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Mike Smith (football manager)

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For other people named Michael Smith, see Michael Smith (disambiguation).

Mike Smith
Personal information
Full name Michael John Smith
Date of birth 1937 (1937)
Place of birth Hendon, England
Date of death 21 July 2021 (aged 83)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Corinthian Casuals
Managerial career
1974–1979 Wales
1979–1982 Hull City
1985–1988 Egypt
1994–1995 Wales
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Egypt (as manager)
Africa Cup of Nations
Winner 1986
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Michael John Smith (1937 – 21 July 2021[1]) was an English football manager, who managed the Wales and Egypt national teams and Hull City. Before becoming a manager, he had a playing career as an amateur, playing for the Corinthian Casuals.

Early career

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Smith was born in Hendon, the son of a professional footballer. As a youth, he represented Middlesex at Under-15 and Under-18 levels and was a member of the FA Youth team which played a tournament in Strasbourg in 1953.[2]

He trained at Loughborough College of Education before becoming a teacher. He decided to remain in teaching rather than becoming a professional footballer but played as an amateur for the Corinthian Casuals.[2]

Coaching and managerial career

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Smith spent nine years coaching in Sussex before becoming team manager and coach to the Conference of English Grammar Schools. He was then appointed the Football Association of Wales Director of Coaching with responsibility for managing the Welsh amateur and youth international teams.[2]

In 1974, Smith succeeded Dave Bowen to become the first English-born manager and first full-time manager of the Wales national football team. He guided Wales through their qualifying group before losing a play-off against Yugoslavia to reach the Finals proper of the 1976 European Football Championship.[2] He was replaced by Mike England in 1979.[3]

In December 1979, he was appointed manager of Hull City but was sacked, along with coach Cyril Lea, in March 1982.[2]

Following a spell in sports promotion in Nottingham,[2] Smith became the manager of Egypt in 1985. He led the team to victory in the 1986 African Cup of Nations; the only British manager to have won the competition as a coach.[4]

He left the Egyptian side in 1988, following which he was appointed Football development consultant to Anglesey County Council, overseeing their school of excellence in Holyhead. He also took charge of the Wales Youth team in 1989–90[2] before returning to the Wales national team role for 18 months from April 1994 to September 1995.[3]

Later life and death

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His death was announced on 22 July 2021. He was 83.[5][6]

Honours

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Egypt

References

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  1. ^ "Search probate records for documents and wills (England and Wales)".
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Davies, Gareth; Garland, Ian (1991). Who's Who of Welsh International Soccer Players. Bridge Books. p. 235. ISBN 1-872424-11-2.
  3. ^ a b "Managers' records". Welsh Football Online. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  4. ^ Davies, Martin (17 November 2005). "British graveyard?". BBC Sport Online. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  5. ^ Williams, Glen (22 July 2021). "Former Wales manager Mike Smith dies aged 83". WalesOnline. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Former Wales manager Smith dies aged 83". BBC Sport. 22 July 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
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