![]() Taylor pictured in 2009 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Gareth Keith Taylor [1] | ||
Date of birth | 25 February 1973 | ||
Place of birth | Weston-super-Mare, England [2] | ||
Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) [3] | ||
Position(s) | Forward | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Manchester City Women (Head coach) | ||
Youth career | |||
1990–1991 | Southampton | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1991–1995 | Bristol Rovers | 47 | (16) |
1992 | → Gloucester City (loan) | 2 | (0) |
1992 | → Weymouth (loan) | 5 | (0) |
1995–1996 | Crystal Palace | 20 | (1) |
1996–1998 | Sheffield United | 87 | (24) |
1998–2001 | Manchester City | 48 | (9) |
2000 | → Port Vale (loan) | 4 | (0) |
2000 | → Queens Park Rangers (loan) | 6 | (1) |
2001 | → Burnley (loan) | 15 | (4) |
2001–2003 | Burnley | 80 | (32) |
2003–2006 | Nottingham Forest | 90 | (19) |
2006 | → Crewe Alexandra (loan) | 15 | (4) |
2006–2008 | Tranmere Rovers | 60 | (10) |
2008–2009 | Doncaster Rovers | 31 | (1) |
2009 | → Carlisle United (loan) | 5 | (1) |
2009–2011 | Wrexham | 60 | (14) |
Total | 575 | (142) | |
International career | |||
1995–2004 | Wales | 15 | (1) |
Managerial career | |||
2020– | Manchester City Women | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Gareth Keith Taylor (born 25 February 1973) is a football manager and former player who is the head coach of Manchester City Women.
He began his career as a defender at Bristol Rovers, having left the Southampton youth team in 1991. After loan spells with non-League sides Gloucester City and Weymouth, he was converted into a striker. He then spent the 1995–96 season with Crystal Palace (who paid £1.25 million for his services) before two years with Sheffield United. He transferred to Manchester City in 1998 for a £400,000 fee and was loaned out to Port Vale, Queens Park Rangers, and Burnley. He moved permanently to Burnley in 2001 and joined Nottingham Forest for a £500,000 fee two years later. In 2006, he was loaned out to Crewe Alexandra before signing with Tranmere Rovers. In 2008, he switched to Doncaster Rovers and joined Conference club Wrexham a year later, following a brief spell on loan at Carlisle United. He retired as a player in September 2011, scoring 135 goals in 642 appearances across all competitions. In addition to an eighteen-year career in the Football League, he also enjoyed a nine-year international career. He won a total of fifteen caps for Wales and scored once in a friendly against Scotland. He was eligible for the national side because of his Welsh-born father.
He went on to coach at Manchester City before he was appointed manager of the club's women's team in May 2020. He led the team to the FA Cup title in 2020 and League Cup title in 2022.
Born in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, Taylor started his career with Southampton but failed to make any first-team appearances and was released. [4] Second Division Bristol Rovers then signed him in 1991. Throughout the 1991–92 season, he was loaned to Gloucester City, where he played two games without scoring. He made his Football League debut as a centre-back in a 6–1 defeat at Cambridge United in February 1992. He then had another loan spell, this time to Weymouth in 1992–93, where he made five appearances without scoring.
He did not play again until the first match of the 1994–95 campaign. By that time, manager John Ward had converted him into a striker. His height meant he was a good target man and was exceptional in the air, scoring twelve goals (most of them headers) in his first full season alongside Marcus Stewart and Paul Miller in attack. His brace against Brentford on the final day ensured a Second Division play-off spot. After a tense away goal victory over Crewe Alexandra in the semi-final, Rovers made it to Wembley, though they lost 2–1 to Huddersfield Town.
After four goals in seven games at the start of the following season, he was transferred to Crystal Palace for an initial £750,000 rising to an eventual £1.25 million on 27 September 1995. [2] He failed to make an impact at the London club and only managed 23 appearances and two goals.
He was soon released by Palace and was signed by Sheffield United on 7 March 1996. [2] In 1996–97 he scored twelve goals, helping the club to the play-off final, though ironically United lost out 1–0 to Crystal Palace. The following season he hit ten goals. United again reached the play-offs, though went out to Sunderland at the semi-final stage.
He was bought by Manchester City for £400,000 in November 1998. In 1998–99, he again found himself in the play-offs; he was a late substitute in the final, replacing Lee Crooks. The 1999–2000 season saw a second-successive promotion for the "Blues". Taylor didn't play a huge role in the promotion, though. Instead, he joined Port Vale on a one-month loan in January 2000. In March, he joined Queens Park Rangers on loan until the end of the season. Stockport County were interested in his signature in November 2000, [5] though nothing was to come out of it. He came close to a move to Sheffield Wednesday in January 2001, but the £100,000 deal did not go through. [6] Instead he joined Burnley on loan the following month. That season he never made a Premier League game for Man City.
He scored his first Burnley goal on 13 March in a 1–0 win at Watford; the loan deal was extended five days later. [7] The loan deal lasted until the end of the season, Taylor having scored four goals in fifteen appearances. He moved to Turf Moor on a free transfer in July 2001, signing a three-year deal. [8] Taylor had a highly successful 2001–02 season with the Lancashire club, scoring sixteen goals despite suffering an ankle injury in January. [9] He also performed in the 2002–03 season, bagging seventeen goals in close to fifty games.
He was targeted by Norwich City, [10] but instead was bought by Paul Hart's Nottingham Forest for £500,000. [11] At the beginning of the 2003–04 season, following his recovery from a serious eye injury sustained while still at Burnley, [12] he became a regular in the side when David Johnson broke his leg. Forest's fortunes took a downturn largely caused by a mass exodus of players during the previous summer. Taylor played a big part in the recovery with some very important goals. His first goal for Forest came against his former club Burnley at Turf Moor, where Nottingham Forest won 3–0. He missed the end of the season with a knee injury that required surgery. [13]
In the unfortunate 2004–05 season, which resulted in relegation, he was made captain by Gary Megson and was the top-scorer with eleven goals. For the second year running, he underwent a knee operation at the end of the season. [14] Shortly into the 2005–06 season, following a string of disappointing performances from the team. With rumours that Megson had a deteriorating relationship with the players, he was stripped of the captaincy. With striker Grant Holt being signed to replace him, Taylor suddenly fell out of favour and was allowed to go on loan to Crewe Alexandra in January 2006, [15] [16] where he enjoyed some success but was unable to prevent them too suffering relegation. Taylor's contract at Nottingham Forest expired in the summer of 2006; the club decided against renewing it, and he was released. [17] Dario Gradi offered him a deal at Crewe, [18] though as expected Taylor signed elsewhere. [19]
At the end of June 2006, he joined Tranmere Rovers on a two-year contract, scoring nine goals in all competitions in his debut season. He broke his jaw at the start of the season, [20] spending a month on the sidelines. Upon his recovery, he said: "I'm enjoying my football now, it's a great club and I'm really loving life at Tranmere", also giving high praise to manager Ronnie Moore. [21]
Taylor initially signed for Doncaster Rovers on loan on 31 January 2008, [22] but the deal was made permanent on 6 February. [23] [24] He scored his first goal on 5 April, the first equaliser in a 2–2 draw against Huddersfield Town at the Galpharm Stadium. He helped the club to promotion from the play-offs, [25] though was an unused substitute in the final. [26] The 2008–09 season started poorly for Taylor as he pulled a hamstring. [27] He joined Carlisle United on a month-long loan deal in March 2009. [28] He scored on his debut, in a 2–1 win over Crewe Alexandra on 3 March. [29] He returned to Doncaster at the end of the season, where he was released from his contract on 7 May. [30]
In June 2009, Taylor signed a one-year contract with Dean Saunders' Conference National side Wrexham, [31] leaving the Football League after eighteen years. Taylor got off to an excellent start with his new club, grabbing a brace in a 3–0 win over Eastbourne Borough on 8 August. [32] He finished the season with nine goals in 28 appearances – enough to earn him a fresh contract at the end of the campaign. [33] In 2010–11, the veteran striker hit six goals in 35 appearances. The "Dragons" earned a play-off spot, though were beaten by Luton Town at the play-off semi-final stage. [34] Throughout his time at the Welsh club he began taking his coaching badges, and regularly took charge of the reserve team. [35] He retired in September 2011, and immediately took up coaching at Manchester City. [36]
Taylor is a former Wales international. Born in England, he qualified for the national side through his father, who was born in Wales. After a three-year absence he was recalled to the squad in August 2001 for the final two 2002 World Cup qualifiers. [37] He was utilised as a stand-in for John Hartson, who was troubled with injury. [38] He scored his only international goal in a 4–0 friendly victory over Scotland at the Millennium Stadium in 2004.
In September 2011, Taylor was appointed as a coach at his former club Manchester City and was given the task of developing young talent in Dubai. [36] He became the under-16 coach at the City of Manchester Stadium in 2012.
He was appointed the head coach of Manchester City Women on 28 May 2020. [39] Lucy Bronze was the biggest name arrival of his first transfer window. [40] On 1 November 2020, he led City to a 3–1 victory over Everton in the 2020 final of the Women's FA Cup at Wembley Stadium. [41] City finished second in the FA Women's Super League at the end of the 2020–21 season, two points behind Chelsea. They reached the FA Cup semi-finals, where they were also beaten by Chelsea. [42] In the 2020 Women's FA Community Shield, they lost to Chelsea, who also eliminated them from the League Cup at the quarter-final stage. [43] [44] City were also beaten in the Champions League quarter-finals, this time losing to Barcelona. [45]
Taylor won his second trophy in management on 5 March 2022, finally overcoming Emma Hayes's Chelsea in a final, as City won 3–1 with a brace from Caroline Weir and goal from Ellen White. [46] He said the win was a good response after he received "unjustified" following a poor start to the 2021–22 campaign. [47] City also reached the final of the FA Cup, though were beaten 3–2 by Chelsea after extra time. [48]
He was named as Super League Manager of the Month for February 2023 after guiding the team to victories over Leicester City and Arsenal to extend the club's unbeaten run to eleven matches. [49] He also won the following month's award after City won all three of their league matches. [50] City ended the season in fourth place, missing out on a Champions League qualification spot on goal difference; Taylor said he was pleased to go the season unbeaten at home. [51]
He signed a new three-year contract in March 2024, with the club second in the table. [52] He was named as WSL Manager of the Month in both February and March as his team put together a winning streak to lead the table. [53] [54] City finished second in the 2023–24 Women's Super League season after being overtaken by Chelsea on goal difference on the final day. [55]
Club | Season | Division | League | FA Cup | Other | Total | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
Bristol Rovers | 1991–92 | Second Division | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
1992–93 | Second Division | 39 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 46 | 12 | |
1993–94 | Second Division | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 4 | |
Total | 47 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 57 | 16 | ||
Crystal Palace | 1995–96 | First Division | 20 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 2 |
Sheffield United | 1995–96 | First Division | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 |
1996–97 | First Division | 34 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 40 | 13 | |
1997–98 | First Division | 28 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 39 | 10 | |
1998–99 | First Division | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 16 | 2 | |
Total | 84 | 25 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 105 | 27 | ||
Manchester City | 1998–99 | Second Division | 26 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 33 | 4 |
1999–2000 | First Division | 17 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 20 | 6 | |
Total | 43 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 53 | 10 | ||
Port Vale (loan) | 1999–2000 | First Division | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
Queens Park Rangers (loan) | 1999–2000 | First Division | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
Burnley | 2000–01 | First Division | 15 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 4 |
2001–02 | First Division | 40 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 16 | |
2002–03 | First Division | 40 | 16 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 48 | 17 | |
Total | 95 | 36 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 106 | 37 | ||
Nottingham Forest | 2003–04 | First Division | 34 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 38 | 8 |
2004–05 | Championship | 40 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 47 | 11 | |
2005–06 | League One | 20 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 6 | |
Total | 100 | 19 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 114 | 25 | ||
Crewe Alexandra (loan) | 2005–06 | Championship | 15 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 4 |
Tranmere Rovers | 2006–07 | League One | 37 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 41 | 9 |
2007–08 | League One | 23 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 4 | |
Total | 60 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 69 | 13 | ||
Doncaster Rovers | 2007–08 | League One | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 1 |
2008–09 | Championship | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | |
Total | 29 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 33 | 1 | ||
Carlisle United (loan) | 2008–09 | League One | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
Wrexham | 2009–10 | Conference National | 26 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 9 |
2010–11 | Conference National | 33 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 6 | |
2011–12 | Conference National | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
Total | 60 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 64 | 15 | ||
Career total | 558 | 117 | 37 | 9 | 47 | 6 | 642 | 135 |
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
Wales | 1995 | 1 | 0 |
1996 | 4 | 0 | |
1997 | 2 | 0 | |
1998 | 1 | 0 | |
1999 | 0 | 0 | |
2000 | 0 | 0 | |
2001 | 0 | 0 | |
2002 | 2 | 0 | |
2003 | 2 | 0 | |
2004 | 3 | 1 | |
Total | 15 | 1 |
All competitive games (league, domestic and continental cups) are included.
Team | From | To | Record | Ref. | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
P | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
Manchester City U-18 | July 2017 | May 2020 | 72 | 43 | 12 | 17 | 59.7 | [59] |
Manchester City Women | 28 May 2020 | present | 136 | 99 | 13 | 24 | 72.8 | [60] |
Total | 208 | 142 | 25 | 41 | 68.3 |
Manchester City
Manchester City Women
Individual
Leslie Mark Hughes is a Welsh football coach and former player who was most recently the head coach of Bradford City.
David Frank Llwyd Jones is an English professional football coach and former player who is currently the first team coach at Welsh club Wrexham. Jones began his playing career at Manchester United, but struggled to get into the first team and spent loan spells at Preston North End, NEC and Derby County, before joining Derby on a permanent basis in 2007. However, he left Derby after just one season to join Wolverhampton Wanderers. He spent three years with Wolves before joining Wigan Athletic. At the end of his second season there, he went on a brief loan spell with Blackburn Rovers, before joining Burnley. After three years with Burnley, he left for Sheffield Wednesday, where he spent another three years before being released at the end of the 2018–19 season. He joined Oldham Athletic on a free transfer but was released in January 2020. He was without a club while football was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but in August 2021, he signed for Wrexham as a player-coach. In June 2022, he retired from football to become a coach full-time at Wrexham.
Frank Mohammed Sinclair is a former professional football player and manager who is a coach at EFL League Two club Doncaster Rovers.
Mark Antony Wilson is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder. He represented England at Under-21 level. He is currently the technical director for NWSL club Angel City FC.
Chelsea Football Club Women, formerly known as Chelsea Ladies Football Club, are an English women's football club based in Kingston upon Thames, London. Founded in 1992, they compete in the Women's Super League, the top flight of women's football in England, and play their home games at the Kingsmeadow with some select games at Stamford Bridge. Since 2004, the club has been affiliated with Chelsea F.C., the men's team in the Premier League. Chelsea Women were a founding member of the Super League in 2010. From 2005 to 2010, the side competed in the Premier League National Division, the top tier of women's football in England at the time.
Darren Ferguson is a Scottish professional football manager and former player, who is currently the manager of League One club Peterborough United, his fourth stint as manager of the club. In between his stints with Peterborough, he also managed Preston North End and Doncaster Rovers.
The 1982–83 season was the 84th completed season of the English Football League.
The 2009–2010 season was the 130th season of competitive football in England.
Rachel Louise Williams is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Manchester United of the English Women's Super League.
The 2013–14 season was the 134th season of competitive football in England.
The 2014 FA WSL was the fourth season of the FA WSL, the top-level women's football league of England. The season began on 30 March and ended on 12 October.
Andrew Alexander Kiwomya is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger and forward for Stalybridge Celtic.
Laura Coombs is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Women's Super League club Manchester City and the England national team.
The 2016–17 season was the 137th season of competitive association football in England.
Bethany England is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Women’s Super League club Tottenham Hotspur, whom she captains, and the England national team. She previously played for Doncaster Rovers Belles, Liverpool and Chelsea, and represented England on the U19 and U23 national teams.
The 2020–21 FA WSL season was the tenth edition of the FA Women's Super League (WSL) since it was formed in 2010. It was the third season after the rebranding of the four highest levels in English women's football.
The 2020–21 season was Manchester City Women's Football Club's 33rd season of competitive football and their eighth season in the FA Women's Super League, the highest level of English women's football.
The following is a list of records and statistics of the Women's Super League (WSL) — the highest level of women's football in England — since its inception in 2011. Barring total appearances, all statistics do not include the 2017 FA WSL Spring Series, which bridged the gap between the 2016 and 2017–18 season, featuring only 8 games for each team. Many league record team statistics only cover 22 and 14 game seasons, as they have been featured in the league at least more than once.
The 2020 Women's FA Cup final (known as the Vitality Women's FA Cup Final for sponsorship reasons was the 50th final of the Women's FA Cup, England's primary cup competition for women's football teams. The showpiece event was the 27th to be played directly under the auspices of the Football Association.
The 2021–22 Leicester City W.F.C. season was the club's 18th season and their first in history as a top-flight team following promotion to the FA Women's Super League, the highest level of the women's football pyramid, at the end of the previous season. Outside of the league, the club also contested two domestic cup competitions: the FA Cup and the League Cup.