Andy Ritchie (English footballer)

Football player infobox
playername = Andy Ritchie


fullname = Andrew Timothy Ritchie
height = height|meters=1.78
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1960|11|28
cityofbirth = Manchester
countryofbirth = England
currentclub =
position = Striker (retired)
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1977–1980
1980–1983
1983–1987
1987–1995
1995–1997
1997–1999
clubs = Manchester United
Brighton & Hove Albion
Leeds United
Oldham Athletic
Scarborough
Oldham Athletic
Total
caps(goals) = 033 0(13)
089 0(23)
136 0(40)
217 0(82)
068 0(17)
027 00(2)
570 (177)
manageryears = 1998–2001
2005–2006
2007–2008
managerclubs = Oldham Athletic
Barnsley
Huddersfield Town

Andrew Timothy "Andy" Ritchie (born November 28, 1960 in Manchester, Greater Manchester) is an English former footballer and manager.

Playing career

Ritchie started his career in 1977-78 with Manchester United, and later played for Brighton & Hove Albion, Leeds United, Oldham Athletic and Scarborough, making 661 appearances (88 as substitute) and scoring 210 goals. He played his last game, for Oldham, in the 1998-99 season. According to Chris Kamara, Ritchie earnt the nickname "Stitches" during his playing and managerial career. His actual nickname 'Stitch' came from the amount of times Ritchie would pull up whilst training (with Oldham as a player) complaining of a stitch. But actually his real nickname from school was 'Scratch' - from 'Itchy Rirchie'Ritchie is regarded as one of Oldham's finest ever footballers, and is also an ex-manager of the club.

Manchester United midfielder and Oldham Athletic fan, Paul Scholes once told foreign journalists in the 2002 FIFA World Cup that his all time footballing hero was Andy Ritchie.

Managerial career

After a successful spell back at Elland Road in charge of Youth Development, Ritchie left to become Paul Hart's assistant at Barnsley. After Hart was sacked in March 2005, Ritchie's successful spell as caretaker manager led to him being confirmed as full time manager in May 2005.cite news
title = Ritchie appointed Barnsley boss
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/barnsley/4537351.stm
publisher = BBC Sport
date = 2005-05-13
accessdate = 2007-04-09] In the 2005/06 season, he led the club to the League One playoff final against Swansea City. The match was played on 27 May 2006 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Barnsley's victory on penalties (following a 2-2 draw) secured promotion to the Football League Championship.

Ritchie was approached by Sheffield Wednesday about their vacant manager's position, following the sacking of Paul Sturrock in October 2006. However, the request was turned down by Barnsley.cite news
title = Barnsley reject Owls' Ritchie bid
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/barnsley/6078366.stm
publisher = BBC Sport
date = 2006-10-23
accessdate = 2007-03-02] Ritchie was sacked by Barnsley on November 21 2006, with the team in the relegation zone of the League Championship.cite news
title = Barnsley dismiss manager Ritchie
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/barnsley/6169804.stm
publisher = BBC Sport
date = 2006-11-21
accessdate = 2007-04-09]

Ritchie was appointed Huddersfield Town manager on April 11, 2007.cite news
title = Ritchie named Huddersfield boss
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/huddersfield_town/6538535.stm
publisher = BBC Sport
date = 2007-04-11
accessdate = 2007-04-11] He left the club by mutual consent on 1 April 2008 after an indifferent season, following the embarrassing 4-1 defeat at Oldham Athletic on 29 March.cite news
title = Ritchie leaves Huddersfield post
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/huddersfield_town/7324208.stm
publisher = BBC News
date = 2008-04-01
accessdate = 2008-04-04] He managed the team for 51 games, winning 22, losing 24 and drawing 5. The highlight was undoubtedly the FA Cup run which saw Town win against Birmingham City and before bowing out to Premier League outfit Chelsea in the 5th Round, the first time the club had been that far for 10 years.

He is currently doing punditry for BBC Radio Leeds, but is in the frame for the vacant manager's job at Football League Two side Grimsby Town, following the sacking of Alan Buckley.

Managerial statistics

References

External links

*soccerbase|6755|Andy Ritchie
*soccerbase (manager)|1333|Andy Ritchie