Adrian Heath

Born in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, Heath started his playing career at Stoke City having joined the club from playing in the local Lads and dads League. He signed a professional contract at 17 and played in the reserves under the guidance of player coach Howard Kendall, Heath's impressive performances helped the second string to second place in the Central League and saw him win the club's young player of the year award. Known as "Inchy" due to his small stature, he burst on to the first team scene in 1979–80 displaying great maturity in the First Division and scoring two vital goals at the end of the season which ensured Stoke's survival. He scored seven goals in 41 matches in 1980–81 and five in 20 in 1981–82.{{cite book|title=Stoke City 101 Golden Greats|year=2002|publisher=Desert Islands Books|isbn=1-874287-55-4}} With Heath fast becoming one of the most sought after midfielders in the country Richie Barker allowed him to join Everton, who were being managed by Kendall, in January 1982 for a then club record fee of £750,000.

He became Everton's top scorer in his second full season, scoring 18 in all competitions in the 1983–84 season. His goal against Third Division Oxford United in the League Cup quarter final is widely credited with changing Everton's fortunes in the 1983–84 season, in which they went on to reach the League Cup final (losing to Liverpool in the replay) and lift the FA Cup, their first silverware since 1970. Grabbing a poor Kevin Brock back-pass, Heath scored a goal away at Oxford to equalize the match and earn Everton a chance to turn things around.Pye, S [https://www.theguardian.com/football/that-1980s-sports-blog/2015/oct/20/howard-kendall-everton-fa-cup-1984 How Howard Kendall saved his job at Everton and won the FA Cup in 1984] 2015 [Accessed 2021]

Heath was a key member of the successful Everton side of the mid-1980s, winning two league titles in 1985 and 1987 and the FA Cup in 1984. However his participation in the 1984-1985 title-winning season was cut short in December after a challenge from Sheffield Wednesday's Brian Marwood resulted in a cruciate ligament injury which kept him out for the rest of the season. It is thought that Heath was in line for a call-up to Bobby Robson's England squad at the time.Hart, S. [https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news/adrian-heath-interview-former-everton-striker-prepares-his-orlando-city-side-for-the-mls-and-having-kaka-in-the-dressing-room-9829285.html Adrian Heath interview: Former Everton striker prepares his Orlando City side for the MLS] 2014 [Accessed Jan 2022] The injury prevented Heath from playing in the final of the European Cup Winner's Cup in which Everton beat Rapid Vienna 3–1. In 2018, the Everton Heritage Society arranged for Heath to receive a replica of the Cup Winner's Cup medal which was presented to him at Goodison Park in November 2018 during halftime of a Premier League fixture against Cardiff City.Royden, M. [http://efcheritagesociety.com/?p=5348 Adrian Heath receives his 1985 European Cup Winner's Cup Medal from EFC Heritage Society] 2021 [Accessed Jan 2022]

In the 1988–89 season, Heath had a spell in Spain with Espanyol. After a single season, he returned to England, where he spent the remainder of his career. In 1990, Manchester City manager Howard Kendall signed Heath from Aston Villa. Heath was one of a number of former Everton players signed by Kendall, and the transfer marked the third different club at which Heath had played under Kendall.{{cite book |last=Penney |first=Ian |title=The Maine Road Encyclopedia |publisher=Mainstream |location=Edinburgh |year=1995 |isbn= 1-85158-710-1 |page=93}} His debut came as a substitute against Charlton Athletic in January 1990. During the 1990–91 season, Heath forged a strike partnership with Niall Quinn, the short and agile Heath contrasting with Quinn's aerial ability. The pair started 33 matches together, though Heath scored only one goal, in the second match of the season.{{cite book |last=James |first=Gary |title=Manchester City – The Complete Record |publisher=Breedon |location=Derby |year=2006 |isbn = 1-85983-512-0|page=449}} Heath then had a barren run that lasted 46 matches{{cite book |last=Buckley |first=Andy |author2=Burgess, Richard |title=Blue Moon Rising: The Fall and Rise of Manchester City |publisher=Milo |location=Bury |year=2000 |isbn = 0-9530847-4-4|pages=32–3}} and came to an end in November 1991, when Heath scored two goals in a League Cup tie at Queen's Park Rangers.James, Manchester City - The Complete Record, pp. 450–1 As the 1991–92 season progressed, Heath lost his place in the team to young striker Mike Sheron.

In March 1992, Heath briefly returned to his first club Stoke City, until the end of the 1991–92 season. In that brief spell back at the Victoria Ground, Heath played in six league matches a play-off match against Stockport County and also played in the 1992 Football League Trophy Final which saw Stoke beat Stockport 1–0. Heath also had a notable three-year stint at Burnley from 1992 to 1995, where he helped them lift the 1994 Second Division play-Off trophy. Following a brief period at Sheffield United, he returned to Burnley as player-manager before retiring at the end of the 1996–97 season which served him accolades.

Heath began his managerial career as player-manager of Burnley in March 1996. He left after the 1996–97 season having finished ninth in the Second Division. He worked with former Everton teammate Peter Reid at Sunderland, managing Sunderland Reserves to a Pontins League championship in 1999.{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-heath-takes-over-at-blades-1100488.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028055246/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-heath-takes-over-at-blades-1100488.html |archive-date=28 October 2018 |url-access=limited |url-status=live|title=Football: Heath takes over at Blades|work=The Independent|access-date=27 October 2018|language=en-GB}} That summer, he was appointed manager of Sheffield United but he left the club after only five months. He later followed Reid to Leeds United and Coventry City. When Reid left Coventry in January 2005, Heath stepped in as caretaker. He remained at the club under Reid's successor Micky Adams, and again acted as caretaker in January 2007, before leaving the club after Iain Dowie was appointed.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/coventry/content/articles/2007/01/17/adams_stay_or_go_feature.shtml|title=Adams sacked by City |publisher=BBC Sport}}{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/coventry_city/6371083.stm|title=Dowie takes over as Coventry boss|date=19 February 2007|publisher=BBC Sport}}

Heath was appointed manager of USL-1 expansion team Austin Aztex in February 2008{{cite web|url=http://www.sunherald.com/447/story/383634.html|title=Aztex Announce Head Coach|work=Austin Aztex Soccer Club|publisher=SunHerald|date=21 February 2008|access-date=21 February 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080228032157/http://www.sunherald.com/447/story/383634.html |archive-date = 28 February 2008}} after a meeting with owner Phil Rawlins in a pub in Newcastle Under Lyme.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/adrian-heath-interview-former-everton-striker-prepares-his-orlando-city-side-for-the-mls--and-having-kaka-in-the-dressing-room-9829285.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031015802/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/adrian-heath-interview-former-everton-striker-prepares-his-orlando-city-side-for-the-mls--and-having-kaka-in-the-dressing-room-9829285.html |archive-date=31 October 2014 |url-access=limited |url-status=live|title=Adrian Heath interview: Former Everton striker prepares his Orlando|website=Independent.co.uk |date=30 October 2014}} In 2010, the team relocated to Florida to become Orlando City, playing in the USL PRO division. In Orlando, Heath led the team to two regular season titles and the league championship in their first two years. Heath was named USL coach of the year both years.

After their successes in the USL, Orlando City was granted an expansion franchise in MLS for the 2015 season with Heath at the helm. On 21 November 2014, Heath signed a contract extension committing him to Orlando City through to the end of the 2017 MLS season. Heath was sacked by Orlando City on 7 July 2016 following a 4–0 defeat against FC Dallas.{{Cite news|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-city-lions/on-the-pitch/os-orlando-city-fires-head-coach-adrian-heath-20160706-story.html|title=Orlando City fires head coach Adrian Heath|last=DelGallo|first=Alicia|work=OrlandoSentinel.com|access-date=15 October 2018|language=en-US}}

In November 2016, Heath was hired as head coach for Minnesota United prior to their first season in MLS after a tenure in the North American Soccer League.{{cite web|title=Minnesota United names Adrian Heath head coach ahead of first MLS season|url=http://www.espnfc.us/minnesota-united-fc/story/3007453/minnesota-united-names-adrian-heath-head-coach-ahead-of-first-mls-season|website=ESPN FC|date=29 November 2016 |access-date=20 March 2017}} The team struggled in its early games. Through the first four games Minnesota United conceded 18 goals, more than any other MLS team had allowed in the first six games of a season.{{cite web|title=New England condemns Minnesota to inglorious record; Timbers toppled|url=http://www.espnfc.us/major-league-soccer/19/blog/post/3090091/new-england-condemns-minnesota-to-dubious-record-crew-sc-topples-timbers|website=ESPN FC|access-date=29 March 2017}} Heath got his first win as United's manager with a 4–2 home victory over Real Salt Lake.{{cite web|title=Minnesota United finally won their first match with of mix of good attacking and a Nick Rimando error|url=http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/story/minnesota-united-first-win-mls-video-highlights-watch-040117|website=FOX Sports|access-date=3 April 2017}} On 6 October 2023, Heath and Minnesota United parted ways after seven seasons at the club. He was the only manager that Minnesota United have had in their Major League Soccer history.

Source:{{ENFA}}

!colspan="2"|Total

|-

!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals

|-

|rowspan="5"|Stoke City

|1978–79

|Second Division

|2||0||0||0||2||0||0||0||4||0

|-

|1979–80

|First Division

|38||5||1||0||4||0||0||0||43||5

|-

|1980–81

|First Division

|38||6||2||1||1||0||0||0||41||7

|-

|1981–82

|First Division

|17||5||1||0||2||0||0||0||20||5

|-

!colspan="2"|Total

!95!!16!!4!!1!!9!!0!!0!!0!!108!!17

|-

|rowspan="9"|Everton

|1981–82

|First Division

|22||6||0||0||0||0||0||0||22||6

|-

|1982–83

|First Division

|38||10||5||1||4||0||0||0||47||11

|-

|1983–84

|First Division

|36||12||7||2||11||4||0||0||54||18

|-

|1984–85

|First Division

|17||11||0||0||4||1||5||1||26||13

|-

|1985–86

|First Division

|26||10||6||2||3||1||5||2||40||15

|-

|1986–87

|First Division

|41||11||3||0||4||3||4||2||52||16

|-

|1987–88

|First Division

|29||9||8||1||7||2||2||0||46||12

|-

|1988–89

|First Division

|7||2||0||0||2||0||1||0||10||2

|-

!colspan="2"|Total

!226!!71!!29!!6!!35!!11!!17!!5!!307!!93

|-

|Espanyol

|1988–89

|La Liga

|24||1||0||0||0||0||0||0||24||1

|-

|Aston Villa

|1989–90

|First Division

|9||0||1||0||2||0||0||0||12||0

|-

|rowspan="4"|Manchester City

|1989–90

|First Division

|12||2||0||0||0||0||0||0||12||2

|-

|1990–91

|First Division

|35||1||2||0||3||0||2||0||42||1

|-

|1991–92

|First Division

|28||1||1||0||5||2||1||0||35||3

|-

!colspan="2"|Total

!75!!4!!3!!0!!8!!2!!3!!0!!89!!6

|-

|Stoke City

|1991–92

|Third Division

|6||0||0||0||0||0||4||0||10||0

|-

|rowspan="5"|Burnley

|1992–93

|Second Division

|43||19||5||3||1||0||1||0||50||22

|-

|1993–94

|Second Division

|41||9||4||1||3||0||5||0||53||10

|-

|1994–95

|First Division

|27||0||3||2||4||0||0||0||34||2

|-

|1995–96

|Second Division

|4||0||0||0||1||0||1||0||6||0

|-

!colspan="2"|Total

!115!!28!!12!!6!!9!!0!!7!!0!!143!!34

|-

|Sheffield United

|1995–96

|First Division

|4||0||1||0||0||0||0||0||5||0

|-

|rowspan=3|Burnley

|1995–96

|Second Division

|3||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||3||0

|-

|1996–97

|Second Division

|2||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||2||0

|-

!colspan="2"|Total

!5!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!5!!0

|-

!colspan="3"|Career Total

!559!!120!!50!!13!!63!!13!!31!!5!!703!!151

|}

{{refbegin}}

:A. {{note|Other}} The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the FA Charity Shield, Football League Trophy, Football League play-offs, Full Members Cup, Mercantile Credit Centenary Trophy, Screen Sport Super Cup, UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.

{{refend}}

{{updated|5 October 2023}}{{cite web|title=Adrian Heath|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/managers/manager.sd?manager_id=9|website=Soccerbase|access-date=7 July 2016}}

Adrian Heath's son, Harrison, is also a footballer.{{cite web|url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/soccer/blog/os-orlando-city-signs-harrison-heath-son-of-coach-adrian-heath-20140717,0,649269.post|title=Orlando City signs Harrison Heath, son of coach Adrian Heath – Orlando Sentinel|publisher=orlandosentinel.com|access-date=11 August 2014}}

Everton

• Football League First Division: 1984–85, 1986–87
• FA Cup: 1983–84
• FA Charity Shield: 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987
• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1984–85
• Football League Cup runner-up: 1983–84

Stoke City

• Football League Trophy: 1991–92

Burnley

• Football League Second Division play-offs: 1994

Orlando City

• USL Pro League: 2011, 2013
• USL Pro Commissioner's Cup: 2011, 2012, 2014

Minnesota United

• U.S. Open Cup runner-up: 2019

Individual

• USL Pro Coach of the Year: 2011, 2012{{cite web|title=USL PRO Awards Winners Announced 2011 |url=http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/558794.html |publisher=USL Pro |access-date=22 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120527224917/http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/558794.html |archive-date=27 May 2012 }}{{cite web|title=USL PRO Awards Winners Announced 2012 |url=http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/661366.html |publisher=USL Pro |access-date=13 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021224426/http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/661366.html |archive-date=21 October 2012 }}

{{reflist}}

• {{Soccerbase}}
• {{Soccerbase manager|9}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Heath, Adrian}}

Category:1961 births

Category:Living people

Category:Footballers from Newcastle-under-Lyme

Category:English men's footballers

Category:Men's association football midfielders

Category:Stoke City F.C. players

Category:Everton F.C. players

Category:RCD Espanyol footballers

Category:Aston Villa F.C. players

Category:Manchester City F.C. players

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