Roy Coyle

Roy Coyle (born Robert Coyle, Belfast, January 30, 1946) is a former Northern Ireland international footballer and the most successful manager in the history of the Irish Football Leaguefact|date=June 2008.

Playing career

Coyle was a "teak tough" wing-half with Ballymena United F.C., Glentoran F.C., Sheffield Wednesday F.C. and Grimsby Town F.C.. He won two Irish League titles and played in Europe six times while with Glentoran before winning five Northern Ireland international while playing for Sheffield Wednesday in England.

Management career

After returning to Northern Ireland from England, Coyle went into management, first as player-manager with South Belfast and Ireland's most successful and largest club Linfield F.C., then Ards F.C. and from 1991 to 1993 Derry City F.C. However, in November 1997 he took over as manager of Glentoran F.C. from the sacked Tommy Cassidy. [" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/irish/3102804.stm Coyle signs new contract] ", "BBC Sport Online", 12 September, 2003.] He guided Glentoran to an Irish Cup triumph just a few months later and went on to celebrate three League Championships with the East Belfast club. Glentoran also won three more Irish Cups during Coyle's reign, three CIS League Cups and three Gold Cups. They also won the County Antrim Shield on five occasions. Coyle spent 8 years at The Oval becoming the club's longest serving and most successful manager and resigned on February 2 2006 following a string of poor results. [" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/irish/4674946.stm Coyle quits as Glentoran manager] ", "BBC Sport Online", 02 February, 2006.]

It would not be long until Coyle would return to management, however, and within a few weeks Coyle was appointed manager of Newry City F.C. effectively swapping places with Paul Millar. [" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/irish/4736138.stm Coyle excited by Newry challenge] ", "BBC Sport Online", February 21 2006.] At Newry, Coyle experienced a dismal run of results with his team winning just one game at home half-way through the season. On January 10 2007, Coyle decided to resign from his post and stated that he was unsure whether he would return to the game again. [" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/irish/6247381.stm Coyle leaves job as Newry manager] ", "BBC Sport Online", 10 January, 2007.]

Managerial Honours

Coyle is the most successful manager in Irish League history and has won 50 trophies in a success-filled career, mostly with Linfield F.C.
*Linfield "(November 1975 - April 1990)" 31 Trophies
**Irish League (10) "77/78, 78/79, 79/80, 81/82, 82/83, 83/84, 84/85, 85/86, 86/87, 88/89"
**Irish Cup (3) "77/78, 79/80, 81/82"
**Gold Cup (7) "78/79, 81/82, 83/84, 84/85, 87/88, 88/89, 89/89, 89/90"
**Ulster Cup (4) "77/78, 78/79, 79/80, 84/85"
**County Antrim Shield (5) "76/77, 80/81, 81/82, 82/83, 83/84"
**Irish League Cup (1) "86/87"
**Tyler All-Ireland Cup (1) "80/81"
*Ards "(October 1990 - June 1991)"
*Derry City "(June 1991 - September 1993)" 1 Trophy
**Football League of Ireland Cup (1) "91/92"
*Ards "(October 1993 - November 1997)" 2 Trophies
**County Antrim Shield (1) "93/94"
**Irish League Cup (1) "94/95"
*Glentoran "(November 1997 - February 2006") 16 Trophies
**Irish League (3) "98/99, 02/03, 04/05"
**Irish Cup (4) "97/98, 99/00, 00/01, 03/04"
**Gold Cup (2) "99/00, 00/01"
**County Antrim Shield (4) "98/99, 99/00, 01/02, 02/03"
**Irish League Cup (3) "00/01, 02/03, 04/05"
*Newry City "(February 2006 - January 2007)"

References

External links

* [http://nifootball.blogspot.com/2006/08/roy-coyle.html|Roy Coyle on NIFG]