[17 SEP 01]

Whilst ‘Big Ron’s’ record as manager does not stand up well to scrutiny – only 14 wins in 64 games – he can be credited with not only helping Coventry City back into the limelight with his ready quips and larger than life persona but also attracting a number of top class players to the club, including Gordon Strachan and Gary McAllister.

RON ATKINSON ARRIVES AS NEW MANAGER :
COVENTRY CITY v WEST HAM UNITED - 18 FEBRUARY 1995

Born in Liverpool on 18 March 1939 Ron started his playing career on Aston Villa’s books in the late 1950s. While there he played for their youth side against Coventry at Highfield Road in 1956.

After being released by Villa he played over 400 games for Oxford United as they went from the Southern League to Division 2 in five years earning the nickname “the Tank”.

On retiring from playing he became manager of Southern League Kettering where success led to his appointment as manager of Cambridge United in 1974. He led Cambridge to the Division 4 championship in 1977 and was invited to take over at West Brom a year later.

Though he did not win any honours at The Hawthorns, the club thrived under his leadership with an attractive style of football and in 1981 he was given the opportunity to manage Manchester United.

In his five years at Old Trafford they won the FA Cup twice, in 1983 and 1985, and were League Cup runners-up in 1983. The team never finished lower than fourth in the First Division but the championship was the holy grail for United in those days and when Ron couldn’t deliver they turned to Alex Ferguson.

A further spell for Ron at West Brom was followed by a very brief spell at Athletico Madrid.

Then in 1989 he returned to England to manage Sheffield Wednesday. After keeping them in the top flight in 1989, from a seemingly impossible situation, he somehow contrived to get them relegated the following season. They bounced back in 1991 and also won the League Cup, beating United in the final!

Within weeks of the final however he controversially resigned to take over at Villa who he took to Premier League runners up in 1992 and Coca Cola Cup victory in 1994. However after a poor start to the following season he was sacked.

He wasn't out of the manager's seat for long as in February 1995 he took over from Phil Neal at Coventry City.

Arriving at Coventry in a blaze of glory he banished talk of relegation and within weeks had taken City well out of the danger zone with an unbeaten six match run including a famous victory at Anfield.

A dip in form however, dragged them back into the dogfight and Ron had to call upon his new assistant manager Gordon Strachan to save the day in a crucial evening game at Tottenham.

For the 1995-96 season he made several acquisitions including John Salako, the Brazilian Isaias and Paul Telfer and a major improvement was expected.

Once again however the club were involved in a relegation battle and required a draw on the last day of the season to stay up.

When 1996-97 started in a similar vein Ron’s critics came to the fore and, after only one win in twelve matches, he was asked to move aside to allow Strachan to take the reins.

Ron was 'moved upstairs' and given the title Director of Football. This new non-role meant that he was not involved in day-to-day matters at the club but he did carry out some useful coaching missions. The following summer his contract was terminated and he left the club.

Since 1997 he has managed Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest, keeping the former up in 1998 but failing with the latter in 1999.

Ron's career as an ITV pundit has blossomed however and he can be heard regularly covering Champions League and international matches.

FACTFILE