Neil Wood

Having joined the club aged eight, Wood began his career as a trainee with Manchester United in 1999, and turned professional the following year.{{cite web |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/5860132.claret-corner-wood-fighting-footballing-future/ |title=In the Claret corner: Wood is fighting for footballing future |work=Lancashire Telegraph |date=30 January 2004 |access-date=20 May 2022}} He was a member of the reserve team and scored on his debut, playing as a striker alongside David Healy under the tutelage of Jimmy Ryan.{{cite web |last=Whitwell |first=Laurie |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1157054/2019/08/24/fractured-skull-blood-clots-and-the-pain-of-missing-out-driving-neil-wood-to-smooth-the-path-for-united-u23s/ |title=Fractured skull, blood clots and the pain of missing out driving Neil Wood to smooth the path for United U23s |publisher=The Athletic |date=24 August 2019 |access-date=21 May 2022}} Around this time he also played for the England U16 team, scoring two goals on his debut in the Victory Shield. He eventually received a first-team squad number but never made a senior team appearance, suffering with various injuries including a blood clot in his thigh, a fractured skull, and articular cartilage damage, keeping him out of action for 18 months. The emerging talents of players such as Darren Fletcher and David Jones meant he was overtaken in the youth pecking order in his absence.

In December 2001, Wood was loaned out to Belgian club Royal Antwerp of the First Division alongside teammate Alan Tate,{{cite web |last=Buckingham |first=Mark |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/2224939/united-duo-head-out |title=United duo head out |publisher=Sky Sports |date=10 December 2001 |access-date=20 May 2022}} and to Peterborough United of the Football League Second Division on a one-month loan in September 2003, rejecting a move to Third Division team Swansea City in the process;{{cite web |last=Lancaster |first=Rob |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/2275733/posh-turn-to-wood |title=Posh turn to Wood |publisher=Sky Sports |date=12 September 2003 |access-date=20 May 2021}} neither loan proved to be successful for Wood. During his time at Peterborough, he scored his first goal in English football, scoring in a 2–1 defeat against Colchester United, described by BBC Sport as "a stunning 25-yard free kick".{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/3105958.stm |title=Peterborough 1–2 Colchester |publisher=BBC Sport |date=20 September 2003 |access-date=23 March 2010}}

In January 2004, he was loaned out to First Division team Burnley, who were struggling in the season, and which was then extended the following month for a further two months;{{cite web |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/5854624.stan-gets-helping-hand/ |title=Stan gets a helping hand |work=Lancashire Telegraph |date=28 February 2004 |access-date=20 May 2022}} manager Stan Ternent expressed his gratitude to United manager Alex Ferguson for allowing Wood to remain with the club.{{cite web |last=Goss |first=Patrick |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/2292438/burnley-keep-wood-lose-duo |title=Burnley keep Wood – lose duo |publisher=Sky Sports |date=1 March 2004 |access-date=21 May 2022}} During his time at Burnley, he scored once against Norwich City in a 5–3 defeat,{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/3567963.stm |title=Burnley 3–5 Norwich |publisher=BBC Sport |date=3 April 2004 |access-date=23 March 2010}} opening the scoring at Turf Moor with a free-kick from just outside the penalty area.{{cite web |last=Clarke |first=Ron |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/burnley-3-norwich-5-burnley-floored-by-city-slickers-c3qtqmlk03k |title=Burnley 3 Norwich 5: Burnley floored by City slickers |work=The Times |date=4 April 2004 |access-date=21 May 2022 |url-access=subscription}} In April, he admitted to the Lancashire Telegraph that he had struggled to adapt to the style of football in the lower leagues, but played through a knee injury to try and keep Burnley in the division.{{cite web |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/5848758.wood-step-clarets/ |title=Wood to step it up for Clarets |work=Lancashire Telegraph |date=8 April 2004 |access-date=20 May 2022}}

Wood departed United in the summer of 2004 after 13 years at the club, signing for Coventry City on a two-year contract.{{cite web |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/wood-ill-make-up-lost-3144920 |title=Wood: I'll make up for lost time |work=Coventry Telegraph |date=8 July 2004 |access-date=20 May 2022}} Upon signing, manager Peter Reid told the Coventry Telegraph that Wood reminded him of former Everton teammate Kevin Sheedy, also a left-footed midfielder.{{cite web |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/sky-blues-land-united-starlet-3144837 |title=Sky Blues land United starlet |work=Coventry Telegraph |date=6 July 2004 |access-date=20 May 2022}} He made his début in a 4–1 League Cup first round win against Torquay United,{{cite web |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/wood-wants-to-bed-down-3144535 |title=Wood wants to bed down |work=Coventry Telegraph |date=27 August 2004 |access-date=15 January 2023}} but appearances at his new club were rare,{{cite web |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/wood-glad-to-be-back-3139759 |title=Wood glad to be back |work=Coventry Telegraph |date=22 December 2004 |access-date=20 May 2022}} and he struggled to avoid picking up injuries and maintaining his fitness.{{cite web |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/wood-holds-key-citys-plans-3138311 |title=Wood holds the key to City's plans |work=Coventry Telegraph |date=14 January 2005 |access-date=20 May 2022}} Having made just five appearances in the 2005–06 season, Wood departed the club initially on loan to Blackpool in January 2006,{{cite web |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/neil-has-left-the-building-3128065 |title=Neil has left the building |work=Coventry Telegraph |date=22 March 2006 |access-date=20 May 2022}} and in the same month the move was made permanent on a contract until the end of the season.{{cite web |last=Fudge |first=Simon |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/2365471/seasiders-snap-up-wood |title=Seasiders snap up Wood |publisher=Sky Sports |date=31 January 2006 |access-date=20 May 2022}}{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/blackpool/4631046.stm |title=Blackpool boss signs midfield duo |publisher=BBC Sport |date=20 January 2006 |access-date=20 August 2008}} Wood received a red card for a dangerous tackle on Gavin Strachan in a fixture against Hartlepool United on 28 January.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/4634390.stm |title=Hartlepool 0-3 Blackpool |publisher=BBC Sport |date=28 January 2006 |access-date=20 May 2022}}

Later in the same year, he again moved club, signing a two-year contract with Oldham Athletic following a successful trial period.{{cite web |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/oldham-sign-wood-1036784 |title=Oldham sign Wood |publisher=Manchester Evening News |date=1 July 2006 |access-date=20 May 2022}} Upon signing, he criticised Blackpool for offering him a new deal only after pre-season had begun, as well as saying their contract offer was "rubbish".{{cite web |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/wood-feels-welcome-at-boundary-park-1038531 |title=Wood feels welcome at Boundary Park |publisher=Manchester Evening News |date=1 July 2006 |access-date=20 May 2022}} After several appearances, Wood suffered a season-ending knee injury in training,{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/o/oldham_athletic/6316819.stm |title=Oldham suffer Wood injury agony |publisher=BBC Sport |date=31 January 2007 |access-date=20 August 2008}} requiring surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament.{{cite web |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/unlucky-wood-faces-knee-op-981433 |title=Unlucky Wood faces knee op |publisher=Manchester Evening News |date=15 February 2007 |access-date=20 May 2022}} The injury led to his release from the team. Remembering his experience of lower league football in a 2019 interview with The Athletic, he said that he struggled to adapt and was "sick of the style of player. I wanted to get out", while in a 2020 interview with the same publication, he recalled how Oldham manager John Sheridan had told him that he was "too good to play in a three but couldn't play in a central two", as Sheridan didn't want him to "get on the ball and play", one of his primary attributes, leaving him disillusioned with English football.{{cite web |last=Mitten |first=Andy |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2051737/2020/09/11/who-are-manchester-united-next-generation/ |title=Under-23s boss Neil Wood introduces Manchester United's next generation |work=The Athletic |date=11 September 2020 |access-date=21 May 2022}}

{{quote box|width=30%|align=right|quote=I just felt I needed a challenge to go to a country where it was more technical and it was really good. It was the first time I'd gone from the normal 4–4–2 tactics in the lower leagues in England to 4–2–3–1 and 4–3–3 so it was a new experience for me... It was quite far away and doesn't have that exposure but, football-wise, it was one of my most enjoyable times after I left United. |source=—Wood discussing his move to Bosnia and Herzegovina{{cite web |last=Marshall |first=Adam |url=https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/introducing-man-utd-u23s-lead-coach-neil-wood-mutv-interview |title=Introducing Man Utd U23s lead coach Neil Wood |publisher=Manchester United F.C. |date=29 July 2019 |access-date=21 May 2022}}}}

In February 2008, Wood signed with Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina club Željezničar,{{cite web |url=https://sportsport.ba/fudbal/novi-pocetak-u-zeljeznicaru/108 |title=Novi početak u Željezničaru |trans-title=A new beginning in Željezničar |work=SportSport |date=5 March 2008 |access-date=21 May 2022 |language=BS}} where he was managed by Simo Krunić, and experienced tactics-based football for the first time since departing United. Wood was released in the summer after only a few appearances,{{cite web |url=https://sportsport.ba/fudbal/nekadasnji-igrac-zelje-danas-je-skaut-manchester-uniteda/238380 |title=Nekadašnji igrač Želje danas je skaut Manchester Uniteda |trans-title=The former player of Želje is today a scout of Manchester United |work=SportSport |date=25 May 2017 |access-date=21 May 2022 |language=BS}} requiring a double hernia operation. He was well accepted by the players and fans, and became the first Englishman in the league.

Following his release from Željezničar, Wood returned to England and settled down in the Tamworth area, where he began training with Southern Football League Division One Central side Atherstone Town. In December, Wood signed a deal with the club and was awaiting international clearance before he could make an appearance.{{cite web |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/neil-wood-gareth-sheldon-set-3072213 |title=Neil Wood and Gareth Sheldon set to make debuts for Atherstone |work=Coventry Telegraph |date=24 December 2009 |access-date=21 May 2022}} After several attempts made to contact Željezničar failed, in January 2010 Wood and the club turned to FIFA for assistance with the matter.{{cite web |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/atherstone-go-fifa-over-neil-3070071 |title=Atherstone go to Fifa over Neil Wood move |work=Coventry Telegraph |date=13 January 2010 |access-date=21 May 2022}} In November of that year and having made his debut, Wood scored an equalising goal in a 1–1 draw against Rugby Town.{{cite web |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/toiling-atherstone-aim-give-rivals-3054116 |title=Toiling Atherstone aim to give rivals the Blues |work=Coventry Telegraph |date=19 November 2010 |access-date=21 May 2022}}

Following his retirement, Wood began observing coaching sessions with Aston Villa, advancing to taking on coaching responsibilities at various youth levels in their academy.{{cite web |last=Mitten |first=Andy |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4176944/2022/05/18/manchester-united-neil-wood-set-to-leave-under-23-role-for-salford-job/ |title=Manchester United: Neil Wood set to leave Under-23 role for Salford job |publisher=The Athletic |date=19 May 2022 |access-date=21 May 2022}} Wood initially undertook the role without a wage, taking his coaching badges simultaneously.{{cite web |last=Mitten |first=Andy |url=https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/sport/article/manchester-united-u23-2021 |title=Manchester United's resurgent U23 team is proof the club takes youth seriously again |publisher=GQ |date=12 February 2021 |access-date=15 January 2023}} Villa offered him part-time and full-time roles, but he eventually returned to his hometown of Manchester in 2014, where he worked at the Manchester United academy from under-15 through to under-23 level. He was promoted by the club to the position of under-23 manager in 2019, with former United player Quinton Fortune assisting him in the role,{{cite web |last=Mathews |first=Max |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/11756637/man-utd-appoint-neil-wood-and-quinton-fortune-as-u23-coaches-and-give-nicky-butt-bigger-role |title=Man Utd appoint Neil Wood and Quinton Fortune as U23 coaches and give Nicky Butt bigger role |publisher=Sky Sports |date=4 July 2019 |access-date=21 May 2022}} and in his first year in the role, Wood guided the team to promotion back to the Premier League 2. In the 2021–22 season of the UEFA Youth League, Wood guided United to the last 16, where they were defeated on penalties by Borussia Dortmund.{{cite web |last=Railston |first=Steve |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/man-united-uefa-youth-league-23257577 |title=Manchester United youngsters learn cruel penalty lesson with Borussia Dortmund defeat |publisher=Manchester Evening News |date=2 March 2022 |access-date=25 May 2022}} In his time as lead coach of the under-23s at Old Trafford, 17 academy players have made first-team debuts for the club.

In May 2022 he was appointed as manager of Salford City, replacing Gary Bowyer,{{cite news |title=Neil Wood: Salford City appoint Man Utd U23s coach as new boss |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61529960 |date=20 May 2022 |access-date=20 May 2022 |publisher=BBC Sport}}{{cite news |last=Railston |first=Steve |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/neil-wood-manchester-united-salford-24020125 |title=Neil Wood leaves Manchester United U23s to become Salford City manager |date=20 May 2022 |access-date=22 May 2022 |work=Manchester Evening News}} and made his first signing the following month, bringing in Scottish striker Callum Hendry on a free transfer following his release by Scottish Premiership team St Johnstone.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61844892 |title=Salford sign Hendry after St Johnstone exit |publisher=BBC Sport |date=17 June 2022 |access-date=17 June 2022}} Wood guided Salford to a 2–0 win against Mansfield Town in his first game in charge on the opening day of the 2022–23 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11750/12660471/salford-2-0-mansfield-city-off-to-opening-day-win |title=Salford 2-0 Mansfield: City off to opening-day win |publisher=Sky Sports |date=30 July 2022 |access-date=18 August 2022}} At the conclusion of the league season, Wood led Salford to the EFL play-offs for the first time, drawing 2–2 on aggregate with Stockport County before losing 3–1 in the resulting penalty shootout.{{cite web |last=Warner |first=Harry |url=https://www.salfordnow.co.uk/2023/05/23/my-expectation-is-we-come-back-stronger-next-season-neil-wood-reacts-to-salfords-play-off-lose-to-stockport/ |title="My expectation is we come back stronger next season" – Neil Wood reacts to Salford's play-off loss to Stockport |work=Salford Now |date=23 May 2023 |access-date=10 October 2023}}

At the beginning of the 2023–24 season, Salford and Wood endured five league defeats in a row, a record for the club since promotion to the EFL in 2019.{{cite web |last=Lyons |first=John |url=https://www.theleaguepaper.com/latest-news/football-league-division-two/401200/its-been-tough-worked-hard-to-turn-tide/ |title='It's been tough but we have worked hard to turn tide' - Neil Wood on Salford's stuttering start |work=The Football League Paper |date=8 October 2023 |access-date=10 October 2023}} On 27 December 2023, Wood was sacked by Salford following a 5–1 home defeat to Tranmere Rovers the previous day, which extended their winless run in the league to eight games and left Salford in 21st place in League Two.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67816050 |title=Neil Wood: Salford City part company with head coach after winless run |website=BBC Sport |date=27 December 2023 |access-date=27 December 2023}}

{{updated|match played 26 December 2023}}{{Soccerbase manager|5224}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Soccerbase}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20050906215542/http://www.manutd.com/bio/bio.sps?iBiographyId=1642 Neil Wood] at ManUtd.com

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Category:1983 births

Category:Living people

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