 Coughlan playing forShrewsbury Town in 2009 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Graham Coughlan[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1974-11-18)18 November 1974 (age 51)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Dublin, Ireland[2] | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[3] | ||
| Position | Centre back[2] | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1987–1994 | Cherry Orchard | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1994–1995 | Bray Wanderers | 11 | (0) |
| 1995–1999 | Blackburn Rovers | 0 | (0) |
| 1997 | →Swindon Town (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| 1999 | →Livingston (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 1999–2001 | Livingston | 50 | (2) |
| 2001–2005 | Plymouth Argyle | 177 | (25) |
| 2005–2007 | Sheffield Wednesday | 51 | (5) |
| 2007 | →Burnley (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2007–2008 | Rotherham United | 45 | (1) |
| 2008–2010 | Shrewsbury Town | 78 | (6) |
| 2010–2013 | Southend United | 38 | (0) |
| Total | 461 | (39) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2018–2019 | Bristol Rovers | ||
| 2019–2020 | Mansfield Town | ||
| 2022–2024 | Newport County | ||
| 2024–2026 | Boston United | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Graham Coughlan (born 18 November 1974) is an Irish professionalfootball manager and formerplayer who played as acentre back. He was most recently manager ofNational League clubBoston United.
Coughlan began his career in his native Ireland withBray Wanderers, before being signed byBlackburn Rovers. He joinedLivingston in 1999 and his performances for the Scottish club led to a transfer toPlymouth Argyle two years later. He was an integral member of the squad that won twoFootball League divisional championships between 2002 and 2004, and was a favourite among supporters for his uncompromising style of play at the heart of their defence.[4] Coughlan joinedSheffield Wednesday in 2005, before dropping down toLeague Two to play forRotherham United. He moved on toShrewsbury Town a year later and combined playing duties with coaching their young players. He signed for Southend United in July 2010, taking up a coaching position at the club in 2013, before going on to manageBristol Rovers andMansfield Town.
Coughlan started his playing career atLeinster Senior League sideCherry Orchard, he then briefly moved toLeague of Ireland clubBray Wanderers. At 21, he was brought to England by thenBlackburn RoversmanagerRay Harford but struggled to earn a place in thePremier League Champions' first team. Loan spells atSwindon Town andLivingston followed before he made a permanent move to the Scottish club in the Summer of 1999 having impressed whilst on loan there. Coughlan spent two successful seasons atLivingston before moving back to England toDevon club Plymouth Argyle.
A highly successful four-year spell at the club followed, with Coughlan a permanent fixture, earning his name in the PFA Division Three team of the year for 2001–02.[5]He played a key role in Plymouth's Championship-winning teams for Division Three, where he was top goalscorer, and Division Two where he was named as Division Two's Player of the year. Coughlan was voted the club's player of the year in 2002 and was also named in the greatest Plymouth Team by fans to mark the club's first 100 years as a professional club. Coughlan was also Vice-Captain of Plymouth and his influence and stature was missed for nearly two seasons in their defence after he was sold toSheffield Wednesday which they then managed to fill withKrisztián Timár.
In the summer of 2005, he was reunited with former managerPaul Sturrock when he moved back north to newly promoted Sheffield Wednesday for an undisclosed fee. During his first season at the club Graham proved to be a hit with the fans and management alike, earning a regular place in the team and also taking over the role ofcaptain fromLee Bullen whilst the Scot's injury problems regularly kept him out of the team.
On 12 April 2006, Coughlan was named Sheffield Wednesday Player of the Year 2005–06. It was the fifth time Graham has won such an award, having previously being named Player of the Year twice at Livingston and twice at Plymouth.
In March 2007, Coughlan was allowed compassionate leave following the death of his brother.[6]He missed five games, and on his return was made train with the youth team by Brian Laws so he asked to be sent on loan after failing to feature for the first team under new bossBrian Laws. He immediately managed to agree a deal to stay atBurnley until the end of the season.[7] However, he only started one game, the 0–0 draw withLuton Town, before returning to Sheffield Wednesday, where he was told by manager Brian Laws that he had no future at the club, and made available for transfer.
On 4 July 2007, Coughlan was released by Sheffield Wednesday after being deemed surplus to requirements. Coughlan then signed forRotherham United on 13 July .[8] He made his debut on 11 August in a 0–0 draw withHereford United, and was almost ever-present throughout the2007–08 season. He scored his only goal for Rotherham in a 1–1 draw withBrentford.[9]
On 30 July 2008, Coughlan signed a two-year contract with Shrewsbury for an undisclosed fee.[10] He scored a goal on his debut, in the 4–0 win overMacclesfield Town on 9 August. In his two years at the club won the captaincy and performed some coaching duties, such as being in charge of Shrewsbury's reserve side which beatSheffield United 5–0. He was released from his contract on 14 May 2010.[11]
On 6 August 2010, Coughlan signed a one-year deal with Southend United, he will also take on the role of reserve team manager. Coughlan made his debut on 10 August 2010 againstBristol City in the League Cup,[12] and his league debut againstPort Vale on 21 August 2010. On 13 June 2011, Coughlan signed a two-year contract extension as player/assistant manager.[13] Coughlan's playing contract was due to expire on 30 June 2013. On 20 June 2013, Coughlan signed a new deal to take up the role of first team coach, thus bringing the end to his player career.[14]
In 2018, Coughlan joinedBristol Rovers as a defensive coach. In December 2018, he was appointed caretaker manager following the departure ofDarrell Clarke andMarcus Stewart.[15] In January 2019, he was appointed on a permanent basis after picking up ten points from a possible fifteen over the course of his caretaker spell.[16] At the time of his appointment, Rovers were sitting 19th in the league, only sitting above the relegation zone on goal difference. With the signing ofJonson Clarke-Harris, Rovers saw an upturn of their fortunes and secured their League One status in the penultimate match after a 0–0 draw atFleetwood Town.[17]
Having been involved in a relegation battle the previous season, Coughlan's upturn of fortunes at the club continued into the start of the2019–20 season. A 1–0 win overMilton Keynes Dons in October saw his side rise into the play-off positions for the first time in the season.[18] His side returned to these play-off positions in December when they produced a comeback victory to defeat Coughlan's former side Southend United 4–2.[19] With his side 2–0 down at halftime, Coughlan threatened to cancel the players' Christmas party before their spectacular comeback.[20] Rovers climbed to fourth the following Saturday when they won 2–1 away atIpswich Town, a result overshadowed by the post-match speculation regarding Coughlan's position as manager with rumours he was looking to leave the club.[21] These rumours were proved to be true when, two days later, Rovers issued a statement to confirm that the club had allowed Coughlan to speak toMansfield Town after two previous approaches that had been rejected.[22]
On 17 December 2019, Coughlan decided to accept an offer to become new manager of League Two Mansfield Town.[23] It was reported that it was family reasons that he left, his family being based in South Yorkshire.
On 28 October 2020, Mansfield Town confirmed they had parted ways with Coughlan, after a poor start to the season.[24]
On 22 March 2021, Coughlan joinedSheffield United U23 as a coach until the end of the season, along withDarren Currie.[25]
On 20 October 2022, Coughlan was appointed manager of League Two clubNewport County on a two-and-a-half-year contract with Newport in 19th place in League Two after 14 league matches of the2022–23 season.[26] Newport finished the 2022–23 season in 15th position in League Two.[27] Newport County reached the fourth round of the 2023–24 FA Cup, losing 4–2 toManchester United of thePremier League.[28] Newport finished the 2023-24 season in 18th place in League Two.[29]
On 20 June 2024, Coughlan departed the club by mutual consent.[30]
On 19 November 2024, Coughlan was appointed manager ofNational League sideBoston United, the side sitting in 23rd position at the time of his appointment, seven points from safety. On 24 November 2024, he took charge of his first game, beating Braintree Town 3-1.[31] He was named National League Manager of the Month for March 2025 following a run of twenty points from nine matches, leadingthe Pilgrims outside of the relegation zone having been twelve points from safety at the start of the month.[32] The club secured safety in their penultimate match of the season, an achievement that Coughlan himself labelled 'a miracle'.[33]
In June 2025, fellow National League sideHartlepool United had an approach for Coughlan rejected.[34] On 11 January 2026, Coughlan was sacked by the club after a run of 1 win in 11 league games, leaving the Pilgrims 17th in the National League.[35]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Bray Wanderers | 1994–95 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Blackburn Rovers | 1995–96 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996–97 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Swindon Town (loan) | 1997–98 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Livingston (loan) | 1998–99 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Livingston | 1999–2000 | 29 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 34 | 0 |
| 2000–01 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 27 | 2 | |
| Total | 50 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 61 | 2 | |
| Plymouth Argyle | 2001–02 | 46 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 52 | 11 |
| 2002–03 | 42 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 5 | |
| 2003–04 | 46 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 49 | 8 | |
| 2004–05 | 43 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 2 | |
| Total | 177 | 25 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 193 | 26 | |
| Sheffield Wednesday | 2005–06 | 33 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 5 |
| 2006–07 | 18 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 1 | |
| Total | 51 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 6 | |
| Burnley (loan) | 2006–07 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Rotherham United | 2007–08 | 45 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 49 | 1 |
| Shrewsbury Town | 2008–09 | 42 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 50 | 5 |
| 2009–10 | 36 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 39 | 2 | |
| Total | 78 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 89 | 7 | |
| Southend United | 2010–11 | 33 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 36 | 0 |
| 2011–12 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| Total | 37 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 41 | 0 | |
| Career total | 460 | 39 | 20 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 16 | 2 | 511 | 42 | |
| Team | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | |||
| Bristol Rovers | 13 December 2018 | 17 December 2019 | 56 | 25 | 18 | 13 | 044.64 |
| Mansfield Town | 17 December 2019 | 27 October 2020 | 27 | 4 | 9 | 14 | 014.81 |
| Newport County | 20 October 2022 | 20 June 2024 | 93 | 33 | 23 | 37 | 035.48 |
| Boston United | 19 November 2024 | 11 January 2026 | 66 | 25 | 16 | 25 | 037.88 |
| Total | 242 | 87 | 66 | 89 | 035.95 | ||
Livingston
Plymouth Argyle
Individual
Individual
{{cite news}}:|archive-url= is malformed: timestamp (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)Managerial positions | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
