View source for Alan Wright

{{Short description|English footballer}}
{{Other people}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name      = Alan Wright
| image = Wright, Alan.jpg
| caption = Wright in 2000
| fullname = Alan Geoffrey Wright
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|9|28|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Ashton-under-Lyne]], [[Lancashire]], England
| height = {{height|ft=5|in=4}}
| position = [[Defender (association football)|Defender]]
| currentclub =
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]]
| years1 = 1988–1991
| years2 = 1991–1995
| years3 = 1995–2003
| years4 = 2003–2004
| years5 = 2003–2004
| years6 = 2004–2007
| years7 = 2006
| years8 = 2006
| years9 = 2006–2007
| years10 = 2007
| years11 = 2007
| years12 = 2007–2009
| years13 = 2009–2011
| clubs1 = [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]]
| clubs2 = [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]]
| clubs3 = [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]
| clubs4 = [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]]
| clubs5 = → [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] (loan)
| clubs6 = [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]]
| clubs7 = → [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]] (loan)
| clubs8 = → [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] (loan)
| clubs9 = → [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]] (loan)
| clubs10 = → [[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]] (loan)
| clubs11 = → [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]] (loan)
| clubs12 = [[Cheltenham Town F.C.|Cheltenham Town]]
| clubs13 = [[Fleetwood Town F.C.|Fleetwood Town]]
| caps1 = 98
| goals1 = 0
| caps2 = 74
| goals2 = 1
| caps3 = 260
| goals3 = 5
| caps4 = 2
| goals4 = 0
| caps5 = 9
| goals5 = 0
| caps6 = 33
| goals6 = 1
| caps7 = 7
| goals7 = 0
| caps8 = 1
| goals8 = 0
| caps9 = 7
| goals9 = 0
| caps10 = 3
| goals10 = 0
| caps11 = 9
| goals11 = 0
| caps12 = 56
| goals12 = 1
| caps13 = 55
| goals13 = 2
| totalcaps = 614
| totalgoals = 10
| nationalyears1 = 1992
| nationalteam1 = [[England national under-21 football team|England U21]]
| nationalcaps1 = 2
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| manageryears1 = 2012
| managerclubs1 = [[Northwich Victoria F.C.|Northwich Victoria]]
| manageryears2 = 2013
| managerclubs2 = [[Southport F.C.|Southport]]
}}

'''Alan Geoffrey Wright''' (born 28 September 1971) is an English football manager and former professional [[Association football|footballer]].

He was a [[left back]] who has played over 750 league and cup games for eight clubs, including an eight-year spell in the [[Premier League]] for [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]. He has also played for [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]], [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]], [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]] and [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] plus he has had loan spells at [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]], [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]], [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]], [[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]] and [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]]. He finished his career with spells at [[Cheltenham Town F.C.|Cheltenham Town]] and [[Fleetwood Town F.C.|Fleetwood Town]]. He was capped twice by the [[England national under-21 football team|England U21]] team in 1992.

Following retirement Wright was part of the coaching staff at Blackpool before going on to have spells as manager of [[Northwich Victoria F.C.|Northwich Victoria]] and [[Southport F.C.|Southport]].

==Club career==
===Blackpool and Blackburn Rovers===
Wright was born in [[Ashton-under-Lyne]], [[Lancashire]]. He began his career as a trainee at Blackpool, for whom he made 98 league appearances between April 1988 and October 1991. The new Blackburn Rovers manager [[Kenny Dalglish]] noticed Wright, and brought him to [[Ewood Park]] as his first signing for £500,000, making him Blackpool's most expensive sale as well as the most expensive sale by any Fourth Division club.{{citation needed|date=March 2016}}

He spent four years at Ewood Park, but, after the arrival of England left back [[Graeme Le Saux]], made only 67 appearances, seven as a substitute. He left Blackburn just before they won the Premier League title in the [[1994–95 in English football|1994–95]] season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/342956.stm|publisher=BBC News|title=Boom and bust the Blackburn way|date=13 May 1999}}</ref>

===Aston Villa===
Wright was signed from Blackburn Rovers for a fee of £1,000,000 in February 1995, brought to the club by then Villa manager [[Brian Little (footballer)|Brian Little]]. Wright made an immediate impact.

His first goal for Aston Villa came later nearly a year after his arrival when he found the net against Middlesbrough, opening the scoring in a two-goal victory on New Year's Day 1996, in which Wright was also in a defence that kept a clean sheet. Wright scored one other goal that season, rounding off the scoring in a 3–0 home defeat of [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]]. Wright was also part of the Aston Villa 1996 [[EFL Cup|League Cup]] winning side, beating Leeds again, this time at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]].

In the 1996–97 season, Wright scored only once, this time against Wimbledon, scoring the second in a 2–0 win. Despite playing in the majority of the fixtures in the 1997–98 season, Wright failed to find the net. He appeared in the Aston Villa side that lost the [[2000 FA Cup Final]] to Chelsea. With the emergence of the younger [[J Lloyd Samuel]] from the Villa academy, he transferred to Middlesbrough for free in August 2003.

To date, Wright is currently in third place in Aston Villa's European appearances list, having made 26 appearances between September 1996 (a draw with [[Helsingborgs IF]]) and July 2002 (a 2–0 loss to [[FC Zürich]]), behind [[Gordon Cowans]] and [[Dennis Mortimer]] on 29.

===Sheffield United===
Wright appeared only twice for Middlesbrough, one a 4–0 reverse at home to Arsenal, before being loaned out to Championship side Sheffield United on 31 October 2003, signing for them permanently on 12 January 2004. He scored his first goal for United in a 2–1 loss against Nottingham Forest on 3 April 2004.<ref name="bbc3568025">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/3568025.stm|title=Sheff Utd 1–2 Nottm Forest|publisher=BBC|date=3 April 2004|access-date=7 November 2009}}</ref>

Playing in the Championship, Wright continued his impressive disciplinary record (never sent off to date) and was also part of the Sheffield United side that upset Aston Villa 3–1 in the 3rd round of the [[FA Cup]] in the 2004–05 season. Wright made a couple of appearances for United at the start of the 2006–07 season, the last against [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] on 23 September 2006. Since then he was sent out on loan playing 1 game with [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] and seven games for [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]]. On 16 February 2007 he joined [[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]] on a month's loan.{{citation needed|date=March 2016}}

Wright joined [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]] on loan until the end of the 2006–07 season in March 2007,<ref name="bbc6458933">{{cite news|title=Forest bag Blades' Wright on loan|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/nottm_forest/6458933.stm|publisher=BBC|date=16 March 2007|access-date=8 May 2007}}</ref> where he linked up with former Aston Villa teammate [[Colin Calderwood]], ostensibly as cover for the suspended [[Julian Bennett (footballer)|Julian Bennett]]. Wright extended his loan with Nottingham Forest in May 2007 and played in the [[EFL League One|League One]] play-off semi-final against [[Yeovil Town F.C.|Yeovil Town]], in which he scored an own goal.<ref name="bbc6635079">{{cite news|title=Wright extends Forest loan deal|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/nottm_forest/6635079.stm|publisher=BBC|date=8 May 2007|access-date=8 May 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070605204259/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/nottm_forest/6635079.stm|archive-date=5 June 2007|url-status=live}}</ref> He was released by Sheffield United in May 2007.

===Cheltenham Town===
In July 2007, Wright was offered a trial by [[Oldham Athletic A.F.C.|Oldham Athletic]] but eventually joined [[Cheltenham Town F.C.|Cheltenham Town]] on non-contract basis on 8 October 2007. He subsequently signed a contract until the end of the 2007–08 season. He scored his first goal for Cheltenham in a 2–2 draw with [[Crewe Alexandra F.C.|Crewe Alexandra]] on 27 October 2007.<ref name="bbc7054054">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/7054054.stm|title=Cheltenham 2–2 Crewe|publisher=BBC|date=27 October 2007|access-date=7 November 2009}}</ref>

===Fleetwood Town===
In July 2009, Wright signed for [[Conference North]] outfit [[Fleetwood Town F.C.|Fleetwood Town]].<ref>[http://www.fleetwoodtownfc.com/News/Archive/july2009/017.php Wright joins Fleetwood Town F.C.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090727060918/http://www.fleetwoodtownfc.com/News/Archive/july2009/017.php |date=27 July 2009 }}, fleetwoodtownfc.com; accessed 1 March 2016.</ref> During his first season for Fleetwood he played over 30 matches for the club including all 3 play-off matches to help the club win promotion to [[Conference National]] for the first time in their history. The club finished 2nd, 1 point behind winners [[Southport F.C.|Southport]].{{citation needed|date=March 2016}}

He was not offered a new contract at the end of the 2010–11 season and was released, along with a number of other players.<ref name="Town players not offered new contracts">{{cite news|title=Town players not offered new contracts |url=http://www.fleetwoodtownfc.com/News/latestnews.php?subaction=showfull&id=1305294386&archive&start_from&ucat=3& |work=Fleetwood Town FC |date=13 May 2011 |access-date=30 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930222821/http://www.fleetwoodtownfc.com/News/latestnews.php?subaction=showfull&id=1305294386&archive&start_from&ucat=3& |archive-date=30 September 2011 }}</ref>

==International career==
Wright played for the [[England national under-21 football team|England U21s]] twice in 1992. He was also called up to [[Terry Venables]]' England squad in January 1996<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/england-bring-ince-back-into-the-fold-1324455.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105065618/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/england-bring-ince-back-into-the-fold-1324455.html |archive-date=2014-11-05 |url-access=limited |url-status=live|title=England bring Ince back into the fold|work=The Independent|date=17 January 1996|access-date=28 October 2014}}</ref> and April 1996,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/england-callup-villas-wright-1305732.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105065602/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/england-callup-villas-wright-1305732.html |archive-date=2014-11-05 |url-access=limited |url-status=live|title=England call-up Villa's Wright|work=The Independent|date=19 April 1996|access-date=28 October 2014}}</ref> but ultimately was never capped for the senior side.

==Coaching career==
In June 2011, Wright was named as a coach at Blackpool F.C.'s Centre of Excellence. He went on to become assistant manager during [[Steve Thompson (footballer born 1964)|Steve Thompson]]'s spell as caretaker manager in 2013.<ref name=blackpool>[http://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/news/article/wright-relishing-new-role-653576.aspx "WRIGHT DELIGHT AT COACHING ROLE"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305134346/http://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/news/article/wright-relishing-new-role-653576.aspx |date=5 March 2016 }}, blackpoolfc.co.uk, 24 June 2011.</ref>

Wright was appointed assistant manager to [[Paul Simpson (footballer)|Paul Simpson]] at non-league Northwich Victoria in February 2012 and worked in this role alongside existing duties at Blackpool.<ref name=blackpool/><ref name=vics>{{cite web|title=Alan Wright Takes The Reins at Southport|url=http://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/conference-premier-step-two/5844/alan-wright-takes-the-reins-at-southport|publisher=The Non League Paper|access-date=17 May 2013|author=Andy White|date=17 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Paul Simpson named as new manager|url=http://www.northwichvics.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=645:paul-simpson-named-as-new-manager&catid=35:club-announcements&Itemid=107|publisher=Northwich Victoria Football Club|date=1 February 2012|access-date=1 March 2016|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120908001958/http://www.northwichvics.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=645:paul-simpson-named-as-new-manager&catid=35:club-announcements&Itemid=107|archive-date=8 September 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> However, he departed after only a month to accept a job in Portugal.<ref>{{cite web|title=Northwich Victoria manager Paul Simpson set to step down after accepting new job offer|url=http://www.northwichguardian.co.uk/vics/news/9541645.Simpson_to_quit_Northwich_for_new_job|work=Northwich Guardian|access-date=17 May 2013|author=Andrew Simpson|date=20 February 2012 }}</ref>

On 21 February 2012 against [[Rushall Olympic]], Wright took control in Simpson's absence. Wright remained in his role as assistant manager to incoming manager [[Martin Foyle]]. At the end of the 2011–12 season Wright became the caretaker manager after Foyle's departure to [[Hereford United F.C.|Hereford United]], leaving the role after [[Lee Ashcroft (English footballer)|Lee Ashcroft]] was given the job full-time.{{citation needed|date=March 2016}}

On 15 May 2013, Wright was appointed Southport manager, succeeding [[Liam Watson (footballer)|Liam Watson]] who resigned to take over at [[AFC Telford United|Telford United]].<ref name=southport>{{cite news|title=Alan Wright: Southport name ex-Aston Villa defender as new boss|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22539258|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=15 May 2013}}</ref> He appointed [[John Hills (footballer)|John Hills]] as his assistant manager.<ref>{{cite web|title=Alan Wright is the new Southport Manager |url=http://www.southportfc.net/news/details.php?news_id=8232 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131210222403/http://www.southportfc.net/news/details.php?news_id=8232 |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 December 2013 |publisher=Southport F.C. |access-date=15 May 2013 |quote=I am bringing in John Hills as my number two. }}</ref> Wright's first signing for Southport was ex [[Barrow A.F.C.|Barrow]] and [[Fleetwood Town F.C.|Fleetwood Town]] goalkeeper Danny Hurst.<ref>{{cite news|title=Barrow goalkeeper Danny Hurst joins Sandgrounders|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22575862|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=21 May 2013}}</ref>

==Personal life==
His position was left back, and he is known for being one of the shortest players in Premier League history standing at only 5&nbsp;feet&nbsp;4&nbsp;inches tall hence his popular nickname 'the mighty atom'.<ref name=southport/><ref>{{cite AV media|title=Remember me? Alan Wright |medium=Television Production |url=http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/photos-and-videos/videos/remember-me-wright.html |access-date=18 May 2013 |time=7:57 (1 minute) |publisher=Premier League |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216202453/http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/photos-and-videos/videos/remember-me-wright.html |archive-date=16 December 2014 }}</ref>

Wright was inducted into the [[Blackpool F.C.#Hall of Fame|Hall of Fame]] at [[Bloomfield Road]], when it was officially opened by former Blackpool player [[Jimmy Armfield]] in April 2006.<ref name="legends-86">{{cite book|title=Legends: The great players of Blackpool FC|editor=Singleton, Steve|work=[[Blackpool Gazette]]|location=[[Blackpool]]|year=2007|pages=86–89|edition=1|isbn=978-1-84547-182-8}}</ref> Organised by the Blackpool Supporters' Association, Blackpool fans around the world voted on their all-time heroes. Five players from each decade are inducted; Wright is in the 1980s.<ref name="bsa80">{{cite web|url=http://www.bsaweb.info/HOF80.aspx |title=The Hall of Fame – 1980's |publisher=Blackpool Supporters Association |access-date=29 November 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612154333/http://www.bsaweb.info/HOF80.aspx |archive-date=12 June 2010 }}</ref>

==Honours==
'''Blackpool'''
*[[Football League Fourth Division play-offs]]: [[1991 Football League play-offs#Fourth Division|1991]]

'''Aston Villa'''
*[[Football League Cup]]: [[1995–96 Football League Cup|1995–96]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/milosevic-gives-villa-a-touch-of-magic-1343925.html |title=Milosevic gives; Villa a touch of magic |website=The Independent |date=25 March 1996 |access-date=2 April 2024}}</ref>

'''Individual'''
* [[PFA Team of the Year]]: [[1995–96 Premier League]]<ref>{{cite book |editor-first=Barry J. |editor-last=Hugman |title=The 1996–97 Official PFA Footballers Factfile |year=1996 |publisher=Queen Anne Press |location=Harpenden |isbn=978-1-85291-571-1 |page=285}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book|last=Calley|first=Roy|title=Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992|publisher=Breedon Books Publishing Co Ltd|date=20 October 1992|isbn=1-873626-07-X}}
*{{cite book|title=Legends: The great players of Blackpool FC|editor=Singleton, Steve|work=[[Blackpool Gazette]]|location=[[Blackpool]]|year=2007|edition=1|isbn=978-1-84547-182-8}}

==External links==
*{{Soccerbase}}

{{1995–96 FA Premier League PFA Team of the Year}}
{{Navboxes
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{{Northwich Victoria F.C. managers}}
{{Southport F.C. managers}}
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{{Blackpool F.C. Hall of Fame}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Wright, Alan}}
[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Footballers from Ashton-under-Lyne]]
[[Category:English men's footballers]]
[[Category:England men's under-21 international footballers]]
[[Category:Aston Villa F.C. players]]
[[Category:Blackburn Rovers F.C. players]]
[[Category:Blackpool F.C. players]]
[[Category:Blackpool F.C. non-playing staff]]
[[Category:Derby County F.C. players]]
[[Category:Cardiff City F.C. players]]
[[Category:Doncaster Rovers F.C. players]]
[[Category:Sheffield United F.C. players]]
[[Category:Leeds United F.C. players]]
[[Category:Middlesbrough F.C. players]]
[[Category:Nottingham Forest F.C. players]]
[[Category:Cheltenham Town F.C. players]]
[[Category:Fleetwood Town F.C. players]]
[[Category:Premier League players]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:National League (English football) players]]
[[Category:Northwich Victoria F.C. players]]
[[Category:Southport F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Men's association football defenders]]
[[Category:English football managers]]