Colin Bell (footballer, born 1961)

{{About|the footballer and coach|the Manchester City player|Colin Bell (footballer, born 1946)|the Mauritian footballer|Colin Bell (footballer, born 1979)}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Colin Bell

| image = 2015-09-13 1.FFC Frankfurt vs 1.FFC Turbine Potsdam Colin Bell 002.jpg

| caption = Bell in 2015

| fullname = Colin Bell{{cite web |url=https://fdp.fifa.org/assetspublic/ce93/pdf/SquadLists-English.pdf |title=FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 – Squad List: Korea Republic (KOR) |publisher=FIFA |page=16 |date=11 July 2023 |access-date=11 July 2023}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1961|8|5}}

| birth_place = Leicester, England

| height =

| position = Defender

| currentclub = China U-20 women (manager)

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 1980–1982

| clubs1 = Leicester City

| caps1 = 0

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 1982–1987

| clubs2 = VfL Hamm

| caps2 =

| goals2 =

| years3 = 1987–1989

| clubs3 = Mainz 05

| caps3 = 40

| goals3 = 6

| manageryears1 = 1989–1996

| managerclubs1 = TuS Koblenz

| manageryears2 = 1999–2000

| managerclubs2 = Dynamo Dresden

| manageryears3 = 2000

| managerclubs3 = VfL Hamm

| manageryears4 = 2000–2001

| managerclubs4 = Waldhof Mannheim

| manageryears5 = 2001–2005

| managerclubs5 = Mainz 05 II

| manageryears6 = 2005

| managerclubs6 = Preußen Münster

| manageryears7 = 2006–2011

| managerclubs7 = TuS Koblenz (youth coach)

| manageryears8 = 2008–2010

| managerclubs8 = TuS Koblenz (assistant)

| manageryears9 = 2011–2013

| managerclubs9 = SC 07 Bad Neuenahr

| manageryears10 = 2013–2015

| managerclubs10 = 1. FFC Frankfurt

| manageryears11 = 2015–2016

| managerclubs11 = Avaldsnes IL

| manageryears12 = 2016–2017

| managerclubs12 = SC Sand

| manageryears13 = 2017–2019

| managerclubs13 = Republic of Ireland women

| manageryears14 = 2019

| managerclubs14 = Huddersfield Town (assistant)

| manageryears15 = 2019–2024

| managerclubs15 = South Korea women

| manageryears16 = 2024

| managerclubs16 = Aberdeen F.C. Women

| manageryears17 = 2024–

| managerclubs17 = China U-20 women

}}

Colin Bell (born 5 August 1961) is an English football manager and former player, who is currently managing the China U-20 women. He previously coached the South Korea women's national team when he led the team to the 2022 Women's Asian Cup where his team finished runner ups to China. He earned reputation when he won the 2014–15 UEFA Women's Champions League with 1. FFC Frankfurt.

Playing career

Bell began his career at Leicester City, but did not break into the first team and left for Germany aged 20. Bell played for VfL Hamm and 1. FSV Mainz 05, featuring in the 2. Bundesliga for the latter.

Coaching career

Bell retired to take up coaching in 1989. He managed TuS Koblenz for seven years, before joining the coaching staff of 1. FC Köln in 1996. In 1999, he took on his most high-profile role to date, managing Dynamo Dresden, but was not successful – the team failed to qualify for the restructured Regionalliga, and dropped to the Oberliga (level four) for the first time. He was sacked before the end of the season. After spells managing SV Waldhof Mannheim, 1. FSV Mainz 05's reserve team, and SC Preußen Münster, he worked at TuS Koblenz as assistant manager and youth coach.

In 2011, he signed for SC 07 Bad Neuenahr in Germany's Women's Bundesliga.{{cite web|last1=Juchem|first1=Markus|url=http://www.womensoccer.de/2011/04/06/colin-bell-neuer-trainer-beim-sc-07-bad-neuenahr/|title=Colin Bell neuer Trainer beim SC 07 Bad Neuenahr|language=German|publisher=womensoccer.de|date=6 April 2011|accessdate=6 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701055224/http://www.womensoccer.de/2011/04/06/colin-bell-neuer-trainer-beim-sc-07-bad-neuenahr/|archive-date=1 July 2017|url-status=dead}} Two seasons later, Bell became the manager of 1. FFC Frankfurt.{{cite web | url = http://www.sportal.de/colin-bell-neuer-trainer-beim-1-ffc-frankfurt-1-2013060627673800000 | title = Colin Bell neuer Trainer beim 1. FFC Frankfurt | language = German | publisher = Sportal| date = 6 June 2013 | accessdate = 11 September 2013}} The team won the Frauen DFB Pokal in 2014 and the UEFA Women's Champions League in 2015.{{cite news|last1=Aloia|first1=Andrew|title=Colin Bell: From Leicester City to Frankfurt women's head coach|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32052391|accessdate=23 August 2015|work=BBC Sport|date=26 March 2015}}{{cite web|last1=Juchem|first1=Markus|title=Frankfurt's Colin Bell: My coaching philosophy|url=https://www.uefa.com/womenschampionsleague/news/0221-0e15f8bce7b4-8fb0a612e6d7-1000--frankfurt-s-colin-bell-my-coaching-philsophy/|publisher=UEFA|access-date=23 August 2015|date=14 May 2015}}

In December 2015, he left 1. FFC Frankfurt to coach Avaldsnes IL.{{cite web|url=http://equalizersoccer.com/2015/12/01/coach-colin-bell-leaves-ffc-frankfurt-signs-avaldsnes-norway/|title=Equalizer Soccer – Bell leaves UWCL holders Frankfurt for Avaldsnes|publisher=Equalizer Soccer|last1=Kassouf|first1=Jeff|date=1 December 2015|accessdate=15 September 2016}}

In July 2016, he returned to Germany to coach Sand.{{cite web|url=http://www.vavel.com/en/football/womens-football/668742-colin-bell-becomes-new-sc-sand-head-coach.html|title=Colin Bell becomes new SC Sand head coach|publisher=Vavel|last1=Walsh|first1=Jonathan|date=12 July 2016|accessdate=15 September 2016}}

On 8 February 2017, Colin Bell was appointed the Senior International Manager of the Republic of Ireland, replacing Sue Ronan. He took up his new position from 13 February 2017.{{cite news|title=Colin Bell replaces Sue Ronan as Ireland manager|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2017/0208/850949-colin-bell-replaces-sue-ronan-as-ireland-manager/|accessdate=20 May 2017|publisher=RTÉ Sport|date=8 February 2017}}

On 29 June 2019, he was appointed as the Assistant Head Coach at EFL Championship club Huddersfield Town.{{Cite web|url=https://www.htafc.com/news/2019/june/colin-bell-appointed-assistant-head-coach/|title = Colin Bell Appointed Assistant Head Coach}}

On 18 October 2019, he was appointed as the manager of the South Korea women's national team, with a contract to run up to and including the 2022 Women's Asian Cup. He became the first ever manager to guide South Korea to the final of a Women's Asian Cup, guiding South Korea to the final of the 2022 edition, where South Korea finished runners-up after losing to China.

as of September 2024, he is managing the Aberdeen F.C. Women

On 8 October 2024, Bell was appointed as the manager of the China women's national under-20 football team.{{cite web|url=https://www.thecfa.cn/zhongguozhidui/20241008/35106.html|title=科林·贝尔出任中国U-20国家女子足球队主教练|publisher=Chinese Football Association|date=8 October 2024|access-date=8 October 2024|language=zh}}