Anthony Limbrick
{{Short description|Australian football coach (born 1983)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use Australian English|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Anthony Limbrick
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|4|9|df=y}}
| birth_place = Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| height =
| position = Defender
| currentclub =
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Riverside Olympic
| years1 =
| clubs1 = Riverside Olympic
| caps1 =
| goals1 =
| years2 =
| clubs2 = Bundaberg Waves
| caps2 =
| goals2 =
| years3 =
| clubs3 = Rochedale Rovers
| caps3 =
| goals3 =
| years4 = 2005
| clubs4 = Northwood
| caps4 = 2
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2005–2006
| clubs5 = Wingate & Finchley
| caps5 =
| goals5 =
| manageryears1 = 2017–2018
| managerclubs1 = Woking
| manageryears2 = 2019
| managerclubs2 = Grimsby Town (interim)
| manageryears3 = 2021–2022
| managerclubs3 = The New Saints
| manageryears4 = 2023
| managerclubs4 = Manchester 62
| manageryears5 = 2025
| managerclubs5 = Hartlepool United
| club-update =
| ntupdate =
}}
Anthony Limbrick (born 9 April 1983) is an Australian professional football manager and former player who was most recently manager of National League side Hartlepool United.{{Cite web |title=Pools announce new management team |date= 7 November 2024 |url= https://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/pools-announce-new-management-team/ |access-date=2024-11-07 |publisher=Hartlepool United F.C.}}
As a player, Limbrick played at a semi-professional level for Australian sides Riverside Olympic, Bundaberg Waves and Rochedale Rovers before emigrating to England in 2005 where he featured for non-league sides Northwood and Wingate & Finchley. Since moving into coaching he has worked for Premier League sides Southampton and West Ham United as well as the England under-17s. He was appointed manager of Woking in 2017 before a spell as Ian Holloway's assistant manager at Grimsby Town.
Club career
Born in Hobart, Tasmania, Limbrick later moved to Launceston, attending Riverside High School. During Limbrick's time in Tasmania, he played for Riverside Olympic, before moving to Queensland on mainland Australia, playing for Bundaberg Waves and Rochedale Rovers. Limbrick later played Non-League football in England for Northwood and Wingate & Finchley, before a broken leg ended his playing career.{{cite web|url=https://www.examiner.com.au/story/5721505/managing-expectations/|title=Tasmanian Anthony Limbrick at home at Grimsby Town|publisher=The Examiner|date=27 October 2018|accessdate=21 February 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://northwoodfc.com/AZ/L/Limbrick%20Anthony.htm|title=Anthony Limbrick|publisher=Northwood F.C.|accessdate=21 February 2020}}
Managerial career
=Early coaching roles=
In 2007, Limbrick became a youth team coach at Boreham Wood. In 2007, he returned to former club Wingate & Finchley as first team coach, leaving in 2010 to join Southampton as a youth coach, working under first team managers Mauricio Pochettino and Ronald Koeman. Limbrick was later part of the coaching staff with the England under-17s and West Ham United's academy.{{cite news|url=https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/grimsby-anthony-limbrick-interim-manager-3543083|title=Who is Anthony Limbrick? A career profile on the Grimsby Town interim manager|newspaper=Grimsbylive|publisher=Grimsby Telegraph|date=15 November 2019|accessdate=21 February 2020}}
=Woking=
In May 2017, Limbrick was appointed manager of National League club Woking, leading the club to the FA Cup second round, after beating Football League club Bury. In April 2018, after a nine-game winless run, Limbrick was sacked as manager of Woking.
=Grimsby Town=
Ahead of the 2018–19 EFL League Two season, Limbrick was appointed assistant manager to Michael Jolley at Grimsby Town. In November 2019, following the departure of Jolley via mutual consent, Limbrick was named interim manager of Grimsby before reverting to assistant following the appointment of Ian Holloway. Limbrick departed Grimsby in September 2020.{{Cite news|url=https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/grimsby-town-assistant-anthony-limbrick-4487559|title=Assistant manager Anthony Limbrick leaves Grimsby Town|newspaper=Grimsbylive|date=4 September 2020}}
= The New Saints =
On 2 April 2021, Limbrick was appointed manager of Cymru Premier club The New Saints following the dismissal of Scott Ruscoe.{{cite web|url=https://www.tnsfc.co.uk/2021/04/02/the-new-saints-appoint-limbrick-as-new-head-coach/|title=The New Saints Appoint Limbrick As New Head Coach |publisher=The New Saints F.C.|date=2 April 2021|accessdate=3 April 2021}} On 11 April 2021, Limbrick took charge of his first Cymru Premier match, which saw The New Saints secure a 1–0 home win over Bala Town. Limbrick saw out the rest of the Cymru Premier season with seven wins, a draw and only one loss to finish second in the table and qualify for the 2021-22 UEFA Europa Conference League first qualifying round.{{Cite web|title=historical stats: wales_2021 - team 4, league table and match results in Wales - Cymru Premier 2021|url=https://www.soccerstats.com/team.asp?league=wales_2021&stats=4-the-new-saints|access-date=2021-09-22|website=SoccerSTATS.com|language=en}}
In the inaugural season of the UEFA Europa Conference League, Limbrick's 2021–22 side cruised through qualifying rounds 1 and 2, beating Glentoran and FK Kauno Žalgiris. However, their momentum quickly shrivelled after a penalty shootout heartbreak in the second leg of the third round against Viktoria Plzeň, despite their impressive first-leg win their European journey came to a sudden end.{{Cite web |last=Rosengarten |first=Jake |date=2021-12-20 |title=Meet Anthony Limbrick: Aussie has gone from coaching 5-year-olds to top of the league |url=https://sport.optus.com.au/articles/os31876/anthony-limbrick-story-journey-interview-philosophy |access-date=2021-09-22 |website=Optus Sport}}{{Cite web|title='Anthony the Great': Meet the young Aussie coach wowing in Wales|url=https://www.ftbl.com.au/news/anthony-the-great-meet-the-young-aussie-coach-wowing-in-wales-570710|access-date=2021-10-04|website=FTBL}} Following the game, Limbrick explained, "When you play these top teams there's fine margins, we conceded late in both games and the players were dead on their feet by the end because they couldn't have done anymore."{{Cite news|title=Saints crash out on penalties in Plzen|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58163343|access-date=2021-09-22}} Despite the European exit, The New Saints dominated the opening of The 2021–22 Cymru Premier, remaining undefeated after the first seven league fixtures. Following this success in the league, Limbrick was awarded Cymru Premier Manager of the Month.
On 11 March 2022, Limbrick became the first Australian manager to win a top-flight European football league after his side drew 3−3 with Penybont to seal the 2021−22 title.{{Cite web |last=Rosengarten |first=Jake |date=2022-03-17 |title=Anthony Limbrick makes Australian football history by winning Welsh league title |url=https://sport.optus.com.au/articles/os40345/football-news-the-big-interview-anthony-limbrick-tns-cymru-premier-welsh-league |access-date=2022-03-21 |website=Optus Sport}} Limbrick's side claimed the Welsh Cup with a 3–2 win over Penybont in the final.
Limbrick was sacked in July 2022, due to The New Saints' disappointing performances in European competitions.{{cite news |title=Anthony Limbrick: Cymru Premier champions The New Saints sack head coach |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/62339613 |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=28 November 2022}}{{cite web |last1=Owen |first1=Twm |title=TNS sack manager Anthony Limbrick |url=https://www.thenational.wales/sport/20585783.tns-sack-manager-anthony-limbrick/ |website=The National |access-date=28 November 2022}}{{cite web |last1=Judah |first1=Nathan |title=TNS sack manager Anthony Limbrick |url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/football/the-new-saints/2022/07/28/tns-sack-manager-anthony-limbrick/ |website=Shropshire Star |date=28 July 2022 |access-date=28 November 2022}}
=Manchester 62=
In June 2023, Limbrick was appointed as manager of Gibraltar Football League side Manchester 62.{{cite news |title=Former TNS boss Anthony Limbrick handed Gibraltar role after Shrewsbury Town interest |work=Shropshire Star |url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/football/2023/06/21/former-tns-boss-anthony-limbrick-handed-gibraltar-role-after-shrewsbury-town-interest/ |access-date=13 June 2025}} He managed six league games before resigning due to the club's financial issues.{{cite news |title=Former TNS, West Ham, Southampton and Grimsby Town figure lands EFL League One job |work=Y Clwb Pêl-Droed |url=https://clwbpeldroed.org/2024/01/05/tns-anthony-limbrick-peterborough-united/ |access-date=13 June 2025}}
=Peterborough United=
In January 2024, Limbrick began working at League One side Peterborough United as the club's Head of Academy Professional Development Phase Coach.{{cite web |url=https://www.theposh.com/news/limbrick-departs-opportunity-hartlepool-united0 |title=Limbrick Departs For Opportunity At Hartlepool United |publisher=Peterborough United |date=7 November 2024 |accessdate=8 November 2024}}
=Hartlepool United=
On 7 November 2024, Limbrick was appointed head coach at Hartlepool United as a part of newly appointed manager Lennie Lawrence's coaching staff. On 3 February 2025, Lawrence announced that he had stepped back from his role to allow Limbrick to take over as manager.{{cite news|url=https://x.com/BBCTeesSport/status/1886439457903046675 |title=🔵 BREAKING: Anthony Limbrick is now in charge at Hartlepool United, with Lennie Lawrence taking a step backwards. |website=X |date=3 February 2025 |access-date=3 February 2025}} On 12 June 2025, Limbrick left the club. He was replaced by Simon Grayson on the same day.{{cite web |url=https://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/club-statement-anthony-limbrick/ |title=Club Statement: Anthony Limbrick |publisher=Hartlepool United |date=12 June 2025 |accessdate=13 June 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/simon-grayson-appointed-as-manager/ |title=CSimon Grayson Appointed as Manager |publisher=Hartlepool United |date=12 June 2025 |accessdate=13 June 2025}}
Managerial statistics
: As of match played 13 June 2025
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Managerial record by team and tenure | ||||
| rowspan="2"|Team
!rowspan="2"|Nat !rowspan="2"|From !rowspan="2"|To !colspan="5"|Record !rowspan="2"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % |
| align="left"|Woking
|{{Fbaicon|England}} | align="left" |6 August 2017 | align="left" | 3 April 2018 {{WDL|49|14|11|24|decimals=2}} | ||||
| align="left"|Grimsby Town (interim)
|{{Fbaicon|England}} | align="left" |20 November 2019 | align="left" |29 December 2019 {{WDL|9|1|4|4|decimals=2}} | ||||
| align=left|The New Saints
|{{Fbaicon|Wales}} | align="left" |10 April 2021 | align="left" |4 August 2022 {{WDL|61|42|10|9|decimals=2}} |{{Cite web |title=The New Saints statistics, league table and match results in Wales - Cymru Premier 2021/2022 |url=https://www.soccerstats.com/team.asp?league=wales&stats=2-the-new-saints |access-date=2021-09-22 |website=SoccerSTATS.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=UEFA.com |title=og-title-uefaeuropaconferenceleague-team-stats |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaconferenceleague/clubs/60457--tns/statistics/ |access-date=2021-09-22 |website=UEFA |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Jordan |title=JD Welsh Cup - Fixtures and Results - 2021/2022 season |url=https://clwbpeldroed.org/welsh-cup-fixtures-results-2021-2022/ |access-date=2021-09-22 |website=Y Clwb Pêl-droed - Your home for Welsh football |date=11 July 2021 |language=en-GB}} | ||||
| align=left|Manchester 62
|{{Fbaicon|Gibraltar}} | align="left" |20 June 2023 | align="left" |15 December 2023 {{WDL|10|6|0|4|decimals=2}} | | ||||
| align=left|Hartlepool United
|{{Fbaicon|England}} | align="left" |3 February 2025 | align="left" |12 June 2025 {{WDL|17|5|6|6|decimals=2}} | | ||||
| colspan="4"|Total
{{WDLtot|146|68|31|47|decimals=2}} ! |
Honours
= Manager =
The New Saints
- Cymru Premier: 2021–22
- Welsh Cup: 2021−22{{Cite web |title=FAW / Saints hold on in dramatic JD Welsh Cup Final Finish |url=http://www.faw.cymru/en/news/saints-hold-dramatic-jd-welsh-cup-final-finish/ |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=www.faw.cymru |language=en}}
Individual
- Cymru Premier Manager of the Month: August 2021,{{Cite web|date=2021-09-15|title=It's A Team Effort, As Anthony Limbrick Wins Manager Of The Month Award|url=https://www.tnsfc.co.uk/2021/09/15/its-a-team-effort-as-anthony-limbrick-wins-manager-of-the-month-award/|access-date=2021-09-22|website=TNSFC|language=en-GB}} January 2022{{Cite web|date=2022-02-15|title=Congratulations, Anthony Limbrick, January's JD Cymru Premier Manager Of The Month|url=https://www.tnsfc.co.uk/2022/02/15/congratulations-anthony-limbrick-januarys-jd-cymru-premier-manager-of-the-month/|access-date=2022-02-21|website=TNSFC|language=en-GB}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{navboxes
|title=Managerial positions
|list1=
{{Woking F.C. managers}}
{{Grimsby Town F.C. managers}}
{{The New Saints F.C. managers}}
{{Hartlepool United F.C. managers}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Limbrick, Anthony}}
Category:Sportspeople from Hobart
Category:Soccer players from Tasmania
Category:Australian men's soccer players
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Australian expatriate men's soccer players
Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in Wales
Category:Northwood F.C. players
Category:Wingate & Finchley F.C. players
Category:Southampton F.C. non-playing staff
Category:West Ham United F.C. non-playing staff
Category:National League (English football) managers
Category:Grimsby Town F.C. non-playing staff
Category:Grimsby Town F.C. managers
Category:English Football League managers
Category:The New Saints F.C. managers
Category:Cymru Premier managers
Category:Hartlepool United F.C. managers
Category:Australian soccer managers
Category:Association football coaches
Category:Expatriate football managers in Wales
Category:Australian expatriate soccer managers
Category:Peterborough United F.C. non-playing staff
Category:Hartlepool United F.C. non-playing staff