Brian Talbot

A midfielder, Talbot began his football apprenticeship with Ipswich Town in 1968, during which he spent two seasons on loan with Canadian club Toronto Metros of the North American Soccer League, turning professional in 1972.{{cite web |url=http://www.watfordfcarchive.com/downloads/players/000MergedStuart-Trotter.pdf |title=Players: Stuart–Trotter |website=Watford Football Club archive 1881–2016 |publisher=Trefor Jones |access-date=16 May 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026173346/http://www.watfordfcarchive.com/downloads/players/000MergedStuart-Trotter.pdf |archive-date=26 October 2016 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.nasljerseys.com/Players/T/Talbot.Brian.htm |title=North American Soccer League Players: Brian Talbot |website=nasljerseys.com |publisher=Dave Morrison |access-date=16 May 2017}} He made 227 appearances for Ipswich,{{cite web |url=http://www.prideofanglia.com/page.php?page=playerProfile&fullname=Brian%20Talbot |title=Player A–Z: Brian Talbot |website=prideofanglia.com |access-date=16 May 2017}} and won the 1977–78 FA Cup with the club. In the semi-final against West Bromwich Albion, Talbot scored the first goal after seven minutes, but was injured in the act of scoring when he collided head-to-head with Albion's skipper, John Wile. Wile played with a bandaged head for the remainder of the contest while Talbot needed three stitches in a cut above the eye and was unable to continue.{{cite news |url=http://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/sport/brian-paid-the-price-for-moment-of-glory-1-208011 |title=Brian paid the price for moment of glory |first=Nick |last=Garnham |newspaper=Ipswich Star |date=12 March 2008 |access-date=16 May 2017}} In 2013, Talbot was inducted into the Ipswich Town F.C. Hall of Fame.{{cite web |url=http://www.itfc.co.uk/news/article/hall-of-fame-2013-768529.aspx |title=Hall of Fame: Talbot, Brazil and Stockwell added to roll of honour at Town |first=Steve |last=Pearce |publisher=Ipswich Town F.C. |date=12 April 2013 |access-date=17 May 2017}}

In January 1979, Talbot moved to Arsenal for a fee of £450,000.{{cite web |url=http://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/26692/the-ex-files-brian-talbot/ |title=The Ex-Files: Brian Talbot |first=Blair |last=Ferguson |website=twtd.co.uk |date=25 January 2015 |access-date=16 May 2017}} He went straight into the first team and played for the Gunners in that year's FA Cup final, scoring in a 3–2 victory over Manchester United, the first player for more than 100 years to win the FA Cup with two different teams in consecutive seasons.{{cite web |url=http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/gunners-greatest-players-23.-brian-talbot |title=Greatest 50 Players – 23. Brian Talbot |publisher=Arsenal F.C. |date=13 June 2016 |access-date=16 May 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170518025628/http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/gunners-greatest-players-23.-brian-talbot |archive-date=18 May 2017 }} The following year he set a club record, as an ever-present in Arsenal's marathon 70-match 1979–80 season; the club reached the finals of both the FA Cup and the European Cup Winners' Cup, but lost them both.{{cite web |url=http://www.arsenal.com/news/features/20160406/brian-talbot |title=Defining moments: Brian Talbot |publisher=Arsenal F.C. |date=6 April 2016 |access-date=16 May 2017}}

Because of his stamina and fitness, Talbot missed "at most, a handful" of Arsenal's first-team matches. In all, he played 327 first-team matches for the Gunners, scoring 49 goals,{{cite web |url=http://www.arsenal.com/history/profiles/670/brian-talbot |title=Brian Talbot |publisher=Arsenal F.C. |access-date=16 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130803202958/http://www.arsenal.com/history/profiles/670/brian-talbot |archive-date=3 August 2013 |url-status=dead }} and was voted in at number 23 in a 2016 poll of Arsenal's greatest 50 players.

He left Arsenal in June 1985, spending a season and a half at Watford before joining his old Ipswich Town teammate Mick Mills at Stoke City in October 1986,{{cite book |last=Matthews |first=Tony |title=The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City |date=1994 |publisher=Lion Press |isbn=978-0-9524151-0-7}} where he helped the Potters climb the table only to fall six points short of a play-off place. During the 1987–88 season he made 27 appearances before he left in January 1988 for West Bromwich. Talbot played three years for the Baggies, mostly as player-manager, ending his Football League career with brief spells at Fulham in March 1991, then with Aldershot, and finally with Sudbury Town of the Eastern Counties League.{{cite news |url=http://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/ipswich-town-hall-of-fame-star-recalls-glory-days-1-2176040 |title=Ipswich Town Hall of Fame star recalls glory days |first=Chris |last=Brammer |newspaper=East Anglian Daily Times |location=Ipswich |date=1 May 2013 |access-date=17 May 2017}}

Talbot played as an over-age player in England's first match at under-21 level, a goalless friendly with Wales in December 1976.{{cite web |url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/MatchRsl/MatchRslTmU21pg1.html |title=England's matches: the under 21s: 1976–1990 |website=englandfootballonline.com |access-date=17 May 2017}} He made his senior debut on 28 May 1977, as a second-half substitute in a 2–1 win against Northern Ireland in the 1976–77 British Home Championship, and his first start on 4 June in the same competition against Scotland at Wembley. He started England's next three matches, on a South American tour later in June. Between 1978 and 1980, he played eight matches for England B, scoring three goals,{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/eng-b-intres-det.html |title=England – International Results B-Team – Details |first=Barrie |last=Courtney |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF) |date=22 May 2014 |access-date=17 May 2017}} and made his sixth and final senior appearance{{snd}}the only one he made as an Arsenal player{{snd}}in May 1980 against Australia in Sydney.{{cite web |url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamPlyrsBios/PlayersT/BioTalbotBE.html |title=Brian Talbot |website=englandfootballonline.com |access-date=16 May 2017}}{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/England/All-Teams/Players/T/Brian-Talbot |title=Brian Talbot |publisher=The Football Association |access-date=16 May 2017}}

Talbot's managerial debut came with West Bromwich Albion, where he served as player-manager from February 1989 to January 1991. His tenure started well, with the side challenging for promotion. But a collapse during the final weeks of the 1988–89 season meant they failed even to qualify for the playoffs. The following season saw the team only narrowly survive in the Second Division, and the struggle continued into the 1990–91 season. Talbot was dismissed by Albion after a 4–2 FA Cup defeat at the hands of non-league Woking; the team ended the season with relegation to the Third Division for the first time ever.{{cite web |url=http://www.wba.co.uk/news/article/wba-albion-stars-in-stripes-1991-2919335.aspx |title=Stars in stripes: 1990/91 |publisher=West Bromwich Albion F.C. |date=25 January 2016 |access-date=17 May 2017}}
{{cite news |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/west-brom-forgotten-hawthorns-chapter-11609298 |title=West Brom: The forgotten Hawthorns chapter that was the making of potential England boss Big Sam Allardyce |first=Paul |last=Suart |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=13 July 2016 |access-date=17 May 2017}} After leaving Albion, he joined Fulham and played five times in the Third Division, scoring once, before being appointed player-manager of Fourth Division strugglers Aldershot, who were deep in debt. After a dismal start to the 1991–92 season, Talbot left the Shots in November 1991 and was succeeded by Ian McDonald; four months later the club went bust and were forced out of the Football League.{{cite web |url=https://www.theshots.co.uk/AldershotFC.ink |title=Aldershot FC 1926–1992 (liquidated) |publisher=Aldershot Town F.C. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206112151/https://www.theshots.co.uk/AldershotFC.ink |archive-date=6 December 2010}} Talbot then led Maltese Premier League club Hibernians to the league title in 1993 and 1994.

He returned to English club football as part of the coaching staff of Rushden and Diamonds, then in the Football Conference, in 1997. After a spell as head coach he was appointed club manager before the start of the 1999–2000 season. At the end of the 2000–01 season Rushden secured promotion to the Football League under his management. The team reached the Division Three playoffs in 2002 but lost in the final. In their second season in the League they secured the 2002–03 Division Three title, but were relegated the following season, Talbot having left the club in March 2004 after seven years to take over at Oldham Athletic.{{cite web |url=https://rdfc1992.com/2012/12/31/rushden-diamonds-football-club-history/ |title=Rushden & Diamonds Football Club History |publisher=Rushden & Diamonds F.C. |date=31 December 2012 |access-date=17 May 2017 |via=rdfc1992.com}}
{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/talbot-takes-oldham-offer-after-quitting-diamonds-565902.html |title=Talbot takes Oldham offer after quitting Diamonds |first=John |last=Nisbet |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |date=11 March 2004 |access-date=17 May 2017}}

Talbot succeeded in keeping Oldham in Division Two in 2004, then the following season he took them into the third round of the FA Cup, in which the Latics produced a shock result to beat local Premier League team Manchester City 1–0 thanks to a goal from Scott Vernon.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2005/jan/09/match.oldham |title=Vernon's cool finish puts freeze on City |first=Ian |last=Whittell |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=9 January 2005 |access-date=17 May 2017}} But results in the League were not the same: following a defeat to Bolton Wanderers, the team went on a seven-match losing streak which led to Talbot's departure by mutual consent on 24 February 2005 following a 5–1 defeat at Bristol City.{{cite web |url=http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=1924&teamTabs=results&season_id=134 |title=Oldham results 2004/05 |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |access-date=17 May 2017}}
{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/o/oldham_athletic/4294263.stm |title=Boss Talbot leaves Boundary Park |publisher=BBC Sport |date=24 February 2005 |access-date=17 May 2017}} He signed a two-year contract as manager of Oxford United before the final game of the 2004–05 season.{{cite web |url=http://www.oufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/TheBigInterview/0,,10342~662489,00.html |title=Talbot takes over |publisher=Oxford United F.C. |date=6 May 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050507111040/http://www.oufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/TheBigInterview/0%2C%2C10342~662489%2C00.html |archive-date=7 May 2005 |url-status=dead }} After an unsuccessful stint in charge, Talbot was sacked in mid-March 2006 with the team 22nd in League Two, having not won since 2 January and destined to lose their League status at the end of the season.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/o/oxford_utd/4805892.stm |title=Talbot dismissed as Oxford boss |publisher=BBC Sport |date=14 March 2006 |access-date=4 March 2016}}
{{cite web |url=http://www.oufc.co.uk/club/history/ |title=Oxford United FC history |first1=David |last1=Crabtree |first2=Chris |last2=Williams |first3=Martin |last3=Brodetsky |publisher=Oxford United F.C. |date=15 February 2012 |access-date=17 May 2017}}

Talbot made a quick return to management in Malta with Marsaxlokk, and guided them to the domestic league title and a place in the UEFA Champions League. Following a disappointing start to the 2008–09 Maltese Premier League season, Marsaxlokk appointed former Msida Saint-Joseph manager Patrick Curmi as the club's new head coach on 17 December 2008. Talbot remained with the club until early 2011 in the role of technical director.{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/01d4-0f8ef3c3cc90-f507353973ea-1000--curmi-replaces-talbot-at-marsaxlokk/ |title=Curmi replaces Talbot at Marsaxlokk |publisher=UEFA |date=18 December 2008 |access-date=17 May 2017}}

In February 2011, he joined English Premier League club Fulham as European scout. He was promoted to chief scout and assistant director of football operations in February 2017.{{cite news |url=http://www.fcbusiness.co.uk/industry/news/article/newsitem=4794/title=fulham+owner+makes+football+operations+appointments |title=Fulham owner makes football operations appointments |first=Aaron |last=Gourley |website=fcbusiness.co.uk |date=24 February 2017 |access-date=17 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028091156/http://www.fcbusiness.co.uk/industry/news/article/newsitem=4794/title=fulham+owner+makes+football+operations+appointments |archive-date=28 October 2017 |url-status=dead }}

Talbot has a son, Daniel Talbot, who is also a footballer.{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/day-to-forget-for-talbot-sbv6f70283w |title=Day to forget for Talbot |first=Rick |last=Broadbent |newspaper=The Times |location=London |date=31 January 2005 |access-date=12 September 2010 |url-access=registration }}

Source:{{ENFA}}

!colspan="2"|Total

|-

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

|-

|rowspan="7"|Ipswich Town

|1973–74

|First Division

|15||3||1||0||0||0||2||0||18||3

|-

|1974–75

|First Division

|40||8||9||0||5||1||2||1||56||10

|-

|1975–76

|First Division

|19||2||3||0||1||0||0||0||23||2

|-

|1976–77

|First Division

|42||5||3||0||3||0||6||1||54||6

|-

|1977–78

|First Division

|40||4||7||3||3||0||6||1||56||8

|-

|1978–79

|First Division

|21||3||0||0||1||0||4||0||26||2

|-

!colspan="2"|Total

!177!!25!!23!!3!!13!!1!!20!!3!!233!!32

|-

|rowspan="3"|Toronto Metros (loan)

|1971

|NASL

|10||2||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||10||2

|-

|1972

|NASL

|10||2||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||10||2

|-

!colspan="2"|Total

!20!!4!!colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||20!!4

|-

|rowspan="8"|Arsenal

|1978–79

|First Division

|20||0||6||2||0||0||0||0||26||2

|-

|1979–80

|First Division

|42||1||11||2||7||1||10||0||70||4

|-

|1980–81

|First Division

|40||7||1||0||4||0||0||0||45||7

|-

|1981–82

|First Division

|42||7||1||0||5||0||4||1||52||8

|-

|1982–83

|First Division

|42||9||7||1||7||0||2||0||58||10

|-

|1983–84

|First Division

|27||6||1||0||1||0||0||0||29||6

|-

|1984–85

|First Division

|41||10||3||2||3||0||0||0||47||12

|-

!colspan="2"|Total

!254!!40!!30!!7!!27!!1!!15!!1!!327!!49

|-

|rowspan="3"|Watford

|1985–86

|First Division

|41||7||8||0||2||0||0||0||51||7

|-

|1986–87

|First Division

|7||0||0||0||1||0||0||0||8||0

|-

!colspan="2"|Total

!48!!7!!8!!0!!3!!0!!0!!0!!59!!7

|-

|rowspan="3"|Stoke City

|1986–87

|Second Division

|32||3||5||1||0||0||0||0||37||4

|-

|1987–88

|Second Division

|22||2||2||0||1||1||2||0||27||3

|-

!colspan="2"|Total

!54!!5!!7!!1!!1!!1!!2!!0!!64!!7

|-

|rowspan="4"|West Bromwich Albion

|1987–88

|Second Division

|15||2||0||0||0||0||0||0||15||2

|-

|1988–89

|Second Division

|39||2||2||0||0||0||1||0||42||2

|-

|1989–90

|Second Division

|20||1||2||0||3||1||1||0||26||2

|-

!colspan="2"|Total

!74!!5!!4!!0!!3!!1!!2!!0!!83!!6

|-

|Fulham

|1990–91

|Third Division

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

|-

|rowspan="3"|Aldershot

|1990–91

|Fourth Division

|10||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||10||0

|-

|1991–92

|Fourth Division

|1||0||0||0||1||0||0||0||2||0

|-

!colspan="2"|Total

!11!!0!!0!!0!!1!!0!!0!!0!!12!!0

|-

!colspan="3"|Career Total

!643!!87!!72!!11!!48!!4!!39!!4!!803!!106

|}

{{refbegin}}

: A. {{note|Other}} The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the FA Charity Shield, Football League Trophy, UEFA Cup and UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.

{{refend}}

Source:{{NFT player |id=19618 |name=Talbot, Brian}}

Ipswich Town

• FA Cup: 1977–78

Arsenal

• FA Cup: 1978–79; runner-up: 1979–80
• European Cup Winners' Cup runner-up: 1979–80

Individual

• Football League First Division PFA Team of the Year: 1976–77{{cite book |last=Lynch |title=The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes |page=141}}
• Ipswich Town F.C. Hall of Fame: 2013

Hibernians

• Maltese Premier League: 1993–94, 1994–95{{cite news |url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150205/football/Talbot-leads-Hibs-Marsaxlokk-to-glory.554869 |title=Talbot leads Hibs, Marsaxlokk to glory |first=Carmel |last=Baldacchino |newspaper=Times of Malta |date=5 February 2015 |access-date=16 May 2017}}

Rushden & Diamonds

• Football Conference: 2000–01
• Football League Third Division: 2002–03

Marsaxlokk

• Maltese Premier League: 2006–07

Individual

• League Two Manager of the Month: November 2002, March 2003{{cite web |url=http://www.leaguemanagers.com/managers/brian-talbot |title=Brian Talbot |publisher=League Managers Association |access-date=16 May 2017}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Englandstats}}
• {{Soccerbase manager|254}}

{{1976–77 Football League First Division PFA Team of the Year}}

{{Navboxes

| title = Managerial positions

| list1 =

{{West Bromwich Albion F.C. managers}}

{{Aldershot F.C. managers}}

{{Rushden & Diamonds F.C. managers}}

{{Oldham Athletic A.F.C. managers}}

{{Oxford United F.C. managers}}

{{Marsaxlokk F.C. managers}}

}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Talbot, Brian}}

Category:1953 births

Category:Living people

Category:Footballers from Ipswich

Category:English men's footballers

Category:English expatriate men's footballers

Category:England men's B international footballers

Category:England men's under-21 international footballers

Category:England men's international footballers

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Category:West Bromwich Albion F.C. players

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Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) players

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Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in Canada

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Category:Fulham F.C. non-playing staff

Category:English football scouts