Wikipedia

Craig Short

Craig Jonathan Short (born 25 June 1968) is a former professional footballer who played as a centre-back. He was most recently caretaker manager of Oxford United.

Craig Short
Short with Ferencváros in 2008
Personal information
Full name Craig Jonathan Short
Date of birth (1968-06-25) 25 June 1968 (age 56)
Place of birth Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire, England
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[1]
Position(s) Centre-back
Youth career
1986–1987 Pickering Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1987–1989 Scarborough 63 (7)
1989–1992 Notts County 128 (6)
1992–1995 Derby County 118 (9)
1995–1999 Everton 99 (4)
1999–2005 Blackburn Rovers 134 (4)
2005–2007 Sheffield United 23 (0)
2008 Ferencváros 0 (0)
Total 565 (30)
Managerial career
2009–2010 Ferencváros
2010 Notts County
2023 Oxford United (caretaker)
2023 Oxford United (caretaker)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

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Short was born in Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire, England and after attending Amotherby primary school and Lady Lumley's School (Pickering) along with his brother Chris, he started his professional career at Pickering Town in the 1986–87 season. In October the following year they moved to Scarborough together, and in June 1989, Notts County together. However, while his brother was dogged by injury, Craig managed to ascend to greater things.

After four seasons for Notts County he moved to Derby County at the beginning of the 1992–93 season. He signed for £2.5million – a record for a club outside the top flight, and the highest fee for a defender at the time. He had been subject of a similarly high bid for ambitious Premier League side Blackburn Rovers, but opted to join Derby instead.

He completed more than 100 competitive games for both Derby and his next club, Everton who he joined three seasons later. He left the Merseyside club in 1999, joining Blackburn Rovers for £1.7 million – seven years after they had first tried to buy him.

Short endeared himself to fans as a mainstay in the 2000–01 team which won promotion and established itself back in the top flight.

However, he missed the 2002 League Cup final against Tottenham Hotspur through suspension, a match which Blackburn won 2–1. He did gain European experience in the following season, playing two games in the UEFA Cup.

After a 4–0 victory away to Birmingham City on 6 December 2003, manager Graeme Souness labelled Short the "perfect professional" after outplaying City striker Christophe Dugarry, who was sent off for elbowing Short.[2]

In his final league game for Rovers on 7 May 2005 against Fulham, Short was handed the captain's armband by then manager Mark Hughes. However, in an out of character incident, he was sent off for violent conduct against Fulham's Luis Boa Morte after the Portuguese striker dangerously fouled Lucas Neill and Short pushed Boa Morte in the chest. He did however lead the team out for one final time a few weeks later in Tony Parkes' testimonial match, who was also leaving the club.

In the summer of 2005 he was allowed to move on to Sheffield United and was an important member of United's successful promotion campaign. He signed a one-year contract but only made two League Cup appearances that season. He was released at the end of the 2006–07 season and retired from football.[3]

Managerial career

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In September 2008, it was announced that Short had joined Sheffield United's sister club, Ferencvaros, as a player-coach to Bobby Davison. He played two games for the club, both in the Hungarian League Cup.[4]

On 30 November 2009, Ferencvaros officially appointed Short as their new manager.[5] However, he left the club at the end of the 2009–10 season because he did not possess the UEFA Pro Licence required in the Hungarian top division.[6]

On 4 June 2010, he was appointed as the new manager of Notts County.[7] He was sacked on 24 October 2010.[8]

After a break from football, Short returned as Head of Recruitment for Derby County's academy.[9] In 2013 Short was appointed first team coach at Blackburn Rovers where he had enjoyed a six-year spell as a player.[10]

Short was appointed to Darren Wassalls coaching staff at Derby County for the closing stages of the 2015–16 campaign.[11]

In August 2020, he was appointed as a coach at Oxford United.[12] Following the departure of Karl Robinson in February 2023, he was appointed caretaker manager.[13] Having overseen two matches in charge, he returned to the coaching staff following the managerial appointment of Liam Manning.[14] He was once again appointed caretaker manager following the departure of Manning to Bristol City in November 2023.[15] The U's won 5–0 against Chelsea U21s in the EFL Trophy in the first game of his second spell, with Short giving a debut to 15 year-old Leo Snowden, who became Oxford's youngest ever player.[16]

Personal life

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After retiring as a player, Short began a sailing business on Windermere, teaching sailing to the public and corporate teams, and delivering boats to their owners.[17]

Career statistics

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Manager

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As of 11 November 2023
Team Country From To Record
G W D L Win %
Ferencváros Hungary 30 November 2009 May 2010 21 9 7 5 042.86
Notts County England 4 June 2010 24 October 2010 18 8 1 9 044.44
Oxford United England 26 February 2023 12 March 2023 2 0 0 2 000.00
Oxford United England 7 November 2023 16 November 2023 2 2 0 0 100.00
Total 43 19 8 16 044.19

Honours

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Blackburn Rovers

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "Craig Short". Premier League. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  2. ^ "Souness keen to keep Short". Sky Sports. 1 January 1970. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  3. ^ "Gillespie offered new Blades deal". BBC News. 18 May 2007. Retrieved 18 May 2007.
  4. ^ "SHORT JONATHAN CRAIG - FERENCVÁROSI TC - MLSZ adatbank". adatbank.mlsz.hu. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  5. ^ "Short named Ferencvaros manager". BBC News. 2 December 2009. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
  6. ^ "Craig Short távozik a Ferencvárostól". NSO.hu (in Hungarian). 1 May 2010. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  7. ^ "New Manager confirmed". Notts County fc official website. 4 June 2010. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
  8. ^ "Short sacked by Magpies". Sky Sports. 24 October 2010. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
  9. ^ "Former Ram Craig Short joins Derby coaching set-up". BBC Sport. 11 September 2011. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  10. ^ "Craig Short: Former Blackburn defender returns as coach". BBC Sport. 21 June 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  11. ^ "Pat Lyons and Craig Short join Darren Wassall's coaching team at Derby". Eurosport. 10 February 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  12. ^ "Craig Short joins Oxford United". www.oufc.co.uk. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  13. ^ "Club Statement: Karl Robinson". www.oufc.co.uk. 26 February 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  14. ^ "Liam Manning Becomes Head Coach at Oxford United". www.oufc.co.uk. 11 March 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  15. ^ "Liam Manning To Leave For Bristol City". www.oufc.co.uk. 7 November 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  16. ^ "Leo's Debut Delight".
  17. ^ "Where are they now? Craig Short". The Observer. London. 20 April 2008. Retrieved 21 April 2008.
  18. ^ Lynch. The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes. p. 149.
  19. ^ Lynch. The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes. p. 150.
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