 | ||||
| Full name | Coventry City Football Club | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Sky Blues | |||
| Founded | 13 August 1883; 141 years ago (1883-08-13) (as Singers F.C.)[1] | |||
| Ground | Coventry Building Society Arena | |||
| Capacity | 32,609 | |||
| Owner | Doug King | |||
| Chairman | Doug King | |||
| Manager | Frank Lampard | |||
| League | EFL Championship | |||
| 2023–24 | EFL Championship, 9th of 24 | |||
| Website | ccfc | |||
 Current season | ||||
Coventry City Football Club is a professionalfootball club based inCoventry, West Midlands, England. The club plays in theEFL Championship, the second tier ofEnglish football. The club is nicknamed The Sky Blues after the sky blue colours that were part of the club's early years (and returning as club colours in 1962).[2]
Coventry City formed asSingers F.C. in 1883 following a general meeting of the Singer Gentleman's club. They adopted their current name in 1898 and joined theSouthern League in 1908, before being selected into theFootball League in 1919. Relegated in 1925, they returned to theSecond Division as champions of theThird Division South andThird Division South Cup winners in 1935–36. Relegated in 1952, they won promotion in the inauguralFourth Division season in 1958–59. Coventry reached theFirst Division after winning theThird Division title in 1963–64 and the Second Division title in 1966– 67 under the management ofJimmy Hill. In the 1970–71 season, the team competed in the EuropeanInter-Cities Fairs Cup, reaching the second round. Despite beatingBayern Munich 2–1 in the home leg, they had lost 6–1 in the first leg in Germany, and thus were eliminated.
Coventry's only period in the top division to date lasted 34 consecutive years between 1967 and 2001, and the club were inaugural members of thePremier League in 1992. They won theFA Cup in 1987, the club's only major trophy, when they beatTottenham Hotspur 3–2.[3] They experienced further relegations in 2012 and 2017, though did manage to win theEFL Trophy in2017.
Coventry returned to Wembley in2018, beatingExeter City in theLeague Two play-off final. ManagerMark Robins built on this success guiding the Sky Blues to eighth in League One the next season and then led the club to promotion back to the EFL Championship asLeague One champions in 2020. In the2022–23 season, Coventry secured a play-off place in theChampionship, before losing the play-off final toLuton Town on penalties.
For 106 years, from 1899 to 2005, Coventry City played atHighfield Road. The 32,609-capacityCoventry Arena was opened in August 2005 to replace Highfield Road, but the club has struggled with the new stadium lease since moving.
Coventry City was founded in 1883 as Singers F.C., following a meeting betweenWilliam Stanley and seven colleagues from theSinger Cycle Company at the Lord Aylesford Inn inHillfields. It was one of several 19th century clubs linked to Coventry's bicycle factories, and the company founderGeorge Singer was its first president.[4][5][6] Singers joined theBirmingham County Football Association in 1884 and played around forty games in their first four years at Dowells Field in theStoke area.[7][8] In early seasons they lacked a regular playing staff and sometimes lacked equipment such as goal nets.[5][9] In 1887, the club moved to the larger Stoke Road Ground, which had rudimentary stands, and they charged an entrance fee for the first time.[7] The following five seasons were very successful, culminating in back-to-back Birmingham Junior Cup titles in 1891 and 1892.[5]
Singers turned professional in 1892 and joined theBirmingham & District League in 1894, competing against strongreserve sides from established regional teams such asAston Villa.[10] Coventry residents not connected to the cycle company began supporting the club, and it was renamed Coventry City in 1898.[11][12]Highfield Road opened in 1899, but its construction caused a financial crisis and subsequent salary disputes with the players.[13] The club endured several poor seasons on the field, having to re-apply for membership of the league three times in the space of five years.[14] In 1901, Coventry suffered their worst ever defeat with an 11–2 loss against Worcester-based Berwick Rangers in the qualifying round of theFA Cup.[15] The club became alimited company in July 1907 and the team was more successful the following season, reaching the first round proper of the FA Cup for the first time before being eliminated byCrystal Palace.[16][17]
In 1908, Coventry joined theSouthern League, at the time the third-strongest English division.[18] In their second season, Coventry reached the FA Cup quarter-final, beating top-flight teamsPreston andNottingham Forest before losing to Everton.[19] Another two successful seasons followed but in 1914 the club was relegated, amid renewed financial problems.[5] Its economic health worsened as attendances dropped sharply, and the club was in danger of dissolution. It was saved in part by the abandonment of competitive football in mid-1915 due toWorld War I.[20] The club's debts were then paid off by benefactor David Cooke in 1917.[21] During the war, they played some friendly matches against local clubs and joined a temporary wartime division for1918–19.[22]
In 1919, Coventry submitted a successful application to join theFootball League and were placed into theSecond Division for the1919–20 season, the first played after the war.[23] In preparation for league football, the club invested in new players and increased Highfield Road's capacity to 40,000.[24] They avoided finishing last in 1919–20 when they won their final game againstBury, but this result was later found to berigged, the club receiving a heavy fine in 1923.[25] In1924–25, after their sixth successive relegation battle, Coventry finished bottom of the table and dropped into theThird Division North.[26] A year later they were asked by the League to switch to theThird Division South, to keep the sizes of the divisions even.[23] Their poor form continued, and in1927–28 they narrowly avoided having to seekre-election.[27] Supporters rioted after the final game that season, some calling for the club to be wound up and aphoenix club established in its place.[28] In 1928, the club's worst ever attendance was recorded with a gate of 2,059 for a match againstCrystal Palace.[29]
In addition to poor form on the field, the club ran into financial difficulties by the end of the 1920s, having to rely on fundraisers by supporters and a cash injection by Cooke, who had become club president. A committee of enquiry in 1928 concluded that the club was being mismanaged, leading to resignation of chairman W. Carpenter and his replacement byWalter Brandish.[30] The club's form began to improve under the new board,[31] and the appointment ofHarry Storer as manager in 1931 brought in an era of success at the club.[32][33] Coventry scored a total of 108 goals in the1931–32 season, gaining the nickname "The Old Five" as a result of scoring five or more in many games.[34] New signingClarrie Bourton's individual tally of 49 goals was the Football League record for that season, and his overall total of 50 remains the club record.[35] Two further 100-goal seasons followed, the first time in the league that a team had achieved three in a row, and Coventry recorded their largest ever league victory in April 1934, 9–0 againstBristol City.[36] Despite scoring heavily, Coventry missed out on promotion every season until1935–36, when they finished as Third Division North champions.[37]
The club continued their good form in the second tier, finishing eighth, fourth and fourth again between 1936 and 1939.[38] They also constructed a new main stand and purchased the freehold of Highfield Road, utilising a loan of £20,000 from local motor-industry entrepreneurJohn Siddeley.[39] In1937–38 they met with Midlands rivals Aston Villa the first time in league football, securing with a win and a draw in the two meetings as well as a higher-placed finish than the Birmingham club.[40] In September 1939, the league season was aborted after three games due to the start ofWorld War II.[41] Many supporters at the time blamed the war for robbing the team of a probable imminent promotion to the First Division, although several top players including Bourton had been sold by 1939, and attendances had begun to fall.[42] Coventry continued playing some friendly games until November 1940, when theCoventry Blitz damaged the stadium and brought all football in the city to a halt. Friendly matches resumed again in 1942, as parts of Highfield Road had been rebuilt, and the team joined the Midland Regional League.[41]
Storer left Coventry forBirmingham City after the war, and many of the 1939 squad had retired by 1945. New managerDick Bayliss assembled a squad with a mixture of pre-war players and newcomers,[41] but his tenure was cut short when he died after being stranded in a snow storm in 1947.[43] ReplacementBilly Frith was dismissed following a poor start to 1948–49 and the club persuaded Storer to return from Birmingham.[44] In1950–51, Coventry led the Second Division table at Christmas, but a poor run ended their promotion hopes and the following season they were relegated.[45][46] They spent the next six seasons in the Third Division South, with seven different managers, but were never in contention for promotion.[47] The average attendance at Highfield Road dropped sharply during this period, and several top players had to be sold amid financial difficulties.[48][49] In 1958, the north and south divisions were replaced bya single nationwide third anda new fourth. Coventry were placed in the latter as a result of a bottom-half finish in1957–58.[50] Three games into1958–59, the club occupied its lowest ever overall league position, 91st, but recovered to secure promotion back into the third tier.[51][52]
The appointment ofDerrick Robins as chairman in 1958 andJimmy Hill as manager in 1961, marked the start of the "Sky Blue revolution" at the club.[53][54] Hill changed the club's kit colour and nickname, introduced theSky Blue Song, and added pre-match entertainment.[55] Backed by an injection of cash from Robins, Hill led Coventry to the Third and Second Division championships in 1964 and 1967 respectively, taking them to the top division for the first time.[56] Coventry's record attendance was set in 1967, against fellow title-chasersWolverhampton Wanderers; the official gate was 51,455 although the club estimated that the figure was higher.[57][58] In1969–70, under Hill's successorNoel Cantwell, the club finished sixth in the First Division, which as of 2022[update] remains their highest ever position.[59] The top-six finish earned them a place in the1970–71 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, which ended in the second round with a 7–3aggregate defeat againstBayern Munich.[60] In the mid-1970s, the club faced renewed financial difficulty and sold several top players.[61] A relegation battle followed in1976–77, which culminated ina controversial 2–2 draw withBristol City that saw both sides survive at the expense of Sunderland, playing out the final minutes without any attempt to score further goals.[62] A season of success followed in 1977–78, as Coventry finished seventh, narrowly missing a European place.[63] In 1980–81, Coventry reached their first major semi-final, losing toWest Ham United inthe League Cup.[64]
Hill returned to the club as managing director in 1975, and was elevated to chairman in 1980.[65][66] He initiated several transformations at the club, including the conversion of Highfield Road to England's first all-seat stadium in 1981,[67][68] and the opening of a sports centre and training ground inRyton-on-Dunsmore. Hill attempted to rename the club "Coventry Talbot", aftertheir sponsors, but this was rejected by theFootball Association.[66] To pay for the developments, the club sold top players including popular strikerTommy Hutchison, and results suffered.[69] Hill was forced out of the club in 1983 andterraces reintroduced two years later.[70] Despite surviving relegation battles for four successive seasons, with three changes of manager, by 1986 the club had assembled a strong squad. Under duoGeorge Curtis andJohn Sillett, they spent most of the following season in the top eight, and advanced to the1987 FA Cup final.[70] In a match later described by Steven Pye ofThe Guardian' as a "classic final", Coventry beatTottenham Hotspur 3–2 at Wembley which, as of 2024[update], is the club's only major trophy to date.[71]
Coventry's FA Cup defence ended with afourth-round defeat toWatford, followed a season later by one of the biggest upsets in FA Cup history when theylost 2–1 to non-leagueSutton United in the third round.[72][73] Theyfinished seventh in the league that season, however, their highest finish since 1978.[72][74][75][72] A last-day escapein 1991–92 earned Coventry a place in the newly-formedPremier League.[76][77]Bryan Richardson took over as club chairman in summer 1993, making large sums of money available for players over subsequent years.[78][79] WithRon Atkinson and thenGordon Strachan as manager, Coventry signed several high-profile players such asDion Dublin,Moustapha Hadji,Peter Ndlovu andRobbie Keane, but did not finish higher than 11th place for the remainder of their Premier League tenure.[80][81]
In 1997, Richardson revealed the initial proposals fora new stadium in the north of Coventry, at the time envisaged as having 40,000 seats and included inEngland's unsuccessful bid for the 2006 World Cup.[82][83] The project was backed byCoventry City Council and gained planning permission in 1998, but involved high costs, inducing the board to sell Highfield Road to a property developer and lease it back, before construction had started.[84] On the field, Coventry were forced by the rising debts to sell their top players without replacement, and were finally relegatedin 2000–01, ending 34 years of continuous tenure in the top flight.[85]
In theirfirst season back inthe second tier, Coventry occupied 4th place with seven games remaining, but ultimately finished 11th, outside theplay-off places.[86] The new stadium opened in 2005, having been reduced in size and delayed several times;[87][88] the club had previously sold its 50% share to theAlan Higgs charity to repay debts.[89] The club's financial situation remained poor, and by 2007 they faced the possibility of being forced out of business; this was averted when the club was bought by hedge fund owner Sisu Capital.[90][91] Led by chairmanRay Ranson, Coventry signed several promising youngsters in the early Sisu years, but they failed to achieve on-field success.[92][93] Sisu began reducing investment from 2009 as debts mounted, leading eventually to Ranson's resignation in 2011.[94][95] They were relegated toLeague Onein 2012, and were forced to groundshare withNorthampton Town for more than a year from 2013, following a rent dispute with the Ricoh Arena owners.[96][97][98] Coventry City Football Club Ltd was dissolved, but the team were allowed to continue playing in League One under Sisu Company Otium.[99]
In2016–17, Coventry were relegated toLeague Two,[100] but alsowon the EFL Trophy in the same season, their first trophy for 30 years. The following season, their first in the fourth tier since 1959, they were promoted straight back, finishing sixth and beatingExeter City inthe play-off final. Two seasons later, they were promoted again, being awarded the League One championship via a points-per-game system after the season was curtailed due tothe COVID-19 pandemic.[101] At the time of curtailment in March 2020, they led the table with 67 points from 34 games.[102][101] They were exiled from the Ricoh Arena again from 2019 to 2021, playing their home games atSt Andrew's in Birmingham, amid ongoing legal action by Sisu over the 2014 purchase of the stadium by rugby clubWasps, which concluded only in 2022 when the European Commission declined to hear an appeal.[103]
The Sisu era at Coventry City ended in 2023, when local businessman Doug King purchased the club.[104] King had also attempted to acquire the CBS Arena, after both Wasps and the stadium holding company had fallen into administration, but his bid came too late and the stadium was eventually sold toMike Ashley.[105] Coventry finished fifth in the Championship and then progressed tothe play-off final at Wembley, missing out on promotion to the Premier League in apenalty shoot-out defeat againstLuton Town.[106][107] The following season, the club reached the FA Cup semi-final for the first time since 1987, facingManchester United at Wembley. After going 3–0 down, Coventry levelled the match in stoppage time but went on to lose on penalties.[108] Later in 2024, Coventry sacked long-time managerMark Robins following a run of poor results, replacing him withFrank Lampard.[109]
Coventry's home shirts are either completely or predominantly sky blue. However, in past seasons, different 'home colours' were worn. For example, in 1889, the then Singers FC wore pink and blue halved shirts (mirroring the corporate colours of Singers Motors). Furthermore, in the 1890s, black and red were the club's colours. In the early 1920s, the club wore red and green (to reflect the colours of the city crest). Sky blue was first used by Coventry in 1898 and the theme was used until 1922. Variations of blue and white were then used until the 1960s and the beginning of the 'sky blue revolution'. The colour made its return in 1962 thanks to the then manager, Jimmy Hill. To mark the 125th year of the club, Coventry wore a special brown shirt in the last home game of the 2008–09 season against Watford, having first worn a chocolate brown away kit in 1978. This kit has been cited by some as the worst in English football history, but also has an iconic status with some fans.[110]
In 2012, in theThird roundFA Cup tie versus Southampton, the team wore a commemorative blue and white striped kit, marking the 25th anniversary of the club winning the FA Cup in1987.[111] The strip was worn again in January 2013 for Coventry's3rd round FA Cup fixture with Tottenham Hotspur, whom they beat in the 1987 final.[112] In 2019, Coventry City announced a new third kit in black and white honouring the city's connection with2 Tone Records on the 40th anniversary of the record label.[113]
Since the2019–20 season, the kit is made byHummel. The home, away and third kit is sponsored byMonzo as the main club sponsor across the front of the shirt andKing of Shaves on the reverse.
The first official kit manufacture deal came in 1974 whenUmbro signed a deal with the club. Coventry also had the first kit sponsorship deal in the football league, when Jimmy Hill, then chairman of the club, negotiated a deal withTalbot, who manufactured cars in the city.
| Period | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor | Shorts sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974–75 | Umbro | None | None or N/A |
| 1975–80 | Admiral Sportswear | ||
| 1980–81 | Talbot | ||
| 1981–83 | Big T | ||
| 1983–84 | Umbro | Tallon | |
| 1984–85 | Glazepta | ||
| 1985–86 | Elliotts | ||
| 1986–87 | Triple S Sport | Granada Bingo | |
| 1987–88 | Hummel | ||
| 1988–89 | None | ||
| 1989–92 | Asics | Peugeot | |
| 1992–94 | Ribero | ||
| 1994–96 | Pony International | ||
| 1996–97 | Le Coq Sportif | ||
| 1997–99 | Subaru (home) Isuzu (away) | ||
| 1999–2004 | In House Manufacturer (CCFC Leisure) | ||
| 2004–05 | Kit@ | ||
| 2005–06 | Cassidy Group | ||
| 2006–10 | Puma | ||
| 2010–13 | City Link | ||
| 2013–14 | Grace Medical Fund(charity partner) | ||
| 2014–15 | Allsopp & Allsopp | ||
| 2015–18 | Nike | ||
| 2018–19 | Midrepro | ||
| 2019–20 | Hummel International | Allsopp & Allsopp | The Exams Office[114] |
| 2020–21 | BoyleSports (front), Jingltree[115] (back) | G&R Scaffolding[116] (home), SIMIAN Aspects Training[117] (away) | |
| 2021–23 | BoyleSports (front), XL Motors (back) | ||
| 2023–24 | King of Shaves (front), XL Motors (sleeve),Coventry Building Society (rear) | G&R Scaffolding | |
| 2024– | Monzo (front), Mercury (sleeve), King of Shaves (rear)[118] |
Coventry's first ground was at Dowells Field, where they played as Singers F.C. from their founding in 1883 until 1887.[119] It was located in the Stoke area south of Binley Road close to a landmark called Robinsons Pit, in an area of fields which belonged at the time to a landowner named Samuel Dowell. The site was later the location of the Gosford Park Hotel and theCoventry loop line railway, and much of the former pitch is now occupied by housing.[120][121]
The club's second pitch was at Stoke Road, to which Singers moved in 1887. It was located between Paynes Lane and Swan Lane, immediately to the south of the eventual Highfield Road stadium.[119][121] The move coincided with the appointment ofJ.G. Morgan as club secretary, who transformed the club's operations and was the first to hold amanager role. Unlike Dowells Field, Stoke Ground was fully enclosed by hedges and trees and featured a small stand and entrances close to the White Lion and Binley Oak pubs.[119][7] An admission fee of two pence was charged for attendance at games.[7] Singers' biggest rivals during the Stoke Road years were theRudge Cycle Company team, with games between the two clubs attracted crowds as high as 4,000 by the end of the 1880s.[7][122]
In 1899, shortly after Singers became Coventry City, they were forced to vacate Stoke Road due to an extension of King Richard Street and a housing development to accommodate Coventry's rising population.[123][124] The club acquired a site previously owned by the Craven Cricket Club and built the new stadium there. It was named Highfield Road after the road to the north of the ground, at the time the only access route from the city centre, which was in turn named after a Highfield Farm that had stood on the site earlier.[125] Construction cost £100, a large amount for the club at the time, and on opening the ground featured a single stand on the southern side of the field.[126] The first game at the ground was a 1–0 win againstStoke City with an attendance of 3,000, but the club went on to finish bottom of the Birmingham & District League in the opening season.[12]
A runto the FA Cup quarter finals in 1910 saw a then-record 18,995 attendance at Highfield Road, and the club spent the revenue generated by the cup run on the construction of a new stand on the northern side.[127][128] A newterrace at the east of the ground, known as theSpion Kop, was opened in 1922, and in 1927 a roof was added over part of the western terrace, taken fromTwickenham Stadium and funded by the supporters' club.[126][129] In 1936, a new main stand was built and in the club also bought thefreehold of the ground fromthe Mercers' Company, following a £20,000 loan by automotive entrepreneurJohn Siddeley.[126][130][131] The stadium was bombed in theCoventry Blitz in 1941, damaging the pitch and the main stand, writer Nemo in theCoventry Telegraph said thatAdolf Hitler had "done a spot of ploughing".[132] The firstfloodlights were installed at the ground in 1953, and were upgraded in 1957, using money raised by the supporters' club.[126]
The "Sky Blue revolution" of Derrick Robins and Jimmy Hill in the 1960s saw large-scale development at Highfield Road, including construction of the new Sky Blue Stand on the north side of the ground.[126][133] Hill also oversaw the ground's conversion to all-seater as Chairman in 1981, but this was deeply unpopular with fans as well as Hill's successor John Poynton,[134] and a report in early 1985 concluded that it was not achieving its desired effect of combattinghooliganism at Highfield Road. The Spion Kop was reconfigured and converted back to a standing terrace later that year.[126][135] TheTaylor Report of 1990 led to a requirement that all top-flight teams should switch to all-seater. This led to what proved to be the final major development at Highfield Road, the construction of the new East Stand. The stadium hosted its last league game in a 6–2 Coventry win overDerby County in 2005 and was subsequently demolished to make way for a new housing development.[136]
In 1997, Coventry City published plans for a 40,000-seat stadium on the site of a former gasworks in theFoleshill area of Coventry.[137] Backed by a 50% stake fromCoventry City Council, the stadium gained planning permission in 1998,[84] and in 2000 was included inEngland's bid for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.[138][139] The failure of this bid and relegation in 2001 forced Coventry City to sell their share of the stadium to theAlan Higgs charity to repay debts.[140] After several delays, decontamination work on the site, and reductions in the scope of the project, the stadium hosted its first game in 2005 when Coventry defeatedQueen's Park Rangers 3–0.[141][142] Electronics manufacturerRicoh were the initial sponsor of the stadium and it was named the Ricoh Arena.[143] In addition to the stadium, the venue features an exhibition hall, hotel and casino and is adjacent to a retail complex and superstore.[144][142]Coventry Arena railway station was opened next to the site in 2016.[145] It became the Coventry Building Society Arena in 2021 following a deal withCoventry Building Society.[146][147]
In 2012, the club defaulted on its rent amid a dispute with the stadium's owners, Arena Coventry Limited (ACL) - a company owned jointly by the city council and the Higgs charity. The two sides could not agree on a revised deal and Coventry played its home games atSixfields Stadium for the 2013–14 season while also announcing plans to build a new stadium elsewhere in Coventry.[148][149] The move was met with strong opposition and protests by Coventry fans, many of whom boycotted games at the stadium, gathering instead on an area close to Sixfields which they dubbed "Jimmy's Hill".[150][151] Coventry City returned to the Ricoh Arena in August 2014 after reaching a deal with ACL.[152] Wasps purchased the stadium in late 2014, relocating to Coventry fromAdams Park in High Wycombe.[153] Coventry City were exiled from the stadium again from 2019 to 2021, playing their home games at St Andrew's and later announcing a partnership with theUniversity of Warwick with the goal of acquiring land for a new stadium.[154] They returned to the Ricoh Arena following an agreement with Wasps in 2021, also maintaining the longer-term goal of constructing a new stadium.[155][103] When Ashley took over the stadium in 2022, the club for a while faced the threat of eviction but a deal was eventually reached for the club to continue playing there until at least 2028.[156][157]
In February 2007 a Former Players' Association was launched. Set up by club historian and statistician Jim Brown, former 1980s playerKirk Stephens and a committee of volunteers, its aim was to bring former players of the club together and cherish their memories. To qualify for membership players have to have made at least one first-team competitive appearance for the club or been a manager.
Around 50 former stars of the club attended the launch including Coventry City legendsGeorge Hudson,Cyrille Regis,Charlie Timmins andBill Glazier. The association's first newsletter was published in autumn 2007 and a website launched. The launch of 2007 was followed by subsequent Legends' Days. The 2009 event, held at the home game againstDoncaster Rovers was attended by 43 former players including the first visit to Coventry for many years ofRoy Barry andDave Clements. In March 2012 the membership had increased past the 200 mark with former captainTerry Yorath inducted as the 200th member at the 2012 Legends' Day.[158]
Legends’ Day has become an almost permanent fixture amongst Coventry supporters. Legends’ Day has been held almost every year since the Inaugural Event. The only exceptions being in 2014 when the club were exiled playing home games in Northampton and in 2020 and 2021 after fans were shut out of stadiums as a result of theCOVID-19 Pandemic.
Identity
The club's support is collectively known as The Sky Blue Army. In Coventry and Warwickshire the use of the term ‘Going Up The City’ is a term used to say you are going to watch a Coventry City match.
The club's support massively dropped off in the years of the SISU ownership, with the decline in average attendances falling in line with the club's slide down the league pyramid. The exit from The Ricoh Arena in 2013 led to many supporters protesting against SISU's ownership of the club and a section of the support enforce a ‘Not One Penny More’ policy in which its backers vowed not to give any more money to the club as long as SISU remained in charge.
In the 2013–14 season, in which the club was exiled at Northampton Town's Sixfields Stadium the average attendance dropped to just over 2,000.
The Sky Blue Trust is the largest member-based supporters club and in its peak was fighting to gain a stake in the club and to get fan representation on the board of directors. As of 2022 The Sky Blue Trust are less vocal and are viewed as obsolete by many supporters.
The words to the club's song were written in 1962 by Team ManagerJimmy Hill and Director John Camkin; The words being set to the tune of theEton Boating Song.[159] It was launched at the home game with Colchester on 22 December 1962 (a match abandoned at half-time because of fog) with the words printed in the programme.[159] It quickly became popular with supporters during the epic FA Cup run in 1963 when the then Third Division team reached the quarter-finals of theFA Cup before losing to eventual winners Manchester United:[160]
Famous Supporters
The club has a number of famous supporters, Television BroadcasterRichard Keys was born in the city and is a lifelong supporter of the club. Fellow broadcasterJon Gaunt is also a City fan.
The principal of theRed Bull Formula 1 teamChristian Horner was outed as a supporter of the club when he jokingly claimed in an interview with Sky F1 he was trying to convinceKevin De Bruyne to join the club.
Haas F1 Team principalAyao Komatsu revealed in an interview with Sky Sports F1 that he is a fan of the club.[161] Komatusu's support stems from being introduced to the club whilst he was studying atLoughborough University.
ComedianJosh Pugh grew up in nearby Atherstone and currently lives in Coventry and supports the Sky Blues.
From the world of music, MusicianNeville Staple ofThe Specials is also a keen supporter of the club and in 2019, appeared in a kit launch for the clubs new ‘Two Tone’ themed Third Kit.[162] Tom Clarke, Andy Hopkins and Liam Watts who formed local rock bandThe Enemy are all big City supporters.
Singer/SongwriterTom Grennan is also a fan of the club owing to his manager and agent being a Sky Blues fan.[163]
The actorGraeme Hawley who is best known for playing the role of John Stape in the ITV soap operaCoronation Street is a season ticket holder at the club.
Other famous fans include professional Darts playersSteve Beaton andSteve Hine, Formula 1 mogulEddie Jordan andWestlife memberBrian McFadden.
Malcolm In The Middle actorFrankie Muniz is reportedly a Coventry City fan, apparently owing to a producer he made friends with on the set of the filmAgent Cody Banks 2.[164]
PoliticianGeoffrey Robinson is a fan of the club and once served as chairman.
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Aston Villa are Coventry's main rival.[165][166][167] Historically, Aston Villa were Coventry's main rivals, however many Coventry supporters also view the rivalry withLeicester City as significant.[165] This rivalry is more reciprocated due to Villa's stronger rivalry withBirmingham City.[165]
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s and to the turn of the millennium,Aston Villa were considered Coventry's main rivals as they continually competed against each other in theFirst Division and then the Premier League.[citation needed] The two clubs however have not met since Coventry's relegation from the Premier League in 2001. Leicester and Coventry compete theM69 Derby.[165] However, largely due to the clubs' differing fortunes meetings between the two have been rare in recent years; the two clubs had not played each other between 2012 and 2023.[165] The derby returned for the first time in eleven years in the2023–24 EFL Championship season, following Leicester's relegation from the Premier League.[165] A small section of The Sky Blues' support were widely condemned in the build up to an M69 Derby in January 2024, after offensive banners mocking the death of former Foxes ownerVichai Srivaddhanaprabha were displayed across the City of Coventry[168]
In the 1960s and 1970s there was intense rivalry withWolverhampton Wanderers which started in 1965 after Wolves were relegated from Division One and the two clubs met in Division Two. The two sides were promoted together in 1967 and there were fierce battles in both city centres when the clubs met during the period. There was also rivalries withWest Bromwich Albion andWalsall but these are much less fierce than the ones with Leicester, Wolves and Villa. A local rivalry also exists withBirmingham City, however the ground share agreement atSt Andrew's between 2019 and 2021 – which effectively spared Coventry from being expelled from theEFL – has led to friendlier relations between the two clubs’ supporters.
The club has an unusual long-distance rivalry with North-East sideSunderland, which stems back to the end of the1976–77 season, when Coventry, Sunderland andBristol City were all battling against relegation fromDivision One on the final day of the season. With Coventry and Bristol City facing each other atHighfield Road, the referee, on the advice of the police, delayed the kick-off of the match by 15 minutes as many Bristol fans were still trying to enter the ground and there was a risk of serious trouble. Sunderland, who were playing away to Everton at the same time, lost 2–0, and the result was displayed on the Highfield Road scoreboard. There were still 15 minutes left to play and Coventry and Bristol City effectively stopped playing knowing that a 2–2 draw would keep both teams up and send Sunderland down. There was an inquiry but the result was allowed to stand and Sunderland were relegated. Some Sunderland fans have held a grudge, believing that then-Coventry chairmanJimmy Hill used his influence to delay the game and give his side an advantage, and there has been some rivalry more recently as the two clubs competed for promotion fromLeague One together in2018–19 and2019–20. In 2018–19 crowd trouble marred the meetings between the two atThe Ricoh Arena andThe Stadium of Light leading to numerous arrests among both sets of fans.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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| Season Review & Statistics | Level | Pos. | Player of the Year | Top Goalscorer | Matches | Most Appearances | Most Captain Apps | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958–59 season | 4 | 2nd(24) | not awarded |  Ray Straw 30 | 48 | Roy Kirk 48 | George Curtis | Football League Fourth Division Runners-up |
| 1959–60 season | 3 | 5th(24) | Ray Straw 21 | 48 |  Arthur Lightening 48 | George Curtis | Southern Professional Floodlit Cup Winners | |
| 1960–61 season | 3 | 15th(24) | Ray Straw 20 | 51 | George Curtis 51 | George Curtis | ||
| 1961–62 season | 3 | 14th(24) | Mike Dixon 12 | 49 | George Curtis 49 | George Curtis | ||
| 1962–63 season | 3 | 4th(24) | Terry Bly 29 | 57 | George Curtis 56 | George Curtis | ||
| 1963–64 season | 3 | 1st(24) | George Hudson 28 | 50 | George Curtis 50 Ronnie Rees 50 | George Curtis | Football League Third Division Champions | |
| 1964–65 season | 2 | 10th(22) | George Hudson 24 | 47 | George Curtis 46Ronnie Rees 46 | George Curtis | ||
| 1965–66 season | 2 | 3rd(22) | George Hudson 17 | 50 | George Curtis 50 | George Curtis | ||
| 1966–67 season | 2 | 1st(22) | Bobby Gould 25 | 46 | George Curtis 46 | George Curtis | Football League Second Division Champions | |
| 1967–68 season | 1 | 20th(22) | Ernie Machin | Ronnie Rees 9 | 46 | Ernie Machin 44 | George Curtis | FA Youth Cup Runners-up |
| 1968–69 season | 1 | 20th(22) | Bill Glazier | Ernie Hunt 13 | 49 | Bill Glazier 49 | George Curtis | |
| 1969–70 season | 1 | 6th(22) |  Neil Martin | Neil Martin 15 | 45 | Mick Coop 44 | Roy Barry | FA Youth Cup Runners-up |
| 1970–71 season | 1 | 10th(22) | Willie Carr | Ernie Hunt 13Neil Martin 13 | 52 | Jeff Blockley 52 | Neil Martin | Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Second round; BBC Goal of the Season: Ernie Hunt |
| 1971–72 season | 1 | 18th(22) | Ernie Hunt | Ernie Hunt 12 | 45 | Willie Carr 45Wilf Smith 45 | Roy Barry | Texaco Cup Second round |
| 1972–73 season | 1 | 19th(22) | Willie Carr | Brian Alderson 17 | 48 | Mick Coop 48 | Roy Barry | Texaco Cup First round |
| 1973–74 season | 1 | 16th(22) | Bill Glazier | Brian Alderson 15 | 54 |  Jimmy Holmes 53Tommy Hutchison 53 | John Craven | Texaco Cup First round |
| 1974–75 season | 1 | 14th(22) | Graham Oakey | Brian Alderson 8David Cross 8 | 46 | Tommy Hutchison 46 | John Craven | |
| 1975–76 season | 1 | 14th(22) | Tommy Hutchison | David Cross 16 | 47 | Mick Coop 47Tommy Hutchison 47 | John Craven | |
| 1976–77 season | 1 | 19th(22) | Jim Blyth | Mick Ferguson 15 | 47 | John Beck 45 | Terry Yorath | |
| 1977–78 season | 1 | 7th(22) | Ian Wallace | Ian Wallace 23 | 47 | Bobby McDonald 47Barry Powell 47 | Terry Yorath | |
| 1978–79 season | 1 | 10th(22) | Bobby McDonald | Ian Wallace 15 | 45 | Tommy Hutchison 45Bobby McDonald 45 | Terry Yorath | |
| 1979–80 season | 1 | 15th(22) | Gary Gillespie | Ian Wallace 13 | 47 | Tommy Hutchison 45 | Tommy Hutchison | |
| 1980–81 season | 1 | 16th(22) | Danny Thomas | Garry Thompson 15 | 55 | Paul Dyson 54Harry Roberts 54 | Mick Coop | Football League Cup semi-finalists |
| 1981–82 season | 1 | 14th(22) | Danny Thomas | Mark Hateley 18 | 48 | Gary Gillespie 46 | Gerry Daly | PFA Merit Award:Joe Mercer |
| 1982–83 season | 1 | 19th(22) | Gary Gillespie | Steve Whitton 14 | 48 | Gary Gillespie 48 | Gerry Francis | PFA Team OTY:Danny Thomas |
| 1983–84 season | 1 | 19th(22) | Nick Platnauer | Terry Gibson 19 | 49 | Terry Gibson 41Nick Platnauer 41 | Harry Roberts | |
| 1984–85 season | 1 | 18th(22) | Terry Gibson | Terry Gibson 19 | 46 | Steve Ogrizovic 46 | Trevor Peake | |
| 1985–86 season | 1 | 17th(22) | Trevor Peake | Terry Gibson 13 | 47 | Steve Ogrizovic 47 | Brian Kilcline | |
| 1986–87 season | 1 | 10th(22) | Steve Ogrizovic | Cyrille Regis 16 | 53 | Steve Ogrizovic 53 | Brian Kilcline | FA Cup Winners:1987 FA Cup final; FA Youth Cup Winners:1987 FA Youth Cup final; BBC Goal of the Season: Keith Houchen |
| 1987–88 season | 1 | 10th(21) | David Speedie | Cyrille Regis 12 | 46 | Steve Ogrizovic 46 | Brian Kilcline | FA Charity Shield Runners-up:1987 FA Charity Shield; Full Members Cup semi-finalists |
| 1988–89 season | 1 | 7th(20) | David Speedie | David Speedie 15 | 42 | Brian Borrows 42Steve Ogrizovic 42 | Brian Kilcline | |
| 1989–90 season | 1 | 12th(20) | Brian Borrows | David Speedie 9 | 47 | Brian Borrows 46David Smith 46 | Brian Kilcline | Football League Cup semi-finalists |
| 1990–91 season | 1 | 16th(20) | Kevin Gallacher | Kevin Gallacher 16 | 47 | Brian Borrows 47 | Brian Kilcline | PFA Merit Award:Tommy Hutchison |
| 1991–92 season | 1 | 19th(22) | Stewart Robson | Kevin Gallacher 10 | 48 | Lloyd McGrath 46 | Stewart Robson | |
| 1992–93 season | 1 | 15th(22) | Peter Atherton | Micky Quinn 17 | 45 | John Williams 44 | Brian Borrows | |
| 1993–94 season | 1 | 11th(22) | Phil Babb |  Peter Ndlovu 11 | 46 | Phil Babb 44Steve Morgan 44 | Brian Borrows | |
| 1994–95 season | 1 | 16th(22) | Brian Borrows | Dion Dublin 16 | 49 | Brian Borrows 40Paul Cook 40Steve Ogrizovic 40 | Brian Borrows | PFA Merit Award:Gordon Strachan |
| 1995–96 season | 1 | 16th(20) | Paul Williams | Dion Dublin 16 | 45 | John Salako 43 | Dion Dublin | |
| 1996–97 season | 1 | 17th(20) | Dion Dublin | Dion Dublin 13 | 46 | Gary McAllister 46Steve Ogrizovic 46 | Gary McAllister | |
| 1997–98 season | 1 | 11th(20) | Dion Dublin | Dion Dublin 23 | 47 | Dion Dublin 43 | Gary McAllister | Premier League Golden Boot:Dion Dublin; PFA Merit Award: Steve Ogrizovic |
| 1998–99 season | 1 | 15th(20) | Richard Shaw | Noel Whelan 13 | 44 |  Magnus Hedman 42Richard Shaw 42 | Gary McAllister | FA Youth Cup Runners-up |
| 1999–2000 season | 1 | 14th(20) | Gary McAllister | Gary McAllister 13 | 43 | Gary McAllister 43 | Gary McAllister | FA Youth Cup Runners-up; FAI Young Int'l Player OTY: Robbie Keane |
| 2000–01 season | 1 | 19th(20) | Gary Breen | Craig Bellamy 8 | 44 | Craig Bellamy 39 |  Mustapha Hadji | PFA Merit Award:Jimmy Hill; Welsh Footballer OTY: John Hartson |
| 2001–02 season | 2 | 11th(24) | David Thompson | Lee Hughes 14 | 49 |  Muhamed Konjić 41 | John Eustace | |
| 2002–03 season | 2 | 20th(24) | Muhamed Konjić | Jay Bothroyd 11 | 52 | Muhamed Konjić 48 | Muhamed Konjić | |
| 2003–04 season | 2 | 12th(24) | Stephen Warnock | Gary McSheffrey 12 | 51 | Stephen Warnock 49 | Muhamed Konjić | FWA Tribute Award:Jimmy Hill |
| 2004–05 season | 2 | 19th(24) | Michael Doyle | Gary McSheffrey 14 | 51 | Michael Doyle 49 | Stephen Hughes | FirstCONCACAF 50-goal scorer: Stern John;Last goal atHighfield Road: Andy Whing |
| 2005–06 season | 2 | 8th(24) | Gary McSheffrey | Gary McSheffrey 17 | 51 | Gary McSheffrey 50 | Michael Doyle | First goal atRicoh Arena: Claus Bech Jørgensen |
| 2006–07 season | 2 | 17th(24) | Andy Marshall |  Dele Adebola 9 | 49 | Dele Adebola 42Michael Doyle 42Marcus Hall 42Andy Marshall 42 | Rob Page | Birmingham Senior Cup Winners |
| 2007–08 season | 2 | 21st(24) | Jay Tabb |  Michael Mifsud 17 | 53 | Michael Doyle 49Isaac Osbourne 49Jay Tabb 49 | Stephen Hughes | |
| 2008–09 season | 2 | 17th(24) |  Aron Gunnarsson | Clinton Morrison 12 | 53 | Keiren Westwood 49 | Scott Dann | PFA Team OTY:Danny Fox,Keiren Westwood |
| 2009–10 season | 2 | 19th(24) | Keiren Westwood | Clinton Morrison 11 | 49 | Keiren Westwood 46 | Stephen Wright | |
| 2010–11 season | 2 | 18th(24) |  Marlon King | Marlon King 13 | 49 | Richard Keogh 48 | Lee Carsley | FL Fan OTY: Kevin Monks |
| 2011–12 season | 2 | 23rd(24) | Richard Keogh | Lukas Jutkiewicz 9Gary McSheffrey 9 | 48 | Richard Keogh 47Joe Murphy 47 |  Sammy Clingan | Championship Apprentice Award: Gaël Bigirimana |
| 2012–13 season | 3 | 15th(24)† | Carl Baker | David McGoldrick 18 | 58 | Joe Murphy 56 | Carl Baker | FL Trophy Northern area finalists; PFA Team OTY: Leon Clarke;FL Fan OTY: Pat Raybould |
| 2013–14 season | 3 | 18th(24)†† | Callum Wilson | Callum Wilson 22 | 53 | Joe Murphy 53 | Carl Baker | FL Goal OTY: Franck Moussa;PFA Team OTY: Callum Wilson |
| 2014–15 season | 3 | 17th(24) | Jim O'Brien | Frank Nouble 7 | 52 | John Fleck 47Jim O'Brien 47 |  Réda Johnson | |
| 2015–16 season | 3 | 8th(24) | John Fleck | Adam Armstrong 20 | 49 | Sam Ricketts 46 Romain Vincelot 46 | Sam Ricketts | PFA Team OTY:Adam Armstrong |
| 2016–17 season | 3 | 23rd(24) | George Thomas | George Thomas 9 | 59 | Jordan Turnbull 46Jordan Willis 46 | Jordan Willis | EFL Trophy Winners:2017 EFL Trophy final |
| 2017–18 season | 4 | 6th(24) | Marc McNulty | Marc McNulty 28 | 58 | Jack Grimmer 53 | Michael Doyle | EFL League Two play-offs Winners:2018 play-off final; EFL Team OTY: Lee Burge,Jordan Willis;PFA Team OTY: Jack Grimmer;PFA Fans' Player OTY: Marc McNulty |
| 2018–19 season | 3 | 8th(24) | Dominic Hyam | Jordy Hiwula 13 | 51 | Luke Thomas 44 | Liam Kelly | |
| 2019–20 season | 3 | 1st(23)††† | Fankaty Dabo | Matt Godden 15 | 47 | Jordan Shipley 42 | Liam Kelly | EFL League One Champions; LMA Awards Manager OTY: Mark Robins;PFA Team OTY:  Marko Maroši,Fankaty Dabo,Liam Walsh,Matt Godden |
| 2020–21 season | 2 | 16th(24) | Callum O'Hare | Tyler Walker 8 | 49 | Callum O'Hare 48 | Liam Kelly | |
| 2021–22 season | 2 | 12th(24) |  Gustavo Hamer | Viktor Gyökeres 18 | 49 | Viktor Gyökeres 47Callum O'Hare 47 | Kyle McFadzean | Championship Apprentice Award:Ryan Howley |
| 2022–23 season | 2 | 5th(24) | Gustavo Hamer | Viktor Gyökeres 22 | 51 | Jake Bidwell 50Viktor Gyökeres 50 | Kyle McFadzean | EFL Championship play-offs Runners-up:2023 play-off final; Birmingham Senior Cup Runners-up; EFL Team OTY: Ben Wilson,Viktor Gyökeres;EFL Golden Glove: Ben Wilson;PFA Team OTY: Viktor Gyökeres |
| 2023–24 season | 2 | 9th(24) | Ben Sheaf | Ellis Simms 19 Haji Wright 19 | 53 | Ellis Simms 53 | Ben Sheaf | FA Cup semi-finalists |
| 2024–25 season | 2 | 5th(24) * | Haji Wright 10 * | 43 * | Josh Eccles 42 *Milan van Ewijk 42 | Ben Sheaf |
† Coventry City deducted 10 points by the Football League for going into administration.[173]
†† Coventry City deducted 10 points by the Football League.[174]
†††Bury were expelled from the EFL on 27 August 2019 due to financial issues at the club.[175] The season was postponed on 13 March 2020 and later concluded prematurely due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, with league positions and promotions decided on a points-per-game basis.[176]
* Season in progress.
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| Player | Achievements |
|---|---|
| Tom Bayliss | 2017–18 EFL League Two play-off winner with Coventry |
| Gaël Bigirimana | 2017 EFL Trophy Final winner with Coventry,2012 Championship Apprentice Award winner |
| Willie Boland | Over 200 appearances forCardiff City,2001–02 FAW Premier Cup winner |
| Lee Burge | 2017–18 EFL League Two play-off winner with Coventry,2017 EFL Trophy Final winner with Coventry, over 150 appearances for Coventry |
| Cyrus Christie | 24 international caps and 2 goals forRepublic of Ireland, over 100 appearances for Coventry |
| Jordan Clarke | Over 100 appearances for Coventry |
| Jonson Clarke-Harris | 2017–18 EFL League Two play-off winner with Coventry, youngest player to play in a first-team match for Coventry |
| Josh Eccles | Over 50 appearances for Coventry |
| John Eustace | Coventry club captain |
| Marcus Hall | England U21 captain, over 300 appearances for Coventry |
| Ryan Haynes | 2017–18 EFL League Two play-off winner with Coventry,2017 EFL Trophy Final winner with Coventry |
| Ryan Howley | 2022 Championship Apprentice Award winner |
| Dean Kiely | 11 international caps forRepublic of Ireland,2007–08 Championship Golden Glove, two-timeFootball League Championship winner |
| Chris Kirkland | 1 international cap forEngland,2004–05 UEFA Champions League winner |
| James Maddison | 7 international caps forEngland (subject to change), part ofEngland 2022 World Cup squad, January 2018EFL Young Player of the Month |
| Gary McSheffrey | Over 250 appearances for Coventry, two-timeFootball League Championship runner-up |
| Roy O'Donovan | 2 caps forRepublic of Ireland B,2015–16 A-League Goal of the Year winner |
| Isaac Osbourne | Over 100 appearances for Coventry |
| Jordan Ponticelli | 2017–18 EFL League Two play-off winner with Coventry |
| Josh Ruffels | Over 300 appearances forOxford United |
| Jordan Shipley | 2019–20 EFL League One winner with Coventry,2017–18 EFL League Two play-off winner with Coventry, over 100 appearances for Coventry |
| Ben Stevenson | 2017 EFL Trophy Final winner with Coventry |
| Daniel Sturridge | 26 international caps and 8 goals forEngland,2011–12 UEFA Champions League winner,2009–10 Premier League winner |
| Conor Thomas | Over 100 appearances for Coventry |
| George Thomas | 2017 EFL Trophy Final winner with Coventry |
| Kevin Thomson | 3 international caps forScotland, two-timeScottish Premier League winner,2007–08 Scottish Cup winner |
| Kevin Thornton | Over 50 appearances for the first team,2012–13 FA Trophy winner |
| Ben Turner | 2012–13 Football League Championship winner |
| Andy Whing | Over 100 appearances for Coventry. Last player to score at Highfield Rd and first player to score at The Ricoh Arena |
| Jordan Willis | 2017–18 EFL League Two play-off winner with Coventry,2017 EFL Trophy Final winner with Coventry, Coventry club captain, over 200 appearances for Coventry |
| Callum Wilson | 6 international caps and 1 goal forEngland, part ofEngland 2022 World Cup squad, twoPremier League hat-tricks,2014–15 Football League Championship winner |
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| Record | Details |
|---|---|
| Highest transfer fee paid | Haji Wright, £7,700,000 in 2023 (fromAntalyaspor)[178] |
| Highest transfer fee received | Viktor Gyökeres, undisclosed fee in the region of £20,000,000 in 2023 (toSporting CP)[179] |
| Most appearances (all competitions) | Steve Ogrizovic, 601 (1984–2000)[180] |
| Most appearances (league) | Steve Ogrizovic, 504 (1984–2000) |
| All-time top scorer (all competitions) | Clarrie Bourton, 182 goals (1931–1937) |
| All-time top scorer (league) | Clarrie Bourton, 173 goals (1931–1937) |
| Top-flight era top scorer (all competitions) | Dion Dublin, 72 goals (1994–1998) |
| Top-flight era top scorer (league) | Dion Dublin, 60 goals (1994–1998) |
| Most goals by one player in a game | Arthur Bacon, 5 (vsGillingham, 1933)Clarrie Bourton, 5 (vsBournemouth & Boscombe Athletic, 1931)Cyrille Regis, 5 (vsChester City, 1985) |
| Most goals by one player in a season | Clarrie Bourton, 50 (1931–1932, 49 league, 1 FA Cup) |
| Most goals by one player in a season in top-flight | Dion Dublin, 23 (1997–1998)Ian Wallace, 23 (1977–1978) |
| Oldest player to play in a first-team match | Alf Wood, 43 years 207 days (vsPlymouth Argyle, 1958) |
| Youngest player to play in a first-team match | Jonson Clarke-Harris, 16 years 21 days (substitute vsMorecambe, 2010) |
| Youngest player to start a first-team match | Brian Hill, 16 years 273 days (vsGillingham, 1958) |
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Permanent manager
| Dates | Chairman | Dates | Manager(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1883–1907 | Unknown | 1883–1885 | William Stanley |
| 1885–1887 | Harry Hathaway | ||
| 1887–1892 | J.G. Morgan | ||
| 1893 | Teddy Kirk | ||
| 1893 | George Maley | ||
| 1893–1895 | Joe Collins | ||
| 1895–1900 | Tom Cashmore | ||
| 1900–1902 | Ben Newhall | ||
| 1902–1905 | Michael O'Shea | ||
| 1905–1907 | Joe Beaman | ||
| 1907–1912 | Thomas Owen | 1907–1908 | |
| 1908–1909 | Walter Harris | ||
| 1909–1910 | Harry Buckle | ||
| 1910–1912 | Robert Wallace & committee | ||
| 1912–1928 | David Cooke | 1912–1913 | |
| 1913–1915 | Frank Scott-Walford & committee | ||
| 1915–1917 | H. Howard & committee(caretaker) | ||
| 1917–1919 | William Clayton | ||
| 1919–1920 | Harry Pollitt | ||
| 1920–1924 | Albert Evans | ||
| 1924–1925 | Harry Harbourne(caretaker) | ||
| 1925–1928 | James Kerr | ||
| 1928–1935 | Walter Brandish | 1928 | Vacant |
| 1928–1931 | Jimmy McIntyre | ||
| 1931 | Bill Slade(caretaker) | ||
| 1931–1935 | Harry Storer | ||
| 1935–1946 | Fred Stringer | 1935–1945 | |
| 1945–1946 | Dick Bayliss | ||
| 1946–1954 | George Jones | 1946–1947 | |
| 1947 | Vacant | ||
| 1947–1948 | Billy Frith | ||
| 1948–1953 | Harry Storer (2) | ||
| 1953–1954 | Vacant | ||
| 1954–1958 | W Erle Shanks | 1954 | Jack Fairbrother |
| 1954–1955 | Charlie Elliott(caretaker) | ||
| 1955 | Jesse Carver | ||
| 1956 | George Raynor | ||
| 1956–1957 | Harry Warren | ||
| 1957–1958 | Billy Frith (2) | ||
| 1958–1960 | Walter Brandish Jr. | 1958–1960 | |
| 1960–1973 | Derrick Robins | 1960–1961 | |
| 1961–1967 | Jimmy Hill | ||
| 1967–1972 | Noel Cantwell | ||
| 1972 | Bob Dennison(caretaker) | ||
| 1972–1973 | Joe Mercer | ||
| 1973–1975 | Peter Robins | 1973–1974 | |
| 1974–1975 | Gordon Milne | ||
| 1975–1977 | Jack Scamp | 1975–1977 | |
| 1977–1980 | Phil Mead | 1977–1980 | |
| 1980–1983 | Jimmy Hill | 1980–1981 | |
| 1981–1983 | Dave Sexton | ||
| 1983–1984 | Iain Jamieson | 1983 | |
| 1983–1984 | Bobby Gould | ||
| 1984–1990 | John Poynton | 1984 | |
| 1984–1986 | Don Mackay | ||
| 1986–1987 | John SillettGeorge Curtis | ||
| 1987–1990 | John Sillett | ||
| 1990 | Terry Butcher | ||
| 1990–1993 | Peter Robins (2) | 1990–1992 | |
| 1992 | Don Howe(caretaker) | ||
| 1992–1993 | Bobby Gould (2) | ||
| 1993 | John Clarke | 1993 | |
| 1993–2002 | Bryan Richardson | 1993 | |
| 1993–1995 | Phil Neal | ||
| 1995–1996 | Ron Atkinson | ||
| 1996–2001 | Gordon Strachan | ||
| 2001–2002 | Roland Nilsson | ||
| 2002–2005 | Mike McGinnity | 2002 | |
| 2002 | Steve Ogrizovic(caretaker)Trevor Peake(caretaker) | ||
| 2002–2003 | Gary McAllister | ||
| 2003–2004 | Eric Black | ||
| 2004 | Steve Ogrizovic (2)(caretaker) | ||
| 2004–2005 | Peter Reid | ||
| 2005 | Adrian Heath(caretaker) | ||
| 2005 | Micky Adams | ||
| 2005–2007 | Geoffrey Robinson | 2005–2007 | |
| 2007 | Adrian Heath (2)(caretaker) | ||
| 2007 | Iain Dowie | ||
| 2007 | Joe Elliott | 2007 | |
| 2007–2011 | Ray Ranson | 2007–2008 | |
| 2008 | Frankie Bunn(caretaker) John Harbin(caretaker) | ||
| 2008–2010 | Chris Coleman | ||
| 2010 | Steve Harrison(caretaker) | ||
| 2010–2011 | Aidy Boothroyd | ||
| 2011 | Ken Dulieu | 2011 | |
| 2011 | Steve Harrison (2)(caretaker)Andy Thorn(caretaker) | ||
| 2011 | Andy Thorn | ||
| 2011–2012 | John Clarke (2) | 2011–2012 | |
| 2012–2014 | Vacant | 2012 | |
| 2012 | Richard Shaw(caretaker)Lee Carsley(caretaker) | ||
| 2012–2013 | Mark Robins | ||
| 2013 | Lee Carsley (2)(caretaker) | ||
| 2013–2014 | Steven Pressley | ||
| 2014–2023 | Tim Fisher | 2014–2015 | |
| 2015 | Neil MacFarlane(caretaker)Dave Hockaday(caretaker) | ||
| 2015–2016 | Tony Mowbray | ||
| 2016 | Mark Venus(caretaker) | ||
| 2016–2017 | Russell Slade | ||
| 2017–2023 | Mark Robins (2) | ||
| 2023– | Doug King | 2023–2024 | |
| 2024 | Rhys Carr(caretaker) | ||
| 2024– | Frank Lampard |
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| National | |
