Neil Wood
English footballer / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Neil Anthony Wood (born 4 January 1983) is an English football manager and former player. He was most recently the manager of EFL League Two club Salford City. He is currently the head coach of Barrow AFC
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Neil Anthony Wood[1] | ||
Date of birth | (1983-01-04) 4 January 1983 (age 41)[1] | ||
Place of birth | Stretford, Greater Manchester, England[1] | ||
Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2] | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder[1] | ||
Youth career | |||
1991–2001 | Manchester United | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2001–2004 | Manchester United | 0 | (0) |
2001–2002 | → Royal Antwerp (loan) | 3 | (0) |
2003 | → Peterborough United (loan) | 3 | (1) |
2004 | → Burnley (loan) | 10 | (1) |
2004–2006 | Coventry City | 17 | (0) |
2006 | → Blackpool (loan) | 3 | (0) |
2006 | Blackpool | 4 | (0) |
2006–2007 | Oldham Athletic | 5 | (0) |
2008 | Željezničar | 16 | (0) |
2010 | Atherstone Town | ||
Total | 61 | (2) | |
International career | |||
1998 | England U16 | 1 | (2) |
Managerial career | |||
2019–2022 | Manchester United U23 | ||
2022–2023 | Salford City | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
As a player, Wood played as a midfielder. He began his playing career in the academy of Manchester United, though he never appeared for the first team due to several injuries. He was sent out on loan several times, first to Belgian club Royal Antwerp where he made his professional début in 2001, and later to Peterborough United and Burnley, before departing the club in 2004 for Coventry City. Wood struggled for regular appearances and after 18 months was loaned to Blackpool, who signed him permanently shortly after. Wood then moved first to Oldham Athletic and then to Bosnian team Željezničar. He returned to England in 2009, spending time with amateur side Atherstone Town before retiring in 2010.
Upon his retirement Wood began coaching, beginning with Aston Villa in their academy before moving back to United, where he rose through the ranks to become U23 manager in 2019. After three years in the role, Wood was appointed manager of Salford City, his first role in senior football. In 2023, Wood was sacked by Salford with the club 21st in the league.