Craig Short

Craig Short

Personal information
Full name	Craig Jonathan Short
Date of birth	(1968-06-25) 25 June 1968
Place of birth	Bridlington, England
Height
Position(s)	Defender
Youth career
1986–1987	Pickering Town
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1987–1989	Scarborough	63	(7)
1989–1992	Notts County	128	(6)
1992–1995	Derby County	118	(9)
1995–1999	Everton	99	(4)
1999–2005	Blackburn Rovers	134	(4)
2005–2007	Sheffield United	23	(0)
2008	Ferencváros	0	(0)
Total		565	(30)
Managerial career
2009–2010	Ferencváros
2010	Notts County
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:56, 22 September 2006 (UTC)

Craig Jonathan Short (born 25 June 1968 in Bridlington, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England) is a former football player who played as a central-defender.

Playing career

After attending Amotherby primary school and Lady Lumley's School (Pickering) along with his brother Chris, he started his professional career at Pickering Town in the 1986–87 season. In October the following year they moved to Scarborough together, and in June 1989, Notts County together. However, as his brother was dogged by injury, Craig managed to ascend to greater things.

After 4 seasons for Notts County he moved to Derby County at the beginning of the 1992–93 season. He signed for £2.5million – a record for a club outside the top flight, and the highest fee for a defender at the time. He had been subject of a similarly high bid for ambitious Premier League side Blackburn Rovers, but opted to join Derby instead.

He completed more than 100 competitive games for both Derby and his next club, Everton who he joined three seasons later. He left the Merseyside club in 1999, joining Blackburn Rovers for £1.7 million – seven years after they had first tried to buy him.

Short endeared himself to the Rovers' faithful by scoring 2 goals in a 5–0 drubbing of deadly local rivals Burnley in the 2000–01 season and being a mainstay in the team which won promotion and established itself back in the top flight.

However, he missed the 2002 League Cup final against Tottenham Hotspur through suspension, a match which Blackburn won 2–1. He did gain European experience in the following season, playing 2 games in the UEFA Cup.

In the 2002–03 season, his cult status at Rovers was assured with a 96th-minute equaliser with local rivals Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium. On another occasion, after a 4–0 victory away to Birmingham City on 6 December 2003, manager Graeme Souness labelled Short the "perfect professional" after outplaying City striker Christophe Dugarry, who was sent off for elbowing Short.

In his final league game for Rovers on 7 May 2005 against Fulham, Short was handed the captain's armband by then manager Mark Hughes. However, in an out of character incident, he was sent off for violent conduct against Fulham's Luis Boa Morte after the Portuguese striker dangerously fouled Lucas Neill and Short pushed Boa Morte in the chest. He did however lead the team out for one final time a few weeks later in Tony Parkes' testimonial match, who was also leaving the club.

In the summer of 2005 he was allowed to move on to Sheffield United and was an important member of United's successful promotion campaign. He signed a one-year contract but only made two League Cup appearances that season. He was released at the end of the 2006–07 season and retired from football.

Retirement

After retirement, Short returned to his sailing business on Windermere, teaching sailing to the public and corporate teams, and delivering boats to their owners. He was featured on Sky Sports series "Where are they now". He also studies pharmacy at Reading University.

Return to football

In September 2008, it was announced that Short had joined Sheffield United's sister club, Ferencvaros, as a player-coach to Bobby Davison. He played his first and only game for Ferencvaros on 29 October 2008, in the League Cup against Fehérvár. He was named on the starting line-up for the game.

On 30 November 2009 Ferencvaros officially signed Short as new manager, however he left the Hungarian club because he did not possess the UEFA Pro Licence required in the Hungarian top division.

On 4 June 2010 he was appointed as the new manager of Notts County. He was sacked on 24 October 2010.

After a break from football, Short returned as Head of Recruitment for Derby County's academy. In 2013 Short was appointed first team coach at Blackburn Rovers where he had enjoyed a six-year spell as a player.

Career statistics

Manager

As of 23 October 2010

Team	Country	From	To	Record
				G	W	D	L	Win %
Ferencváros		30 November 2009	May 2010	21	9	7	5	42.86
Notts County		4 June 2010	24 October 2010	18	8	1	9	44.44
Total				39	17	8	14	43.59

External links

• Craig Short career statistics at Soccerbase