Matt Bloomfield
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Matt Bloomfield
| image = Matt Bloomfield signs Charter.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Bloomfield in 2011
| fullname = Matthew James Bloomfield{{cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/efl-documents/202021/efl-squad-numbering-11.09.2020.pdf |title=Notification of shirt numbers: Wycombe Wanderers |publisher=English Football League |page=76 |access-date=27 September 2020}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|2|8|df=y}}{{Cite book | editor-first = Barry J. | editor-last = Hugman | title = The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10 | year = 2009 | publisher = Mainstream Publishing | isbn = 978-1-84596-474-0}}
| birth_place = Felixstowe, England
| height = {{convert|1.75|m|order=flip}}
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub = Luton Town (manager)
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 = 1997–2001
| youthclubs1 = Ipswich Town
| years1 = 2001–2003
| years2 = 2003–2022
| clubs1 = Ipswich Town
| clubs2 = Wycombe Wanderers
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| caps2 = 488
| goals2 = 40
| totalcaps = 488
| totalgoals = 40
| nationalyears1 = 2001
| nationalteam1 = England U18
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2002
| nationalteam2 = England U19
| nationalcaps2 = 1
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2003
| nationalteam3 = England U20
| nationalcaps3 = 1
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| manageryears1 = 2022–2023
| managerclubs1 = Colchester United
| manageryears2 = 2023–2025
| managerclubs2 = Wycombe Wanderers
| manageryears3 = 2025–
| managerclubs3 = Luton Town
}}
Matthew James Bloomfield (born 8 February 1984) is an English professional football manager and former player who is the current manager of {{English football updater|LutonTow}} club Luton Town.
A product of Ipswich Town's academy, Bloomfield would join Wycombe on a free transfer in 2003, having made just two EFL Cup appearances for Ipswich. He spent 19 years with Wycombe, playing for the club in League Two, League One and the Championship, and was in the team that reached the semi-final of the 2006–07 Football League Cup. At the start of his final professional season in 2021, he was named as a first team coach, in addition to his role as a player.
Following his retirement in 2022, he moved into full-time management, initially with Colchester United in EFL League Two, before returning to manage Wycombe in 2023.
Career
Born in Felixstowe, Suffolk, Bloomfield started his career as a trainee with Ipswich Town in August 2001. At one point he was scouted by Newcastle United and also represented England at under-18, under-19 and under-20 levels.{{cite web|url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/MatchRsl/MatchRslTmU18pg6.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928170958/http://www.englandfootballonline.com/MatchRsl/MatchRslTmU18pg6.html |archive-date=28 September 2022 |title=Match Results Under 18 2000–2008 |publisher=England Football Online |access-date=10 February 2023}}{{cite web|url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/MatchRsl/MatchRslTmU19pg1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124203721/http://www.englandfootballonline.com/MatchRsl/MatchRslTmU19pg1.html |archive-date=24 January 2023 |title=Match Results Under 19 1985–2010 |publisher=England Football Online |access-date=10 February 2023}}{{cite web|url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/MatchRsl/MatchRslTmU20.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130111603/http://englandfootballonline.com/MatchRsl/MatchRslTmU20.html |archive-date=30 November 2022 |title=Match Results Under 20 1981–2019 |publisher=England Football Online |access-date=10 February 2023}} But with a plethora of midfielders at Portman Road, he was released by manager Joe Royle to join Wycombe Wanderers on 22 December 2003,{{cite news|date=26 November 2003|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11707_2282673,00.html|title=Town release duo|publisher=Sky Sports|access-date=13 December 2008}} having appeared just once for Ipswich's first team.{{cite news|date=22 December 2003|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11707_2284529,00.html|title=Wycombe seal Bloomfield deal|publisher=Sky Sports|access-date=13 December 2008}}
Bloomfield's debut came in the 2–0 home defeat against Rushden & Diamonds on 28 December, and he scored his first goal for the club against Queens Park Rangers in March 2004.
In July 2008, Bloomfield finally signed a two-year contract extension. Recovering from a long-term injury at the time, Wycombe had decided not to offer him a pay rise. Bloomfield finally signed after Wycombe's new manager, Peter Taylor, said he would look to get Bloomfield a better deal when he had returned to fitness and was back in the first team.{{cite news|date=3 July 2008|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11750_3771362,00.html|title=New deal for Bloomfield|publisher=Sky Sports|access-date=13 December 2008}}
Bloomfield made his return to league football on 2 December, as part of a 4–0 win at home to Macclesfield Town.
At the end of the 2009–10 season, Bloomfield featured heavily in the side that failed to keep Wycombe in League One. Despite this, his performances persuaded manager Gary Waddock to further extend his contract until summer 2011. He has since kept his place in the team at the start of the 2010–11 season, scoring his first goal of the season against Accrington Stanley.
Bloomfield then once again extended his contract for a further year taking him into his eighth season at the club, amassing over 250 appearances. He was also part of the proud Wycombe side that reached the League Cup semi finals in 2007, drawing 1–1 in the first leg but later losing 4–0 in the return fixture against Chelsea.
On 16 July 2014, Wycombe held Bloomfield's testimonial against Chelsea, which finished 0–5 to Chelsea. The likes of John Terry, Branislav Ivanović and José Mourinho were at Adams Park to celebrate the event.
Bloomfield was part of the Wycombe side that saw promotion to the Championship in 2020, starting as captain in the final where they defeated local rivals Oxford United 2–1 at Wembley Stadium to take the side into English football's second tier for the first time in the club's history. Bloomfield made 16 appearances in the Championship for Wycombe the following season, which would prove to be his last full season as a Wycombe player, as he began to take up additional duties after being named a first team coach. The club were relegated back to League One at the end of the campaign, after which Bloomfield would make just one more appearance for the club, captaining the side in an EFL Cup first round tie against Exeter, which Wycombe would later win on penalties. Bloomfield was substituted at half time for Oliver Pendlebury, after suffering a concussion, after which the club doctor advised him that it may no longer be safe for him to play football. Bloomfield announced his retirement from active playing on 2 February 2022.{{Cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/football-league-blog/2022/feb/02/wycombe-matt-bloomfield-retires-i-forget-simple-words-it-scares-me | title=Wycombe's Matt Bloomfield retires: 'I forget simple words – it scares me' | Ben Fisher | website=TheGuardian.com | date=2 February 2022 }}
Coaching career
=Colchester United=
On 30 September 2022, Bloomfield was appointed head coach of League Two side Colchester United. At the time of his appointment, Colchester were sat in 21st position, one point clear of the relegation zone after ten matches.{{cite web|url=https://www.cu-fc.com/news/2022/september/us-appoint-bloomfield|title=U's Appoint Bloomfield|website=www.cu-fc.com|date=30 September 2022|access-date=30 September 2022}} Having initially steadied the ship upon his arrival, a vital January saw Colchester pick up thirteen points from six matches and led to Bloomfield being awarded the EFL League Two Manager of the Month award.{{cite web|url=https://www.efl.com/news/2023/february/sky-bet-efl-january-manager-and-player-of-the-month-winners/|title=Sky Bet EFL January Manager and Player of the Month winners|website=www.efl.com|date=10 February 2023|access-date=10 February 2023}}
=Wycombe Wanderers=
On 21 February 2023, following the departure of long-term manager Gareth Ainsworth to Queens Park Rangers, Bloomfield agreed in principle to return to Wycombe Wanderers as manager.{{cite web|url=https://www.wwfc.com/news/2023/february/21/matt-bloomfield-to-become-new-wycombe-manager/|title=Matt Bloomfield to become new Wycombe manager|website=www.wwfc.com|date=21 February 2023|accessdate=21 February 2023}}
Following a blistering start to the 2024–25 season, Bloomfield was named EFL League One Manager of the Month for October 2024 as he led Wycombe into the automatic promotion places. {{cite web|url=https://www.efl.com/news/2024/november/08/Sky-Bet-League-One--Manager-and-Player-of-the-Month-October-Winners/|title=Sky Bet League One: Manager and Player of the Month October Winners|website=www.efl.com|date=8 November 2024|accessdate=8 November 2024}} A further four wins from four saw him win the award for a second consecutive month. {{cite web|url=https://www.wwfc.com/news/2024/december/13/matt-bloomfield-wins-sky-bet-league-one-manager-of-the-month-prize/|title=Matt Bloomfield wins Sky Bet League One who of the Month prize|website=www.wwfc.com|date=13 December 2024|accessdate=15 December 2024}}
=Luton Town=
On 14 January 2025, Bloomfield was appointed manager of EFL Championship side Luton Town with a three-and-a-half-year contract.{{cite web|url=https://www.lutontown.co.uk/en/news/bloomfield-appointed-as-luton-town-manager|title=Bloomfield appointed as Luton Town manager| publisher=www.lutontown.co.uk| date=14 January 2025|access-date=14 January 2025}}
Personal life
As of November 2010, Bloomfield was studying to complete a degree in Professional Sports Writing and Broadcasting at Staffordshire University, alongside former teammate Kevin Betsy.{{cite web|url=http://www.staffs.ac.uk/schools/art_and_design/journalism/staffslive/wordpress/2010/11/19/footballing-classmates-square-up-as-port-vale-take-on-wycombe/|title=Footballing classmates square up as Port Vale take on Wycombe|last=Morris|first=Sam|author2=Ted Woodward|author3=Sam Fitch|date=19 November 2010|work=Staffs Live|access-date=6 December 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121223113252/http://www.staffs.ac.uk/schools/art_and_design/journalism/staffslive/wordpress/2010/11/19/footballing-classmates-square-up-as-port-vale-take-on-wycombe/|archive-date=23 December 2012}} Bloomfield regularly writes blogs for the BBC website and has appeared on regional football show Late Kick Off. He was the first footballer to sign the "Football Vs. Homophobia charter for action" in October 2011. He often takes on an ambassadorial role at the club and regularly participates in community scheme activities.
Career statistics
{{notelist}}
Managerial statistics
{{updated|3 May 2025}}
| class=wikitable style="text-align: center"
|+ Managerial record by team and tenure | ||||
| rowspan=2|Team
!rowspan=2|From !rowspan=2|To !colspan=5|Record !rowspan=2|{{abbr|Ref|Reference}} | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| {{abbr|P|Matches played}} | {{abbr|W|Matches won}} | {{abbr|D|Matches drawn}} | {{abbr|L|Matches lost}} | {{abbr|Win %|Win percentage}} |
| align="left" |Colchester United
| align="left" |30 September 2022 | align="left" |21 February 2023 {{WDL|28|9|6|13|decimals=2}} | ||||
| align=left|Wycombe Wanderers
|align=left|21 February 2023 |align=left|14 January 2025 {{WDL|108|52|24|32|decimals=2}} | ||||
| align=left|Luton Town
|align=left|14 January 2025 |align=left|Present {{WDL|20|6|6|8|decimals=2}} | ||||
| colspan=3|Total
{{WDLtot|156|67|36|53|decimals=2}} ! |
Honours
=As a player=
Wycombe Wanderers
- Football/EFL League Two third-placed promotion: 2008–09,{{cite book |editor1-first=Glenda |editor1-last=Rollin |editor2-first=Jack |editor2-last=Rollin |title=Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2009–2010 |year=2009 |publisher=Headline Publishing Group |location=London |isbn=978-0-7553-1948-0 |pages=45, 420–421}} 2010–11,{{cite book |editor1-first=Glenda |editor1-last=Rollin |editor2-first=Jack |editor2-last=Rollin |title=Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2011–2012 |year=2011 |publisher=Headline Publishing Group |location=London |isbn=978-0-7553-6231-8 |pages=39, 414–415}} 2017–18{{cite book |editor-first=John |editor-last=Anderson |title=Football Yearbook 2018–2019 |year=2018 |publisher=Headline Publishing Group |location=London |isbn=978-1-4722-6106-9 |pages=390–391}}
- EFL League One play-offs: 2020{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53316283 |title=Oxford United 1–2 Wycombe Wanderers |first=Adam |last=Williams |website=BBC Sport |date=13 July 2020 |access-date=14 July 2020}}
=As a manager=
Wycombe Wanderers
- EFL Trophy runner-up: 2023–24
Individual
- EFL League One Manager of the Month: April 2024, {{cite web|url=https://www.efl.com/news/2024/may/03/sky-bet-manager-and-player-of-the-month--april-winners/|title=Sky Bet Manager and Player of the Month: April winners|website=www.efl.com|date=3 May 2024|accessdate=8 November 2024}} October 2024, November 2024
- EFL League Two Manager of the Month: January 2023
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{Soccerbase}}
{{Luton Town F.C. squad}}
{{EFL League One managers}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Managerial positions
| list1 =
{{Colchester United F.C. managers}}
{{Wycombe Wanderers F.C. managers}}
{{Luton Town F.C. managers}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bloomfield, Matt}}
Category:People from Felixstowe
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Ipswich Town F.C. players
Category:Wycombe Wanderers F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Alumni of Staffordshire University
Category:English football managers
Category:English football coaches
Category:Colchester United F.C. managers
Category:Wycombe Wanderers F.C. managers
Category:Luton Town F.C. managers