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Leam Richardson

Leam Nathan Richardson (born 19 November 1979) is an English professional football manager and former player who was most recently the head coach of Rotherham United.

Leam Richardson
Personal information
Full name Leam Nathan Richardson
Date of birth (1979-11-19) 19 November 1979 (age 45)
Place of birth Leeds, England
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Right back
Youth career
0000–1997 Blackburn Rovers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–2000 Blackburn Rovers 0 (0)
2000–2003 Bolton Wanderers 13 (0)
2001–2002 → Notts County (loan) 17 (0)
2002–2003 → Blackpool (loan) 20 (0)
2003–2005 Blackpool 51 (0)
2005–2013 Accrington Stanley 133 (2)
Total 234 (2)
Managerial career
2012 Accrington Stanley (caretaker)
2012–2013 Accrington Stanley
2020 Wigan Athletic (caretaker)
2020–2022 Wigan Athletic
2023–2024 Rotherham United
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of Carlisle united
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of Carlisle united

As a player, Richardson played for Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Notts County, Blackpool and Accrington Stanley, whilst he has held coaching roles previously at Accrington Stanley, and Chesterfield.

Playing career

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Blackburn Rovers

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Born in Leeds, West Yorkshire, Richardson started his career at Blackburn Rovers. He made his debut in a 1–0 loss against his boyhood side Leeds United in the Football League Cup on 13 October 1999.

Bolton Wanderers and loan moves

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On 13 July 2000, Richardson moved to Bolton Wanderers for a fee of £50,000. He made his debut in a 1–1 draw against Burnley in the Football League First Division on 12 August 2000, and was part of the team which earned a return to the Premier League via the play-offs, when they defeated Preston North End in the final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

In the 2001–02 season, he made his Premier League debut, playing the final eight minutes of Bolton's 0–0 draw at Leeds; later, he moved on loan to Notts County,[1] where he made seventeen league appearances in the Second Division.

In 2002, Richardson was loaned out again, this time to Blackpool. He made his debut in a 3–0 win against Peterborough United in the Football League Second Division on 21 December 2002. While at Blackpool, he received the first red card of his career, being sent off against Huddersfield Town on 1 January 2003.

Blackpool

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On 23 June 2003, Richardson made a permanent move to Blackpool, joining on a free transfer. He made his debut in a 5–0 loss against Queens Park Rangers on 9 August 2003, and scored his first goal for the club against Oldham Athletic in the FA Cup on 6 December 2003.[2] On 21 March 2004, he appeared as a 90th-minute substitute in the 2004 Football League Trophy final, in which Blackpool defeated Southend United 2–0.[3]

On 10 May 2005, he was released from the club along with Robert Clare.[4]

Accrington Stanley

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After three months without a club, Richardson joined Accrington Stanley on a free transfer on non-contract terms.[5] He made his debut against Canvey Island in the Football Conference on 13 August 2005, and was a regular fixture in the team which won promotion to the Football League in the 2005–06 season. In League Two, he continued to be an important player at Accrington, playing 43 times in all competitions during the 2006-07 season and 40 times the following campaign; he scored his first goal for the club against Brentford on 26 February 2008.[6]

During the 2008-09 season, Richardson found his playing time limited, making fourteen appearances in all competitions, and in the following season he played only twice in the league and once in the Football League Trophy. He scored his second career league goal in a 2–1 win over Cheltenham Town on 15 January 2011, in a season in which he made thirteen league appearances, but the 2–1 victory at Morecambe on 26 December 2011 - where he appeared as a 79th-minute substitute - would be his last appearance for the club.

Managerial career

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Accrington Stanley and assistant manager roles

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In January 2012, Richardson became the caretaker manager of Accrington Stanley, after John Coleman departed to join Rochdale.[7] Richardson's first match as manager was at home to Gillingham, which Accrington Stanley won 4–3.[8] Accrington appointed Paul Cook as their new permanent manager the following month,[9] before Richardson was re-appointed as manager after Cook left to become manager of Chesterfield in October.[10] Originally employed as caretaker manager for a second spell, he was appointed as the manager of the club on a permanent basis from 1 November, signing a two-and-a-half-year deal.[11]

On 30 April 2013, it was announced that Richardson had left Accrington in order to re-unite with Paul Cook, becoming his new assistant manager at Chesterfield.[12] The two later moved to manage Portsmouth in 2015, winning promotion to League One in 2017.[13][14]

Wigan Athletic

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On 31 May 2017, Richardson once again followed Cook to Wigan Athletic, once again acting as his assistant manager.[15] He and Cook oversaw Wigan's promotion to the Championship in their first season in charge, and kept them there for two seasons.[16]

Following a takeover in mid-2020, Wigan collapsed into administration and were relegated after being punished with a 12 point deduction. Cook resigned as manager on 4 August 2020 and Richardson was appointed to take charge of training duties until further notice.[17] John Sheridan was appointed as the club's new permanent manager, but he left after just 15 games to join Swindon Town, and Richardson was named caretaker manager.[18] Following Wigan's takeover in March 2021, the new owners stated that Richardson would continue in his caretaker manager role until the end of the season.[19]

Despite this, Richardson was appointed as the permanent manager of the club on 21 April 2021 with three games still remaining. Richardson confirmed that Cook, who had recently been appointed manager of Ipswich Town, had asked him to join him in Suffolk as his assistant again, but he declined so he could remain at Wigan. He insisted however that there was no ill-will on either side and that they remain on good terms.[20][21] He was able to keep Wigan up, avoiding relegation to League Two.[22]

In November 2021 Wigan striker Charlie Wyke collapsed during training after suffering a cardiac arrest. Following his discharge from hospital Wyke praised Richardson's swift initiation of CPR saying: "...my life has been saved by the actions of the gaffer [Leam Richardson] and the club doctor Jonathan Tobin..." [23]

On 24 April 2022, Richardson was named the 2021–22 EFL League One Manager of the Season at the league's annual award ceremony.[24] Later that month Richardson led Wigan to promotion into the Championship as they finished the season as League One champions.[25]

On 10 November 2022, Richardson was sacked as Wigan manager after a run of six losses in seven matches that saw the club fall into the Championship relegation zone.[26] The sacking came just sixteen days after Richardson had signed a new three-year contract with the club.[27]

Rotherham United

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On 11 December 2023, Richardson was appointed head coach of Championship bottom club Rotherham United on a three-and-a-half-year deal.[28]

On 17 April 2024, two weeks on from relegation having been confirmed, Richardson was sacked having won just two of his twenty-four matches in charge.[29]

Career statistics

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Source:[30]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Blackburn Rovers 1997–98 Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1998–99 Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1999–2000 First Division 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
Total 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
Bolton Wanderers 2000–01 First Division 12 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 15 0
2001–02 Premier League 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 3 0
2002–03 Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 13 0 1 0 4 0 0 0 18 0
Notts County (loan) 2001–02 Second Division 17 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 18 0
Blackpool (loan) 2002–03 Second Division 20 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 21 0
Blackpool 2003–04 Second Division 28 0 1 1 1 0 6[a] 0 36 1
2004–05 League One 23 0 0 0 1 0 3[a] 0 27 0
Total 51 0 1 1 2 0 9 0 63 1
Accrington Stanley 2005–06 Conference Premier 33 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 33 0
2006–07 League Two 38 0 1 0 2 0 2[a] 0 43 0
2007–08 League Two 37 1 1 0 1 0 1[a] 0 40 1
2008–09 League Two 11 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 14 0
2009–10 League Two 2 0 0 0 0 0 1[a] 0 3 0
2010–11 League Two 11 1 1 0 0 0 1[a] 0 13 1
2011–12 League Two 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2012–13 League Two 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 133 2 5 0 4 0 5 0 147 2
Career total 234 2 9 1 11 0 14 0 268 3
  1. ^ a b c d e f Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy

Managerial statistics

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As of 13 April 2024
Team Nat From To
G W D L Win %
Accrington Stanley (caretaker)   23 January 2012 13 February 2012 1 1 0 0 100.00
Accrington Stanley   25 October 2012 30 April 2013 36 10 11 15 027.78
Wigan Athletic (caretaker)   4 August 2020 11 September 2020 1 0 0 1 000.00
Wigan Athletic   13 November 2020 10 November 2022 117 49 30 38 041.88
Rotherham United   11 December 2023 17 April 2024 24 2 4 18 008.33
Total 177 62 45 70 035.03

Honours

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As a player

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Blackpool

As a manager

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Wigan Athletic

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "Richardson joins County". BBC Sport. 12 November 2001.
  2. ^ "Oldham 2–5 Blackpool". BBC Sport. 6 December 2003. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  3. ^ "Blackpool 2–0 Southend". BBC. 21 March 2004. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  4. ^ "Blackpool release defensive duo". BBC Sport. 10 May 2005.
  5. ^ "Stanley complete double signing". BBC Sport. 13 August 2005.
  6. ^ "Accrington 1–0 Brentford". BBC Sport. 26 February 2008.
  7. ^ "Rochdale appoint Accrington Stanley's John Coleman as boss". BBC Sport. 24 January 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  8. ^ "BBC Sport - Accrington 4-3 Gillingham". 28 January 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  9. ^ "Cook leaves Rovers for Accrington". RTÉ Sport. 13 February 2012. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  10. ^ "Chesterfield appoint Accrington boss Paul Cook". BBC Sport. 25 October 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  11. ^ "Accrington Stanley: Leam Richardson named new manager". BBC Sport. 1 November 2012.
  12. ^ "Leam Richardson: Accrington boss becomes Chesterfield assistant". BBC Sport. 30 April 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  13. ^ "Cook appointed Portsmouth manager". BBC Sport.
  14. ^ "Notts County 1-3 Portsmouth". BBC Sport.
  15. ^ "Paul Cook: Wigan Athletic appoint Portsmouth boss as new manager". BBC Sport. 31 May 2017.
  16. ^ "Wigan Athletic: League One promotion caps 'perfect year' says chairman David Sharpe". BBC Sport. 22 April 2018.
  17. ^ "Leam Richardson: Wigan Athletic assistant manager to take charge for training return". BBC Sport. 4 August 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  18. ^ "Sheridan appointed Swindon manager". BBC Sport. 13 November 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  19. ^ "Wigan Athletic CEO opens up on new contracts". www.wigantoday.net. 4 April 2021.
  20. ^ "Leam Richardson appointed Wigan Athletic manager". Wigan Athletic FC. 21 April 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  21. ^ "'It's no secret he did want me down there... But I wish him well' - Richardson on Town boss Cook". 23 April 2021.
  22. ^ "Hull win League One title as Wigan survive". BBC Sport. 1 May 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  23. ^ "Wigan Athletic FC - Update | Charlie Wyke". Wigan Athletic FC. 2 December 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  24. ^ a b "Football Manager EFL Team of the Season line-ups announced". EFL.com. 24 April 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  25. ^ a b "How Richardson transformed Wigan into champions". BBC Sport. 1 May 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  26. ^ "Wigan Athletic sack manager Richardson". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  27. ^ "Leam Richardson: Wigan Athletic manager signs new three-year deal". BBC Sport. 25 October 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  28. ^ "READ | LEAM RICHARDSON APPOINTED AS HEAD COACH". www.themillers.co.uk. 11 December 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  29. ^ "READ | CLUB STATEMENT – LEAM RICHARDSON AND ROB KELLY". www.themillers.co.uk. 17 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  30. ^ "Leam Richardson | Football Stats | No Club | Age 44 | 1999-2013 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com.
  31. ^ "Blackpool 2–0 Southend". BBC Sport. 21 March 2004. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
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