Brian Flynn
Encyclopedia
Brian Flynn, is a Welsh
football manager and former Welsh international
player.
On 13 September 2010 Flynn was confirmed caretaker manager of the Wales national football team
after John Toshack
stepped down. Flynn previously managed the Wales national under-21 football team
, coming close to taking Wales to their first major championship in 57 years.
, and made his league debut for them in the 1973–74 season, when they were in the old First Division
. After 120 league appearances he transferred to Leeds United in November 1977. He moved back to Burnley in November 1982 (after an earlier brief loan spell) and after 80 more league games Flynn moved to Cardiff City
in November 1984.
Flynn later played for Doncaster Rovers
, Bury
and Wrexham
. He made his final Football League appearances in the 1992–93 season whilst with Wrexham, with his final game coming on 3 November 1992 against Scunthorpe United.
He earned 66 full Welsh
caps between 1975 and 1984, scoring 7 goals.
, he was given the Wrexham
manager's job in December 1989 and held it for the next 12 years, establishing a long-running managerial team with Kevin Reeves
and Joey Jones
.
During 1991–92, Wrexham
improved dramatically. They finished well up the table and achieved a shock win over defending league champions Arsenal
in the Third Round of the FA Cup
. More success came in 1992–93
when Wrexham
finished runners-up in the new Division Three and won promotion to Division Two. A run to the FA Cup quarter finals followed in 1996–97, but the Welsh Dragons never mounted a serious challenge for promotion to Division One and by the time Flynn's reign ended in October 2001 they were heading for relegation.
A year after leaving Wrexham
, Flynn made his comeback to the game by accepting the manager's job at Swansea City
. The Swans were bottom of the league for much of the 2002–03 season
and also on the verge of going out of business completely, just over 20 years after they had finished sixth in the old First Division. But Flynn turned the club around and victory on the final day of the season ensured their safety. Flynn left Swansea City midway through the 2003–04 season
.
Flynn joined the Welsh national set-up in 2004 as under-21 coach. His management of the Welsh under-21 side has seen some of the best results in its history. Flynn came agonisingly close to taking the Welsh team to the 2009 UEFA under-21 Championships
, guiding the side to the top of a group containing France
and Romania
, including a superb away win against the latter. Unfortunately, competition rules stipulated that even group winners had to go through a two-legged play-off round in order to qualify, and Wales were knocked out 5–4 on aggregate against their neighbours, England
.
With the departure of John Toshack
as Wales manager after six years being announced on 9 September 2010, Flynn emerged as the favourite to succeed Toshack as national coach. On 13 September 2010 Flynn was confirmed as the Wales caretaker manager.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
football manager and former Welsh international
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
player.
On 13 September 2010 Flynn was confirmed caretaker manager of the Wales national football team
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
after John Toshack
John Toshack
John Benjamin Toshack OBE is a Welsh former footballer and manager. He is currently the manager of Macedonia. He has also managed several others clubs including Swansea City, who he took from the Fourth Division to the First in four seasons.As a player, he is remembered for being part of the...
stepped down. Flynn previously managed the Wales national under-21 football team
Wales national under-21 football team
The Wales national under-21 football team, also known as the Wales U21s, is the national under-21 football team of Wales and is controlled by the Football Association of Wales. The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years...
, coming close to taking Wales to their first major championship in 57 years.
Playing career
Flynn started his career with BurnleyBurnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
, and made his league debut for them in the 1973–74 season, when they were in the old First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
. After 120 league appearances he transferred to Leeds United in November 1977. He moved back to Burnley in November 1982 (after an earlier brief loan spell) and after 80 more league games Flynn moved to Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
in November 1984.
Flynn later played for Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
, Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
and Wrexham
Wrexham A.F.C.
Wrexham Football Club are a professional football team based in Wrexham, north-east Wales, who play in the English football pyramid.Founded in 1872, they are one of the oldest surviving football clubs in Britain and the oldest professional club in Wales...
. He made his final Football League appearances in the 1992–93 season whilst with Wrexham, with his final game coming on 3 November 1992 against Scunthorpe United.
He earned 66 full Welsh
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
caps between 1975 and 1984, scoring 7 goals.
Management career
After a brief spell as assistant at Holywell TownHolywell Town F.C.
Holywell Town F.C. is a football club representing the Flintshire town of Holywell in Wales. They are nicknamed the The Wellmen, and play their home games at Halkyn Road, Holywell...
, he was given the Wrexham
Wrexham A.F.C.
Wrexham Football Club are a professional football team based in Wrexham, north-east Wales, who play in the English football pyramid.Founded in 1872, they are one of the oldest surviving football clubs in Britain and the oldest professional club in Wales...
manager's job in December 1989 and held it for the next 12 years, establishing a long-running managerial team with Kevin Reeves
Kevin Reeves
Kevin Philip Reeves is an English football forward, born in Burley, Hampshire, who scored 103 goals from 333 appearances in the Football League playing for Bournemouth, Norwich City, Manchester City and Burnley, and was capped twice by England at full international level.-Career:Reeves started his...
and Joey Jones
Joey Jones
For other persons named Joey Jones, see Joey Jones.For other similarly named people, see Joseph Jones or Joe Jones.Joseph Patrick "Joey" Jones is a former Wales international football full-back who played for Liverpool for three seasons, including the 1977 season, in which they chased "the...
.
During 1991–92, Wrexham
Wrexham A.F.C.
Wrexham Football Club are a professional football team based in Wrexham, north-east Wales, who play in the English football pyramid.Founded in 1872, they are one of the oldest surviving football clubs in Britain and the oldest professional club in Wales...
improved dramatically. They finished well up the table and achieved a shock win over defending league champions Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
in the Third Round of the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
. More success came in 1992–93
1992-93 in English football
The 1992–1993 season was the 113th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:This season saw the birth of the FA Premier League. This meant a break-up of the 104-year-old Football League that had operated until then with four divisions....
when Wrexham
Wrexham A.F.C.
Wrexham Football Club are a professional football team based in Wrexham, north-east Wales, who play in the English football pyramid.Founded in 1872, they are one of the oldest surviving football clubs in Britain and the oldest professional club in Wales...
finished runners-up in the new Division Three and won promotion to Division Two. A run to the FA Cup quarter finals followed in 1996–97, but the Welsh Dragons never mounted a serious challenge for promotion to Division One and by the time Flynn's reign ended in October 2001 they were heading for relegation.
A year after leaving Wrexham
Wrexham A.F.C.
Wrexham Football Club are a professional football team based in Wrexham, north-east Wales, who play in the English football pyramid.Founded in 1872, they are one of the oldest surviving football clubs in Britain and the oldest professional club in Wales...
, Flynn made his comeback to the game by accepting the manager's job at Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
. The Swans were bottom of the league for much of the 2002–03 season
2002-03 in English football
The 2002-03 season was the 123rd season of competitive football in England.-Most Memorable rise:*Wigan Athletic marked their 25th season of Football League membership by winning the Division Two championship and reaching the league's second tier for the very first time.-Most Memorable...
and also on the verge of going out of business completely, just over 20 years after they had finished sixth in the old First Division. But Flynn turned the club around and victory on the final day of the season ensured their safety. Flynn left Swansea City midway through the 2003–04 season
2003-04 in English football
The 2003-04 season was the 124th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Arsenal completed the entire campaign without losing a single league game....
.
Flynn joined the Welsh national set-up in 2004 as under-21 coach. His management of the Welsh under-21 side has seen some of the best results in its history. Flynn came agonisingly close to taking the Welsh team to the 2009 UEFA under-21 Championships
2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
The 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship began on 15 June 2009, and was the 17th UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship. This was the first tournament after the competition reverted to a two-year format, following the single-year 2006-07 competition, which allowed the change to...
, guiding the side to the top of a group containing France
France national under-21 football team
The France national under-21 football team , known in France as Les Espoirs , is the national under-21 football team of France and is controlled by the French Football Federation. The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years...
and Romania
Romania national under-21 football team
The Romania national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Romania and is controlled by the Romanian Football Federation. The team competes in the European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years....
, including a superb away win against the latter. Unfortunately, competition rules stipulated that even group winners had to go through a two-legged play-off round in order to qualify, and Wales were knocked out 5–4 on aggregate against their neighbours, England
England national under-21 football team
England's national Under-21 football team, also known as England Under-21s or England U21, is considered to be the feeder team for the England national football team....
.
With the departure of John Toshack
John Toshack
John Benjamin Toshack OBE is a Welsh former footballer and manager. He is currently the manager of Macedonia. He has also managed several others clubs including Swansea City, who he took from the Fourth Division to the First in four seasons.As a player, he is remembered for being part of the...
as Wales manager after six years being announced on 9 September 2010, Flynn emerged as the favourite to succeed Toshack as national coach. On 13 September 2010 Flynn was confirmed as the Wales caretaker manager.