Glenn Hoddle

Glenn Hoddle (born October 27, 1957 in Hayes, Hillingdon) is a football manager and former player for Tottenham Hotspur and England, currently employed as manager for Wolverhampton Wanderers. He was an immensely skilled attacking midfielder with sumptuous ball skills.

Managerial career

In 1991 he returned to England to take the job of player-manager for Swindon Town. He developed a reputation for encouraging attractive, open football and guided the team to promotion to the FA Premier League in 1993.

Related Topics:
1991 - Swindon Town - FA Premier League - 1993

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hoddle left Swindon for Chelsea where he finished his playing career whilst acting as manager. His 3 year spell there was the beginning of Chelsea's march back to pre-eminence in English football which was carried on by Ruud Gullitt (who Hoddle brought to Chelsea as a player), Gianluca Vialli, Claudio Ranieri and latterly Jose Mourinho. After his 3 year spell at the Bridge Hoddle left for his controversial spell as England manager.

Related Topics:
Chelsea - Ruud Gullitt - Gianluca Vialli - Claudio Ranieri - Jose Mourinho

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As England manager, Hoddle enjoyed a degree of success. The team qualified well for the World Cup in 1998 where they were narrowly defeated by Argentina in the second round. In the long term the team prospered from Hoddle promoting David Beckham and Michael Owen but for many this was too little too late.

Related Topics:
1998 - Argentina - David Beckham - Michael Owen

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hoddle has caused a deal of controversy during his managerial career. He was derided by the national press for his insistence on using faith healer Eileen Drewery to guide his teams. In 1999 he was sacked as England manager after making public comments about disabled people that were deemed inappropriate and offensive, once his comments had been condemned by Tony Blair on talk show This Morning. Hoddle had claimed in an interview with The Times that disabled people were paying the price for sins committed in previous lives.

Related Topics:
Faith healer - 1999 - Tony Blair - The Times - Sin - Previous lives

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After losing the England job, Hoddle became manager of Southampton before quitting suddenly and acrimoniously when a vacancy arose to manage his beloved Tottenham. This did not work out for him, and he was sacked by Tottenham in 2003 ironically following a 3-0 defeat by his previous club. This met with the approval of disgruntled supporters, who nevertheless still worship him as a player. By now, unfortunately for him, Hoddle's reputation for encouraging attacking and entertaining football had been joined by a reputation for poor communication with his players.

Related Topics:
Southampton - 2003

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A plan to return to Southampton was shelved when unforgiving fans of the club voiced their protest, recalling the methods which Hoddle used to leave them. In December 2004 he was appointed manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers. He also currently works as a summariser and pundit for Sky Sports.

Related Topics:
December 2004 - Sky Sports

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Summary of clubs managed

• Swindon Town 1991-1993 (as player manager)
• Chelsea 1993-1996 (as player manager until 1995)
• England 1996-1999
• Southampton 2000-2001
• Tottenham Hotspur 2001-2003
• Wolverhampton Wanderers 2004-present