishley had wanted to sign Rowett for years, but he chose Leicester as they were closer to his home and competing in the UEFA Cup.[8] His only goal for them earned a 1–1 home draw against Sunderland on 3 November 2002.[9] He retired from professional football in July 2004 due to a knee injury, weeks after his defensive partner Richard Rufus, having made only 13 league appearances in two years at The Valley.[10] He did return to play for Burton Albion in the Conference National, having been persuaded by manager Nigel Clough in 2005.[11]

Managerial career

Burton Albion

Pictured in 2011

In May 2009, Rowett was named as assistant to newly appointed manager Paul Peschisolido at Burton Albion.[12] Rowett was put in temporary charge of Burton, assisted by Kevin Poole, following Peschisolido's sacking in March 2012.[11] On 10 May, Rowett was announced as the permanent manager of Burton Albion.[13] In his first season, he led Burton to fourth place in League Two, losing in the play-off semi-final to Bradford City,[14] and followed up with a sixth-place finish in 2013–14 and a 1–0 defeat to Fleetwood in the play-off final.[15]

Whilst in charge of Burton, Rowett oversaw their best ever League Cup performance, as they reached the third round in 2012–13 before being eliminated by Bradford City. They equaled this achievement two years later under his successor Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. Unfortunately, he was also in charge for their two worst defeats in the Football League, both 7–1. The first was against Bristol Rovers in April 2012, while he was still temporary manager, and the second against Port Vale in April 2013.

In September 2014, with Burton near the top of League Two, Rowett rejected the opportunity to manage Championship strugglers Blackpool; he said he felt it was not the right job for him at the present time.[16]

Birmingham City

On 27 October 2014, Rowett was appointed the manager of his former club, Birmingham City – one place above Blackpool at the bottom of the Championship table. He was joined at Birmingham by Burton backroom staff members Kevin Summerfield as assistant manager, Mark Sale as first-team coach and Poole as goalkeeping coach. All three are also former Birmingham City players.[17] Rowett guided Birmingham from 21st in the Championship to 10th at the end of his first season, earning many plaudits for the remarkable turnaround in form.

Rowett was sacked by Birmingham on 14 December 2016 upon their change of ownership and boardroom team, despite leading the team to 7th in the Championship table and challenging for a play-off place.[18][19] The decision was met with surprise and criticism by Birmingham supporters, with the club appointing Gianfranco Zola as his replacement.[20][21] Zola resigned as Birmingham manager in April 2017, after a sequence of only two wins in 24 games throughout his tenure as manager left the club embroiled in a relegation battle.[22]

Derby County

Rowett was appointed as the new manager of Championship club Derby County, another of his former clubs as a player, on 14 March 2017, and signed a contract until the end of the 2018–19 season.[23] Rowett took over with Derby sat in tenth place, taking fifteen points from their final nine games to guide them to a ninth-placed finish.

Rowett signed five players ahead of the 2017–18 season largely focusing on adding experience to a Derby side which had gained a reputation for post-Christmas slumps in form[24] Players such as Tom Huddlestone (30) and Curtis Davies (32) raised the squad's average age to 28.2 years old, the second-highest in the division.[25] After a slow start of just 3 wins from the opening 10 games left them 15th in the table, 13 wins from the following 20 matches saw the team climb to 2nd place at the turn of the year, with Rowett winning Championship Manager of the Month for October and December 2017.[26][27] On 9 January 2018, Rowett was linked with the managerial vacancy at Premier League club Stoke City, but instead signed an improved contract, lasting until 2021.[28]

Despite Rowett adding further experience to the squad with the signing of 31-year old Cameron Jerome in the January transfer window, Derby again suffered a post-January slump, winning just 2 out of 13 league matches, a run that included heavy defeats to relegation candidates Sunderland and Burton Albion[29] to briefly fall out of the top 6, before a brief resurgence in their final three games saw them qualify for the playoffs on the final day of the season with a 6th-placed finish and 75 points.[30] The play-off campaign ended in defeat, Derby losing 2–1 on aggregate to Fulham, despite winning the first leg.[31][32] Soon after the end of the season, Rowett requested permission to talk to Stoke City about their vacant managerial position.[33]

Stoke City

Rowett was appointed Stoke City manager on 22 May 2018, signing a three-year contract, with Stoke paying Derby around £2m in compensation.[34] Stoke, having been relegated from the Premier League the previous season gave Rowett a large transfer budget. The players he brought in were goalkeeper Adam Federici, experienced centre back Ashley Williams, full-back Cuco Martina, midfielders Sam Clucas, Peter Etebo and Ryan Woods, wingers Tom Ince and James McClean and forward Benik Afobe.[35] The team made a poor start to the campaign winning only two of their opening ten matches.[36] Stoke won back-to-back games at the beginning of October against Bolton Wanderers and Norwich City before losing to Rowett's old club Birmingham.[37][38][39] City then went ten games unbeaten through November and December but made little progress up the table as Stoke drew six of them, conceding late equalisers on three occasions.[40][41][42] Stoke's run was ended by another defeat to Birmingham on Boxing Day.[43] After poor results against Bolton Wanderers and Bristol City supporters began to call for Rowett's departure.[44][45][46] Rowett's contract with Stoke was terminated by the club on 8 January 2019.[47][48]

Millwall

On 21 October 2019, Rowett was appointed as the new Millwall manager, succeeding Neil Harris, who left after more than four years in the post.[49] On his debut five days later, the team won 2–0 at home to his previous club Stoke.[50] After finishing 8th, 11th and 9th in his first three seasons, he signed a new contract of undisclosed length in July 2022.[51] In October 2023, Rowett left Millwall by mutual consent.[52]

Return to Birmingham

On 19 March 2024, Rowett returned to Birmingham City as interim manager until the end of the 2023–24 season, after incumbent manager Tony Mowbray took medical leave for the remainder of the season.[53] Rowett oversaw the club's remaining eight league matches, winning three times, which was ultimately not enough to prevent relegation to League One on the final day of the season.[54]

Media career

Rowett reviewed Birmingham City matches with Tom Ross on radio station BRMB, and for the 2008–09 season, summarised matches involving Derby County for BBC Radio Derby.[55]

Career statistics

As a player

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[56]
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Cambridge United 1991–92 Second Division 13 2 3 0 1 0 1[a] 1 18 3
1992–93 First Division 21 2 1 0 5 1 1[b] 0 28 3
1993–94 Second Division 29 5 3 0 1 0 3[c] 2 36 7
Total 63 9 7 0 7 1 5 3 82 13
Everton 1993–94 Premier League 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
1994–95 Premier League 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Total 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
Blackpool (loan) 1994–95 Second Division 17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 0
Derby County 1995–96 First Division 35 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 38 0
1996–97 Premier League 35 1 4 0 2 0 0 0 41 1
1997–98 Premier League 35 1 2 0 4 2 0 0 41 3
Total 105 2 7 0 8 2 0 0 120 4
Birmingham City 1998–99 First Division 42 5 1 0 4 2 2[d] 0 49 7
1999–2000 First Division 45 1 2 1 5 1 2[d] 1 54 4
Total 87 6 3 1 9 3 4 1 103 11
Leicester City 2000–01 Premier League 38 2 4 1 1 0 2[e] 0 45 3
2001–02 Premier League 11 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 12 0
Total 49 2 4 1 2 0 2 0 57 3
Charlton Athletic 2002–03 Premier League 12 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 1
2003–04 Premier League 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Total 13 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 1
Burton Albion 2005–06 Conference Premier 17 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 18 0
2006–07 Conference Premier 26 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 27 1
Total 43 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 45 1
Career total 381 21 23 2 26 6 11 4 441 33
  1. ^ Appearances in Full Members' Cup
  2. ^ Appearances in Anglo-Italian Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in Football League Trophy
  4. ^ a b Appearances in Football League play-offs
  5. ^ Appearances in UEFA Cup

As a manager

As of match played 4 May 2024
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record Ref.
P W D L Win %
Burton Albion 17 March 2012 27 October 2014 142 63 34 45 044.37 [57]
Birmingham City 27 October 2014 14 December 2016 106 42 32 32 039.62 [57]
Derby County 14 March 2017 22 May 2018 60 26 18 16 043.33 [57]
Stoke City 22 May 2018 8 January 2019 29 9 12 8 031.03 [57]
Millwall 26 October 2019[a] 18 October 2023 196 76 57 63 038.78 [57]
Birmingham City (interim) 25 March 2024 Present 8 3 2 3 037.50 [57]
Total 540 218 155 167 040.37
  1. ^ Rowett was appointed on 21 October 2019, but did not take charge of the next day's match.[49] Soccerbase figures incorrectly include that match, which was drawn.[57][58]

Honours

Player

Individual

Manager

Individual

References

  1. ^ a b c "Gary Rowett". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  2. ^ Sewell, Albert, ed. (1996). News of the World Football Annual 1996–97. London: Invincible. p. 389. ISBN 978-0-00-218737-4.
  3. ^ Ridley, Ian (13 August 1995). "Club-by-club guide: The prospects, the players to watch, the arrivals and departures". The Independent. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
  4. ^ "Foxy Pete gets Gary". Southern Daily Echo. 29 June 2000. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  5. ^ Thomas, Russell (29 September 2000). "Leicester make bitter exit". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  6. ^ "Foxes catch Chelsea cold". BBC Sport. 3 February 2001. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  7. ^ Milledge, Adrian (11 May 2002). "Charlton move for Rowett". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  8. ^ Cawley, Richard (8 November 2019). "Millwall boss Gary Rowett: Charlton was the most frustrating spell of my playing career – injury forced me to retire as I hit my prime". London News Online. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  9. ^ "Charlton hold Sunderland". BBC Sport. 3 November 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  10. ^ Hughes, Matt (6 July 2004). "Rowett retires through injury". Evening Standard. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  11. ^ a b "Pesch told: You're fired". Burton Mail. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  12. ^ "Peschisolido named Burton manager". BBC Sport. 18 May 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  13. ^ "Burton Albion name Gary Rowett as permanent manager". BBC Sport. 10 May 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  14. ^ Woodcock, Ian (5 May 2013). "Burton 1–3 Bradford". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  15. ^ Maiden, Phil (26 May 2014). "Burton 0–1 Fleetwood". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  16. ^ "Gary Rowett: Burton manager 'turns down' Blackpool offer". BBC Sport. 9 September 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  17. ^ "Gary Rowett: Birmingham City appoint Burton boss as manager". BBC Sport. 27 October 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  18. ^ "Gary Rowett leaves Birmingham City". Birmingham Mail. 14 December 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  19. ^ "Gary Rowett: Birmingham City manager sacked by Championship club". BBC Sport. 14 December 2016.
  20. ^ "Gianfranco Zola: Birmingham City appoint ex-West Ham boss as manager". BBC Sport. 15 December 2016.
  21. ^ Dick, Brian (14 December 2016). "Birmingham City sack Gary Rowett – this could be why".
  22. ^ "Gianfranco Zola: Birmingham City manager resigns after four months". BBC Sport. 17 April 2017.
  23. ^ "Gary Rowett: Derby County appoint ex-Birmingham City boss as manager". BBC Sport. 14 March 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  24. ^ "Derby County feel the grip of familiar failure". TifoFootball.com. Tifo Football. 9 March 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  25. ^ "The average age of all 24 squads in the Championship- How old is your squad?". The72.co.uk. The 72. 16 October 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  26. ^ "Derby County boss Gary Rowett named Championship manager of the month". Derbyshirelive. 10 November 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  27. ^ "Derby County pair Gary Rowett and Scott Carson win Sky Bet Championship December awards". Sky Sports. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  28. ^ "Gary Rowett signs new deal to remain Derby manager until 2021". Sky Sports. 10 January 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  29. ^ Cooper, Barry (31 March 2018). "Championship news: Gary Rowett slams 'abject' Derby County after home thrashing to bottom side Sunderland". Nottingham Post. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
    Nicholson, Steve (14 April 2018). "Gary Rowett makes frank admission after Derby County's defeat to Burton Albion". Nottingham Post. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  30. ^ "Derby County football club match record: 2018". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
    "Derby County league performance history: League Championship table after close of play on 14 April 2018". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 20 April 2018. Select other dates via dropdown menu.
  31. ^ "Derby 1–0 Fulham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  32. ^ "Fulham 2–0 Derby". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  33. ^ "Gary Rowett: Derby County manager seeks permission for Stoke City talks". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  34. ^ "Gary Rowett: Stoke City name Derby County boss as their new manager". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  35. ^ "Championship 2018–19 season preview: Stoke favourites but Frank Lampard and Marcelo Bielsa are curious unknowns". Independent. 3 August 2018.
  36. ^ "Rotherham 2–2 Stoke". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  37. ^ "Stoke 2–0 Bolton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  38. ^ "Norwich 0–1 Stoke". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  39. ^ "Stoke 0–1 Birmingham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  40. ^ "Stoke 2–2 QPR". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  41. ^ "Reading 2–2 Stoke". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  42. ^ "Aston Villa 2–2 Stoke". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  43. ^ "Birmingham City 2 Stoke City 0: Post Christmas blues at St Andrews as Potters lose further ground". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  44. ^ "Fans turn anger on manager as Potters fail to turn up again". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  45. ^ "Stoke City 0, Bristol City 2: The knives are out as angry fans call for manager's head". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  46. ^ "Gary Rowett: Stoke City describes speculation over future as 'noise'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  47. ^ "Club Statement". Stoke City. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  48. ^ "Gary Rowett: Stoke City manager sacked after less than eight months". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  49. ^ a b "Gary Rowett: Millwall appoint former Stoke boss as new manager". BBC Sport. 24 October 2019. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  50. ^ "Millwall 2-0 Stoke City". BBC Sport. 26 October 2019. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  51. ^ "Gary Rowett signs new Millwall contract to stay with Championship club". BBC Sport. 2 July 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  52. ^ "Gary Rowett: Millwall manager leaves club after four years in charge". BBC Sport. 18 October 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  53. ^ "Gary Rowett returns to Birmingham on interim basis as Tony Mowbray takes medical leave of absence". Sky Sports. 19 March 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  54. ^ https://www.bcfc.com/news/all/blues-relegated-despite-win-over-norwich
  55. ^ "Radio Derby signs ex-Rams star". BBC. 26 June 2008. Retrieved 22 January 2009.
  56. ^ Gary Rowett at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  57. ^ a b c d e f g "Managers: Gary Rowett". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  58. ^ "Millwall Results 2019/20". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  59. ^ Hugman, Barry J., ed. (1999). The 1999–2000 Official PFA Footballers Factfile. Harpenden: Queen Anne Press. p. 352. ISBN 978-1-85291-607-7.
  60. ^ "Keane claims award double". BBC Sport. 30 April 2000. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  61. ^ "Gary Rowett". LMA. Retrieved 4 October 2022.

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