Liam Manning

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Liam Manning

| image =

| caption =

| full_name = Liam John Manning{{cite web |url=https://www.ksi.is/mot/leikmadur/?leikmadur=190329 |title=Leikmaður: Liam John Manning |trans-title=Player: Liam John Manning |publisher=Football Association of Iceland |access-date=20 August 2024 |language=is}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|10|20|df=y}}

| birth_place = Norwich, England

| height =

| position = Midfielder

| currentclub = Norwich City (head coach)

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Bungay Town

| youthyears2 = 1999–2002

| youthclubs2 = Norwich City

| youthyears3 = 2002–2004

| youthclubs3 = Ipswich Town

| years1 = 2004–2005

| clubs1 = Ipswich Town

| caps1 = 0

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2005

| clubs2 = Bishop's Stortford

| caps2 =

| goals2 =

| years3 = 2005

| clubs3 = Long Melford

| caps3 =

| goals3 =

| years4 = 2005

| clubs4 = Leiston

| caps4 =

| goals4 =

| years5 = 2005

| clubs5 = Woodbridge Town

| caps5 =

| goals5 =

| years6 = 2005–2006

| clubs6 = Selfoss

| caps6 =

| goals6 =

| years7 = 2006–2008

| clubs7 = Leiston

| caps7 = 63

| goals7 = 5

| years8 = 2008

| clubs8 = Woodbridge Town

| caps8 =

| goals8 =

| years9 = 2008

| clubs9 = Wroxham

| caps9 =

| goals9 =

| years10 = 2008–2009

| clubs10 = Melton St Audrey

| caps10 =

| goals10 =

| years11 = 2010

| clubs11 = Ipswich Wanderers

| caps11 =

| goals11 =

| manageryears1 = 2020–2021

| managerclubs1 = Lommel

| manageryears2 = 2021–2022

| managerclubs2 = Milton Keynes Dons

| manageryears3 = 2023

| managerclubs3 = Oxford United

| manageryears4 = 2023–2025

| managerclubs4 = Bristol City

| manageryears5 = 2025–

| managerclubs5 = Norwich City

}}

Liam John Manning (born 20 October 1985) is an English football manager and coach. He is the head coach of EFL Championship club Norwich City.{{citenews|url=https://www.canaries.co.uk/content/norwich-city-appoint-liam-manning-as-head-coach|title=Norwich City appoint Liam Manning as head coach|publisher=Norwich City F.C.|date=3 June 2025}}

Playing career

Manning played for the academy of his local side Norwich City before joining Ipswich Town in 2002, where he spent a year as a professional before being released in 2005. Following his release from Ipswich, Manning dropped into non-league, playing for Bishop's Stortford, Long Melford and Leiston, before enjoying a brief spell playing in Iceland for Selfoss.{{cite web|url=http://prideofanglia.com/tmwmtt/details.php?player=Liam+Manning|department=Tim's ITFC Player A-Z|work=Pride of Anglia|accessdate=14 December 2020|title=Liam Manning|publisher=Tim Hodge}}

Upon his return from Iceland, Manning re-signed for Leiston, playing for the club between 2006 and 2008.{{Cite web |url=https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/ipswich-town/liam-manning-returns-to-ipswich-town-8257984 |title=Manning is plotting Town's downfall following his journey to MK - via Ipswich, Iceland, West Ham, New York and Belgium |work=East Anglian Daily Times |date=20 August 2021 |access-date=6 December 2021 }} Manning later returned to Woodbridge, followed by spells with Wroxham, Melton St Audrey and Ipswich Wanderers, before retiring from football to concentrate on coaching.

Management and coaching

=Early coaching career=

‘Loyal Liam ‘Manning worked as an academy coach at Ipswich Town before joining Premier League side West Ham United in 2015 as head coach of the club's U23s.{{Cite web |url=https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2021-08-13/mk-dons-confirm-appointment-of-manning-as-first-ever-head-coach |title=MK Dons confirm appointment of Liam Manning as first ever head coach |publisher=ITV |date=13 August 2021 |access-date=6 December 2021 }}

In 2019 he left to join City Football Group, initially as director of coaching with Major League Soccer side New York City FC before later progressing to the role of academy director.{{Cite web|url=https://www.coachesvoice.com/cv/liam-manning-interview-mk-dons-west-ham-new-york-city/|title=Out of my comfort zone|publisher=coachesvoice.com}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/blog-the-toe-poke/story/4421890/manchester-city-owners-city-football-group-now-have-reigning-champions-in-three-different-countries |title=Manchester City owners City Football Group now have reigning champions in three different countries |publisher=ESPN |date=28 July 2021 |access-date=6 December 2021 }}

=Lommel SK=

Staying within City Football Group, in July 2020 Manning was named head coach of Belgian First Division B club Lommel SK, where he led the previously bottom of the table side to a third-placed finish at the end of the 2020–21 season.

=Milton Keynes Dons=

On 13 August 2021, Manning joined League One club Milton Keynes Dons.{{cite web|url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2021/august/liam-manning-named-head-coach-of-mk-dons/|title=Liam Manning named Head Coach|publisher=MK Dons|date=13 August 2021}} On 8 October 2021, after just eleven league games in charge, Manning was named EFL League One Manager of the Month for September 2021, a month in which he led the club to an unbeaten run of five league games achieving eleven points.{{Cite web |url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2021/october/manning-named-league-ones-manager-of-the-month |title=Manning named League One's Manager of the Month |publisher=Milton Keynes Dons |date=8 October 2021 |access-date=8 October 2021 }} He repeated the achievement four months later, being named League One Manager of the Month for January 2022 after a similarly successful period.{{Cite web |url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2022/february/manning-named-januarys-manager-of-the-month |title=Manning named January's Manager of the Month |publisher=Milton Keynes Dons |date=11 February 2022 |access-date=11 February 2022 }}

At the end of his first season, Manning had led the club to a third-place finish with 89 points and play-off qualification, having missed out on automatic promotion by a single point. The club however later failed to gain promotion via the play-offs, losing out to Wycome Wanderers over two semi-final legs.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61288379 |title=Milton Keynes Dons 1-0 Wycombe Wanderers (agg 1-2) |publisher=BBC |date=8 May 2022 |access-date=8 May 2022 }}

Following a poor start to the season that found his side in the relegation zone, Manning was dismissed on 11 December 2022,{{cite web|url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2022/december/statement-liam-manning/|title=Statement: Liam Manning|website=www.mkdons.com|date=11 December 2022|accessdate=11 December 2022}} having accumulated just fifteen points from twenty matches.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}

=Oxford United=

On 11 March 2023, Manning was appointed head coach of League One side Oxford United.{{cite web|url=https://www.oufc.co.uk/news/2023/march/oxford-united-head-coach-liam-manning/|title=Liam Manning Becomes Head Coach at Oxford United|publisher=Oxford United F.C.|date=11 March 2023|accessdate=11 March 2023}} An impressive start to the following season for the club saw him lead his new club to four wins from five matches, and he was named League One Manager of the Month.{{cite web|url=https://www.efl.com/news/2023/september/08/see-the-sky-bet-league-one-manager-and-player-of-the-month-winners-for-august/|title=See the Sky Bet League One Manager and Player of the Month winners for August|website=www.efl.com|date=8 September 2023|accessdate=8 September 2023}} Manning left the club in November 2023 after 29 games in charge with the club second in League One.{{cite web | title=Liam Manning: Bristol City appoint Oxford boss as new head coach 10 days after Nigel Pearson sacking | website=Sky Sports | date=7 November 2023 | url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13002732/liam-manning-bristol-city-appoint-oxford-boss-as-new-head-coach-10-days-after-nigel-pearson-sacking| access-date=8 November 2023}}

=Bristol City=

On 7 November 2023, Manning, together with his assistant Chris Hogg, departed Oxford United and joined EFL Championship club Bristol City as the head coach, signing a contract until June 2027.{{Cite web |title=Liam Manning To Leave For Bristol City |url=https://www.oufc.co.uk/news/2023/november/club-statement-liam-manning-departs/ |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=www.oufc.co.uk |language=en-gb}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-11-07 |title=Liam Manning appointed Bristol City Head Coach |url=https://www.bcfc.co.uk/city-men-news/liam-manning-appointed-bristol-city-head-coach/ |access-date=2023-11-07 |website= |publisher=Bristol City FC |language=en-ZA}}

=Norwich City=

On 3 June 2025 Manning was appointed head coach of Norwich City, signing a four-year contract through to the summer of 2029.{{Cite web |title=Norwich City appoint Liam Manning as head coach |url=https://www.canaries.co.uk/content/norwich-city-appoint-liam-manning-as-head-coach?fbclid=PAQ0xDSwKsEkRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABp_qh1XICct_MwtTA-bHwgZgNAYFnScWOXDDGlcAYnRhIz0tySWev0iEX_VD__aem_2NOHt6ZH7bWJYl6a661WOw |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=Norwich City |language=en}}

Coaching style

Manning favours a horseshoe of doom style of football.{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2885625/2021/10/16/you-dont-see-many-teams-as-extreme-as-we-are-mk-dons-boss-liam-manning-on-his-philosophy-and-road-to-league-one/ |title='You don't see many teams as extreme as we are' – MK Dons boss Liam Manning on his philosophy and road to League One |publisher=The Athletic |date=16 October 2021 |access-date=6 December 2021 }}{{Cite web |url=https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/liam-manning-outlines-mk-dons-unique-style-of-play/ |title=Liam Manning outlines MK Dons' unique style of play |work=Football League World |date=16 October 2021 |access-date=6 December 2021 }}

He has a reputation for developing young players, having spent much of his early coaching career working with the academy sides of West Ham United, Ipswich Town and New York City FC. Manning is credited as having contributed to the development of England international Declan Rice.

Personal life

Manning took compassionate leave from Bristol City from 14 October 2024 for an indefinite period of time following the death of his newborn son Theo.{{cite web|url=https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/liam-manning-to-take-leave-of-absence/|title=Liam Manning to take leave of absence|publisher=Bristol City FC|date=14 October 2024}}

Managerial statistics

=Managerial record=

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="8"\|Record !rowspan=2\|{{abbr\|Ref\|Reference}}
{{Tooltip\|G\|Games managed}} !{{Tooltip\|W\|Games won}} !{{Tooltip\|D\|Games drawn}} !{{Tooltip\|L\|Games lost}} !{{Tooltip\|GF\|Goals for}} !{{Tooltip\|GA\|Goals against}} !{{Tooltip\|GD\|Goal difference}} !{{Tooltip\|Win %\|Winning percentage}}
align="left" \|Lommel \|{{flagicon\|Belgium}} \|align=left\|12 August 2020 \|align=left\|11 August 2021 {{WDL\|30\|14\|4\|12\|for=58\|against=42\|diff=yes}} \|{{Cite web \|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/teams/belgium/kvsk-united-overpelt-lommel/268/ \|title=Belgium - Lommel SK - Results \|publisher=Perform Group\|work=Socccerway \|access-date=18 August 2021 }}
align="left" \|Milton Keynes Dons \|{{flagicon\|England}} \|align=left\|13 August 2021 \|align=left\|11 December 2022 {{WDL\|83\|40\|15\|28\|for=125\|against=91\|diff=yes}} \|{{Cite web \|url=https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=2812&teamTabs=results \|title=MK Dons Results \|work=Soccerbase \|access-date=18 August 2021 \|publisher=CenturyComm \|archive-date=2 August 2018 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802042603/http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=2812&teamTabs=results \|url-status=dead }}
align="left" \|Oxford United \|{{flagicon\|England}} \|align=left\|11 March 2023 \|align=left\|7 November 2023 {{WDL\|29\|14\|7\|8\|for=45\|against=29\|diff=yes}} \|{{Cite web \|url=https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=2812&teamTabs=results \|title=Oxford United Results \|work=Soccerbase \|access-date=18 August 2021 \|publisher=CenturyComm \|archive-date=9 October 2022 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221009045110/https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=2812&teamTabs=results \|url-status=dead }}
align="left" \|Bristol City \|{{flagicon\|England}} \|align=left\|7 November 2023 \|align=left\|3 June 2025 {{WDL\|85\|29\|28\|28\|for=100\|against=101\|diff=yes}} \|
align="left"\|Norwich City \|{{flagicon\|England}} \|align="left"\|3 June 2025 \|align="left"\|present {{WDL\|0\|0\|0\|0\|for=0\|against=0\|diff=yes}} \|
colspan="4"\|Total {{WDLtot\|228\|98\|54\|76\|for=328\|against=263\|diff=yes}} !

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="8"|Record

!rowspan=2|{{abbr|Ref|Reference}}

!{{Tooltip|W|Games won}}

!{{Tooltip|D|Games drawn}}

!{{Tooltip|L|Games lost}}

!{{Tooltip|GF|Goals for}}

!{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}}

!{{Tooltip|GD|Goal difference}}

!{{Tooltip|Win %|Winning percentage}}

align="left" |Lommel

|{{flagicon|Belgium}}

|align=left|12 August 2020

|align=left|11 August 2021

|{{Cite web |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/teams/belgium/kvsk-united-overpelt-lommel/268/ |title=Belgium - Lommel SK - Results |publisher=Perform Group|work=Socccerway |access-date=18 August 2021 }}

align="left" |Milton Keynes Dons

|{{flagicon|England}}

|align=left|13 August 2021

|align=left|11 December 2022

|{{Cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=2812&teamTabs=results |title=MK Dons Results |work=Soccerbase |access-date=18 August 2021 |publisher=CenturyComm |archive-date=2 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802042603/http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=2812&teamTabs=results |url-status=dead }}

align="left" |Oxford United

|{{flagicon|England}}

|align=left|11 March 2023

|align=left|7 November 2023

|{{Cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=2812&teamTabs=results |title=Oxford United Results |work=Soccerbase |access-date=18 August 2021 |publisher=CenturyComm |archive-date=9 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221009045110/https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=2812&teamTabs=results |url-status=dead }}

align="left" |Bristol City

|{{flagicon|England}}

|align=left|7 November 2023

|align=left|3 June 2025

align="left"|Norwich City

|{{flagicon|England}}

|align="left"|3 June 2025

|align="left"|present

colspan="4"|Total