Tommy Craig
Encyclopedia
Thomas "Tommy" Craig is a Scottish
football
coach
and former player who is currently the assistant manager of Scottish
club St. Mirren
. Craig had an 18 year playing career as a midfielder
, playing over 100 league games for English
clubs and . Towards the end of his playing career he became a coach, and he has worked for clubs including , Celtic
, Aberdeen
and Newcastle.
who started his playing career at Aberdeen
. In 1969 Sheffield Wednesday
paid £100,000 for his services, a club record transfer fee at the time, as well as a British record for a teenager. Craig was a favourite with the fans during his time at Hillsborough and was seen by many as the highlight of what was a poor Sheffield Wednesday team. Craig scored 37 league goals for Wednesday, including many from the penalty spot. During his time at the club, Wednesday were relegated from the top flight following Craig's first full season, and they continued to struggle in Division Two
, finally being relegated again shortly after he left for Newcastle United
in 1974.
After leaving Newcastle he went on to join Ron Saunders
' Aston Villa, however, his relatively unsuccessful stay was short lived as Saunders was clearing the decks in order to turn Villa into the Championship and European Cup winning force of the early 1980s. He subsequently moved on to Swansea City, Carlisle United and Hibernian
before becoming a coach.
Craig was capped once by Scotland
, against Switzerland
in 1976.
at Hibernian
. He was then Billy McNeill
's assistant manager at Celtic
, where they won the championship in their centenary year
. A spell at Aberdeen
as assistant to Roy Aitken
followed, before he took up the coaching role of Scotland's Under-21 team
.
Craig spent time as a first team coach of Newcastle United
, until he was released in September 2006. He was then chosen by John Collins to be his assistant at Hibernian
. Following Collins' resignation, Craig acted as the caretaker manager for four games, but he left the club following the appointment of Mixu Paatelainen
as manager
. Craig joined Charleroi
as assistant coach to John Collins in December 2008. On 20 November 2009, he was appointed as head coach of Charleroi
. He signed a one year and a half contract. Despite this contract, Craig was sacked by Charleroi on 14 April 2010.
St. Mirren
manager Danny Lennon
appointed Craig as first team coach on 22 July 2011.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
and former player who is currently the assistant manager of Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
club St. Mirren
St. Mirren F.C.
St Mirren Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Paisley, Renfrewshire who play in the Scottish Premier League, having been promoted from the First Division in 2005–06.St...
. Craig had an 18 year playing career as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
, playing over 100 league games for English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
clubs and . Towards the end of his playing career he became a coach, and he has worked for clubs including , Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
, Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
and Newcastle.
Playing career
Craig was a talented midfielderMidfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
who started his playing career at Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
. In 1969 Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
paid £100,000 for his services, a club record transfer fee at the time, as well as a British record for a teenager. Craig was a favourite with the fans during his time at Hillsborough and was seen by many as the highlight of what was a poor Sheffield Wednesday team. Craig scored 37 league goals for Wednesday, including many from the penalty spot. During his time at the club, Wednesday were relegated from the top flight following Craig's first full season, and they continued to struggle in Division Two
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
, finally being relegated again shortly after he left for Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
in 1974.
After leaving Newcastle he went on to join Ron Saunders
Ron Saunders
Ron Saunders is a retired English football player and former successful manager. He remains the only manager to have taken charge of Aston Villa, Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion, normally bitter rivals....
' Aston Villa, however, his relatively unsuccessful stay was short lived as Saunders was clearing the decks in order to turn Villa into the Championship and European Cup winning force of the early 1980s. He subsequently moved on to Swansea City, Carlisle United and Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
before becoming a coach.
Craig was capped once by Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
, against Switzerland
Switzerland national football team
The Swiss national football team is the national football team of Switzerland...
in 1976.
Coaching career
After retiring as a player, Craig was made assistant manager to John BlackleyJohn Blackley
John Henderson Blackley is a Scottish football coach and former player.Blackley made 279 appearances at centre-half for Hibernian and also represented Newcastle United, Preston North End and Hamilton Academical...
at Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
. He was then Billy McNeill
Billy McNeill
William "Billy" McNeill MBE is a former Scottish footballer and manager. He is best known for captaining Celtic to the European Cup triumph in 1967 and he later went on to manage the club. He is now the official Club Ambassador at Celtic....
's assistant manager at Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
, where they won the championship in their centenary year
1987-88 in Scottish football
The 1987–88 season was the 91st season of competitive football in Scotland.-Notable events:Billy McNeill's second spell back in charge of Celtic began in style as they finished the season by winning the double of the league title and Scottish Cup...
. A spell at Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
as assistant to Roy Aitken
Roy Aitken
Robert Sime "Roy" Aitken is a former footballer who went on to become a coach with clubs including Leeds United and Aston Villa. His position as a player was defence.Born in Irvine, Ayrshire, he grew up in Ardrossan...
followed, before he took up the coaching role of Scotland's Under-21 team
Scotland national under-21 football team
The Scotland national under-21 football team, controlled by the Scottish Football Association, is Scotland's national under 21 football team and is considered to be a feeder team for the Scotland national football team....
.
Craig spent time as a first team coach of Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
, until he was released in September 2006. He was then chosen by John Collins to be his assistant at Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
. Following Collins' resignation, Craig acted as the caretaker manager for four games, but he left the club following the appointment of Mixu Paatelainen
Mixu Paatelainen
Mika-Matti Petteri "Mixu" Paatelainen is a former Finnish international football player and the current manager of the Finnish national team, having started the role in April 2011...
as manager
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
. Craig joined Charleroi
R. Charleroi S.C.
Sporting du Pays de Charleroi is a Belgian football club based in the city of Charleroi, in the province of Hainaut. Charleroi plays in the Belgian Pro League and their current spell at the highest level in Belgian football has started in the 1985–86 season...
as assistant coach to John Collins in December 2008. On 20 November 2009, he was appointed as head coach of Charleroi
R. Charleroi S.C.
Sporting du Pays de Charleroi is a Belgian football club based in the city of Charleroi, in the province of Hainaut. Charleroi plays in the Belgian Pro League and their current spell at the highest level in Belgian football has started in the 1985–86 season...
. He signed a one year and a half contract. Despite this contract, Craig was sacked by Charleroi on 14 April 2010.
St. Mirren
St. Mirren F.C.
St Mirren Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Paisley, Renfrewshire who play in the Scottish Premier League, having been promoted from the First Division in 2005–06.St...
manager Danny Lennon
Danny Lennon
Danny Lennon is a former association football player and current manager of Scottish Premier League club St. Mirren. Lennon played internationally for the Northern Ireland B national football team.-Club career:...
appointed Craig as first team coach on 22 July 2011.