Neil Cox (footballer)

For other people named Neil Cox, see Neil Cox (disambiguation).

Neil Cox

File:Neil Cox.jpg Neil Cox AFC Wimbledon (Assistant Manager)
Personal information
Full name	Neil James Cox
Date of birth	(1971-10-08) 8 October 1971
Place of birth	Scunthorpe, England
Height
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	AFC Wimbledon (Assistant Manager)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1990–1991	Scunthorpe United	17	(1)
1991–1994	Aston Villa	40	(3)
1994–1997	Middlesbrough	106	(3)
1997–1999	Bolton Wanderers	80	(7)
1999–2005	Watford	219	(20)
2005–2006	Cardiff City	27	(2)
2006–2008	Crewe Alexandra	58	(1)
2010–2011	Leek Town	4	(0)
Total		551	(37)
International career
1993–1994	England U21	6	(0)
Managerial career
2010–2011	Leek Town
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Neil James Cox (born 8 October 1971) is a retired English professional footballer. He spent most of his career playing as a central defender or right-back for Watford but also made over 100 appearances for Middlesbrough. Cox also played for Scunthorpe United, Aston Villa and Bolton Wanderers, and was capped at Under-21 level by England. His final Football League club was then League One outfit Crewe Alexandra. Cox retired from professional football in 2008, going on to became a property developer in Portugal. Cox subsequently returned to the game in 2010 after being appointed as the new manager of Leek Town. When the club had injury concerns Cox regsistered himself as a player with the league, making 4 appearances. Cox would be in charge just one season, however, before he would hand in his resignation for "Personal Reasons". On 10 October 2012, it was announced that Cox would reunite with former Watford teammate Neal Ardley as his Assistant Manager at Football League Two outfit AFC Wimbledon.

Playing career

Scunthorpe United

Cox began his career at Scunthorpe United, having been born locally. He made his first team debut in 1990 at the age of 19, he would make only 17 appearances for the club however, leaving to join Aston Villa after just one season with The Iron.

Aston Villa

Whilst at Villa, Cox came on as a substitute as Villa beat Manchester United in the 1994 League Cup Final.

Middlesbrough

Cox scored in Middlesbrough's 2-1 home win against Liverpool in November 1995.

Watford

Famously overhead kicked over his own crossbar to clear a ball for a corner.

Crewe Alexandra

Cox scored twice for The Railwaymen. His first goal came in a 3–1 win over Cheltenham Town on 12 September 2006. He also scored against MK Dons in the FA Cup the following season. Cox signed for Crewe in June 2006 after being released by Cardiff City.

Cox retired at the end of the 2007–08 season; the home game against Oldham Athletic was the last of his career.

Managerial career

Leek Town

In October 2010 he returned to the game after being appointed as the new manager of Leek Town. When the club had injury concerns Cox regsistered himself as a player with the league. In unexpected circumstances Cox resigned as Leek Town manager after a 1–0 home victory against Quorn. Cox stated "Personal Reasons" as his resigation reason

AFC Wimbledon

On 10 October 2012, it was announced that Cox would reunited with former Watford team-mate Neal Ardley as his Assistant Manager at Football League Two side AFC Wimbledon. The pair took charge of what was viewed as an extremely difficult task to keep the Dons in the football league, only to secure their status on the final day of the 2012-13 season.

Honours

• Football League Cup: 1994; runner-up 1997

External links

• Neil Cox career statistics at Soccerbase