 Mowbray in 2009 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Anthony Mark Mowbray[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1963-11-22)22 November 1963 (age 62)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Saltburn,[1] England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[2] | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1982–1991 | Middlesbrough | 348 | (26) |
| 1991–1995 | Celtic | 77 | (5) |
| 1995–2000 | Ipswich Town | 128 | (5) |
| Total | 553 | (36) | |
| International career | |||
| 1989 | England B | 3 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2002 | Ipswich Town (caretaker) | ||
| 2004–2006 | Hibernian | ||
| 2006–2009 | West Bromwich Albion | ||
| 2009–2010 | Celtic | ||
| 2010–2013 | Middlesbrough | ||
| 2015–2016 | Coventry City | ||
| 2017–2022 | Blackburn Rovers | ||
| 2022–2023 | Sunderland | ||
| 2024 | Birmingham City | ||
| 2025 | West Bromwich Albion | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Anthony Mark Mowbray (born 22 November 1963) is an English football manager and formerfootballer who was most recently the manager ofEFL Championship clubWest Bromwich Albion. Mowbray played forMiddlesbrough,Celtic andIpswich Town as adefender.
He began his coaching career with Ipswich Town and took his first managerial job atScottish Premier League sideHibernian, where he won theScottish Football Writers' Association Manager of the Year award in his first season. He moved on to West Bromwich Albion in 2006, where he won theFootball League Championship in 2008, but then suffered relegation from thePremier League the following year. Mowbray was then appointed as manager ofCeltic, but was dismissed after nine months for poor results.
Mowbray subsequently took the manager's role at another of his former clubs, Middlesbrough.[3] After a poor start to the 2013–14 season, Mowbray left Middlesbrough in October 2013.[4] After a spell withCoventry City, he was appointedBlackburn Rovers manager in February 2017. He was unable to prevent Rovers being relegated to League One, but then won promotion back to theChampionship at the first attempt.
After playing his first match for the club in 1982, Mowbray became captain of Middlesbrough in1986 when he was just 22 years old. Affectionately known to Boro fans as "Mogga", Mowbray became a legend in Middlesbrough for being alocal lad who led the club fromliquidation back into the top league of English football within two seasons.
In 2007, Mowbray was placed at number 7 in a chronological list of Middlesbrough legends[5] compiled by local newspaper theEvening Gazette. The Middlesbrough club fanzineFly Me to the Moon is named after a quote about Mowbray from ex-Middlesbrough managerBruce Rioch – "If I had to fly to the moon I'd take Tony Mowbray, my captain, with me. He's a magnificent man". In 1991, after 348 appearances forBoro, Mowbray moved to Scottish clubCeltic for £1 million.
During his playing career with Celtic, Mowbray's wife Bernadette, a native ofRenfrewshire, died of breast cancer. The episode is recalled in Mowbray's book,Kissed by an Angel. It is often asserted that the "huddle" which Celtic players still perform before each match was arranged as a tribute to Bernadette.[6] However, it was merely suggested by Mowbray on a pre-season tour of Germany to bring the squad together at a time of uncertainty.[citation needed]
He later moved on toIpswich Town, where he played for five years, becoming the team captain. He scored an equalising goal in the 2000 Division One playoff final victory againstBarnsley. Ipswich won the match 4–2 and secured promotion tothe FAPremier League. This match was both Mowbray's Wembley debut and the last of his playing career.
Once his playing career finished, he moved into coaching, starting as a first-team coach atIpswich Town. He had a brief spell as caretaker manager of Ipswich, following the sacking ofGeorge Burley and prior to the appointment ofJoe Royle.[7]
In May 2004, Mowbray was appointed manager ofHibernian, replacingBobby Williamson.[8] He gained much acclaim for the job he did, winning theScottish Football Writers' Association manager of the year award in his first season.[9] Hibs finished in the top four in the SPL in his only two full seasons in charge, which was the first time sinceEddie Turnbull's time as manager that the club had done this in the top division in consecutive seasons.
The Hibs team progressed to the later stages of every domestic cup competition during his tenure, and made two appearances in European football. They lost heavily toDnipro Dnipropetrovsk in the first round of the2005–06 UEFA Cup and on theaway goals rule toOB Odense in the2006 Intertoto Cup. During mid-2006 Mowbray was interviewed for the vacant managerial position at Ipswich Town, but he rejected this approach.[10] In September 2006 he signed a 12-month rolling deal with Hibs that was due to take effect from July 2007.[11] Just one month later, however, Mowbray moved toWest Bromwich Albion.
West Bromwich Albion appointed Mowbray as its manager on 13 October 2006.[12] Mowbray faced the task of returning the Baggies to thePremier League after relegation the previous season.[12] Although he managed to turn around the club's poor away form, an indifferent run of results at home towards the end of the season meant that Albion finished fourth in The Championship table behindSunderland,Birmingham City andDerby County, and faced the lottery of theChampionship play-offs. Despite two famous victories over old rivalsWolverhampton Wanderers in the semi-finals, Albion lost 1–0 toDerby County in theWembley final.
As a result, during the close season, Mowbray set about restructuring his squad, moving out several of Robson's players for multimillion-pound fees, after press reports of dressing room division.[13]
High-profile players such asJason Koumas,Diomansy Kamara andCurtis Davies were sold to Premier League clubs for large fees, in addition to the departures ofPaul McShane,Nathan Ellington,Darren Carter andSteve Watson. Mowbray replaced them by signing a total of 14 permanent and loan players in the summer transfer window, making an overall profit in the process. His most expensive signings wereChris Brunt fromSheffield Wednesday for £3 million,[14]Leon Barnett fromLuton Town for £2.5 million,[15] andJames Morrison from Middlesbrough for £1.5 million.[16]
Despite the large changes in his squad, Mowbray won theChampionship Manager of the Month award in September 2007, after Albion gained 13 out of the maximum 15 points and climbed to second in the Division.[17]
At the start of 2008, Mowbray's young Albion team topped the table, receiving growing plaudits from the media[18] and supporters alike for their attractive brand of attacking one touch passing football, a reflection of Mowbray's staunch footballing philosophy.[citation needed]
Mowbray guided West Brom to theEFL Championship title, meaning promotion to thePremier League and reached the semi-final of theFA Cup. The semi-final, the first to be played at the newWembley Stadium, pitted West Brom against Portsmouth, the only remaining Premier League team left in the FA Cup. Portsmouth won the match 1–0 with the only goal of the game coming from Kanu. Mowbray won the Championship manager of the month award for April,[19] as well as theLeague Managers Association manager of the year award.[20]
After a poor 2008–09 season, West Bromwich were relegated from the Premier League, finishing 20th. Mowbray was still thought highly of by the fans, however, and this was evidenced by them wearing Mowbray masks at their last game of the season.[21] Mowbray left the club forCeltic shortly afterwards.
On 8 June 2009, it was reported thatCeltic had approached West Bromwich Albion for permission to speak to Mowbray about their managerial vacancy.[22] A compensation fee of £2 million was agreed, and Celtic declared Mowbray as their new manager on 16 June 2009.[23] He was unveiled as Celtic manager at a press conference a day later. His coaching team wasNeil Lennon,Peter Grant,Mark Venus, andStevie Woods.[24] On 12 September 2009 was named as the Coach of the Month of August in theScottish Premier League.
Mowbray was described as "beleaguered" byThe Herald after Celtic fell 10 points behindOld Firm rivalsRangers in theSPLtitle race after a 2–1home defeat byHibs.[25]
Mowbray decided to make significant changes to his squad during the January 2010 transfer window, sellingGary Caldwell andBarry Robson, which apparently caused disruption to the team in the immediate aftermath of those deals being completed.[25]Robbie Keane was recruited early in 2010 on a loan deal from Tottenham Hotspur amid great excitement; however, further poor results, particularly a record 4–0 defeat bySt Mirren, led to Mowbray being sacked on 25 March.[26] It was reported in May 2010 that Celtic had yet to agree compensation with Mowbray and his management team.[27]
Mowbray was appointed Middlesbrough manager on 26 October 2010, replacingGordon Strachan. He lost his first match in charge, 2–1 againstBristol City,[28] but followed this with wins againstCrystal Palace andScunthorpe. Mowbray guided Boro toChampionship safety,[29] having joined the club when they were 22nd in the league. The club finished the season well, winning their last four league games and finished 12th in the league table. The same season, Mowbray started giving youngsters a first team place such asJoe Bennett,Luke Williams andRichard Smallwood. Mowbray also started givingMarvin Emnes more playing time after returning on loan fromSwansea City.[citation needed]
Middlesbrough began the 2011–12 season well and Mowbray won manager of the month for September.[30] Middlesbrough relinquished the only unbeaten record in the league after a 2–0 defeat to Nottingham Forest in October 2011.[citation needed] After a poor start to 2012, Middlesbrough's form picked up in late February with four wins in five games.[31] Middlesbrough finished 7th in the 2011–12 season, missing out on a play-off place by one position.[citation needed]
After an unbeaten run in October 2012, Mowbray won the accolade of Championship Manager of the Month for that month.[32] On 21 October 2013, it was announced that Mowbray had left the club with immediate effect after a run of two wins in 12 games in the2013–14 campaign.[33]
On 3 March 2015, Mowbray was appointed manager ofCoventry City on a deal until the end of the 2014–15 season.[34] With the club facing the possibility of relegation to the fourth-tier for the first time since the late 1950s, Tony Mowbray's initial brief was to keep the club in the third-tier. A final-day victory away at Crawley Town was enough for Mowbray to secure League One football for the Sky Blues for the 2015–16 season.[35]
Following protracted negotiations at the end of the season, Tony Mowbray agreed to sign a two-year contract extension to remain as Coventry City manager.[36]
Mowbray resigned from Coventry City on 29 September 2016 after a string of results without a win.[37]
On 22 February 2017, Mowbray was appointed head coach ofBlackburn Rovers on an 18-month contract, effectively lasting until the end of the 2017–18 season.[38] Despite an improvement in form that offered some hope of survival, Blackburn were relegated to League One at the end of the 2016–17 season.[39]
Mowbray signed a new contract that would keep him at the club until 2019, with an option of a further 12 months after that as well.[40] Under his managership, Blackburn won promotion back to the Championship after a single year in League One.[41] Their promotion was assured on 24 April, after a 1–0 away win againstDoncaster Rovers.[42]
In the 2018–19 season, Mowbray led Blackburn to a final finish of 15th in the Championship. In the EFL Cup, they reached the third round before being eliminated atAFC Bournemouth. In the FA Cup, Blackburn were eliminated in the third round after extra time in a replay againstNewcastle United.[citation needed]
In the 2019–20 season, Mowbray secured an 11th-place finish in the Championship. In the EFL Cup, the team reached the second round before defeat atSheffield United. They were beaten in the third round of the FA Cup at fellow Championship side Birmingham City.[citation needed] Mowbray left Blackburn at the conclusion of his contract in May 2022 and was replaced byJon Dahl Tomasson as head coach. He had served five years in the post.[43]
On 30 August 2022, Mowbray was appointed head coach of Championship clubSunderland replacingAlex Neil.[44]
He led the Black Cats to the play-offs, finishing sixth in his first season. Sunderland won the first leg againstLuton Town 2–1 at theStadium of Light but lost 2–0 in the second leg, losing 3–2 on aggregate.[45]
On 4 December 2023, Mowbray was dismissed by Sunderland, with the club in ninth position in the Championship.[46]
Mowbray was appointed manager of Championship club Birmingham City on 8 January 2024, replacingWayne Rooney; he signed a two-and-a-half-year contract.[47] On 19 February, the club announced that the need for medical treatment forced his temporary withdrawal from the role. His assistant,Mark Venus, took charge for a month, and on 19 March, Birmingham confirmed that Mowbray was taking formal medical leave until the start of 2024–25 pre-season and that their former managerGary Rowett would take charge for the last eight games of the season.[48][49] The team were unable to avoid relegation. On 21 May, Mowbray resigned as manager with immediate effect, stating that his health would not allow him to resume his duties soon enough for the needs of the club, and that once fit, he intended to prioritise "quality time" with his family before returning to football management.[50][51] Mowbray later confirmed that he had been diagnosed with bowel cancer.[52]
On 18 January 2025, Mowbray was reappointed head coach ofEFL Championship club West Bromwich Albion on a two-and-a-half-year contract.[53]
On 21 April 2025, Mowbray was sacked by the West Bromwich Albion, after a run of poor results.[54]
Mowbray has three sons with his wife, Amber Mowbray. His first wife, Bernadette Doyle Mowbray, died ofbreast cancer on New Year's Day 1995, aged 26.[55][56] Mowbray's brother Darren is the current head of recruitment at Southampton.[57]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Middlesbrough | 1982–83 | Second Division | 26 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 0 |
| 1983–84 | Second Division | 35 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 1 | |
| 1984–85 | Second Division | 40 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 3 | |
| 1985–86 | Second Division | 35 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 38 | 4 | |
| 1986–87 | Third Division | 46 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5[d] | 0 | 58 | 7 | |
| 1987–88 | Second Division | 44 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 5[e] | 0 | 58 | 5 | |
| 1988–89 | First Division | 37 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4[c] | 0 | 44 | 3 | |
| 1989–90 | Second Division | 28 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4[c] | 0 | 38 | 2 | |
| 1990–91 | Second Division | 40 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 4[f] | 1 | 53 | 5 | |
| 1991–92 | Second Division | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 21 | 0 | |
| Total | 348 | 26 | 23 | 1 | 29 | 2 | 24 | 1 | 424 | 30 | ||
| Celtic | 1991–92 | Scottish Premier Division | 15 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 2 |
| 1992–93 | Scottish Premier Division | 26 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4[g] | 0 | 33 | 1 | |
| 1993–94 | Scottish Premier Division | 21 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[g] | 0 | 24 | 1 | |
| 1994–95 | Scottish Premier Division | 15 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 1 | |
| Total | 77 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 95 | 5 | ||
| Ipswich Town | 1995–96 | First Division | 19 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[h] | 1 | 26 | 3 |
| 1996–97 | First Division | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | |
| 1997–98 | First Division | 25 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 1 | |
| 1998–99 | First Division | 40 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[i] | 0 | 46 | 2 | |
| 1999–2000 | First Division | 36 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[i] | 1 | 40 | 2 | |
| Total | 128 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 152 | 8 | ||
| Career total | 553 | 36 | 37 | 1 | 43 | 3 | 38 | 3 | 670 | 43 | ||
| Team | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | |||
| Ipswich Town (caretaker) | 11 October 2002 | 28 October 2002 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 025.00 |
| Hibernian | 24 May 2004 | 13 October 2006 | 108 | 52 | 16 | 40 | 048.15 |
| West Bromwich Albion | 18 October 2006 | 16 June 2009 | 140 | 57 | 32 | 51 | 040.71 |
| Celtic | 16 June 2009 | 25 March 2010 | 45 | 23 | 9 | 13 | 051.11 |
| Middlesbrough | 26 October 2010 | 21 October 2013 | 153 | 61 | 37 | 55 | 039.87 |
| Coventry City | 3 March 2015 | 29 September 2016 | 76 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 034.21 |
| Blackburn Rovers | 22 February 2017 | 30 May 2022 | 267 | 108 | 70 | 89 | 040.45 |
| Sunderland | 30 August 2022 | 4 December 2023 | 65 | 26 | 18 | 21 | 040.00 |
| Birmingham City[61] | 8 January 2024 | 19 February 2024[a] | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 050.00 |
| West Bromwich Albion | 17 January 2025[b] | 21 April 2025 | 17 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 029.41 |
| Total | 883 | 363 | 212 | 308 | 041.11 | ||
Middlesbrough
Ipswich Town
Individual
West Bromwich Albion
Blackburn Rovers
Individual Awards
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)Assistant Manager, Mark Venus, will assume temporary responsibility for the team with immediate effect.
