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Simon Nicholas Grayson (born 16 December 1969) is an English football manager and former player who is manager of Leeds United.

Throughout his playing career he primarily operated on the right side of defence, but he was also utilised in midfield.

Born in Ripon, North Yorkshire, he is the brother of former cricketer Paul Grayson and he is nicknamed Larry, after his namesake Larry Grayson.

Playing career

Leeds United

Grayson began his career at Leeds United in June 1988 as a both a defender and a midfielder. However, he did not manage to make the big breakthrough at Leeds, playing just twice in four years.

Leicester City

He signed for Leicester City in March 1992 and went on to make 229 appearances in five years. During his time at Filbert Street the team won the League Cup in 1997 and was voted the club's player of the season in the same year.

Aston Villa

He moved to Aston Villa in 1997 and made another 49 Premier League appearances at Villa Park.

Blackburn Rovers

Grayson then signed for Blackburn Rovers in July 1999, where he made 34 appearances in his first season. He lost his place in the team the following season and spent most of the next two years on loan, with spells at Sheffield Wednesday, Stockport County, Notts County and Bradford City.

Blackpool

Grayson signed for Blackpool on a free transfer on 19 July 2002.[1] He made more than 100 appearances for the Seasiders and captained the side. He started his career at Blackpool in the right-back berth, but was moved to midfield by former boss Colin Hendry to bolster an area of weakness.

Managerial career

Blackpool

Blackpool's finishing positions in the Football League under Grayson. 2008's finish of 19th surpassed the previous high of 1971-72, under Bob Stokoe

Grayson moved into coaching in the 2004-05 season, managing the reserve squad at Bloomfield Road with some success before he was named caretaker manager of the first team in November 2005, following the departure of Colin Hendry. After diverting Blackpool away from relegation that season he was given the job on a permanent basis for the start of the 2006-07 season. Grayson retired from playing at the end of the 2005-06 season to focus purely on the managerial side of the game.

In late 2006, he led Blackpool to only one defeat in fourteen league games, a sequence that included five wins out of six, resulting in their appearance in the four play-off positions. The run also brought attendances of more than 7,000 to Bloomfield Road. This led to Grayson being awarded the Manager of the Month award for December.[2]

On 6 January 2007, he guided Blackpool to the fourth round of the FA Cup for the first time in 17 years, after beating Aldershot Town 4-2 at Bloomfield Road. They were knocked out by Norwich City, who beat them 3-2 after extra time, in a replay at Carrow Road on 13 February, narrowly missing out on a trip to London to face Chelsea in the last sixteen.[3]

Grayson received his second League One Manager of the Month award of the 2006-07 season in May 2007.[4] Two days later, on 5 May 2007, Grayson guided Blackpool to a final placing of third, and thus a place in the play-offs.[5] Blackpool beat Oldham Athletic 5-2 on aggregate over the two legs of the play-off semi-final. They met Yeovil Town in the final at the newly-renovated Wembley Stadium on 27 May and won 2-0, securing promotion to The Championship. It was their tenth consecutive victory, a new club record. This was extended in Blackpool's first game in the Championship with a league win over Leicester City[6] and a victory against Huddersfield Town in the League Cup.

In October 2007, Grayson guided Blackpool to the fourth round of the League Cup for the club's first time in 35 years. They were drawn against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane, where Spurs won 2-0.[7] In December 2007 Grayson signed a two-and-a-half-year contract, following two years working without a formal contract.[8][9] In May 2008, Blackpool finished nineteenth in the Championship, their highest finish in the Football League since 1971-72.

Grayson was heavily linked with the vacant managerial post at Leeds United, with whom he started his playing career, following the sacking of Gary McAllister in December 2008,[10] but Blackpool refused permission for Leeds to speak to Grayson.[11][12] Despite this Grayson tendered his resignation, which the Blackpool board did not accept, and he was announced as Leeds United's new manager.[13] Blackpool are considering taking legal action against both Grayson and his new club.[13]

Leeds United

Grayson's first game in charge was at Elland Road on Boxing Day against one of his former clubs, Leicester City, who were top of the league. Leeds had lost their previous five games, but a late equaliser from Robert Snodgrass gave Grayson's new club a 1-1 draw.[14] He recorded his first victory with a 3-1 win away at Stockport County to break a run of six games without a win for Leeds, during which period the team had slipped from second to ninth.[15]


Honours

Player

Leicester City (1992-1997)