Nigel Worthington
{{Short description|Northern Irish footballer and manager}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Nigel Worthington
| image = Nigel Worthington 07-09-2013 1.jpg
| image_size = 200
| caption = Worthington as manager of York City in 2013
| fullname = Nigel Worthington{{cite book |editor-first=Barry J. |editor-last=Hugman |title=The 1998–99 Official PFA Footballers Factfile |year=1998 |publisher=Queen Anne Press |location=Harpenden |isbn=978-1-85291-588-9 |pages=332–333}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|11|4|df=y}}
| birth_place = Ballymena, Northern Ireland
| height = {{height|ft=5|in=11}}
| position = Defender / Midfielder
| currentclub =
| years1 = 1979–1981
| clubs1 = Ballymena United
| caps1 = 80
| goals1 = 4
| years2 = 1981–1984
| clubs2 = Notts County
| caps2 = 67
| goals2 = 4
| years3 = 1984–1994
| clubs3 = Sheffield Wednesday
| caps3 = 338
| goals3 = 12
| years4 = 1994–1996
| clubs4 = Leeds United
| caps4 = 43
| goals4 = 1
| years5 = 1996–1997
| clubs5 = Stoke City
| caps5 = 12
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 1997–1998
| clubs6 = Blackpool
| caps6 = 9
| goals6 = 0
| totalcaps = 549
| totalgoals = 21
| nationalyears1 =
| nationalteam1 = Northern Ireland U18
| nationalcaps1 = 14
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 1984–1997
| nationalteam2 = Northern Ireland
| nationalcaps2 = 66
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| manageryears1 = 1997–1999
| managerclubs1 = Blackpool
| manageryears2 = 2000–2006
| managerclubs2 = Norwich City
| manageryears3 = 2007
| managerclubs3 = Leicester City (caretaker)
| manageryears4 = 2007–2011
| managerclubs4 = Northern Ireland
| manageryears5 = 2013–2014
| managerclubs5 = York City
}}
Nigel Worthington (born 4 November 1961) is a Northern Irish former professional footballer who was most recently the manager of York City.
He played a defender and a midfielder, playing his club football for Ballymena United, Notts County, Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds United, Stoke City and Blackpool. With Sheffield Wednesday he won the League Cup in 1991. As an international player, he was capped 66 times for Northern Ireland, and appeared for them at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
Worthington began his managerial career as player-manager of Blackpool in 1997 before he took over as manager of Norwich City in 2000. He guided Norwich into the Premier League in the 2003–04 season as First Division title winners. He left just over two years afterwards, having failed to keep them in the top-flight in 2005. He was briefly caretaker manager of Leicester City in 2007 prior to starting as manager of Northern Ireland, from which he stepped down in 2011.
Club career
Born in Ballymena, County Antrim, Worthington played as a left-back and a midfielder and started his career with hometown team Ballymena United in 1979, where he was Ulster Football Writers Young Player of the Year in 1981.{{cite web |title=Nigel Worthington |url=http://nifootball.blogspot.co.uk/2007/04/nigel-worthington.html |publisher=NIFG |date=11 April 2007 |access-date=3 March 2013}}{{cite web |title=Ex-Sky Blue gets top job |url=http://www.ballymenaunitedfc.com/news/news_2007_06_01_1.htm |publisher=Ballymena United F.C. |date=1 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071102231927/http://www.ballymenaunitedfc.com/news/news_2007_06_01_1.htm |archive-date=2 November 2007 |url-status=dead}} He moved into English football with Notts County on 1 July 1981 for a £100,000 fee.
Worthington signed for Sheffield Wednesday on 6 February 1984 for a £125,000 fee, and he stayed at the club for over 10 years. He earned promotion into the First Division with Wednesday in the 1983–84 season as Second Division runners-up.{{cite web |title=Profile of Nigel Worthington |url=http://www.irishfa.com/international/squad-profiles/profile/2239/senior/nigel-worthington-manager |publisher=Irish Football Association |access-date=3 March 2013}} He was a member of the team that won the League Cup as well as a return into the First Division after finishing in third place in the Second Division in 1990–91. Two years later, Worthington and his teammates were losing finalists in the 1993 FA Cup Final.
Worthington left Wednesday to sign for Leeds United on 4 July 1994 for a £325,000 fee, spending two seasons at the club and one season at Stoke City, after signing on a free transfer on 18 July 1996.
International career
Worthington was capped 14 times by the Northern Ireland national under-18 team before making his debut for the senior national team in a 1–1 draw away to Wales in the 1983–84 British Home Championship on 22 May 1984. This was notable for being Northern Ireland's final match in the last ever British Home Championship, the point gained being enough for Northern Ireland to win, and keep in perpetuity, the trophy.{{cite web |first1=Macario |last1=Reyes |first2=Neil |last2=Morrison |title=British Home Championship overview |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesb/bhc.html |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |date=1 October 2009 |access-date=3 March 2013}} In Northern Ireland's subsequent successful qualifying campaign for the 1986 FIFA World Cup, Worthington started one qualifying match and came on as a substitute in three more. In the Finals tournament itself, Worthington started two of Northern Ireland's three matches, against Algeria and Spain. He served as Northern Ireland captain from 1995 to 1996. Worthington's 66th and final cap was gained in Northern Ireland's 3–0 victory in a home friendly against Belgium on 11 February 1997.
Managerial career
=Blackpool=
Worthington's managerial career started as the player-manager at Blackpool on 8 July 1997. He soon retired from playing to take on sole managerial duties, but two and a half seasons in charge ended with his resignation on 23 December 1999 following a dip in form that saw the club lying in the Second Division relegation battle.{{cite book |first=Peter |last=Gillatt |title=Blackpool FC On This Day: History, Facts and Figures from Every Day of the Year |publisher=Pitch Publishing |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-905411-50-4}} "I have taken the club as far as I can," he stated.
=Norwich City=
After acting as assistant to Howard Wilkinson with the England under-21 team, Worthington moved to Norwich City on 27 June 2000 as assistant to Bryan Hamilton.{{cite web |title=Nigel Worthington |url=http://www.ex-canaries.co.uk/players/worthington.htm |publisher=Flown From the Nest |access-date=3 March 2013}} He was given the role of assistant manager for the Northern Ireland national under-21 team on 22 August, which he shared with his duties at Norwich. He was appointed caretaker manager at Norwich on 4 December after Hamilton resigned, and on 2 January 2001 was appointed as permanent manager.{{cite news |title=Worthington handed Norwich chance |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/norwich/1097980.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2 January 2001 |access-date=18 September 2016}} He later saved the club from relegation into the Second Division.{{cite news |first=Lewis| last=Wiltshire |title=Worthy cause for a party |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/norwich/3648827.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=4 May 2004 |access-date=18 September 2016}} The 2001–02 season, Worthington's first full season, saw Norwich reach the 2002 First Division play-off final, in which they lost to Birmingham City in a penalty shoot-out.{{cite news |title=Birmingham reach Premiership |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/1979806.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=12 May 2002 |access-date=18 September 2016}}
In his third full season in charge, 2003–04, Worthington took Norwich into the Premier League after winning the First Division championship with a club record 94 points.{{cite news |first=David |last=Cuffley |title=A record-breaking start – but what of City's finish? |url=http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/sport/other-sport/a_record_breaking_start_but_what_of_city_s_finish_1_487068 |newspaper=Norwich Evening News |date=20 January 2010 |access-date=18 September 2016 |archive-date=20 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220052656/https://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/sport/other-sport/a-record-breaking-start-but-what-of-city-s-finish-1-487068 |url-status=dead }} With one match remaining in 2004–05, Norwich were one point above the relegation zone,{{cite web |title=Norwich City 2004–2005: Table: 11.05.2005 |url=http://www.statto.com/football/teams/norwich-city/2004-2005/table/2005-05-11 |publisher=Statto Organisation |access-date=18 September 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918234418/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/norwich-city/2004-2005/table/2005-05-11 |archive-date=18 September 2016 |df=dmy-all }} but after a 6–0 defeat by Fulham were relegated in 19th place.{{cite news |title=Fulham 6–0 Norwich |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4525103.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=15 May 2005 |access-date=18 September 2016}}{{cite web |title=Norwich City 2004–2005: Table: Final table |url=http://www.statto.com/football/teams/norwich-city/2004-2005/table |publisher=Statto Organisation |access-date=18 September 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324064339/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/norwich-city/2004-2005/table |archive-date=24 March 2016 |df=dmy-all }}
Norwich were tipped to make an instant return into the Premier League in 2005–06 having retained the majority of their squad.{{Cite news |title=The Championship form guide |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/4671691.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=1 August 2005 |access-date=18 September 2016}} The team failed to mount the expected promotion challenge, which led to some supporters calling for Worthington to leave the club, with Norwich finishing the season ninth in the Championship table.{{cite news |title=Supporters' meeting calls for change at the top |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/norfolk/content/articles/2006/03/03/sport_canary_fan_meeting_feature.shtml |publisher=BBC Norfolk |date=6 March 2006 |access-date=2 February 2008}}{{cite web |title=Norwich City 2005–2006: Table: Final table |url=http://www.statto.com/football/teams/norwich-city/2005-2006/table |publisher=Statto Organisation |access-date=3 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810044628/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/norwich-city/2005-2006/table |archive-date=10 August 2011 |df=dmy-all }} After a defeat to Plymouth Argyle early in September 2006, Norwich's majority shareholders, Delia Smith and Michael Wynn-Jones, released a statement expecting Worthington to improve the team's performance in the following matches.{{cite news |title=Owners blast Norwich performance |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/norwich/5379656.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=25 September 2006 |access-date=18 September 2016}} Worthington was sacked by Norwich almost immediately after a 4–1 defeat to Burnley on 1 October, a result that left the team 17th in the table.{{cite news |title=Norwich sack manager Worthington |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/norwich/5397320.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=1 October 2006 |access-date=18 September 2016}}
=Leicester City=
Worthington was appointed caretaker manager of relegation threatened Championship club Leicester City for the rest of 2006–07 on 11 April 2007.{{cite news |title=Worthington takes Leicester job |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leicester_city/6544431.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=11 April 2007 |access-date=18 September 2016}} Despite losing his first match to former club Norwich, he was able to steer Leicester to safety and stated his desire to become Leicester's permanent manager.{{cite news |title=Worthington awaits Foxes decision |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leicester_city/6616817.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2 May 2007 |access-date=18 September 2016}} He lost out on the position to Martin Allen.{{cite news |title=Allen named new Leicester manager |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leicester_city/6665547.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=25 May 2007 |access-date=18 September 2016}}
=Northern Ireland=
Worthington was appointed as manager of Northern Ireland on 1 June 2007, initially on a short-term contract until the end of the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying campaign in November.{{cite news |title=Worthington named N Ireland boss |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6708553.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=1 June 2007 |access-date=18 September 2016}} At the time of his appointment, Northern Ireland led their qualification group. Although Northern Ireland eventually finished third in their qualification group, the Irish Football Association gave Worthington a two-year contract in January 2008.{{cite news |title=IFA to name Worthington as boss |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7175412.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=7 January 2008 |access-date=18 September 2016}} This was subsequently renewed in January 2010, lasting until the end of the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying campaign.{{cite web |title=Worthington agrees new contract |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/news/newsid=1157046.html |publisher=FIFA |date=14 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110193113/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/news/newsid=1157046.html |archive-date=10 November 2012 |url-status=dead}} However, after a poor UEFA Euro 2012 qualification campaign he stepped down on 11 October 2011 after the final qualifier against Italy.{{cite news |title=Nigel Worthington to step down as N Ireland manager |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/15243945 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=10 October 2011 |access-date=18 September 2016}}
=York City=
Worthington was appointed manager of League Two club York City on 4 March 2013, after Gary Mills was sacked two days earlier.{{cite news |title=Nigel Worthington named York City manager |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/21654646 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=4 March 2013 |access-date=18 September 2016}} His first match in charge was a 3–2 defeat away to AFC Wimbledon on 9 March.{{cite news |title=AFC Wimbledon 3–2 York |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/21639454 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=9 March 2013 |access-date=18 September 2016}} On the last day of the season, York won 1–0 away to Dagenham & Redbridge, which secured the club's League Two status, finishing the season in 17th place.{{cite news |title=Dag and Red 0–1 York |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22228800 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=27 April 2013 |access-date=18 September 2016}}{{cite news |title=Nigel Worthington extends York City contract |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22401458 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=3 May 2013 |access-date=18 September 2016}} He signed a new one-year rolling contract on 3 May.{{cite news |first=Stephen |last=Lewis |title=Why it's a City life for Sophie Hicks |url=http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/10415656.Why_it___s_a_City_life_for_Sophie/ |newspaper=The Press |location=York |date=13 May 2013 |access-date=1 December 2013}} Worthington managed the team that reached the League Two play-offs in 2013–14, in which York were beaten 1–0 on aggregate in the semi-final by Fleetwood Town.{{cite news |first=Phil |last=Cartwright |title=Fleetwood 0–0 York |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/27336703 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=16 May 2014 |access-date=18 September 2016}} He resigned as manager on 13 October 2014 with the team one place above the relegation zone, and was quoted as saying "In recent weeks, performances have not been up to my high standards and I take full responsibility for this".{{cite news |title=Nigel Worthington resigns as York City manager |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/29596336 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=13 October 2014 |access-date=18 September 2016}}
Personal life
Worthington married Sandra Hopkins in Nottingham in 1983.{{cite web |url=http://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=bmd%2fm%2f1983%2f2%2faz%2f001434%2f053 |url-access=subscription |via=Findmypast |title=England & Wales marriages 1837–2008 transcription |at=Nigel Worthington. Marriage quarter: 2. Marriage year: 1983. District: Nottingham. County: Nottinghamshire. Volume: 8. Page: 1046 |access-date=13 November 2015}} His cousin is fellow manager Brendan Rodgers.{{cite news |title=Ex Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington backs his compatriot – and cousin – Brendan Rodgers to succeed at Liverpool FC
| url = http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/ex-northern-ireland-manager-nigel-3346212 |newspaper=Liverpool Echo |date=31 May 2012 |access-date=1 December 2013}}
Career statistics
=Club=
File:Nigel Worthington 03-08-2013 1.jpg in 2013]]
{{notelist}}
=International=
| class=wikitable style="text-align: center;"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan=14|Northern Ireland{{NFT player |id=15872 |name=Worthington, Nigel |accessdate=18 September 2016}}
|1984 | 3 | 0 | |
| 1985 | 4 | 0 | |
| 1986 | 5 | 0 | |
| 1987 | 5 | 0 | |
| 1988 | 7 | 0 | |
| 1989 | 3 | 0 | |
| 1990 | 4 | 0 | |
| 1991 | 3 | 0 | |
| 1992 | 6 | 0 | |
| 1993 | 7 | 0 | |
| 1994 | 6 | 0 | |
| 1995 | 8 | 0 | |
| 1996 | 3 | 0 | |
| 1997 | 2 | 0 | |
| colspan=2|Total | 66 | 0 |
Managerial statistics
{{updated|13 October 2014}}
| 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|Blackpool
|align=left|8 July 1997 |align=left|23 December 1999 {{WDL|134|44|34|56|decimals=1}} | ||||
| align=left|Norwich City
|align=left|4 December 2000 |align=left|1 October 2006 {{WDL|280|114|62|104|decimals=1}} | ||||
| align=left|Leicester City (caretaker)
|align=left|11 April 2007 |align=left|25 May 2007 {{WDL|5|2|0|3|decimals=1}} | ||||
| align=left|Northern Ireland
|align=left|1 June 2007 |align=left|11 October 2011 {{WDL|41|9|10|22|decimals=1}} | ||||
| align=left|York City
|align=left|4 March 2013 |align=left|13 October 2014 {{WDL|76|23|29|24|decimals=1}} | ||||
| colspan=3|Total
{{WDLtot|536|192|135|209|decimals=1}} !— |
Honours
=As a player=
Ballymena United
- Irish Cup: 1980–81{{Cite web | title = Ballymena United Football Club - Pre 2014/15 History | work = ballymenaunitedfc.com | access-date = 8 November 2017 | url = http://www.ballymenaunitedfc.com/historypre201415/records/sbs/198081/irishcup.php | archive-date = 25 June 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220625102213/https://www.ballymenaunitedfc.com/historypre201415/records/sbs/198081/irishcup.php | url-status = dead }}
- Ulster Cup: 1980–81{{Cite web | title = Ballymena United Football Club - Pre 2014/15 History | work = ballymenaunitedfc.com | access-date = 8 November 2017 | url = http://www.ballymenaunitedfc.com/historypre201415/records/sbs/198081/ulstercup.php | archive-date = 8 May 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210508040244/https://ballymenaunitedfc.com/historypre201415/records/sbs/198081/ulstercup.php | url-status = dead }}
Sheffield Wednesday
- Football League Second Division runner-up: 1983–84{{Cite web | title = Where Are They Now? Sheffield Wednesday's Division Two 1983-84 runners-up | work = The League Paper | date = 17 March 2017 | access-date = 8 November 2017 | url = https://www.theleaguepaper.com/featured/7637/where-are-they-now-sheffield-wednesdays-division-two-1983-84-runners-up/ }}
- Second Division third-place promotion: 1990–91{{Cite web | title = Where Are They Now? Sheffield Wednesday's League Cup winners 1991 | work = The League Paper | date = 26 February 2016 | access-date = 8 November 2017 | url = https://www.theleaguepaper.com/features/4268/where-are-they-now-sheffield-wednesdays-league-cup-winners-1991/ }}
- Football League Cup: 1990–91
Leeds United
=As a manager=
Norwich City
- First Division: 2003–04{{Cite web | title = League Managers Association - NIGEL WORTHINGTON | work = leaguemanagers.com | access-date = 8 November 2017 | url = http://www.leaguemanagers.com/managers/nigel-worthington/ | archive-date = 20 September 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200920013549/http://www.leaguemanagers.com/managers/nigel-worthington/ | url-status = dead }}
Individual
- Football League Two Manager of the Month: April 2013,{{cite news|url=https://www.efl.com/news/2013/may/worthington-named-manager-of-the-month/ |title=Worthington named Manager of the Month |publisher=EFL |date=17 May 2013 |access-date=4 October 2022}} March 2014{{cite news|url=https://www.efl.com/news/2014/april/nigel-worthington-named-sky-bet-league-2-manager-of-the-month/ |title=Nigel Worthington named Sky Bet League 2 Manager of the Month |publisher=EFL |date=4 April 2014 |access-date=4 October 2022}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Nigel Worthington}}
- [https://bufchistory.com/player.php?id=644 BUFC History]
- {{Soccerbase}}
{{Norwich City F.C. Hall of Fame}}
{{Northern Ireland squad 1986 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Managerial positions
| list1 =
{{Blackpool F.C. managers}}
{{Norwich City F.C. managers}}
{{Leicester City F.C. managers}}
{{Northern Ireland national football team managers}}
{{York City F.C. managers}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Worthington, Nigel}}
Category:Association footballers from Ballymena
Category:Men's association footballers from Northern Ireland
Category:Northern Ireland men's youth international footballers
Category:Northern Ireland men's international footballers
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Ballymena United F.C. players
Category:Notts County F.C. players
Category:Sheffield Wednesday F.C. players
Category:Leeds United F.C. players
Category:Stoke City F.C. players
Category:Blackpool F.C. players
Category:NIFL Premiership players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Premier League players
Category:1986 FIFA World Cup players
Category:Association football managers from Northern Ireland
Category:Blackpool F.C. managers
Category:Norwich City F.C. managers
Category:Leicester City F.C. managers
Category:Northern Ireland national football team managers
Category:York City F.C. managers
Category:English Football League managers