Karl Robinson
{{short description|English footballer and manager}}
{{about|the English footballer|the Welsh footballer|Carl Robinson|the American football player|Karl Robinson (American football)}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Karl Robinson
| image = File:Karl Robinson 15022025 (1).jpg
| caption = Robinson in 2025.
| full_name = Karl Joseph Robinson{{cite web |url=https://www.townenders.com/profile.php?person_code=ROBINSOK |title=Player Profile: Karl Robinson |website=TownEnders.com |publisher=Richard Banyard |access-date=24 December 2024}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|9|13|df=y}}{{cite web|url=http://www.welsh-premier.com/player_detail_solo.php?player_id=12105 |title=WPL career details for Karl Robinson |publisher=Welsh Premier League Football |access-date=14 January 2016}}
| birth_place = Liverpool, England
| height =
| position = Striker / Midfielder
| currentclub = Salford City (head coach)
| youthyears1 =
| youthyears2 =
| youthclubs1 = Everton
| youthclubs2 = Blackpool
| years1 = 1999–2000
| years2 = 2000–2001
| years3 = 2001
| years4 = 2001–2002
| years5 = 2002
| years6 = 2002
| years7 = 2002–2003
| years8 = 2003
| years9 = 2003–2005
| years10 = 2005–2006
| years11 = 2006
| years12 = 2006–2007
| clubs1 = Caernarfon Town
| clubs2 = Marine
| clubs3 = Bamber Bridge
| clubs4 = Marine
| clubs5 = Oswestry Town
| clubs6 = Rhyl
| clubs7 = Oswestry Town
| clubs8 = Kidsgrove Athletic
| clubs9 = Prescot Cables
| clubs10 = St Helens Town
| clubs11 = Alsager Town
| clubs12 = Warrington Town
| caps1 = 13
| caps2 =
| caps3 =
| caps4 =
| caps5 = 5
| caps6 = 4
| caps7 = 26
| caps8 =
| caps9 =
| caps10 =
| caps11 =
| caps12 =
| goals1 = 0
| goals2 =
| goals3 =
| goals4 =
| goals5 = 0
| goals6 = 0
| goals7 = 5
| goals8 =
| goals9 =
| goals10 =
| goals11 =
| goals12 =
| totalcaps = 48
| totalgoals = 5
| manageryears1 = 2010–2016 | managerclubs1 = Milton Keynes Dons
| manageryears2 = 2016–2018 | managerclubs2 = Charlton Athletic
| manageryears3 = 2018–2023 | managerclubs3 = Oxford United
| manageryears4 = 2024– | managerclubs4 = Salford City
}}
Karl Joseph Robinson (born 13 September 1980) is an English professional football manager and former player. He is currently head coach of {{English football updater|SalfordC}} club Salford City.
Robinson began his managerial career aged 29, spending six years with Milton Keynes Dons and guiding them to the Championship in 2015. Robinson was sacked the following year, and was appointed manager of Charlton Athletic soon after. After spending 18 months at the club, he departed for Oxford United, where he spent five years and guided the club to two play-off campaigns before eventually being sacked.
Playing career
Robinson was born in Liverpool. He played mostly non-league football, for Bamber Bridge, Marine, Oswestry Town, Kidsgrove Athletic, Prescot Cables, St Helens Town, Alsager Town and Warrington Town, though also played in the League of Wales for Caernarfon Town and Rhyl.{{cite news |url=http://barrowfc.com/index.php?inc=hsn&version=883 |title=Holker Street Newsletter 883 |publisher=Barrow A.F.C. |date=3 December 2001 |access-date=11 May 2010}}{{cite news |url=http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?&newsmode=FULL&nid=11342 |title=Host of new players for Kidsgrove |publisher=Non-League Daily |date=17 July 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929031458/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?&newsmode=FULL&nid=11342 |archive-date=29 September 2012 |url-status=dead}}{{cite news |url=http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=13645 |title=One in – one out at Kidsgrove |publisher=Non-League Daily |date=7 November 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929031525/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=13645 |archive-date=29 September 2012 |url-status=dead}}{{cite news |url=http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=33833 |title=Robinson coup for Clowes |publisher=Non-League Daily |date=21 March 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929031611/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=33833 |archive-date=29 September 2012 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.warringtontownfc.co.uk/14996/player_profile.pl?player=323815 |title=Player profile |publisher=Warrington Town F.C. |access-date=11 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728031941/http://www.warringtontownfc.co.uk/14996/player_profile.pl?player=323815 |archive-date=28 July 2011 }}
Style of play
Robinson played as a striker, being described as a "big, powerful centre forward", and later in his career played as a midfielder.
Coaching and management career
Robinson coached at the Liverpool youth academy and later worked as a coach at Blackburn Rovers.
=Milton Keynes Dons=
File:Karl Robinson (cropped).jpg in 2013.]]
He was appointed manager of League One club Milton Keynes Dons on 10 May 2010, having previously been the club's assistant manager under previous boss Paul Ince.{{cite news|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-fc-co-owners-tom-hicks-3422884 |title=Liverpool FC co-owners Tom Hicks faces forced takeover of Texas Rangers |newspaper=Liverpool Echo |date=11 May 2010 |access-date=14 January 2016}} At 29 years of age, he was the youngest manager at the time in the Football League and former England coach John Gorman was named his number two.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/milton_keynes_dons/8672544.stm |title=Dons spring surprise by appointing Robinson as new boss |work=BBC Sport |date=10 May 2010 |access-date=10 May 2010}}
In the 2010–11 season, his first season in charge, Robinson guided MK Dons to 5th place in League One. This was regarded as a good achievement, improving on the Dons' points total over the previous season.For example, [http://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/sport/the_sports_blog_making_progress_1_2572882 The sports blog: Making progress]{{spaced ndash}}Milton Keynes Citizen, 7 April 2011 The team lost in the play-offs to Peterborough United over two legs.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/13370673 |title=Peterborough 2–0 MK Dons |date=19 May 2011 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=16 December 2020}}
In the 2011–12 season, he continued making impressive strides, attracting big-name players and guiding his side to another 5th-place finish and was again in the play-offs. During the season, he signed a three-year contract extension.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16232150 MK Dons duo Karl Robinson and John Gorman extend deals] – BBC Sport, 17 December 2011
In 2014–15, Robinson masterminded arguably MK Dons' greatest victory, a 4–0 EFL Cup win over Manchester United,{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28847955 |title=Milton Keynes Dons 4–0 Manchester United |work=BBC Sport |date=26 August 2014 |access-date=24 October 2014 |first=Chris |last=Osbourne}} as well as leading the Dons to promotion to the Championship for the first time in a decade when they finished as runners-up in League One.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32471126 |title=Milton Keynes Dons 5–1 Yeovil |date=3 May 2015 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=16 December 2020}}
On 20 July 2015, Robinson signed a contract extension alongside the club's Head of Coaching, Richie Barker, though MK Dons did not publicise the length of either deal.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/3360310 Karl Robinson: MK Dons manager signs new contract] {{snd}} BBC Sport, 20 July 2015 Robinson's MK Dons suffered relegation from the Championship during the 2015–16 season, finishing in 23rd position.
On 23 May 2016, it was revealed that Robinson had turned down an offer from Massimo Cellino to become Leeds United's Head Coach.{{cite news|work=BBC Sport| date= 23 May 2016 | access-date= 23 May 2016 | title= Karl Robinson: MK Dons boss turns down Leeds United managerial offer| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36364264}} In October 2016, he was relieved of his duties following a 3–0 defeat to Southend United the previous day, which took the club's winless run to four games.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37745985|title=Karl Robinson: MK boss leaves club 'by mutual consent' after six years in charge|work=BBC Sport|date=23 October 2016|access-date=23 October 2016}}
=Charlton Athletic=
Robinson was named the new Charlton Athletic manager on 24 November 2016 following the sacking of Russell Slade, taking full charge of the club from Monday 28 November.{{cite web |url=http://www.cafc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/charlton-karl-robinson-new-manager-3433616.aspx |title=Charlton appoint Karl Robinson as manager |publisher=Charlton Athletic F.C. |date=24 November 2016 |access-date=1 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161124204332/http://www.cafc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/charlton-karl-robinson-new-manager-3433616.aspx |archive-date=24 November 2016 |url-status=dead }} He departed by mutual consent in March 2018.{{Cite web | title = Lee Bowyer takes caretaker charge of Charlton Athletic as Karl Robinson leaves "by mutual consent" | first = Richard | last = Cawley | website = South London News | date = 22 March 2018 | access-date = 22 March 2018 | url = https://www.londonnewsonline.co.uk/lee-bowyer-takes-caretaker-charge-of-charlton-athletic-as-karl-robinson-leaves-by-mutual-consent/}}
=Oxford United=
On 22 March 2018, Robinson was appointed as the new head coach of League One club Oxford United, joining on the same day as his departure from Charlton Athletic. He signed a two-and-a-half-year contract,{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43154075 |title=Oxford United: Oxford United: Karl Robinson named new head coach after Charlton departure |publisher=BBC Sport |date=22 March 2018 |access-date=26 March 2018}} extended to 2022 in August 2019.{{cite news |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/oxfordunited/usnews/17829038.karl-robinson-seals-new-oxford-united-contract/ |title=Karl Robinson seals new Oxford United contract |first=David |last=Pritchard |newspaper=Oxford Mail |date=10 August 2019 |access-date=12 August 2019}} In his first season in charge, Oxford finished in 12th place.{{cite web |url=https://www.skysports.com/league-1-table/2018 |title=League One Table: 2018/2019 Season |publisher=Sky Sports |access-date=16 December 2020}}
In December 2019, Robinson was charged by the Football Association for using abusive language to a match official.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50746016|title=Karl Robinson: Oxford United boss charged by FA for abusive language|publisher=BBC Sport |date=11 December 2019 |access-date=21 December 2019}} Oxford were adjudged to have finished the COVID-affected 2019–20 season in 4th place in the League on average points per game; they reached the play-off final but lost 2–1 to Wycombe Wanderers.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53316283 |title=Oxford United 1–2 Wycombe Wanderers |date=13 July 2020 |first=Adam |last=Williams |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=16 December 2020}} The following season Oxford again reached the play-off places, finishing 6th in League One{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56960299 |title=Oxford United 4–0 Burton Albion |publisher=BBC Sport |date=9 May 2021 |access-date=10 May 2021}} before losing to Blackpool in the first round of the playoffs 6–3 on aggregate.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57110428 |title=Blackpool 3–3 Oxford United |first=Jay |last=Freeman |publisher=BBC Sport |date=21 May 2021 |accessdate=22 May 2021}}
On 26 February 2023, Robinson was sacked by the club following a run of eight games without a win, his last match in charge being a 3–0 home defeat to Bristol Rovers the previous day.{{cite web|url=https://www.oufc.co.uk/news/2023/february/karl-robinson-departure/|title=Club Statement: Karl Robinson|publisher=Oxford United F.C.|date=26 February 2023|accessdate=26 February 2023}}
=Leeds United=
On 3 May 2023 he was appointed as the new assistant manager of Leeds United, under new manager Sam Allardyce, with whom Robinson had worked at Blackburn Rovers.{{cite news |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/23497114.sam-allardyce-karl-robinson-take-leeds-unite |title=Sam Allardyce and Karl Robinson take over at Leeds United |first=Liam |last=Rice |date=3 May 2023 |newspaper=Oxford Mail |access-date=3 May 2023}}
=Salford City=
File:Giggs, Bruce, Robinson 15022025 (2).jpg and Alex Bruce at the Plough Lane pitch prior to the AFC Wimbledon and Salford City match.]]
On 5 January 2024, Robinson was appointed head coach of League Two club Salford City.{{cite web |url=https://www.salfordcityfc.co.uk/news/2024/january/05/karl-robinson-appointed-new-head-coach/|title=Karl Robinson appointed new Head Coach |website=www.salfordcityfc.co.uk|date=5 January 2024|accessdate=5 January 2024}} Robinson was sent off 14 minutes into his first game in charge for interfering with a throw-in.{{cite web |last=Spencer |first=Phil |url=https://talksport.com/football/1702170/karl-robinson-salford-city-sent-off/ |title=Karl Robinson spends just 14 minutes on touchline as Salford managerial debut takes unexpected twist |date=6 January 2024 |access-date=7 January 2024 |work=Talksport}} He oversaw an eight-game unbeaten run at the start of his tenure to haul Salford away from the bottom two, and ensured the club's survival in the Football League by the end of the season.
In February 2024 he brought in former Manchester United and Hull City defender Alex Bruce as assistant.{{cite web |url=https://www.salfordcityfc.co.uk/news/2024/february/21/former-premier-league-defender-joins-as-coach/ |website=Salford City FC |access-date=13 February 2025 |title=Former Premier League defender joins as coach |date=21 February 2024 }}
Robinson achieved a number of club records in his first full season in charge of Salford, including the club's longest winning run in the Football League (6 games in December 2024 to January 2025), and he guided the club to the Emirates FA Cup Third Round for the first time ever with wins against League One Shrewsbury Town in the first round, and Cheltenham Town in the second. Salford were rewarded with a trip to Premier League champions Manchester City.{{cite web |last1=Stone |first1=Simon |title=Manchester City 8-0 Salford City: Jack Grealish ends drought in FA Cup romp |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/crmngkjg221t |publisher=BBC |access-date=13 February 2025}} In the first round game against Shrewsbury, Robinson brought on Marshall Heys towards the end of the game who became the youngest player to play for a professional club in the competition,{{cite web |url=https://www.salfordcityfc.co.uk/news/2024/november/02/marshall-heys-makes-fa-cup-history/ |website=Salford City FC |publisher=Salford City |access-date=13 February 2025 |title=Marshall Heys makes FA Cup history |date=2 November 2024 }} aged 15 years, 2 months and 6 days. He has now fielded three of the youngest 10 players in FA Cup history.
Managerial statistics
{{updated|match played 3 May 2025}}
Personal Life
Robinson was born in Liverpool and grew up with his parents and younger brother and sister. He joined Everton’s academy as a 10-year-old before moving to Swindon Town at 16, where he started to suffer from back problems. Whilst playing in non-league at 22, a chance meeting with Steve Highway and Bill Bygroves turned Robinson’s career to coaching, and since he has only spent eight months out of the game having worked with multiple age groups from Under-9s to Under-18s, and coached from League Two up to the Premier League.
In that time he has worked with many young talents in the game including Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones, Connor Coady, Dele Alli, Phil Jones, Kevin Danso and Ademola Lookman.
At 29-years-old Robinson became the youngest person to obtain a UEFA Pro Licence, and at the time became the youngest manager in the Football League when he took over at MK Dons in May 2010. In September 2019 Robinson became the third youngest person to take charge of 500 professional games when Oxford United player against Tranmere Rovers in League One, placing him in the company of Brian Clough and Gordon Taylor.
Robinson has one daughter, Jasmine Robinson, who was born in 2006. In 2010 he married actress Ann-Marie Davies who was in brookside, and the pair divorced in 2024 with Robinson having endured personal challenges while managing at Oxford, which contributed to his departure. He continues to live happily in Buckinghamshire with his daughter and partner, despite working at Salford City.
Robinson has appeared as a regular pundit on TalkSPORT and Sky Sports.
Honours
=As a manager=
Milton Keynes Dons
- Football League One runners-up: 2014–15{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/32471126|title= MK Dons 5–1 Yeovil (Match Report)|work=BBC Sport|date=3 May 2015}}
Individual
- Football League One Manager of the Month: August 2011,{{cite news |title=Karl Robinson named the League One manager of the month for August |url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11759/7164608/robinson-and-lowe-land-gongs |publisher=Sky Sports |date=9 September 2011 |access-date=24 October 2016}} January 2015,{{cite news |title=Karl Robinson named Sky Bet League 1 Manager of the Month |url=http://www.efl.com/news/article/2015/karl-robinson-named-sky-bet-league-1-manager-of-the-month-2249773.aspx |publisher=EFL |date=6 February 2015 |access-date=24 October 2016}} April 2015{{cite news |title=Karl Robinson named Sky Bet League 1 Manager of the Month |url=http://www.efl.com/news/article/2015/karl-robinson-named-sky-bet-league-1-manager-of-the-month-2432980.aspx |publisher=EFL |date=1 May 2015 |access-date=24 October 2016}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{commons category}}
{{Salford City F.C. squad}}
{{EFL League Two managers}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Managerial positions
| list1 =
{{Milton Keynes Dons F.C. managers}}
{{Charlton Athletic F.C. managers}}
{{Oxford United F.C. managers}}
{{Salford City F.C. managers}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Robinson, Karl}}
Category:Footballers from Liverpool
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Caernarfon Town F.C. players
Category:Marine A.F.C. players
Category:Bamber Bridge F.C. players
Category:Oswestry Town F.C. players
Category:Kidsgrove Athletic F.C. players
Category:Prescot Cables F.C. players
Category:St Helens Town A.F.C. players
Category:Alsager Town F.C. players
Category:Warrington Town F.C. players
Category:Cymru Premier players
Category:English football managers
Category:Milton Keynes Dons F.C. managers
Category:Charlton Athletic F.C. managers
Category:Oxford United F.C. managers
Category:Salford City F.C. managers
Category:English Football League managers
Category:Liverpool F.C. non-playing staff
Category:Blackburn Rovers F.C. non-playing staff
Category:Leeds United F.C. non-playing staff