Steven Pressley

{{short description|Scottish footballer and manager}}

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

{{Use British English|date=March 2015}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Steven Pressley

| image = Steven Pressley.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Pressley playing for Falkirk in 2009

| fullname = Steven John Pressley{{Hugman|16052|access-date=4 January 2020}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1973|10|11|df=y}}

| birth_place = Elgin, Scotland

| height = {{convert|1.83|m|order=flip}}{{Cite web |title=Steven Pressley: Overview |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/975/Steven-Pressley/overview |publisher=Premier League |accessdate=4 January 2020}}

| position = Centre back

| currentclub =

| youthyears1 = 1987–1990

| youthclubs1 = Inverkeithing United Boys Club

| years1 = 1990–1994

| clubs1 = Rangers

| caps1 = 34

| goals1 = 1

| years2 = 1994–1995

| clubs2 = Coventry City

| caps2 = 19

| goals2 = 1

| years3 = 1995–1998

| clubs3 = Dundee United

| caps3 = 100

| goals3 = 6

| years4 = 1998–2006

| clubs4 = Heart of Midlothian

| caps4 = 271

| goals4 = 19

| years5 = 2006–2008

| clubs5 = Celtic

| caps5 = 19

| goals5 = 1

| years6 = 2008

| clubs6 = Randers

| caps6 = 9

| goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2009

| clubs7 = Falkirk

| caps7 = 16

| goals7 = 0

| totalcaps = 468

| totalgoals = 28

| nationalyears1 = 1991–1994

| nationalteam1 = Scotland U21

| nationalcaps1 = 26

| nationalgoals1 = 1

| nationalyears2 = 2000–2006

| nationalteam2 = Scotland

| nationalcaps2 = 32

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| manageryears1 = 2005

| managerclubs1 = Heart of Midlothian (caretaker)

| manageryears2 = 2010–2013

| managerclubs2 = Falkirk

| manageryears3 = 2013–2015

| managerclubs3 = Coventry City

| manageryears4 = 2015–2016

| managerclubs4 = Fleetwood Town

| manageryears5 = 2018

| managerclubs5 = Pafos

| manageryears6 = 2019

| managerclubs6 = Carlisle United

}}

Steven John Pressley (born 11 October 1973) is a Scottish professional football manager and former player who played as a centre back. He was most recently the manager of Carlisle United.

Pressley had a long playing career, playing for Celtic and Rangers and making over 100 league appearances for both Dundee United and over 250 for Hearts. Pressley captained the Hearts side that won the 2006 Scottish Cup Final, and made 32 appearances for Scotland. As a player, Pressley was described as hard-working and exhibiting leadership.{{Cite web |title=Celtic sign ex-Hearts star Steven Pressley |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/champions-league/2006/1229/212800-celtic/ |access-date=31 July 2013 |publisher=RTÉ Sport}}

After retiring as a player, Pressley was assistant manager of Falkirk, before being appointed manager in February 2010. Pressley also served as an assistant manager to George Burley while Burley was manager of Scotland. He moved to League One side Coventry City in March 2013,{{Cite web |title=Steven Pressley: Coventry City appoint Falkirk boss as manager |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21715033 |access-date=8 March 2013 |publisher=BBC Sport}} but was dismissed in February 2015. He has since managed Fleetwood Town, Cypriot club Pafos and Carlisle United.

Club career

= Rangers =

Pressley was born in Elgin, Moray, and was an Aberdeen fan in childhood.{{Cite interview |last=Pressley |first=Steven |subject-link=Steven Pressley |interviewer=Tam Cowan, Stuart Cosgrove |title=17/10/2020, Off the Ball – BBC Radio Scotland |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p08vkxnn |access-date=17 October 2020 |work=Off the Ball |publisher=BBC Radio Scotland |date=17 October 2020 |quote=...my father was born in The Broch...so with that side of the family, Aberdeen was my team. |at=00:32 minutes in}} He started his career at Rangers. During his time at Ibrox, he won a Scottish Cup winner's medal in 1993, appearing as a substitute as Rangers defeated Aberdeen in the cup final.{{Cite news |last=McKinney |first=David |date=30 May 1993 |title=Football / Scottish Cup Final: Rangers continue to reign supreme |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-scottish-up-final-rangers-continue-to-reign-supreme-2316203.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-scottish-up-final-rangers-continue-to-reign-supreme-2316203.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=13 March 2017}}

= Coventry City =

Pressley was transferred to English side Coventry City in October 1994 for £600,000.{{soccerbase|id=6460|name=Steven Pressley}} His one goal for Coventry came against Manchester United.

= Dundee United =

Pressley returned to Scotland in July 1995 with Dundee United, who paid a transfer fee of £750,000. He helped Dundee United to get promotion to the Premier Division in his first season. This was followed by a third-place finish in the 1996–97 Scottish Premier Division.

= Hearts =

File:Hearts vs. Gretna Scottish Cup final.jpg goalkeeper Alan Main in the 2006 Scottish Cup Final penalty shootout.]]

His influential style of play and his organisational skills were noticed by Hearts manager Jim Jefferies, and he was signed by the Edinburgh club on a Bosman free transfer in 1998. Pressley was appointed club captain by Craig Levein in 2001–02. Only Bobby Parker has held the Hearts captaincy for a longer period.

Pressley was captain when the team beat VfB Stuttgart, Bordeaux and Basel in European matches. He helped Hearts finish second in the league in 2005/06, third on three occasions, as well as reaching the Scottish Cup and League Cup semi-finals. Pressley led Hearts to success in the 2006 Scottish Cup Final, albeit on a penalty shoot-out after the club were held to a 1–1 draw with Gretna after extra time. Pressley scored the first penalty for Hearts, who eventually won 4–2. His enrolment into the Hearts Hall of Fame highlights the status that he enjoyed at Tynecastle.{{Cite news |date=30 September 2009 |title=Hearts fans to have say over third Hall of Fame induction |publisher=The Scotsman |url=http://sport.scotsman.com/heartofmidlothianfc/Hearts-fans-to-have-say.5689089.jp |access-date=26 March 2010}}

He acted as a spokesman for the playing squad in response to the various controversies affecting the club under the ownership of Vladimir Romanov. On 27 October 2006, Pressley led a press conference, flanked by fellow internationals Craig Gordon and Paul Hartley, announcing that there was "significant unrest in the Hearts dressing room" following majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov's most recent comments.{{Cite news |date=27 October 2006 |title=Romanov issues player ultimatum |publisher=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/6091336.stm}} Romanov stated that he would sell players if Hearts failed to beat Dunfermline Athletic, a match which ended 1–1.{{Cite news |date=28 October 2006 |title=Hearts 1–1 Dunfermline Athletic |publisher=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/6089772.stm}} However, this game was played out in front of a sell-out crowd who showed their vocal backing for Pressley, Gordon and Hartley. Pressley was then absent from the Hearts squad to face Falkirk on 13 November 2006 and he had been reportedly stripped of the captaincy.{{Cite news |date=13 November 2006 |title=Pressley loses captain's armband |publisher=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/6145162.stm}} A month later, on 9 December 2006, it was confirmed that Pressley and Hearts had parted company and was reported to be attracting the interest of several clubs.{{Cite news |date=9 December 2006 |title=Pressley and Hearts part company |publisher=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/6165375.stm}}

= Celtic =

File:Steven Pressley and Ivan Ergić.jpg team for a friendly match against FC Basel in July 2007.]]

Despite reported interest from Championship Derby County and Premier League Charlton, it was revealed in December 2006 that Pressley had been signed as a free agent by Celtic until May 2008.{{Cite news |date=29 December 2006 |title=Celtic win race to sign Pressley |publisher=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/celtic/6216305.stm}} Having previously played for Rangers, he joined players such as Maurice Johnston, Alfie Conn and Kenny Miller in crossing the Old Firm divide.

He made his Celtic debut on 2 January 2007 against Kilmarnock and then returned to Tynecastle as stand-in Celtic captain on 14 January. He scored his first competitive goal for Celtic against Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup,{{Cite news |last=Lindsay |first=Clive |date=25 February 2007 |title=Inverness CT 1–2 Celtic |publisher=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_cups/6389245.stm |access-date=17 January 2010}} later scoring his only league goal against Hearts on 29 April 2007.{{Cite news |last=Lindsay |first=Clive |date=29 April 2007 |title=Celtic 1–3 Hearts |publisher=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/6598847.stm |access-date=17 January 2010}} He featured in the Celtic team that won the Scottish Cup, making him the first player to do so with three clubs.{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Julian |date=26 May 2007 |title=Celtic 1–0 Dunfermline |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_cups/6684941.stm |publisher=BBC Sport}} He made fewer appearances during the 2007–08 season, and he left the club after his contract expired in the summer.

=== Randers ===

After his release from Celtic, Pressley continued to train with Celtic Reserves to keep his fitness up and joined Doncaster Rovers, then Blackpool on trial but failed to win a contract at both clubs. Then, on 1 September 2008 he signed for Randers of the Danish Superliga on a four-month contract, ending in December.{{Cite web |title=Pressley joins Randers |url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/football/Pressley-joins-Danish-club-Randers.4447318.jp |access-date=26 February 2010 |publisher=Thescotsman.scotsman.com}} Although he had the eagerness to play in a foreign country throughout his career, this was the first offer he had received from abroad. He said, "The prospect of playing abroad excited me and it's an ideal situation for both parties. I had a couple of opportunities to go to England, but I wanted to play abroad and experience a new challenge".{{Cite web |title=Pressley makes Danish move |url=http://www.sportinglife.com/football/transfer_centre/nw_story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/08/09/01/SOCCER_Pressley.html |access-date=26 February 2010 |publisher=Sportinglife.com}}

Pressley made his debut in a 1–1 draw against AC Horsens on 14 September and played the full 90 minutes of the match.

= Falkirk =

Pressley's contract with Randers expired in December 2008, the beginning of the Danish Superliga's Winter break, and he was linked with a move to a number of clubs in Switzerland as well as the manager's job at Inverness in his homeland, but joined Falkirk on 13 January 2009 on a short-term contract until the end of the 2008/09 season.{{Cite news |date=13 January 2009 |title=Bairns pick up Pressley |publisher=Skysports.com |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12875_4788588,00.html |access-date=26 February 2010}} He made his debut for the club in a 3–1 defeat to Rangers at Ibrox Stadium on 18 January, and was an unused substitute in a 1–0 defeat to the same opposition in the 2009 Scottish Cup Final on 30 May.{{Cite news |date=30 May 2009 |title=Rangers 1–0 Falkirk |publisher=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_cups/8072822.stm |access-date=8 October 2018}}

International career

Pressley was capped 32 times and captained them on 2 occasions by Scotland. He is the most capped Scottish player at Hearts surpassing the record of 29 caps held by Bobby Walker. He made his debut in 2000 against World and European champions France.{{Cite news |date=29 March 2000 |title=France spoil Scottish party |publisher=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/695217.stm}} His appearance against Lithuania on 6 September 2006 ensured that he surpassed Bobby Walker's 91-year-old record as Hearts' most capped Scotland player.[http://sport.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=24&id=1295532006 Pressley set to equal Scots cap record at Hearts] Scotsman.com Sport, 2 September 2006. Accessed 16 October 2006 He was sent off in what proved to be his last appearance for Scotland, a UEFA Euro 2008 qualifier against Ukraine on 11 October 2006.{{Cite news |last=Moffat |first=Colin |date=11 October 2006 |title=Ukraine 2–0 Scotland |publisher=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6037129.stm}} Pressley served a two-match ban following the red card, which gave Stephen McManus the chance to step up to the international fold. McManus performed very well in Pressley's absence and ended up keeping him out of the starting eleven even after Pressley's suspension ended. Pressley retired from international football in February 2008 when he was named as Scotland's assistant coach, but continued to play club football until his official retirement in June 2009.

Management career

= Hearts (caretaker) =

Pressley had his first experience as a manager while still a player when he took charge of Heart of Midlothian as joint (caretaker) manager for two games at the end of the 2004–05 SPL season, losing both of the games.{{Cite web |title=Hearts Management Stats |url=http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/man/stevenpressleyandjohnmcglynn.html |access-date=15 April 2011}}

= Scotland =

Along with Terry Butcher, Pressley was named as an assistant to the Scotland manager George Burley in February 2008.{{Cite news |date=4 February 2008 |title=Butcher and Pressley join Scots |publisher=BBC Sport website |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7226604.stm}} Pressley was Hearts' captain, and club captain, under Burley during his short reign at Tynecastle. Pressley was in the process of sitting his UEFA pro licence. He left his post as Scotland assistant coach in September 2009, following the country's unsuccessful World Cup qualifying campaign.{{Cite web |date=26 September 2009 |title=Pressley exits post with Scotland |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8257447.stm |publisher=BBC Sport}}

= Falkirk =

During the summer of 2009, Pressley was appointed as an assistant manager at Falkirk, following his retirement as a player. Following the resignation of manager Eddie May on 11 February 2010, Pressley was appointed Falkirk manager on a contract until the end of the 2009–10 season.{{Cite news |date=11 February 2010 |title=Steven Pressley succeeds Eddie May as Falkirk manager |publisher=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/f/falkirk/8510106.stm |access-date=11 February 2010}} Falkirk were relegated to the First Division at the end of the 2009–10 season.{{Cite news |date=30 April 2011 |title=Falkirk extend Steven Pressley's contract as manager |publisher=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13248119.stm |access-date=30 April 2011}} Despite failing to gain promotion back to the SPL at the first attempt, Falkirk extended his contract for another year.

= Coventry City =

Pressley was announced as the new manager of League One side Coventry City on 8 March 2013. He took over the position from Mark Robins, who resigned to join Huddersfield Town. Steven Pressley won his first match in charge the following day, 2–1 away at Scunthorpe. Later in March 2013, the club went into administration and were deducted 10 points, dropping Coventry City from 10th to 14th in the 2012–13 Football League One.{{Cite news |date=28 March 2013 |title=Coventry City deducted 10 points by the Football League |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21970140 |access-date=12 June 2014}} Coventry City finished the season in 15th place. In the 2013–14 Football League One season, Coventry City started with a 10-point deduction and had to play all of their home games in Northampton, 34 miles away.{{Cite web |date=4 July 2013 |title=Coventry City groundshare with Northampton 'a disaster' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-23178033 |access-date=23 February 2015 |publisher=BBC News}} Despite these obstacles, the club avoided relegation and finished in 18th place, and were realistic play-off contenders before the mid-season departure of striker Leon Clarke.

Following Coventry City's positive start to the 2014–15 season, speculation arose as to Pressley's future at the club, with rumours that Championship club Huddersfield Town were interested in appointing him.{{citation needed|date=February 2015}} Coventry returned to the Ricoh Arena in early September, winning 1–0 before a crowd of 27,500 fans. Pressley signed a four-year contract with Coventry City in September 2014. The team struggled for form following Pressley's contract renewal with a low-point coming when Coventry City were knocked out of the 2014–15 FA Cup by non-league club Worcester City. After a poor run of results in early 2015, Pressley was sacked by Coventry City on 23 February after his 100th league game in charge, with the club having dropped into the relegation zone.{{Cite web |date=23 February 2015 |title=Coventry City: Steven Pressley sacked by struggling Sky Blues |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31587140 |access-date=23 February 2015 |publisher=BBC Sport}}

= Fleetwood Town =

Following his departure from Coventry City, Pressley worked as a scout for Premier League club Southampton.{{Cite news |last=McCartney |first=Aidan |date=3 August 2015 |title=Steven Pressley says he's left a legacy behind at Coventry City Academy |work=Coventry Telegraph |url=http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/steven-pressley-says-hes-left-9782227 |access-date=4 August 2015 |quote=I'm doing a little scouting now for Southampton but purely until I have the opportunity to come back into the game at the right club.}} Pressley was appointed manager of Fleetwood Town on 6 October 2015, replacing Graham Alexander.{{Cite web |date=6 October 2015 |title=Fleetwood Town: Steven Pressley appointed manager |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34455459 |access-date=6 October 2015 |publisher=BBC Sport}}

Pressley resigned as manager of Fleetwood Town on 26 July 2016.{{Cite web |date=26 July 2016 |title=Steve Pressley: Fleetwood Town manager resigns from League One club |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36894178 |access-date=26 July 2016 |publisher=BBC Sport}}

=Pafos=

Pressley was appointed manager of Cypriot First Division club Pafos in February 2018.{{Cite news |last=Turner |first=Andy |date=5 February 2018 |title=Former Coventry City boss Steven Pressley back in the game |work=Coventry Telegraph |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/coventry-city-steven-pressley-14250764 |access-date=6 February 2018}}

= Carlisle United =

Pressley was appointed manager of English League Two club Carlisle United on 16 January 2019.{{Cite news |date=16 January 2019 |title=Steven Pressley: Carlisle United name ex-Scotland defender as new manager |language=en-GB |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46889425 |access-date=16 January 2019}} Carlisle had been in sixth place in League Two when Pressley took over, but they finished outside the promotion playoffs in 11th place.{{Cite web |date=13 November 2019 |title=Steven Pressley: Carlisle United sack manager after 10 months in charge |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50402555 |access-date=14 November 2019 |publisher=BBC Sport}} Pressley then made a large number of changes to the squad during the 2019 summer transfer window. He was dismissed by the board on 13 November 2019, with the team in 19th place.{{Cite web |title=CLUB STATEMENT: Steven Pressley leaves United |url=https://www.carlisleunited.co.uk/news/2019/november/club-steven-pressley-leaves-united/ |access-date=13 November 2019 |website=www.carlisleunited.co.uk |language=en-gb}}

Backroom roles

On 10 May 2021, it was announced that Pressley would take up the role of Head of Individual Development at Brentford on 1 July 2021.{{Cite web |title=Steven Pressley appointed as Head of Individual Development |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2021/may/steven-pressley-appointed-as-head-of-individual-development/ |access-date=10 May 2021 |website=www.brentfordfc.com |language=en-gb}}

Personal life

Pressley's son Aaron also became a professional footballer.{{Cite web |title=The Official Heart Of Midlothian Football Club Fixtures {{!}} Match Centre |url=https://www.heartsfc.co.uk/matchzone/253/matchreport/ |access-date=1 December 2020 |website=www.heartsfc.co.uk}}

Career statistics

=International appearances=

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

! colspan=3 | Scotland national team[http://www.national-football-teams.com/player/5766/Steven_Pressley.html National Football Teams profile]

YearAppsGoals
200020
200100
200230
2003100
200450
200580
200640
Total || 32 || 0

=Managerial record=

{{updated|match played 12 November 2019}}

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=5|Record

{{Tooltip|G|Games managed}}

!{{Tooltip|W|Games won}}

!{{Tooltip|D|Games drawn}}

!{{Tooltip|L|Games lost}}

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

align="left"|Heart of Midlothian (Joint Caretaker)

| {{flagicon|Scotland}}

| align="left"|11 May 2005

| align="left"|29 June 2005

{{WDL|2|0|0|2}}

align="left"|Falkirk

| {{flagicon|Scotland}}

| align="left"|11 February 2010

| align="left"|8 March 2013

{{WDL|138|59|35|44}}

align="left"|Coventry City

| {{flagicon|England}}

| align="left"|8 March 2013

| align="left"|23 February 2015

{{WDL|100|32|30|38}}

align="left"|Fleetwood Town

| {{flagicon|England}}

| align="left"|6 October 2015

| align="left"|26 July 2016

{{WDL|40|11|15|14}}

align="left"|Pafos

| {{flagicon|Cyprus}}

| align="left"|31 January 2018

| align="left"|9 October 2018

{{WDL|22|8|5|9}}

align="left"|Carlisle United

| {{flagicon|England}}

| align="left"|16 January 2019

| align="left"|13 November 2019

{{WDL|41|14|8|19}}

colspan=4 | Career Total

{{WDLtot|343|124|93|126}}

Honours

= Player =

Rangers

Hearts

Celtic

Individual

  • Scottish Premier League Player of the Month: February 2004

= Manager =

Falkirk

Individual

  • Scottish First Division Manager of the Month (4): September 2011,{{Cite web |date=6 October 2011 |title=IRN-BRU Phenomenal Awards – September 2011 |url=http://spfl.co.uk/news/article/irn-bru-phenomenal-awards---september-2011/ |access-date=6 October 2015 |website=www.spfl.co.uk |publisher=Scottish Professional Football League}} October 2011 (shared),{{Cite web |date=18 November 2011 |title=IRN-BRU SFL Phenomenal Awards – October 2011 |url=http://spfl.co.uk/news/article/irn-bru-phenomenal-awards---october-october2011/ |access-date=6 October 2015 |website=www.spfl.co.uk |publisher=Scottish Professional Football League}} January 2012,{{Cite web |date=17 February 2012 |title=IRN-BRU SFL Phenomenal Awards – January 2012 |url=http://spfl.co.uk/news/article/irn-bru-sfl-phenomenal-awards---january-2012/ |access-date=6 October 2015 |website=www.spfl.co.uk |publisher=Scottish Professional Football League}} February 2012{{Cite web |date=16 March 2012 |title=IRN-BRU SFL Phenomenal Awards – February 2012 |url=http://spfl.co.uk/news/article/irn-bru-sfl-phenomenal-awards---february-2012/ |access-date=6 October 2015 |website=www.spfl.co.uk |publisher=Scottish Professional Football League}}
  • League One Manager of the Month: October 2013{{cite news|url=https://leaguemanagers.com/managers/manager-of-the-month/league-one/?season=2013 |title=LMA Manager of the Month |publisher=LMA |access-date=3 October 2022}}

See also

References

{{reflist}}