Managerial statistics
- As of 6 May 2024
| Team | Nation | From | To | Record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | F | A | Gd | Win % | ||||
| Crusaders |  Northern Ireland | 20 February 2005 [9] | Present | 966 | 548 | 157 | 261 | 1,846 | 1,190 | +656 | 56.73 |
| Total | 966 | 548 | 157 | 261 | 1,846 | 1,190 | +656 | 56.73 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 1 October 1965 | ||
| Place of birth | Belfast, Northern Ireland | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Glentoran | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1985–1987 | Ards | 43 | (21) |
| 1987–1993 | Linfield | 114 | (51) |
| 1993–1994 | Distillery | 25 | (6) |
| 1994–1998 | Crusaders | 108 | (40) |
| 1998–2000 | Glenavon | 48 | (19) |
| 2000–2002 | Crusaders | 58 | (23) |
| 2002 | Bangor | 0 | (0) |
| 2005 | Crusaders | 0 | (0) |
| Total | 396 | (160) | |
| International career | |||
| 1981 | Northern Ireland U16 | 3 | (0) |
| 1987 | Irish League XI | 2 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2005–2024 | Crusaders | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Stephen John Baxter BEM (born 1 October 1965) is a Northern Irish football manager and retired footballer. Baxter is known for his time at Crusaders, where he had two spells as a player, and served as manager for 19 years between 2005 and 2024. [1]
In 2019, Baxter was awarded a British Empire Medal for services to football in Northern Ireland. [2]
'Stanley' (as he would later be nicknamed after the Scottish comedian) started out as a player with Glentoran before signing for Ards in 1985. His goalscoring exploits caught the notice of Linfield and he signed for them in 1987, winning two Irish League championships, three Gold Cups and a League Cup. He scored 102 goals in 219 games for the Blues, of which 169 were starts. [3]
Unable to hold down a regular starting place, however, he signed for Crusaders in 1994. Baxter became one of the key players of Crusaders' golden team of the 90's, again winning two Irish League championships, a Gold Cup and League Cup. In 1995/96, he was named in the Football Writers' Premier League Team of the Year, and in 1996/97 he was named as the Ulster Footballer of the Year. He then moved to Glenavon for a successful period before returning to Seaview for a second two-year spell in 2000. [4]
Baxter was memorable for his hat-trick in a relegation play-off against Lisburn Distillery, ensuring the Crues' survival. Baxter left Seaview a firm fan-favourite and legend status for a short spell at Bangor, where he coached briefly and played two cup games, before retiring from football completely and opening a sports shop in Newtownards. He played a total of 650 games in his career, and scored 303 goals. [5] He later came out of retirement briefly in a County Antrim Shield match against Dundela in 2005. [6]
Following the sacking of Alan Dornan, Baxter was installed as manager at Seaview, yet was unable to keep the Hatchetmen in the top division. After winning virtually every intermediate trophy in sight the following season, under Baxter's leadership the Crues returned to the Irish League and lead the table briefly, before finishing in 6th position in 2006–07.
After, he led the club to their first top 3 finish for a decade in 2008–09, and also the team's first Irish Cup victory in 41 years. He led the club to County Antrim Shield success the following season. Baxter is the club's most successful manager of all time.
In 2011–12, Baxter led the Crues to triumph in the Irish League Cup, winning the competition for the first time since 1996. That same season, he delivered success at the 2012 Setanta Sports Cup. [7] [8]
| Team | Nation | From | To | Record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | F | A | Gd | Win % | ||||
| Crusaders | Northern Ireland | 20 February 2005 [9] | Present | 966 | 548 | 157 | 261 | 1,846 | 1,190 | +656 | 56.73 |
| Total | 966 | 548 | 157 | 261 | 1,846 | 1,190 | +656 | 56.73 | |||
Linfield
Lisburn Distillery
Crusaders
Glenavon
Individual
Crusaders
Glentoran Football Club is a professional football club based in East Belfast, that plays in the NIFL Premiership. The club was founded in 1882 and has since won more than 130 major honours, making them one of the most successful teams in the world.
Linfield Football Club is a Northern Irish professional football club, based in south Belfast, which plays in the NIFL Premiership – the highest level of the Northern Ireland Football League. The fourth-oldest club on the island of Ireland, Linfield was founded in 1886 by workers at the Ulster Spinning Company's Linfield Mill. Since 1905, the club's home ground has been Windsor Park, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland national team and is the largest football stadium in Northern Ireland. They train at Midgley Park which is beside the stadium. The club's badge displays Windsor Castle, in reference to the ground's namesake.
Ballymena United Football Club is a semi-professional football club from Northern Ireland. Based in Ballymena, County Antrim, the team competes in the NIFL Premiership and plays home matches at the Ballymena Showgrounds. The club has been managed by former captain Jim Ervin since 2023.
Crusaders Football Club is a semi-professional Northern Irish football club playing in the NIFL Premiership. The club, founded in 1898, is based in north Belfast and plays its home matches at Seaview.
Robert Wright "Roy" Walker is a football manager and former player. His most recent job was as manager of NIFL Premiership side Ballymena United.
Edward Patterson, better known as Eddie Patterson is the former manager of NIFL Premiership clubs Cliftonville and Glentoran. He was relieved of his duties as Glentoran manager on Saturday 17 October 2015. Despite winning two Irish Cups in three years, the club highlighted deteriorating league positions and performances as the main reason for his dismissal.
Glenn Ferguson is a Northern Irish former football player and manager.
Paul Leeman is a Northern Irish football coach and former footballer who is currently first team coach at Crusaders.
Colin Coates is a semi-professional footballer from Northern Ireland who plays as a defender for Ballymena United.
George O'Boyle is a Northern Irish former professional footballer and now manager.
Noel Bailie is a Northern Irish former semi-professional footballer who spent his entire career playing for Linfield. He played as a sweeper and wore shirt number 11. With 40 club titles with Linfield, he is the most decorated player from the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Martin "Marty" Quinn is a former Irish League footballer and a current manager. Quinn is well known for leading Cliftonville to become Irish League champions in 1998, and leading Coleraine to Irish Cup glory in 2003.
Gary Smyth, nicknamed Smickers is a Northern Irish former footballer and manager. He played as a centre back for Glentoran, Glenavon, Ballymena and Crusaders. He previously managed Glentoran in 2019 and had two spells managing H&W Welders, first from 2013–2018 and the second spell from 2019–2022.
Kirk Hunter is a retired Northern Irish footballer. While he played less due to injuries and suspension in the later stages of his career, he won two Irish League titles with Crusaders, and is one of the most decorated Crusaders players.
Alan Dornan is a retired Northern Irish footballer and manager.
Jeff Spiers is a Northern Irish football coach and former player. A defender, Spiers started out with Barn United before signing for Linfield, where he won virtually every domestic honour possible, before signing for Glenavon, Bangor, and Crusaders, where he was appointed captain and was instrumental in the Crues rise into the Premier League as they won almost all intermediate trophies. Appointed at the start of the 2007–08 season, Jeff was appointed manager of Crusaders Reserves team. He was assistant manager of the first team at the club to Stephen Baxter until his departure in 2024.
Michael Gault is a Northern Irish football former player who is currently manager of Linfield F.C. Swifts. He previously managed Ballymacash Rangers from 2019-20.
Chris Morrow is a Northern Irish footballer who currently plays for Brantwood.
David Rainey is a retired footballer from Northern Ireland who played as a striker, and is currently assistant manager at Crusaders.
The North Belfast derby is the name given to association football matches between Cliftonville and Crusaders who play in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The two are separated by around 1.5 miles with Cliftonville based at Solitude on Cliftonville Road and Crusaders at Seaview on the Shore Road.