Rob Elliot

{{Short description|Rep of Ireland international goalkeeper}}

{{Distinguish|Rob Elliott|Robbie Elliott}}

{{Use British English|date=August 2017}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Rob Elliot

| image = Rob Elliot.jpg

| caption = Elliot with Newcastle United in 2013

| fullname = Robert Elliot{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/612828 |title=Updated squads for 2017/18 Premier League confirmed |publisher=Premier League |date=2 February 2018 |access-date=15 February 2018}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|4|30|df=y}}{{cite book |editor-first=Barry J. |editor-last=Hugman |title=The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11 |year=2010 |publisher=Mainstream Publishing |location=Edinburgh |isbn=978-1-84596-601-0 |page= 137}}

| birth_place = Greenwich, London, England

| height = 1.90 m{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/2214/Robert-Elliot/overview |title=Robert Elliot |publisher=Premier League |access-date=27 August 2017}}

| position = Goalkeeper

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Erith Town

| youthyears2 =

| youthclubs2 = Charlton Athletic

| years1 = 2004–2011

| clubs1 = Charlton Athletic

| caps1 = 96

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2004

| clubs2 = → Bishop's Stortford (loan)

| caps2 = 6

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2005

| clubs3 = → Notts County (loan)

| caps3 = 4

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2005–2007

| clubs4 = → Accrington Stanley (loan)

| caps4 = 30

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2011–2020

| clubs5 = Newcastle United

| caps5 = 55

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2021–2022

| clubs6 = Watford

| caps6 = 0

| goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2022–2024

| clubs7 = Gateshead

| caps7 = 0

| goals7 = 0

| totalcaps = 191

| totalgoals = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2004

| nationalteam1 = Republic of Ireland U19

| nationalcaps1 = 1

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2014–2016

| nationalteam2 = Republic of Ireland

| nationalcaps2 = 4

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| club-update = 14:10, 14 August 2022 (UTC)

| nationalteam-update =

| manageryears1 = 2023–2024

| managerclubs1 = Gateshead

| manageryears2 = 2024–2025

| managerclubs2 =Crawley Town

}}

Robert Elliot (born 30 April 1986) is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper. He was most recently the head coach of EFL League One side Crawley Town. Elliot also played for the Republic of Ireland national team.

Elliot began his career with Erith Town, before joining Charlton Athletic's academy side. Whilst at Charlton, he was sent out on loan to Bishop's Stortford and Notts County, and also spent two loan spells at Accrington Stanley, where he was nicknamed "The Dilsh". He would then go on to be Charlton's first choice goalkeeper for a number of seasons, until he joined Newcastle United on transfer deadline day in the summer of 2011. Signed mainly as a back-up to Tim Krul, he featured for the club sporadically, but became first choice in the 2015–16 season after Krul suffered a season-ending injury.

Through the origins of his father's family, Elliot became eligible to represent the Republic of Ireland national football team, and was first called up in 2013, making his debut the following year. Elliot retired from the first team in 2017.{{Cite web|date=13 November 2017|title=Rob Elliot pulls out of Republic of Ireland squad|url=https://www.themag.co.uk/2017/11/rob-elliot-pulls-republic-ireland-squad-newcastle-united/|access-date=28 January 2021|website=NUFC The Mag}}

In June 2020 Elliot was released by Newcastle United after nine years.{{Cite web|last=McCormick|first=Sean|date=26 June 2020|title=Rob Elliot and Jamie Sterry's classy message to Newcastle after their departures were confirmed|url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rob-elliot-jamie-sterrys-classy-18491137|access-date=29 June 2020|website=nechronicle}} In January 2021, Elliot signed for Watford until the end of the 2020–21 season.{{Cite web|title=Official: Elliot Joins Hornets|url=https://www.watfordfc.com/news/official-elliot-joins-hornets|access-date=28 January 2021|website=www.watfordfc.com|language=en}} In June 2021, Elliot signed a new 2-year contract with Watford.{{Cite web|title=A return to the Premier League for Rob Elliot as he agrees new deal with Watford|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2598975/2021/06/03/a-return-to-the-premier-league-for-rob-elliot-as-he-agrees-new-deal-with-watford/|access-date=23 September 2021|website=theathletic.com|language=en}}

Club career

=Charlton Athletic=

Born in Greenwich, London,{{Hugman|5864|access-date=27 August 2017}} Elliot began his career with non-League side Erith Town before moving to Charlton Athletic, the team he had supported as a child, when he was 17. After becoming a professional player with the Addicks in 2004, he was sent out on loan twice during the 2004–05 season; first to Bishop's Stortford and then Notts County, where he made his Football League debut.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}

The following season, Elliot spent most of the season on loan at the Conference National club Accrington Stanley, replacing fellow Charlton goalkeeper Darren Randolph who had been on loan at Stanley earlier in the year. He was part of the Accrington Stanley team which won promotion to the Football League as runaway champions, saving a vital penalty from Woking's Justin Richards in the match which guaranteed them promotion.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/4890816.stm |title=Woking 0-1 Accrington |date=15 April 2006 |publisher=BBC|access-date=28 January 2020}} He joined Stanley again on loan during the 2006–07 season, but failed to displace Ian Dunbavin as the club's first choice goalkeeper. He was voted the best keeper of the past decade for Accrington Stanley in 2010 by numerous key figures for the club, including manager John Coleman.

Back at Charlton, Elliot was considered to be behind Nicky Weaver and Darren Randolph for most of the 2007–08 season. After Randolph moved to Bury on loan Elliot was promoted to second choice. He made an unexpected debut for Charlton on 5 April 2008 after Weaver had been sent off in a match against Plymouth Argyle. He made his first start for Charlton in a League Cup defeat to Yeovil Town in August 2008. During the 2008–09 season, he displaced Weaver and established himself as the club's first choice goalkeeper. A string of impressive performances contributing to a record breaking start to a season for Charlton in 2009–10 led to him signing a contract extension committing him to the club until 2012. In August 2011, Newcastle United made an offer of £100,000 which was rejected by Charlton.

=Newcastle United=

On 30 August 2011, Elliot signed for Newcastle United on a five-year contract,{{Cite web|title=Elliot Becomes A Magpie|url=https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/archive/elliot-becomes-a-magpie/|access-date=2 July 2020|website=Newcastle United Football Club|language=en}} becoming their seventh summer signing. He then stated his desire to become first choice 'keeper.{{cite web |title=Keeper Elliot joins Newcastle |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12875_7139466,00.html |work=Sky Sports|publisher=BSkyB |date=30 August 2011 |access-date=30 August 2011}} He made his Newcastle debut on 20 September against Nottingham Forest in the Football League Cup.{{cite web |title=Nott'm Forest 3–4 Newcastle (aet)|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14893631.stm |publisher=BBC Sport|date=20 September 2011|access-date=20 September 2011}}

At the start of the 2012–13 season, Elliot changed his squad number from 35 to 21, which was previously worn by Fraser Forster. He made his second Newcastle appearance in the Europa League on 20 September against Marítimo.{{cite web|title=Maritimo 0–0 Newcastle |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19582553|publisher=BBC Sport|date=20 September 2012|access-date=20 September 2012}} His third Newcastle appearance, and second of the season, came in a third round League Cup tie away at Manchester United.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19645229|title=Man Utd 2–1 Newcastle|publisher=BBC Sport|date=26 September 2012}} On 24 February 2013, and following an injury to Tim Krul, Elliot made his first Premier League appearance for the Magpies, starting against Southampton in a 4–2 victory. During the match, after conceding a goal in the third minute, he then assisted a Papiss Cissé wonder goal in the first half.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/21489679|title=Newcastle 4–2 Southampton|work=BBC Sport |publisher=24 February 2013|access-date=11 August 2017}} On 12 May, Elliot was sent off against Queens Park Rangers, following a second yellow card.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22417786|title=QPR 2–1 Newcastle|publisher=BBC Sport|date=12 May 2013|access-date=11 August 2017}}

Elliot started the 2015–16 season as third choice 'keeper behind Krul and Karl Darlow. However, with Krul suffering a season-ending injury and Darlow still recovering from an ankle knock, Elliot was handed his first appearance of the season on 18 October at home to Norwich City, helping Newcastle to a 6–2 win, their first win of the campaign.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34498802|title=Newcastle United 6–2 Norwich City|publisher=BBC Sport|date=18 October 2015|access-date=11 August 2017}} Before the game, it was revealed that Elliot had signed a 'new, long-term contract' back in January 2014. Elliot continued his run in the team, keeping successive clean sheets against Stoke City{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34623900|title=Newcastle United 0–0 Stoke City|publisher=BBC Sport|date=31 October 2015|access-date=11 August 2017}} and AFC Bournemouth, the latter performance earning him the man-of-the-match award in a 1–0 win.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34686457|title=Bournemouth 0–1 Newcastle|publisher=BBC Sport|date=7 November 2015|access-date=11 August 2017}} This was the first time Newcastle had kept two clean sheets in a row in two years and their first away win in ten months.

On 29 March 2016, whilst on international duty, Elliot sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury,{{Cite web|title=Elliot Suffers Ireland Injury|url=https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/archive/elliot-suffers-ireland-injury/|access-date=2 July 2020|website=Newcastle United Football Club|language=en}} and was ruled out of action for six months, ending his hopes of a place on the Republic of Ireland squad for UEFA Euro 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/mar/30/newcastle-rob-elliot-euro-2016-republic-of-ireland|title=Newcastle's Rob Elliot in tears after knee injury rules out Euro 2016|work=The Guardian|first=David|last=Hynter|date=30 March 2016}}

On 7 September 2016 he extended his contract with the Magpies until 2020.{{Cite web|title=Elliot Signs New Contract|url=https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/archive/elliot-signs-new-contract/|access-date=2 July 2020|website=Newcastle United Football Club|language=en}} Elliot returned to the Newcastle squad in December, but by then, Darlow had usurped him as the first choice 'keeper. For the next two months, he was not involved in the first team, but did make two appearances for the reserves. From February 2017 onwards, Elliot would be on the bench until 24 April, when Darlow himself was benched due to squad rotation.{{cite web|url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rob-elliot-emotional-injury-return-12942968|title=Rob Elliot on his emotional injury return, Benitez, and why Newcastle is not a 'stepping stone'|work=Evening Chronicle|first=Chris|last=Waugh|date=26 April 2017|access-date=11 August 2017}} Elliot's first appearance of the season came in a 4–1 win over Preston North End.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39618289|title=Newcastle United 4–1 Preston North End|publisher=BBC Sport|date=24 April 2017|access-date=11 August 2017}} On 28 April, he was named captain against Cardiff City, keeping a clean sheet as Newcastle won 2–0.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39663244|title=Cardiff City 0–2 Newcastle United|publisher=BBC Sport|date=28 April 2017|access-date=11 August 2017}} On 7 May, he again kept a clean sheet, as Newcastle beat Barnsley 3–0, edging out Brighton & Hove Albion by a point to win the Championship.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39760419|title=Newcastle United 3–0 Barnsley|publisher=BBC Sport|date=7 May 2017|access-date=11 August 2017}}

On 11 August 2017, Elliot's shirt number was changed from 21 to 1 in the 2017–18 squad number announcement, replacing Tim Krul, who had been linked with a permanent move to Brighton & Hove Albion.{{cite web|url=https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/201718-squad-numbers-confirmed|title=2017/18 squad numbers confirmed|publisher=Newcastle United F.C.|first=Tom|last=Easterby|date=11 August 2017}}

Elliot never made an appearance in the 2018–19 season, having lost his place in the side to Martin Dúbravka.{{cite web|url=https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/derby-county-target-could-leave-2424377|title=Derby County 'target' could leave this month – Premier League boss has admitted|date=13 January 2019|publisher=Derby Telegraph|access-date=15 January 2019}}

=Watford=

On 28 January 2021, Elliot signed for Watford on a contract until the end of the 2020–21 season. In June 2021, Elliot signed a new two-year contract with Watford.

Elliot made his debut for Watford in a League Cup tie against Stoke City on 21 September 2021, his first competitive game since 2017.{{Cite web|title=Elliot: 'Proud To Make Debut Despite Cup Disappointment'|url=https://www.watfordfc.com/news/elliot-proud-to-make-debut-despite-cup-disappointment|access-date=23 September 2021|website=www.watfordfc.com|language=en}} On 28 June 2022, Elliot was released on a free transfer following Watford's relegation to the Championship at the end of the 2021–22 season having only made one competitive appearance for the club.{{cite web|url=https://www.watfordfc.com/news/official-king-elliot-departures-confirmed|title=Official: King & Elliot Departures|website=www.watfordfc.com|date=28 June 2022|accessdate=28 June 2022}}

=Gateshead=

On 11 August 2022, Elliot joined Gateshead as Technical Director. He was also registered as a first-team player.{{cite web|url=https://gateshead-fc.com/rob-elliot-appointed-as-technical-director/|title=Rob Elliot appointed as Technical Director|website=www.www.gatesheadfc.com|date=11 August 2022|accessdate=11 August 2022}}

International career

Elliot, who was born in England, is eligible for the Republic of Ireland through his father's family from Cork, and represented Ireland at under-19 level.{{cite web|url=https://www.nufcblog.com/2013/09/11/newcastle-player-has-international-ambitions/|title=Newcastle Player Has International Ambitions|publisher=NUFC Blog|author=Ed Harrison|date=11 September 2013}} On 5 October 2013, he received his first call-up to the Republic of Ireland senior squad as a replacement for the injured Darren Randolph for the games against Germany and Kazakhstan.{{cite news|title=Newcastle Goalkeeper Elliot gets first Ireland call|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/international/newcastle-goalkeeper-elliot-gets-first-ireland-call-1.1551816 |newspaper=The Irish Times|date=5 October 2013}} Elliot won his first international senior cap for the Republic of Ireland on 25 May 2014, in a 2–1 home loss to Turkey.{{cite web|url=http://www.fai.ie/international/senior-men/103994-narrow-defeat-for-ireland-against-turkey.html|title=Republic of Ireland 1–2 Turkey|publisher=FAI.com|date=25 May 2014}} He pulled out of the Republic of Ireland senior squad in November 2017, citing family reasons.

Managerial career

=Gateshead=

Following the departure of manager Mike Williamson to Milton Keynes Dons, Elliot was appointed caretaker manager of Gateshead in October 2023.{{cite web|url=https://gateshead-fc.com/rob-elliot-named-as-interim-manager/|title=Rob Elliot named as interim manager|website=gateshead-fc.com|date=17 October 2023|access-date=26 October 2023}} After leading Gateshead to a 6th place finish in the National League, Gateshead were barred from competing in the play-offs after failing to secure a "10-year security of tenure" of their stadium.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68869062 |title=Gateshead barred from National League play-offs over ground lease |website=BBC Sport |date=21 April 2024 |access-date=23 April 2024}} He also led Gateshead to the 2024 FA Trophy final, defeating Solihull Moors on penalties to lift the trophy for the first time in the club's history.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0kekre4ljvo |title=FA Trophy final a fantastic reward after hard season, Gateshead boss says |first=Jonny |last=Manning |website=BBC News |date=7 April 2024 |access-date=23 April 2024}}

On 20 June 2024, Elliot was appointed Gateshead manager on a permanent basis.{{cite web|url=https://gateshead-fc.com/rob-elliot-louis-storey-appointed-as-permanent-gateshead-management-team/|title=Rob Elliot & Louis Storey appointed as permanent Gateshead management team|website=gateshead-fc.com|date=20 June 2024|accessdate=20 June 2024}} Following an unbeaten start to the season, he was named National League Manager of the Month for August 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.thenationalleague.org.uk/bossing-it-meet-augusts-managers-of-the-month-82729|title=Bossing It! Meet August's Managers Of The Month|website=www.thenationallleague.org.uk|date=11 September 2024|accessdate=11 September 2024}}

=Crawley Town=

On 1 October 2024, Elliot was named as manager of Crawley Town on a two-and-a-half-year contract.{{cite web|url=https://www.crawleytownfc.com/news/2024/october/01/rob-elliot-named-as-crawley-s-next-head-coach/|title=Rob Elliot named as Crawley Town manager|date=1 October 2024|accessdate=1 October 2024}} However, after a disastrous spell which left the club 12 points adrift of safety, he was sacked by the club on 19 March 2025.https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c4g0y38lep9o

Career statistics

=Club=

{{updated|match played 21 September 2021}}{{Soccerbase|40710|Rob Elliot}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

rowspan="2"|Club

!rowspan="2"|Season

!colspan="3"|League

!colspan="2"|FA Cup

!colspan="2"|League Cup

!colspan="2"|Other{{efn|Appearances in the Football League Trophy and UEFA Europa League.}}

!colspan="2"|Total

DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
rowspan="9"|Charlton Athletic

|2004–05

|Premier League

|0

000000000
2005–06

|Premier League

|0

000000000
2006–07

|Premier League

|0

000000000
2007–08

|Championship

|1

000000010
2008–09

|Championship

|23

0201000260
2009–10

|League One

|33

0001010350
2010–11

|League One

|35

0500030430
2011–12

|League One

|4

000000040
colspan="2"|Total

!96

07020401090
Bishop's Stortford (loan)

|2004–05

|Conference South{{cite web |title=Rob Elliot - biography |url=http://www.footballtop.com/players/rob-elliot|work=Footballtop.com |publisher=Footballtop.com |access-date=4 February 2019}}

|6

000000060
Notts County (loan)

|2004–05

|League Two

|4

000000040
rowspan="3"|Accrington Stanley (loan)

|2005–06

|Conference National

|23

0000000230
2006–07

|League Two

|7

0001030110
colspan="2"|Total

!30

0001030340
rowspan="10" |Newcastle United

|2011–12

|Premier League

|0

000100010
2012–13

|Premier League

|10

0101050170
2013–14

|Premier League

|2

010100040
2014–15

|Premier League

|3

000200050
2015–16

|Premier League

|21

0100000210
2016–17

|Championship

|3

000000030
2017–18

|Premier League

|16

0000000160
2018–19

|Premier League

|0

000000000
2019–20

|Premier League

|0

000000000
colspan="2"|Total

!55

0305050680
rowspan="2" |Watford

|2020–21

|Championship

|0

00000colspan="2"|—00
2021–22

|Premier League

|0

00010colspan="2"|—10
Gateshead

|2022–23

|National League

|0

000000000
colspan="3"|Career total

!191

0100901202220

{{notelist}}

=International=

{{updated|match played 29 March 2016}}{{NFT player|55430|name=Elliot, Rob|accessdate=27 August 2017}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year

National teamYearAppsGoals
rowspan="2"|Republic of Ireland

|2014

30
201610
colspan="2"|Total40

Managerial statistics

{{updated|15 March 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|Gateshead

|align=left|17 October 2023

|align=left|1 October 2024

{{WDL|49|26|9|14|decimals=2}}

|{{cite web |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/teams/england/gateshead-fc/4829/ |title=Gateshead FC: Matches |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=8 March 2024}}

align=left|Crawley Town

|align=left|1 October 2024

|align=left|19 March 2025

{{WDL|33|6|8|19|decimals=2}}

|{{cite web |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/teams/england/crawley-town-football-club/2860/ |title=Crawley Town FC: Matches |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=8 March 2024}}

colspan=3|Total

{{WDLtot|82|32|17|33|decimals=2}}

!—

Honours

File:Paul Trophy.jpg goalkeeper Karl Darlow (right) and Paul Woolston (middle) celebrating with the EFL Championship trophy]]

Accrington Stanley

Individual

  • Newcastle United Player of the Year: 2015–16{{cite web|url=https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/joelinton-scoops-newcastle-united-player-of-the-year-award/ |title=Joelinton scoops Newcastle United Player of the Year award |author=Rory Mitchinson |website=Newcastle United F.C. |date=16 May 2022 |access-date=19 October 2023}}

=As a manager=

Gateshead

  • FA Trophy: 2023–24{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c03dy70k7wet |title=FA Trophy final: Gateshead 2–2 Solihull Moors (5–4 on pens) - Lineups |website=BBC Sport |date=11 May 2024 |access-date=12 May 2024}}

Individual

See also

References

{{reflist}}