Karl Robinson
Robinson as manager of Milton Keynes Dons in 2013
Personal information
Date of birth (1980-09-13) 13 September 1980 (age 43)[1]
Place of birth Rainhill, England
Position(s) Striker / Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Salford City (head coach)
Youth career
Everton
Blackpool
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2000 Caernarfon Town 13 (0)
2000–2001 Marine
2001 Bamber Bridge
2001–2002 Marine
2002 Oswestry Town 5 (0)
2002 Rhyl 4 (0)
2002–2003 Oswestry Town 26 (5)
2003 Kidsgrove Athletic
2003–2005 Prescot Cables
2005–2006 St Helens Town
2006 Alsager Town
2006–2007 Warrington Town
Total 48 (5)
Managerial career
2010–2016 Milton Keynes Dons
2016–2018 Charlton Athletic
2018–2023 Oxford United
2024– Salford City
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Karl Robinson (born 13 September 1980) is an English professional football manager and former player. He is currently head coach of EFL League Two club Salford City.

Robinson began his managerial career aged 29, spending six years with Milton Keynes Dons and guiding them to the Championship in 2015. Robinson was sacked the following year, and was appointed manager of Charlton Athletic soon after. After spending 18 months at the club, he departed for Oxford United, where he spent five years and guided the club to two play-off campaigns before eventually being sacked.

Playing career

Robinson was born in Rainhill, Merseyside.[2] He played mostly non-league football, for Bamber Bridge, Marine, Oswestry Town, Kidsgrove Athletic, Prescot Cables, St Helens Town, Alsager Town and Warrington Town, though also played in the League of Wales for Caernarfon Town and Rhyl.[1][3][4][5][6][7]

Style of play

Robinson played as a striker, being described as a "big, powerful centre forward",[4] and later in his career played as a midfielder.[6]

Coaching and management career

Robinson coached at the Liverpool youth academy and later worked as a coach at Blackburn Rovers.

Milton Keynes Dons

He was appointed manager of League One club Milton Keynes Dons on 10 May 2010, having previously been the club's assistant manager under previous boss Paul Ince.[8] At 29 years of age, he was the youngest manager at the time in the Football League and former England coach John Gorman was named his number two.[9]

In the 2010–11 season, his first season in charge, Robinson guided MK Dons to 5th place in League One. This was regarded as a good achievement, improving on the Dons' points total over the previous season.[10] The team lost in the play-offs to Peterborough United over two legs.[11]

In the 2011–12 season, he continued making impressive strides, attracting big-name players and guiding his side to another 5th-place finish and was again in the play-offs. During the season, he signed a three-year contract extension.[12]

In 2014–15, Robinson masterminded arguably MK Dons' greatest victory, a 4–0 EFL Cup win over Manchester United,[13] as well as leading the Dons to promotion to the Championship for the first time in a decade when they finished as runners-up in League One.[14]

On 20 July 2015, Robinson signed a contract extension alongside the club's Head of Coaching, Richie Barker, though MK Dons did not publicise the length of either deal.[15] Robinson's MK Dons suffered relegation from the Championship during the 2015–16 season, finishing in 23rd position.

On 23 May 2016, it was revealed that Robinson had turned down an offer from Massimo Cellino to become Leeds United's Head Coach.[16] In October 2016, he was relieved of his duties following a 3–0 defeat to Southend United the previous day, which took the club's winless run to four games.[17]

Charlton Athletic

Robinson was named the new Charlton Athletic manager on 24 November 2016 following the sacking of Russell Slade, taking full charge of the club from Monday 28 November.[18] He departed by mutual consent in March 2018.[19]

Oxford United

On 22 March 2018, Robinson was appointed as the new head coach of League One club Oxford United, joining on the same day as his departure from Charlton Athletic. He signed a two-and-a-half-year contract,[20] extended to 2022 in August 2019.[21] In his first season in charge, Oxford finished in 12th place.[22]

In December 2019, Robinson was charged by the Football Association for using abusive language to a match official.[23] Oxford were adjudged to have finished the COVID-affected 2019–20 season in 4th place in the League on average points per game; they reached the play-off final but lost 2–1 to Wycombe Wanderers.[24] The following season Oxford again reached the play-off places, finishing 6th in League One[25] before losing to Blackpool in the first round of the playoffs 6–3 on aggregate. [26]

On 26 February 2023, Robinson was sacked by the club following a run of eight games without a win, his last match in charge being a 3–0 home defeat to Bristol Rovers the previous day.[27]

Leeds United

On 3 May 2023 he was appointed as the new assistant manager of Leeds United, under new manager Sam Allardyce, with whom Robinson had worked at Blackburn Rovers.[28]

Salford City

On 5 January 2024, Robinson was appointed head coach of League Two club Salford City.[29] Robinson was sent off 14 minutes into his first game in charge for interfering with a throw-in.[30]

Managerial statistics

As of match played 23 January 2024
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record Ref.
P W D L Win %
Milton Keynes Dons 10 May 2010 23 October 2016 346 147 81 118 042.5 [31]
Charlton Athletic 28 November 2016 22 March 2018 74 27 21 26 036.5 [18][20][32]
Oxford United 22 March 2018 26 February 2023 274 110 70 94 040.1 [31]
Salford City 5 January 2024 Present 3 1 2 0 033.3 [31]
Total 697 285 174 238 040.9

Honours

As a manager

Milton Keynes Dons

Individual

References

  1. ^ a b "WPL career details for Karl Robinson". Welsh Premier League Football. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  2. ^ Lusby, Jack (25 September 2019). "Liverpool aim to end League Cup apathy on anniversary of Harvey Elliott's record debut". This is Anfield. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  3. ^ "Holker Street Newsletter 883". Barrow A.F.C. 3 December 2001. Retrieved 11 May 2010.
  4. ^ a b "Host of new players for Kidsgrove". Non-League Daily. 17 July 2003. Archived from the original on 29 September 2012.
  5. ^ "One in – one out at Kidsgrove". Non-League Daily. 7 November 2003. Archived from the original on 29 September 2012.
  6. ^ a b "Robinson coup for Clowes". Non-League Daily. 21 March 2006. Archived from the original on 29 September 2012.
  7. ^ "Player profile". Warrington Town F.C. Archived from the original on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2010.
  8. ^ "Liverpool FC co-owners Tom Hicks faces forced takeover of Texas Rangers". Liverpool Echo. 11 May 2010. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  9. ^ "Dons spring surprise by appointing Robinson as new boss". BBC Sport. 10 May 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2010.
  10. ^ For example, The sports blog: Making progress – Milton Keynes Citizen, 7 April 2011
  11. ^ "Peterborough 2–0 MK Dons". BBC Sport. 19 May 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  12. ^ MK Dons duo Karl Robinson and John Gorman extend deals – BBC Sport, 17 December 2011
  13. ^ Osbourne, Chris (26 August 2014). "Milton Keynes Dons 4–0 Manchester United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  14. ^ "Milton Keynes Dons 5–1 Yeovil". BBC Sport. 3 May 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  15. ^ Karl Robinson: MK Dons manager signs new contract  – BBC Sport, 20 July 2015
  16. ^ "Karl Robinson: MK Dons boss turns down Leeds United managerial offer". BBC Sport. 23 May 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  17. ^ "Karl Robinson: MK boss leaves club 'by mutual consent' after six years in charge". BBC Sport. 23 October 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  18. ^ a b "Charlton appoint Karl Robinson as manager". Charlton Athletic F.C. 24 November 2016. Archived from the original on 24 November 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  19. ^ Cawley, Richard (22 March 2018). "Lee Bowyer takes caretaker charge of Charlton Athletic as Karl Robinson leaves "by mutual consent"". South London News. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  20. ^ a b "Oxford United: Oxford United: Karl Robinson named new head coach after Charlton departure". BBC Sport. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  21. ^ Pritchard, David (10 August 2019). "Karl Robinson seals new Oxford United contract". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  22. ^ "League One Table: 2018/2019 Season". Sky Sports. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  23. ^ "Karl Robinson: Oxford United boss charged by FA for abusive language". BBC Sport. 11 December 2019. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  24. ^ Williams, Adam (13 July 2020). "Oxford United 1–2 Wycombe Wanderers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  25. ^ "Oxford United 4–0 Burton Albion". BBC Sport. 9 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  26. ^ Freeman, Jay (21 May 2021). "Blackpool 3–3 Oxford United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  27. ^ "Club Statement: Karl Robinson". Oxford United F.C. 26 February 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  28. ^ Rice, Liam (3 May 2023). "Sam Allardyce and Karl Robinson take over at Leeds United". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  29. ^ "Karl Robinson appointed new Head Coach". www.salfordcityfc.co.uk. 5 January 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  30. ^ Spencer, Phil (6 January 2024). "Karl Robinson spends just 14 minutes on touchline as Salford managerial debut takes unexpected twist". Talksport. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  31. ^ a b c "Managers: Karl Robinson". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  32. ^ "Charlton: Results/matches: 2016/17". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 March 2018. Individual seasons accessed via dropdown menu.
  33. ^ "MK Dons 5–1 Yeovil (Match Report)". BBC Sport. 3 May 2015.
  34. ^ "Karl Robinson named the League One manager of the month for August". Sky Sports. 9 September 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  35. ^ "Karl Robinson named Sky Bet League 1 Manager of the Month". EFL. 6 February 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  36. ^ "Karl Robinson named Sky Bet League 1 Manager of the Month". EFL. 1 May 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
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