George Burley

George Burley (born June 3, 1956 in the Scottish town of Cumnock in Ayrshire) is an ex-footballer and is currently manager of Scottish Premier League team Hearts.

Related Topics:
June 3 - 1956 - Scottish - Ayrshire - Footballer - Manager - Scottish Premier League - Hearts

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Burley started his playing career as an apprentice at Ipswich Town, before moving to Sunderland after 13 years and over 500 appearances for the Suffolk club. Subsequently, he played for Gillingham and Motherwell, before becoming player/manager of Ayr United. In 1993 he moved to Falkirk as a player, before returning to Motherwell. In 1994 he returned to East Anglia as player/manager of Colchester United. Just six months later he was appointed manager at his former club, Ipswich Town with Dale Roberts as his assistant, having had illegal talks with Town without Colchester United knowing (compensation was duely paid). During an eight-year reign he won promotion to the FA Premier League via the play-offs at Wembley, where he guided the unfancied Ipswich to a fifth place finish and qualification for the UEFA Cup. Relegation the following season saw Burley's side struggling at the foot of Division One and his contract was terminated by mutual agreement in 2002. He then had a successful spell in charge Derby County for two years where he transformed the club from Football League Championship relegation contenders to play-off semi-finalists. He was appointed manager of Hearts on 30 June 2005. A stunning start to his tenure as Hearts manager saw them scale the Premier League in Scotland after three back to back wins, including a 4-0 trouncing of rivals Hibernian - proving themselves to be genuine title challengers.

Related Topics:
Ipswich Town - Sunderland - Suffolk - Gillingham - Motherwell - Ayr United - Falkirk - East Anglia - Colchester United - Dale Roberts - FA Premier League - Play-offs - Wembley - UEFA Cup - Division One - Derby County - Football League Championship - Relegation - Play-off - 30 June - 2005

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