 Warburton in 2014 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1962-09-06)6 September 1962 (age 63)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | London, England | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Sporting Club Jacksonville | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1977–1979 | Leicester City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1981–1985 | Enfield | 28 | (1) |
| 1985–1988 | Boreham Wood | 107 | (2) |
| Total | 135 | (3) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2013–2015 | Brentford | ||
| 2015–2017 | Rangers | ||
| 2017 | Nottingham Forest | ||
| 2019–2022 | Queens Park Rangers | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Mark Warburton (born 6 September 1962) is an English professionalfootball manager and formerplayer who is currently theSporting Director and Head of Soccer forSporting Club Jacksonville of theUnited Soccer League.[2]
As a player, Warburton was aright back at non-League level withEnfield andBoreham Wood. He began his coaching career in theacademy atWatford, before moving toBrentford in February 2011, serving as a coach and sporting director until being appointed manager in December 2013. He led the club fromLeague One to promotion to theChampionship in the2013–14 season and finished the following season with the club's best second-tier placing for 80 years.[3][4][5] He managedRangers in Scotland from 2015 to 2017, winning theScottish Championship title and theScottish Challenge Cup in his first season. He joined Nottingham Forest in March 2017, but was dismissed after nine months.
Growing up in London, Warburton attendedThe Latymer School,Edmonton.[6] Adefender, Warburton began his playing career as an apprentice atLeicester City underFrank McLintock and later dropped intoNon-League football withEnfield.[7][8] Warburton took a dislike to the methods of McLintock's successor at Leicester,Jock Wallace,[7] later saying "he was aMarine. We had runs on sand-dunes, running until we threw up. I learned a lot from that, never treating a player that way".[9]
Warburton had a successful four years at Enfield, winning the1981–82 FA Trophy and1982–83 Alliance Premier League title.[10] He battled for theright back spot at the club with Trevor Savage and scored his only league goal for the club pastBoston UnitedgoalkeeperKevin Blackwell in a 2–0 win during the 1982–83 season.[8] After leaving Enfield in 1985, Warburton later played forIsthmian League sideBoreham Wood, Scottish non-league side Stoneyburn Juniors and also spent time playing inCharlotte and Chicago men's leagues while living in the United States.[7][11]Cruciate injuries ended his playing career.[12]
Warburton began hiscoaching career in a part-time role atSt. Clement Danes School inChorleywood while working as atrader.[7] He later said to his wife, "we have the money in the bank, the house is paid for, our lifestyle won't change. I want to do this: 10 years to achieve something in the game. It's now or never".[9] After leaving his trading job in the early 2000s, he spent his own money travelling around Europe, watching coaching sessions atSporting CP,Ajax,Valencia,Barcelona andWillem II.[7][9]
Warburton was offered a permanent coaching job withWatford, at U9 through to U16 level and was appointed manager of theacademy in 2006.[7] After a reshuffle in 2009, he became assistant academy manager for U17 to U19 age groups.[13] While at Watford, he established links withHarefield Academy.[14][15] Warburton left Watford in February 2010 to "pursue other sporting interests".[13] Warburton later said in 2014 that he left Watford because he "had a fall out with one or two people. I was treated very shabbily, but they have gone now, so I've got no grudges against the club".[16]
Nicky Forster was appointedcaretaker manager ofLeague One sideBrentford in February 2011 and named Warburton as first team coach.[17] Warburton had previously worked with Brentford ownerMatthew Benham on theNextGen Series and explained that he "got a call from the owner at 1:30 in the morning, asking if I would come in to assist Nicky. I didn't know a lot about Brentford or know any of the players, so I stayed up for the rest of the night looking at player profiles".[18][19] Following a successful interim period, Forster was given the role on a permanent basis until the end of the2010–11 season.[20] Warburton assisted Forster until the end of the season. After the departure of Rösler toChampionship sideWigan Athletic on 7 December 2013, assistant managerAlan Kernaghan took charge of the team for that day's 3–2FA Cup second round defeat away toCarlisle United.[21] Warburton was included as part of the coaching team, alongside first team coachPeter Farrell.[22]
On 24 June 2022,West Ham United appointed Warburton as a first-team coach, becoming part of managerDavid Moyes' backroom staff.[23]He left the club in June 2023 wishing to seek out a more senior role in football.[24]
After turning down an opportunity to follow previous manager Uwe Rösler to Wigan Athletic,[citation needed] Warburton was announced as the new Brentford manager on 10 December 2013, on a deal running until the end of the2013–14 season.[25] He said "I don't think I could have taken being rejected (for the manager's job) again. I was invited to apply and if I hadn't I would just have stayed as Sporting Director".[19] A 90th-minute goal fromJonathan Douglas versusOldham Athletic on 14 December gave Warburton a 1–0 win in his first official match in charge.[26] Warburton cited a need to put his "fingerprint on the squad and coaching staff", which led to Alan Kernaghan and Peter Farrell departing the club on 16 December andDavid Weir's appointment as assistant manager the same day.[27][28]
A 3–1 win overMilton Keynes Dons atGriffin Park on 29 December sent Brentford to the top of League One and meant that Warburton became the first Brentford manager to win his first four games.[29][30] The run extended to six straight wins after a 3–1 away victory overPeterborough United on 1 January 2014.[31] DefenderAlan McCormack commented that "a change in management often means a new man bringing in their own staff and own ideas, but he (Warburton) has kept it pretty much the same, just making one or two changes".[32] Warburton's winning start garnered him theLeague One Manager of the Month award for December 2013.[33] Four wins and a draw in January 2014 saw Warburton nominated for the League One Manager of the Month award for the second month in succession.[34] A 3–0 home defeat toWolverhampton Wanderers on 22 February gave Warburton his first defeat as Brentford manager, ending a run of 19 league games unbeaten.[35]
While briefing the team in their hotel inCanary Wharf on the eve of a crunch match againstLeyton Orient in mid-March, Warburton drew on his trading background to demonstrate the pressures of the job to coach David Weir, kit man Bob Oteng and players Jonathan Douglas,Clayton Donaldson andMarcello Trotta, taking them on a tour of the dealing room atHSBC.[9] Playing in front of theSky Sports cameras the following day, a goal from Trotta was enough to see the Bees to a victory which returned them to theautomatic promotion places in League One.[36] Five wins and two draws in March meant Warburton received his third League One Manager of the Month nomination in four months.[37]
A 1–0 win overPreston North End at Griffin Park on 18 April saw Brentford promoted to the Championship as runners-up to Wolverhampton Wanderers with three games to spare.[4] In his 27 games as manager during the 2013–14 season, Warburton won 17, drew six and lost four. On 26 June, Warburton pledged his future to the Bees by signing a one-year rolling contract.[38][39]
Warburton's first game in management at Championship level took place against London neighboursCharlton Athletic on 9 August 2014.[40] After the 1–1 draw, he said "we've got a lot of young players who will find their feet, but when you start a new job and move up you have to adapt to your new environment quickly because no allowances will be given".[40] Warburton led the club to their first league win of the season on 19 August, winning 2–1 atBlackpool.[41] A 3–2 win overBrighton & Hove Albion on 13 September lifted the Bees into the Championship playoff places for the first time in the season.[42] Wins overNottingham Forest andMillwall saw Warburton named as the manager of the Football League Team of the Week for 3–9 November.[43] A club record-equalling five successive second-tier wins sent Brentford to third-place in the division at the end of November (the club's highest placing in theleague pyramid since the opening day of the1952–53 season)[44][45][46] and earned Warburton theChampionship Manager of the Month award and theLMA Performance of the Week award for a 4–0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.[47][48] At the end of 2014, Warburton had managed the Bees to the best home record in theFootball League in 2014.[49] Three wins from four in January 2015 earned Warburton a second Championship Manager of the Month nomination in three months.[50]
On 10 February 2015, an article inThe Times claimed Warburton would be replaced as manager at the end of the2014–15 season.[51] A week later, a club statement confirmed that Warburton, assistant David Weir and Sporting Director Frank McParland would be leaving Brentford at the end of the 2014–15 season, citing the trio's differences with owner Matthew Benham's anticipated remodelling of the club's management structure,[52] which would include recruitment being based onmathematical modelling and statistics allied to normalscouting methods.[53] TheHounslow Chronicle later dubbed the saga "Warburtongate".[54] Ahead of Brentford'splayoff campaign in May 2015, Warburton revealed the truth about his departure, saying "I think the manager has to pick the team and have the final say, in my opinion. I think there's going to be a much greater emphasis on mathematical modelling than currently. There are certain aspects which I think have worked well at this football club, but Matthew's the owner and the board have made a decision".[55] Between the outbreak of the news and the end of the 2014–15 season, Warburton was linked with the managerial jobs at Leicester City,[56]Queens Park Rangers,[57]Aston Villa, Derby County,[58]Newcastle United,Leeds United andNorwich City.[59][60]
Brentford's form suffered in the wake of the announcement of Warburton's departure, with successive defeats to Watford and Charlton Athletic dropping the club from 6th to 7th place and out of the playoff positions.[61][62] On 5 March, Warburton won the London Manager of the Year award at the 2015 London Football Awards.[63] A run of 17 points from a possible 27 (including a 4–1 victory over Fulham atCraven Cottage, Brentford's biggest ever league win at the ground of theirWest London rivals)[64] saw the side rise to fifth in the table on 3 April.[61][62] More dropped points saw Brentford go into the penultimate game of the season three points outside the playoffs,[65] having won only five of their last 15 games since "Warburtongate".[54] Two wins in the final two games and favourable results elsewhere saw Warburton lead Brentford to fifth position and a place in the playoffs,[66] the club's highest second-tier finish since the1934–35 season.[5] Brentford's 2014–15 season ended with a 5–1 aggregate defeat toMiddlesbrough in the playoff semi-finals.[67] Warburton used just 24 players in the 2014–15 season, the joint-fewest in the Football League.[68] Warburton finished his Brentford managerial career with 40 wins, 16 draws, 22 losses and a winning percentage of 51.28%, the highest of any Brentford manager.[69] He departed Griffin Park upon the expiry of his contract on 30 May.[70]
It was later discovered that one reason for Warburton's departure was that he vetoed any incoming transfers during the 2015 January transfer window, only sanctioning the signing of an injured Lewis MacLeod.[71]
On 15 June 2015, Warburton was appointed manager ofScottish Championship clubRangers on a three-year contract.[72] Weir, a former Rangers captain, was again appointed as his assistant. Warburton described his appointment as a "tremendous privilege". He led the Gers to a league and cup double with successes in the second tier Scottish Championship (promotion to theScottish Premiership) and theScottish Challenge Cup in his first season. Mark Warburton's firstOld Firm victory came on 17 April 2016 in theScottish Cup Semi-Final. After 90 minutes and extra time Rangers and Celtic were locked in at 2–2 (Kenny Miller andBarrie McKay on the scoresheet for Rangers), Rangers won 5–4 on penalties. Rangers progressed to the2016 Scottish Cup Final, which they lost 3–2 toHibernian.
On 12 July 2016, Warburton and Weir extended their contracts with Rangers by a further year.[73] Rangers fell far behind in the2016–17 Scottish Premiership title race, as Celtic moved 19 points clear after winning an Old Firm match on 31 December.[74] According to a club statement, Warburton, Weir and head of recruitment Frank McParland resigned from their positions on 10 February 2017.[75] Warburton toldBBC Scotland that he had not resigned and would seek legal advice.[76]
On 14 March 2017, Warburton was appointed manager of Championship clubNottingham Forest on a two-and-a-half-year contract, with Weir once again as his assistant.[77] His first game in charge was a 2–2 draw against Forest's local rivalsDerby County at theCity Ground, on 18 March 2017. Warburton was dismissed by Forest on New Year's Eve 2017, following a 1–0 home defeat bySunderland.[78] Forest were 14th in the league, having lost 14 games.[78]
On 8 May 2019, Warburton was announced as manager ofQueens Park Rangers on a two-year contract.[79] He led QPR to victory againstStoke City in his first game in charge, becoming the first QPR manager to win his debut match sinceNeil Warnock in March 2010.[80] On 28 April 2022, it was announced that Warburton would be leaving QPR at the end of his contract.[81]Michael Beale formally took over as his successor on 1 June 2022.[82]
Following an unsuccessful application to become Brentford manager,[7][83] Warburton moved into the role ofSporting director in the summer of 2011, a new position created by an internal restructuring of the club.[83][84] His role included dealing withagents, club finances and contracts, in addition toscouting young players and recommending them to the management.[85] Warburton's links with the academy at Watford saw Brentford sign a number of players with Hornets connections, includingloaneesDale Bennett,[86]Adam Thompson,[87]Rob Kiernan,[88]Piero Mingoia,[89]Lee Hodson and permanent transfersHarry Forrester andJack Bonham.[90][91][92] Warburton stated that the much-maligned Sporting Director/director of football position can work in English football, saying though he "would row every other day" with manager Uwe Rösler, the pair never fell out and Rösler had the final say on team selection and signings.[93]
In December 2012, Warburton held talks withPremier League sideWest Bromwich Albion about filling the Sporting Director position,[94] but Baggies chairmanJeremy Peace decided to look elsewhere.[95] Warburton oversaw Brentford being awarded Category Twoacademy status in July 2013 and the opening of a new purpose-built facility on the grounds ofUxbridge High School four months later.[84] In December 2013, Warburton was succeeded in his Sporting Director position by formerLiverpoolacademy chief Frank McParland,[25] whom he had heard of through formerLiverpool and current Leicester managerBrendan Rodgers.[93]
On March 20, 2025, Sporting Club Jacksonville, an expansion franchise inUnited Soccer League (bothUSL Championship andUSL Super League) named Warburton as sporting director and Head of Soccer.[96]
Warburton and sports TV producer Justin Andrews met in 2005, while working on the Inside Soccer project.[97][98] The pair formed Cycad Sports Management in 2010[14] and through the company they launched theNextGen Series, an U19 club cup competition. Brentford owner Matthew Benham was also a backer of the competition.[18] Theinaugural tournament began in August 2011 and featured 16 teams, including European heavyweights Barcelona,Inter Milan, Sporting Lisbon, Ajax, Liverpool andTottenham Hotspur. The tournament was expanded to 24 teams in2012–13 and was won by Aston Villa. The 2013–14 tournament was cancelled in August 2013 due to a lack of funding[99] and the emergence of the rivalUEFA Youth League.[100] While manager of Brentford, Warburton signed a number of players who had put in notable performances in the tournament, includingJoão Carlos Teixeira andBetinho (Sporting Lisbon),[101][102]Alex Pritchard (Tottenham Hotspur)[103] andChuba Akpom,Nico Yennaris andJon Toral (Arsenal).[104][105][106] In 2016, 19 year oldJordan Rossiter joined Rangers having previously appeared for Liverpool in the NextGen series as a 15 year old.[107]
While at Enfield, Warburton became a trader in London and also worked in the United States.[7][14] Looking back in 2014 on his time inthe City, he said: "I was a currency dealer for the likes ofBank of America,AIG andRBS. I was getting up at 4:32 for 20-odd years, leave the house at 4:52, get the 5:02 train intoLiverpool Street, at my desk at 5:45, getting home at 7pm and take phone calls through the night, orders from New York City. I was well paid, good at what I did. There was a lot of risk, a lot of pressure. My personal turnover would be £1.5 billion to £2 billion a day".[9] Warburton cites parallels between trading and football management, including teamwork, communication, competition and man management.[108]
His son Jack, was a youth player at Watford and Leicester City, before moving toCanada to play forUSL Premier Development League sideK-W United.[109][110] He signed a six-month deal with Brentford'sDevelopment Squad in January 2015 and also representedNorthern Ireland atU16 andU17 level.[111][112][113]
| Team | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | |||
| Brentford | 10 December 2013 | 30 May 2015 | 78 | 40 | 16 | 22 | 051.3 |
| Rangers | 15 June 2015 | 10 February 2017 | 82 | 54 | 15 | 13 | 065.9 |
| Nottingham Forest | 14 March 2017 | 31 December 2017 | 37 | 15 | 3 | 19 | 040.5 |
| Queens Park Rangers | 8 May 2019 | 7 May 2022 | 150 | 56 | 35 | 59 | 037.3 |
| Total | 347 | 165 | 69 | 113 | 047.6 | ||
Brentford
Rangers
Individual
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