Gary Smyth
{{for|the Northern Irish former loyalist paramilitary|Gary Smyth (loyalist)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Gary Smyth
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|12|20|df=y}}
| birth_place = Belfast, Northern Ireland
| height =
| position = Centre back
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| years1 = 1988–1995 |clubs1 = Glentoran |caps1 = 84 |goals1 = 5
| years2 = 1995–2000 |clubs2 = Glenavon |caps2 = 123 |goals2 = 9
| years3 = 2000–2004 |clubs3 = Glentoran |caps3 = 183 |goals3 = 23
| years4 = 2004–2006 |clubs4 = Ballymena United |caps4 = 50 |goals4 = 8
| years5 = 2006–2008 |clubs5 = Glentoran |caps5 = 34 |goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2007–2008 |clubs6 = → Crusaders (loan) |caps6 = 26 |goals6 = 1
| years7 = 2008–2009 |clubs7 = Crusaders |caps7 = 16 |goals7 = 0
| totalcaps = 514 |totalgoals = 46
| nationalyears1 = 1997 |nationalteam1 = Northern Ireland B |nationalcaps1 = 1 |nationalgoals1 = 0
| manageryears1 = 2013–2018
| managerclubs1 = H&W Welders
| manageryears2 = 2019
| managerclubs2 = Glentoran
| manageryears3 = 2019–2022
| managerclubs3 = H&W Welders
}}
Gary Smyth (born 20 December 1969 in Belfast) is a Northern Irish former footballer and manager.{{cite web|url=http://irishleaguegreats.blogspot.com/|title=Irish League Footballing Greats|website=irishleaguegreats.blogspot.com}} He played as a centre back for Glentoran, Glenavon, Ballymena and Crusaders. He previously managed Glentoran in 2019 and had two spells managing H&W Welders, first from 2013 to 2018 and the second spell from 2019 to 2022.
Playing career
Smyth signed for Glentoran from Holywood in 1988, winning numerous trophies and remaining there until 1995, when he signed for Glenavon, where he enjoyed more success, before returning to The Oval in 2000. He was named as the Ulster Footballer of the Year for the 2002/03 season.M. Brodie (ed.), Northern Ireland Soccer Yearbook 2009-2010, p. 102. Belfast:Ulster Tatler Publications In 2007, he joined Crusaders, initially on loan, and later on a permanent transfer.
He won four Irish Cup winners' medals, with Glentoran in 2004, Glenavon in 1997, and Crusaders in 2009. He retired on 9 May 2009 following the Irish Cup final.
Management career
=H&W Welders (2013–2018)=
Smyth was manager of H&W Welders between 2013 and 2018, proving a successful manager. He left on 23 May 2018.
=Glentoran (2018–2019)=
Smyth left his role at H&W Welders to join his former team Glentoran, which was officially announced on 24 May 2018. He initially joined as an assistant manager to the incoming Ronnie McFall, where the future plan was to promote him when he had all necessary qualifications. Paul Leeman also joined Smyth as a part of the deal. However McFall resigned earlier than expected following poor results which allowed Smyth to become manager.{{cite news|url=https://www.glentoran.com/news/ronnie-mcfall-resigns|publisher=Glentoran|date=3 January 2019|accessdate=22 May 2019|title=Ronnie McFall resigns}} He held the management spot from 3 January 2019 until 31 March 2019, when he was replaced with Mick McDermott.{{cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/irish-league/glentoran/boss-gary-smyth-forced-out-as-glentoran-investors-move-in-37958887.html|newspaper=Belfast Telegraph|author=Steven Beacom|date=28 March 2019|accessdate=22 May 2019|title=Boss Gary Smyth forced out as investors move in}} Smyth was returned to the role of assistant manager, however he didn't return to the dug-out and left the club in controversial circumstances on 21 May 2019, with Leeman leaving two days later.{{cite news|url=https://www.glentoran.com/news/gary-smyth|publisher=Glentoran|date=21 May 2019|accessdate=22 May 2019|title=Gary Smyth leaves}}{{cite news|url=https://www.glentoran.com/news/paul-leeman|publisher=Glentoran|date=23 May 2019|accessdate=24 May 2019|title=Paul Leeman leaves}}{{cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/irish-league/glentoran/glentoran-hero-number-two-sacked-by-post-as-leeman-shares-fate-of-smyth-38143297.html|newspaper=Belfast Telegraph|author=Steven Beacom|date=24 May 2019|accessdate=24 May 2019|title=Glentoran Hero Number Two sacked by post as Leeman shares fate of Smyth}} Smyth voiced his disgust at how he had been treated by the club.{{cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/irish-league/glentoran/ive-been-treated-shamefully-by-glentoran-this-is-not-the-club-i-grew-up-loving-gary-smyth-blasts-glens-after-departure-38139903.html|newspaper=Belfast Telegraph|author=Steven Beacom|date=23 May 2019|accessdate=24 May 2019|title=I've been treated shamefully by Glentoran}}
=H&W Welders (2019–2022)=
On 13 December 2019, it was announced Smyth had returned to manage H&W Welders.{{cite news
|url= https://weldersfc.co.uk/news/f/gary-smyth-returns|date=13 December 2019|accessdate=17 April 2022|title=Gary Smyth Returns}}
After around 2 and a half years at his second spell at the club, Smyth was dismissed in August 2022 following a poor start to the season.
Honours
Glentoran
- Irish League (2): 1991/92, 2002–03
- Irish Cup (2): 2000/01, 2003/04
- Irish League Cup (4): 1990/91, 2000/01, 2002/03, 2006/07
- Gold Cup (2): 1991/92, 2000/01
- County Antrim Shield (2): 2000/01, 2001/02
Glenavon
- Irish Cup (1): 1996/97
- Gold Cup (1): 1997/98
- County Antrim Shield (1): 1995/96
- Mid-Ulster Cup (1): 1998/99
- Floodlit Cup (1): 1996/97
Crusaders
- Irish Cup (1): 2008-09
=Managerial statistics=
(Statistics apply to league matches only)
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" | ||||
| rowspan=2! width=65|Team
!rowspan=2! width=140|Nation !rowspan=2! width=110|From !rowspan=2! width=50|To !colspan=8|Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=40|P
!width=40|W !width=40|D !width=40|L !width=50|Win % | ||||
| align="left"|H&W Welders
|align="left"|{{NIR}} |align=left|24 November 2013 |align=left|23 May 2018 | ? | ? | ? | ? | |
| align="left"|Glentoran
|align="left"|{{NIR}} |align=left|3 January 2019 |align=left|30 March 2019 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 5 | {{#expr: 5 / 12 * 100 round 2}}% |
| align="left"|H&W Welders
|align="left"|{{NIR}} |align=left|13 December 2019 |align=left|30 August 2022 | ? | ? | ? | ? | |
| align="center" colspan="4"|Total
! 12 | 5 | 2 | 5 | {{#expr: 5 / 12 * 100 round 2}}% |
References
{{reflist}}
{{Glentoran F.C. managers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smyth, Gary}}
Category:NIFL Premiership players
Category:Ulster Footballers of the Year
Category:Northern Ireland Football Writers' Association Players of the Year
Category:Glenavon F.C. players
Category:Glentoran F.C. players
Category:Crusaders F.C. players
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Ballymena United F.C. players
Category:Glentoran F.C. managers
Category:Association football managers from Northern Ireland
Category:Association footballers from Belfast
Category:Men's association footballers from Northern Ireland