.jpg) Grayson in 2018 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Simon Nicholas Grayson[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1969-12-16)16 December 1969 (age 55)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Ripon, England[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Right back,midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Lalitpur City (head coach) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1984–1988 | Leeds United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1988–1992 | Leeds United | 2 | (0) |
| 1992–1997 | Leicester City | 188 | (4) |
| 1997–1999 | Aston Villa | 48 | (0) |
| 1999–2002 | Blackburn Rovers | 34 | (0) |
| 2000 | →Sheffield Wednesday (loan) | 5 | (0) |
| 2001 | →Stockport County (loan) | 13 | (0) |
| 2001 | →Notts County (loan) | 10 | (1) |
| 2002 | →Bradford City (loan) | 7 | (0) |
| 2002–2006 | Blackpool | 126 | (6) |
| Total | 433 | (11) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2005–2008 | Blackpool | ||
| 2008–2012 | Leeds United | ||
| 2012–2013 | Huddersfield Town | ||
| 2013–2017 | Preston North End | ||
| 2017 | Sunderland | ||
| 2018 | Bradford City | ||
| 2019–2020 | Blackpool | ||
| 2021 | Fleetwood Town | ||
| 2022–2023 | Bengaluru | ||
| 2025– | Lalitpur City | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Simon Nicholas Grayson (born 16 December 1969) is an English professionalfootball manager and formerplayer who ishead coach of theNepal Super League clubLalitpur City.
As a player, he was aright back, but he was also utilised inmidfield in a career that lasted from 1988 until 2006. Having started his career withLeeds United he played in thePremier League forLeicester City,Aston Villa andBlackburn Rovers, before moving intothe Football League withSheffield Wednesday,Stockport County,Notts County, Bradford City andBlackpool. He won promotion twice with Leicester City, both via the playoffs, in 1993–94 and 1995–96, and followed it up with a League Cup win in 1996–97. His next piece of silverware came at Blackpool in 2003–04, when he lifted the Football League Trophy.
He was appointed as player-manager of Blackpool in 2005, and a year later retired from playing to concentrate on the managerial side of his job. He guided the club to promotion, via the playoffs, from League One to the Championship in 2006–07.
In 2008, he was appointed manager of Leeds United, leading them to promotion to the Championship in 2010. Dismissed in February 2012, he moved toHuddersfield Town, where he again gained promotion fromLeague One via the play-offs, beatingSheffield United in the final. In February 2013, Grayson became the new manager ofPreston North End, winning promotion from League One to the Championship with them in 2014–15, and later had short spells in charge ofSunderland,Bradford City, Blackpool again andFleetwood Town.
He started playing football for Bedale FC after going through high school at Bedale High School.[2] In June 1988 Grayson began his career with the club he had supported as a boy,Leeds United. At Leeds he played as either a defender or midfielder, however, he did not manage to become a first-team regular, playing just twice in four years. He signed forLeicester City in March 1992 and went on to make 229 appearances in five years. During his time atFilbert Street the team won theLeague Cup in1997, with Grayson scoring the goal againstWimbledon which put them in the final,[3] and was voted the club's player of the season in the same year.
Grayson moved toBrian Little'sAston Villa in 1997 and made another 49Premier League appearances atVilla Park, scoring two goals, both of which came inVilla's 1997–98 FA Cup campaign against Portsmouth[4] and West Bromwich Albion.[5] He then signed forBlackburn Rovers in July 1999, where he made 34 appearances in his first season. He lost his place in the team the following season and spent most of the next two years onloan, with spells atSheffield Wednesday,Stockport County,Notts County (where he scored once against Reading)[6] andBradford City. Grayson signed forBlackpool on afree transfer on 19 July 2002.[7] He made more than 100 appearances for theSeasiders andcaptained the side. He started his career at Blackpool in the right-back berth, but was moved to midfield by former bossColin Hendry to bolster an area of weakness.[citation needed] In 2004 he started thefinal as Blackpool won the2003–04 Football League Trophy.[8]
Grayson moved into coaching in the2004–05 season, managing thereserve squad atBloomfield Road with some success.[citation needed] He was namedcaretaker manager of the first team in November 2005, following the departure ofColin Hendry.[9] After diverting Blackpool away from relegation that season he was given the job on a permanent basis for the start of the2006–07 season. Grayson retired from playing at the end of the2005–06 season to focus purely on the managerial side of the game.
In late 2006, he led Blackpool to only one defeat in fourteen league games, a sequence that included five wins out of six, resulting in their appearance in the fourplay-off positions. The run also brought attendances of more than 7,000 to Bloomfield Road. This led to Grayson being awarded theManager of the Month award for December.[10]
On 6 January 2007, he guided Blackpool to the fourth round of theFA Cup for the first time in 17 years, after beatingAldershot Town 4–2 at Bloomfield Road. They were knocked out byNorwich City, who beat them 3–2 afterextra time, in areplay atCarrow Road on 13 February, narrowly missing out on a trip to London to faceChelsea in the last sixteen.[11]
Grayson received his second League One Manager of the Month award of the 2006–07 season in May 2007.[12] Two days later, on 5 May 2007, Grayson guided Blackpool to a final placing of third, and thus a place in the play-offs.[13] Blackpool beatOldham Athletic 5–2 on aggregate over the two legs of theplay-off semi-final. They metYeovil Town in the final at the newly renovatedWembley Stadium on 27 May and won 2–0, securing promotion to theChampionship. It was their tenth consecutive victory, a new club record. This was extended in Blackpool's first game in the Championship with a league win overLeicester City[14] and a victory againstHuddersfield Town in the League Cup.[15]
In October 2007, Grayson guided Blackpool to the fourth round of the League Cup for the club's first time in 35 years. They were drawn againstTottenham Hotspur atWhite Hart Lane, where Spurs won 2–0.[16] In December 2007 Grayson signed a two-and-a-half-year contract, following two years working without a formal contract.[17][18] In May 2008, Blackpool finished nineteenth in the Championship.[19]
Grayson was heavily linked with the vacant managerial post atLeeds United, with whom he started his playing career, following the dismissal ofGary McAllister in December 2008,[20] but Blackpool refused permission for Leeds to speak to Grayson.[21][22] Despite this Grayson tendered his resignation, which the Blackpool board did not accept, and he was announced as Leeds United's new manager. The two clubs ultimately settled the dispute for an undisclosed fee.[23]
Grayson's first game in charge was atElland Road on Boxing Day against one of his former clubs,Leicester City, who were top ofLeague One. Leeds were sitting in 9th place, on the back of five straight defeats, but a late equaliser fromRobert Snodgrass gave Grayson's new club a 1–1 draw.[24] He recorded his first victory, a crucial 3–1 win away atStockport County two days later.[25] Leeds won their final eleven home games, matching a forty-year-old record from theDon Revie era. Leeds' away form did not match this, and Grayson guided the club into a fourth-place finish, earning them a two-legged play-off tie against fifth-placeMillwall, which Leeds lost 2–1 on aggregate.[26]
Grayson and Leeds started the 2009–10 season with an unbeaten run in all competitions, which included seven victories and a draw in League One and saw the club progress to the third round of the League Cup, before losing 1–0 toLiverpool. In that season'sFA Cup, Grayson led Leeds to a 1–0 victory away toManchester United, their first win atOld Trafford since 1981.[27] Grayson's side also earned Leeds a replay against Premiership oppositionTottenham Hotspur after a 2–2 draw at White Hart Lane.[28]
Grayson's Leeds side was promoted on 8 May 2010 after beatingBristol Rovers 2–1 in their final game coming back from 0–1 with only 10 men. The win saw Leeds finish the season in second place, and earn automatic promotion to The Championship. Grayson reached his 100th game managing Leeds in the 2–1 win againstMiddlesbrough[29]
Grayson was rewarded with his first Manager of the Month award while in charge at Leeds United for the month of December 2010. During that month he oversaw his Leeds team unbeaten in the league, winning three games and drawing two, including a 2–0 home win over league leaders QPR.[30] After a dip in form, Leeds dropped out of the playoff places and finished the season in 7th place.[31]
On 1 February 2012, Grayson was dismissed by Leeds United due to lack of results he was getting.[32] A Club Statement said: "We have 18 games to go this season and are still within touching distance of the Play-Offs, but felt with the transfer window now closed we needed to make the change at this time in the belief that a new managerial team will be able to get more out of the existing squad of players and make the difference".[33] His last result was a 4–1 defeat to Birmingham City on 31 January 2012.[34]
On 20 February 2012, just five days afterLee Clark was dismissed as manager, Grayson became the new manager ofLeague One club Huddersfield Town on a3+1⁄2-year deal.[35] His first game in charge of the Terriers was in their 2–0 home victory overExeter City when both defenderJamie McCombe and leading strikerJordan Rhodes scoring. He also introduced Icelandic midfielderJoey Guðjónsson to the squad for the first time all season.[36] While remaining unbeaten, his next five games in charge proved to be mostly unspectacular, resulting in four draws againstStevenage,Bury,Rochdale andColchester United, also defeatingHartlepool United in a 1–0 home victory.[37] The early pattern of these results remained similar to those of the previous manager,Lee Clark, who managed a number of draws, which were held responsible for the Terrier's inability to cement a place in the automatic promotion spots.[38] With 10 games remaining, Town occupied 4th position in League One,[39] contrary to the chairmanDean Hoyle's brief urging the club to reach one of the top two positions.[40] On 26 May 2012, Grayson led Huddersfield toplay-off victory overSheffield United, gaining promotion to the Championship.[41]
Grayson's first match in charge of Huddersfield in the Championship came on 17 August 2012, a 1–0 defeat away toCardiff.[42] His first Championship win as the club's manager was on 25 August 2012, a 2–0 home victory againstBurnley.[43] On 1 December 2012, Grayson managed Huddersfield against his former side Leeds for the first time, losing 4–2 at home.[44]
He was dismissed by Huddersfield on 24 January 2013, following a run of 12 consecutive matches without victory stretching back to 17 November 2012.[45]
Simon Grayson was appointed manager of Preston North End on 18 February 2013[46] and wentunbeaten in his first four games in charge. Grayson then went on to keep the club clear of relegation with four games to go. Safety was confirmed after a 2–0 home win against Oldham Athletic on 9 April 2013.[47]
In May 2014 Grayson guided Preston North End into the League One play off semi-final against Rotherham United. However, after drawing the first leg at Deepdale 1–1, North End lost the return leg 3–1 despite taking an early lead through Paul Gallagher.[48]
Twelve months later, Grayson guided Preston back to the second tier of English football after being absent for four years with a victory over Swindon Town in the League One play-off final. It was their first success in the play-offs in 10 attempts and was notable forJermaine Beckford's three goals, becoming only the third player to ever score a play-off final hat-trick at Wembley.[49]
On 29 June 2017, Grayson was named as the new manager of newly relegated Championship clubSunderland, replacingDavid Moyes, on a three-year contract.[50] His first league game as manager came on 4 August 2017, where his side drew 1–1 at theStadium of Light againstDerby County.[51] In his following fixture, his team defeatedNorwich City atCarrow Road, with the final result 3–1,[52] Sunderland went on to record another draw,[53] before commencing a four-game losing streak,[54][55][56][57] until drawing one again.[58] After a 2–1 defeat toCardiff City, Sunderland dropped into relegation zone.[59] On 26 September 2017, his team suffered a 5–2 loss toIpswich Town atPortman Road, with them moving down to twenty-third place in their division.[60] Grayson's team then recorded three consecutive draws;[61][62][63] however, they did not move from their league position. He was dismissed after a 3–3 home draw withBolton Wanderers on 31 October.[64]
On 11 February 2018, Grayson was announced as the manager of League One club Bradford City, following the dismissal ofStuart McCall.[65] He won three out of 14 games as they finished 11th, and left at the end of his contract in May.[66]
On 6 July 2019, the day after Terry McPhillips announced his resignation, Grayson was appointed Blackpool manager on a two-year contract.[67] He was sacked on 12 February 2020, after a spell of four points from a possible 27 brought them from 4th place to 15th in League One.[68] He managedKendal Town for one game in October 2020, covering for the self-isolatingChris Humphrey.[69]
On 31 January 2021, Grayson was appointed manager ofFleetwood Town, following the departure of previous managerJoey Barton.[70] Grayson left Fleetwood on 24 November 2021.[71]
On 8 June 2022,Indian Super League sideBengaluru announced the appointment of Grayson on a two-year deal.[72] He reached the2022–23 ISL Final with Bengaluru but lost on penalties toATK Mohun Bagan.
On 9 December 2023, he mutually agreed to part ways with the club after a 4–0 defeat toMumbai City.[73]
Grayson was appointed head coach ofNepal Super League clubLalitpur City on 2 February 2025.[74]
Grayson's son,Joe, made his competitive debut forBlackburn Rovers on 28 August 2018. In doing so the pair became the third father-son duo to play for the club.[75] He is brother to former professional cricketerPaul Grayson.[76]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Europe | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Leeds United | 1987–88[77] | Second Division | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | |
| 1991–92[77] | First Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| Total | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | |||
| Leicester City | 1991–92[78] | Second Division | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[b] | 0 | — | 16 | 0 | |
| 1992–93[78] | First Division | 24 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3[c] | 0 | — | 29 | 1 | ||
| 1993–94[78] | 40 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5[d] | 0 | — | 49 | 1 | |||
| 1994–95[78] | Premier League | 34 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 39 | 0 | ||
| 1995–96[78] | First Division | 41 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3[e] | 0 | — | 50 | 2 | ||
| 1996–97[78] | Premier League | 36 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 46 | 2 | ||
| Total | 188 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 18 | 2 | 14 | 0 | — | 229 | 6 | |||
| Aston Villa | 1997–98[79] | Premier League | 33 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6[f] | 0 | 44 | 2 |
| 1998–99[80] | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[f] | 0 | 20 | 0 | ||
| Total | 48 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 64 | 2 | ||
| Blackburn Rovers | 1999–2000[81] | First Division | 34 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 38 | 0 | |
| 2000–01[82] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| Total | 34 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 39 | 0 | |||
| Sheffield Wednesday (loan) | 2000–01[82] | First Division | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | |
| Stockport County (loan) | 2000–01[82] | First Division | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 14 | 0 | |
| Notts County (loan) | 2001–02[83] | Second Division | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[g] | 0 | — | 13 | 1 | |
| Bradford City (loan) | 2001–02[83] | First Division | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | |
| Blackpool | 2002–03[84] | Second Division | 45 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[g] | 0 | — | 50 | 3 | |
| 2003–04[85] | 33 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5[g] | 0 | — | 43 | 1 | |||
| 2004–05[86] | League One | 36 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 43 | 2 | ||
| 2005–06[87] | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1[g] | 0 | — | 16 | 1 | |||
| Total | 126 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 9 | 0 | — | 152 | 7 | |||
| Career total | 433 | 11 | 28 | 2 | 30 | 3 | 27 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 527 | 16 | ||
| Team | From | To | Record | Ref | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
| Blackpool | 10 November 2005 | 23 December 2008 | 163 | 60 | 51 | 52 | 036.81 | [9][88][89] |
| Leeds United | 23 December 2008 | 1 February 2012 | 169 | 84 | 40 | 45 | 049.70 | [88] |
| Huddersfield Town | 20 February 2012 | 24 January 2013 | 49 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 034.69 | [35][88] |
| Preston North End | 18 February 2013 | 29 June 2017 | 235 | 104 | 74 | 57 | 044.26 | [88] |
| Sunderland | 29 June 2017 | 31 October 2017 | 18 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 016.67 | [64][88] |
| Bradford City | 11 February 2018 | 8 May 2018 | 14 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 021.43 | [88] |
| Blackpool | 6 July 2019 | 12 February 2020 | 38 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 034.21 | [88] |
| Fleetwood Town | 31 January 2021 | 24 November 2021 | 43 | 13 | 10 | 20 | 030.23 | [88] |
| Bengaluru | 8 June 2022 | 9 December 2023 | 48 | 22 | 12 | 14 | 045.83 | [90] |
| Total | 776 | 319 | 226 | 231 | 041.11 | — | ||
Leicester City
Blackpool
Individual
Blackpool
Leeds United
Huddersfield Town
Preston North End
Bengaluru
Individual
