Chris Coleman

About

Chris is a Welsh football manager and former player, perhaps best known to the British public for his successful spell as Fulham manager.

His first chance as a professional, at age 16, came when he was contracted to Manchester City. He then joined Swansea City which was his boyhood club which he still supports to this day.

Coleman made his first professional appearance for Swansea aged 17, in 1987. He made nearly 200 appearances for the south Wales club and helped win the Welsh Cup in 1989 and 1991. He had a very successful stint at Crystal Palace where he is considered to have legend status. After spending four years with his hometown club, Coleman was signed by Crystal Palace.

He later joined Fulham and quickly became club captain, and led Fulham to promotion under manager Kevin Keegan in 1998–99 to the First Division.

Chris’ international career was also impressive, winning 32 caps playing for Wales. As a manager, Coleman .

Coleman joined Fulham’s coaching staff in October 2002 under Tigana. He later succeeded the Frenchman as caretaker manager in April 2003. He was named as Fulham’s permanent manager in May 2003, beating the more experienced Klaus Toppmöller and George Burley to the post, and also became the youngest manager in the Premier League.

He attained a respectable ninth place finish in the Premier League in 2004 as the manager of Fulham, who had been tipped for relegation. After leaving Fulham, Coleman was appointed manager of Real Sociedad.

In 2005, Palace supporters voted Coleman into their Centenary XI.

He has been used as a co-commentator on non-contract terms on both ITV at World Cup 2010 and its Europa League coverage.

In June 2010 Coleman worked as a commentator for ITV at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. He has also commentated for Sky Sports.

Until his resignation on 9 January 2012 he was the manager of Greek Side Larissa. On 19 January 2012, Coleman was appointed team manager of the Welsh national team, as successor to Gary Speed.

Chris Coleman is renowned for his passionate and enthralling motivational speeches.  He is also an excellent event host and entertaining after dinner speaker.