Brian Stein
Encyclopedia
Brian Stein is a South African born former English footballer. He is the older brother of former Luton Town
, Chelsea
and Stoke City
striker Mark Stein; another brother, Ed Stein
, played for Barnet.
before signing for Luton Town
in 1977 under David Pleat. This was the first of two spells with the club, where he made 427 appearances and scored 130 goals.
Initially a winger, he soon moved into a central striking role where he formed successive prolific partnerships with Bob Hatton and then Steve White as Luton won the Second Division Championship in 1981/2. The following season his striking partner in the top flight was a youngster, Paul Walsh
, and Luton took the league by storm with a flurry of bravura attacking performances in the early weeks of the season, including 5-0 and 5-3 home victories over Brighton and Notts County, and a 4-4 draw away to Stoke City. To cap it all Luton then went to Anfield and surprised the Liverpool fans with Stein scoring twice past Liverpool keeper Bruce Grobbelaar
, the game eventually finishing 3-3. The initial excitement and promise of the season faded somewhat over the winter as Luton struggled, not least because of Stein missing a substantial part of the season after breaking his foot in December, and by the last game of the season Luton needed to win away at Manchester City to stay in the top division and condemn City themselves to relegation. Stein returned for the game despite lacking match fitness, and played his part with a cross four minutes from time which fell to Raddy Antic to score the winner. The game is primarily remembered for an excited Luton manager, David Pleat
, gambolling across the pitch at the final whistle to hug his players.
Strike partner Walsh moved to Liverpool at the end of the 1983-4 season, and Stein then formed an equally strong partnership with Mick Harford
. His finest hour came on 24 April 1988 when he scored two goals, including the late winner, in Luton's 3–2 Littlewoods Cup Final victory against Arsenal
.
Stein was released at the end of the 1987–88 season, joining French team Stade Malherbe de Caen
. In 1990 he signed for another French team, Annecy
. He rejoing Luton for the 1991–92 season, but Luton were relegated at the end of the season, ending a run of ten successive seasons of top flight football, all but three of which Stein was an integral part of.
He signed for Barnet in 1992, retiring as a player at the end of the 1992–93 season.
in 2–0 defeat against France
in Paris, a game in which he partnered club team-mate Paul Walsh
. This was to be his only international cap. That same year he helped England win the 1984 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
.
leaving for Nottingham Forest
in 2004, Brian was promoted to assistant manager by then Luton manager Mike Newell
. On 15 March 2007, after the sacking of Newell
, Luton appointed Stein caretaker manager. He only managed Luton for one match, a 2–0 home defeat to Ipswich Town on March 17, before being replaced by Kevin Blackwell
. Blackwell brought in his own backroom staff, and Stein left Luton at the end of the 2006-07 season.
On 17 November 2008 Stein was appointed chief scout and first team coach at Grimsby Town, reuniting him with Mike Newell. He was promoted to the position of assistant manager on 12 May 2009 after it was decided not to renew the contract of current assistant manager Stuart Watkiss
.
Mike Newell was sacked in October 2009, however Stein remained in his position as Assistant at least for the next five weeks, despite early speculation that he would leave. He was overlooked in the job of Caretaker Manager, which instead went to Youth Team Manager Neil Woods
. When Woods received the job on a permanent basis, Stein was relieved of his duties on the 30th November, and was replaced by Chris Casper
.
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
, Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
and Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
striker Mark Stein; another brother, Ed Stein
Ed Stein (footballer)
Edwin Stein, also known as Ed Stein or Eddie Stein, is a South African-born English former professional football player and coach.-Playing career:...
, played for Barnet.
Playing career
Stein started his career with Edgware TownEdgware Town F.C.
Edgware Town F.C. was an English football club based in Edgware, Greater London. Established in 1939, the club was dissolved at the end of the 2007–08 season-History:...
before signing for Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
in 1977 under David Pleat. This was the first of two spells with the club, where he made 427 appearances and scored 130 goals.
Initially a winger, he soon moved into a central striking role where he formed successive prolific partnerships with Bob Hatton and then Steve White as Luton won the Second Division Championship in 1981/2. The following season his striking partner in the top flight was a youngster, Paul Walsh
Paul Walsh
Paul Anthony Walsh is a retired English footballer.Walsh was a diminutive and pacy centre forward who shot to fame in the 1980s during spells with Charlton, Luton, Liverpool and Tottenham.-Charlton Athletic:...
, and Luton took the league by storm with a flurry of bravura attacking performances in the early weeks of the season, including 5-0 and 5-3 home victories over Brighton and Notts County, and a 4-4 draw away to Stoke City. To cap it all Luton then went to Anfield and surprised the Liverpool fans with Stein scoring twice past Liverpool keeper Bruce Grobbelaar
Bruce Grobbelaar
Bruce David Grobbelaar is a former football goalkeeper and manager.He played for a number of clubs in a career which spanned for more than 20 years at professional level, most notably Liverpool during their dominant period in the 1980s and early 1990s.-Early years:In his teenage years, Grobbelaar...
, the game eventually finishing 3-3. The initial excitement and promise of the season faded somewhat over the winter as Luton struggled, not least because of Stein missing a substantial part of the season after breaking his foot in December, and by the last game of the season Luton needed to win away at Manchester City to stay in the top division and condemn City themselves to relegation. Stein returned for the game despite lacking match fitness, and played his part with a cross four minutes from time which fell to Raddy Antic to score the winner. The game is primarily remembered for an excited Luton manager, David Pleat
David Pleat
David John Pleat is an English football player turned manager and sports commentator.He is remembered by his contemporaries primarily for his career as manager of Tottenham Hotspur and Luton Town football clubs, and for an oft-televised clip of him running onto the pitch in 1983 to celebrate after...
, gambolling across the pitch at the final whistle to hug his players.
Strike partner Walsh moved to Liverpool at the end of the 1983-4 season, and Stein then formed an equally strong partnership with Mick Harford
Mick Harford
Michael Gordon "Mick" Harford , is an English former football player turned manager. He is former manager of Rotherham and Luton Town and has also been caretaker manager of Nottingham Forest and QPR...
. His finest hour came on 24 April 1988 when he scored two goals, including the late winner, in Luton's 3–2 Littlewoods Cup Final victory against 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...
.
Stein was released at the end of the 1987–88 season, joining French team Stade Malherbe de Caen
SM Caen
Stade Malherbe Caen is a professional French football team, playing in the city of Caen, Normandy. The club was founded on 17 November 1913 following the merger of Club Malherbe Caennais and Club Sportif Caennais...
. In 1990 he signed for another French team, Annecy
Annecy F.C.
Annecy Football Club is a French amateur football club based in the town of Annecy in Haute-Savoie. The team plays its home matches at the Parc des Sports, where the club and its predecessor have been based since 1964...
. He rejoing Luton for the 1991–92 season, but Luton were relegated at the end of the season, ending a run of ten successive seasons of top flight football, all but three of which Stein was an integral part of.
He signed for Barnet in 1992, retiring as a player at the end of the 1992–93 season.
International career
On 29 February 1984 Stein played for EnglandEngland national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
in 2–0 defeat against France
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
in Paris, a game in which he partnered club team-mate Paul Walsh
Paul Walsh
Paul Anthony Walsh is a retired English footballer.Walsh was a diminutive and pacy centre forward who shot to fame in the 1980s during spells with Charlton, Luton, Liverpool and Tottenham.-Charlton Athletic:...
. This was to be his only international cap. That same year he helped England win the 1984 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
1984 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
The UEFA U-21 Championship 1984, which spanned two years , had 30 entrants. Albania, Iceland and Wales competed in the competition for the first time. England U-21s won the competition for the second time running....
.
Post-Playing Career
Stein returned to Luton in 2000 to work as reserve-team coach. With Mick HarfordMick Harford
Michael Gordon "Mick" Harford , is an English former football player turned manager. He is former manager of Rotherham and Luton Town and has also been caretaker manager of Nottingham Forest and QPR...
leaving for Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
in 2004, Brian was promoted to assistant manager by then Luton manager Mike Newell
Mike Newell (footballer)
Michael Colin "Mike" Newell is an English football manager and former professional footballer. As a player he notably was a member of the Blackburn Rovers team which won the Premier League in 1995, as well also playing for Crewe Alexandra, Wigan Athletic, Luton Town, Leicester City, Everton,...
. On 15 March 2007, after the sacking of Newell
Mike Newell (footballer)
Michael Colin "Mike" Newell is an English football manager and former professional footballer. As a player he notably was a member of the Blackburn Rovers team which won the Premier League in 1995, as well also playing for Crewe Alexandra, Wigan Athletic, Luton Town, Leicester City, Everton,...
, Luton appointed Stein caretaker manager. He only managed Luton for one match, a 2–0 home defeat to Ipswich Town on March 17, before being replaced by Kevin Blackwell
Kevin Blackwell
Kevin Patrick Blackwell is an English former professional football goalkeeper who since retiring as a player has worked as a coach and a manager. He has an identical twin, Noel.-Early career:...
. Blackwell brought in his own backroom staff, and Stein left Luton at the end of the 2006-07 season.
On 17 November 2008 Stein was appointed chief scout and first team coach at Grimsby Town, reuniting him with Mike Newell. He was promoted to the position of assistant manager on 12 May 2009 after it was decided not to renew the contract of current assistant manager Stuart Watkiss
Stuart Watkiss
Stuart Watkiss is an English former footballer who notably played for Hereford United and Mansfield Town. He is currently Development Coach at Hull City.-Playing career:...
.
Mike Newell was sacked in October 2009, however Stein remained in his position as Assistant at least for the next five weeks, despite early speculation that he would leave. He was overlooked in the job of Caretaker Manager, which instead went to Youth Team Manager Neil Woods
Neil Woods
Neil Stephen Woods is a former English footballer who played as a striker and former manager of Grimsby Town where he also played between 1990 and 1998. He now works as the Head of Youth at Football League One side Walsall...
. When Woods received the job on a permanent basis, Stein was relieved of his duties on the 30th November, and was replaced by Chris Casper
Chris Casper
Christopher Martin "Chris" Casper is an English former footballer and football manager who played in the Premier League for Manchester United and in the Football League for A.F.C. Bournemouth, Swindon Town and Reading...
.