Lower league managers with future potential: Part 1 – Past Acheivers

Ron Atkinson 

‘Big Ron’ spent his entire career playing for Oxford United, making his debut in 1959 when the club were known as Headington United until their election to the Football League in 1962. Making a club record number of appearances – which still remains today – Atkinson was part of the club that won promotion from the Southern Premier Division to Division 2 from 1962-1968.

Atkinson took his first managers job at non-league side Kettering Town, aged just 32. After a successful spell with the club, he moved to Cambridge United, where he won promotion from Division 4, leaving when the club were on the verge of promotion to Division 2.

He took the jump to the first Division managing West Bromwich Albion, finishing in the top four for two of the the three seasons he spent there.

Atkinson then moved to Manchester United, where he won two F.A Cup’s (in 1983 and 1985), and five successive top four finishes in Division 1. A brief spell followed back at West Brom, who had now been relegated to Division 2, helping the club avoid the drop again.

He then took charge at Atletico Madrid, albeit for a two month spell, before returning to England to manage Sheffield Wednesday. Arriving in 1989, he saw his side relegated to Division 2 the following season, but bounced back at the first time of asking, and winning the League Cup the following season.

Atkinson would win the League Cup with his next club, Aston Villa, three years later. After guiding Wednesday to a 3rd placed finish and a domestic cup win, he moved to Villa Park, finishing 2nd in the newly formed Premier League and winning the League Cup the following season.

Brief spells in charge of Coventry, where he saved the club from relegation from the Premier League, Sheffield Wednesday, where he again avoided the drop, and Nottingham Forest completed the run-in to his managerial career. Despite relegation with Forest after just five months as manager, Atkinson can look back over his managerial career with immense pride, especially as, as a player, he never played in England’s top flight.