Dugout watch: Coventry City
Ahead of Blues' match against Coventry City in the Sky Bet Championship, BCFC.com has charted the career of the opposition's Manager.
Wayne Rooney's nine illustrious years under Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United may not have been had Mark Robins not saved Fergie's job. His winning header in a 1990 FA Cup Third Round tie at Nottingham Forest became a significant turning point in the career of the Scottish boss, activating a domino effect that created one of English football’s greatest dynasties. Retired from playing and now occupying the Sky Blues’ dugout, Robins awaits Rooney’s Birmingham City at the Coventry Building Society Arena on Friday 9 December, kick-off 8pm.
Six-and-a-half years into his second spell in charge of the West Midlands outfit, he re-joined the club in March 2017 and instantly led his side to an unlikely 2-1 victory over Oxford United in the EFL Trophy Final at Wembley Stadium. Considering Coventry had only moved down the pyramid since relegation from the top flight in 2001, his first full term in the hot seat was one for the history books. He broke numerous records, tallying the club’s most points in a season and a first top-six finish in 48 years, which led to a 3-1 Play-Off Final glory over Exeter City, earning promotion for the first time in 51 years.
Two seasons later, he guided them back to the Championship, winning the 2019/20 Sky Bet League One title on a points-per-game basis, with Robins also crowned Manager of the Year. Last campaign, the Sky Blues finished fifth but fell short in the Play-Off Final to Luton Town, who narrowly edged a penalty shootout once the game had ended 1-1 after extra time. Coventry have seen an improvement in every chapter under Robins and he was rewarded with a new four-year contract in May.
He began his coaching career at Blues’ most recent opponents, Rotherham United, becoming assistant manager after previously playing for the club. By February 2007, Robins was made caretaker manager with the Millers 13 points adrift from safety before being given the role permanently after finding three wins from six and lifting the club off the foot of League One. He stayed at the Don Valley Stadium for two seasons, performing consistently in both, despite a 17-point deduction for entering administration in 2008/09.
Following a brief run on the Barnsley touchline, he set about his first spell at Coventry in September 2012 and quickly became a fans' favourite, catapulting the club up the league from relegation battlers to play-off contenders in a short initial stint. After guiding them to the Area Final of the Football League Trophy, his success attracted second-tier Huddersfield Town who moved to bring the manager to West Yorkshire in February 2013. His objective at the John Smith’s Stadium, to keep the Terriers in the division, was achieved in both seasons at the helm ahead of a 15-month appointment at Scunthorpe United and a welcomed reunion at Coventry.
Robins’ 17-year playing career started with Manchester United's youth setup in 1984 before making regular appearances for the senior team towards the end of the decade. In 1990, whilst rivalling Mark Hughes in the scoring stakes, he won the FA Cup and a year later completed a European Cup Winners' Cup and UEFA Super Cup double ahead of transferring to Norwich City and supporting their early Premier League promise. This led to entry into the UEFA Cup and a landmark victory over Bayern Munich in Germany.
He joined Leicester City in 1995 and helped them return to the top flight via the play-offs 12 months down the line, and this promotion was backed up by a League Cup triumph in 1997. There were subsequent loans away from Filbert Street to FC Copenhagen and Reading, with the former seeing him successfully partner Michael Manniche in attack to earn them the nickname ‘Batman and Robins’.
The 20th century was rounded off with time in Spain and Greece - playing for Ourense and Panionios respectively - and short spells in the colours of Manchester City and Walsall. Three years at Rotherham would yield 44 league goals, the first two of which came on his debut against the Saddlers. Robins, leading up to his retirement in 2005, turned out for Bristol City, Sheffield Wednesday and Burton Albion.
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