View source for Chris Sutton

{{Short description|English football player and manager (born 1973)}}
{{Other people}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Chris Sutton
| image = Sutton, Chris.jpg
| upright = 1.35
| caption = Sutton in 2019
| fullname = Christopher Roy Sutton<ref>{{Hugman|19077|accessdate=12 March 2017}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1973|3|10|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Nottingham]], England
| height = 6 ft 3 in<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.premierleague.com/page/PlayerProfile/0,,12306~6845,00.html |title=Player profile: Chris Sutton |publisher=Premier League |access-date=10 August 2011 |archive-date=4 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004141923/http://www.premierleague.com/page/PlayerProfile/0,,12306~6845,00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| position = [[Striker (association football)|Striker]]
| youthclubs1 =
| youthyears1 =
| years1 = 1991–1994
| clubs1 = [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]]
| caps1  = 102
| goals1 = 35
| years2 = 1994–1999
| clubs2 = [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]]
| caps2  = 130
| goals2 = 47
| years3 = 1999–2000
| clubs3 = [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]]
| caps3  = 28
| goals3 = 1
| years4 = 2000–2006
| clubs4 = [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]]
| caps4  = 130
| goals4 = 63
| clubs5 = [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]]
| years5 = 2006
| caps5  = 10
| goals5 = 1
| years6 = 2006–2007
| clubs6 = [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]
| caps6  = 8
| goals6 = 1
| years7 = 2012
| clubs7 = [[Wroxham F.C.|Wroxham]]
| caps7  = 1
| goals7 = 0
| totalcaps      = 409
| totalgoals     = 148
| nationalyears1 = 1992–1994
| nationalteam1  = [[England national under-21 football team|England U21]]
| nationalcaps1  = 13
| nationalgoals1 = 1
| nationalyears2 = 1994
| nationalteam2  = [[England B national football team|England B]]
| nationalcaps2  = 2
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 1997
| nationalteam3  = [[England national football team|England]]
| nationalcaps3  = 1
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| medaltemplates =
| manageryears1 = 2009–2010
| managerclubs1 = [[Lincoln City F.C.|Lincoln City]]
}}
'''Christopher Roy Sutton''' (born 10 March 1973) is an English former professional [[Association football|football]] player and [[manager (association football)|manager]]. He later became a pundit, commentator and presenter of football coverage on television and radio.

Sutton played from 1991 to 2007 for [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]], [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]], [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]], [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]], [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]] and [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]. Sutton scored over 150 career goals in over 400 league appearances spanning 16 years in the [[Premier League|English]] and [[Scottish Premier League]]s. Initially a defender, while at Norwich, he successfully moved to playing as a [[striker (association football)|striker]]. He won the Premier League in 1995 with Blackburn Rovers and was [[cap (football)|capped]] once by [[England national football team|England]]. He was also known as one of the foremost exponents of the glancing header, scoring many goals with this technique, which made him particularly effective from set-pieces.

In September 2009, Sutton was appointed manager of [[Lincoln City F.C.|Lincoln City]], but he resigned for personal reasons twelve months later. In 2012, he came out of retirement briefly and featured for non-league [[Wroxham F.C.|Wroxham]].<ref name="edp">{{cite news |title=Wroxham 2, Tilbury 3: Former Norwich City striker Chris Sutton back in action with Yachtsmen |url=https://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/wroxham-2-tilbury-3-former-norwich-city-striker-chris-sutton-533448 |access-date=9 January 2021 |work=Eastern Daily Press |date=8 October 2012}}</ref>

==Early life==
Chris Sutton was born on 10 March 1973 in [[Nottingham]], [[East Midlands]], England, the son of [[Mike Sutton (footballer)|Mike Sutton]], formerly a footballer with [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]].<ref name="Sutton - the facts"/> His younger brother [[John Sutton (footballer)|John]] also became a footballer, and has played for a number of clubs in both England and Scotland.<ref name="Gordon">{{Cite news |url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A161712029/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=cc135c13 |title=Rangers wary of the Sutton curse |work=The Independent on Sunday |first=Phil |last=Gordon |date=8 April 2007 |access-date=12 August 2021 | location=London |via=Gale OneFile: News |url-access=subscription}}</ref> As a child, he moved with his family from [[East Leake]] in Nottinghamshire to [[Horsford]] in Norfolk.<ref name="Black & White">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eBMjAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT21 |title=Paradise And Beyond: My Autobiography |first1=Chris |last1=Sutton |first2=Mark |last2=Guidi |publisher=Black & White |location=Edinburgh |date=2011 |page=21 |isbn=978-1-84502-401-7}}</ref>

==Playing career==

===Norwich City (1991–1994)===
Sutton started his career as a professional footballer at [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]], initially as a centre-half before being converted into a [[Forward (association football)#Striker|striker]] by manager [[Dave Stringer]]. He made his debut on 4 May 1991 in a 1–0 home win over [[Queen's Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]] in the [[Football League First Division|First Division]].<ref name="sporting-heroes1">{{cite web|url=http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=43920 |title=Chris Sutton - Norwich City FC - Football-Heroes.net |publisher=Sporting-heroes.net |access-date=13 January 2010}}</ref>

In Stringer's final season as manager, [[1991–92 in English football|1991–92]], when Norwich reached the [[FA Cup]] semi-finals, Sutton gradually broke into the first team. He made 21 league appearances that season, scoring twice.<ref name="sporting-heroes1"/>

Sutton found success in his new position as Norwich spent most of the first season of the new [[FA Premier League]], in [[FA Premier League 1992–93|1992–93]], as league leaders, before eventually slipping to third place under new manager [[Mike Walker (Welsh footballer)|Mike Walker]]. Sutton featured in 38 Premier League games that season, scoring eight goals, which made him the club's second-highest scorer behind [[Mark Robins]].<ref name="sporting-heroes1"/>

In the autumn of 1993, Sutton was part of the side that eliminated [[Bayern Munich]] from the [[UEFA Cup]], while he scored 25 Premier League goals in the 1993/94 season. After manager Walker went to [[Everton F.C.|Everton]], in January 1994, and succeeded by assistant [[John Deehan]], Norwich slipped out of the top five and finished in the 12th position. At that time, Sutton was being linked with other clubs, including Blackburn Rovers, [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-sutton-will-choose-his-destination-today-1413757.html | location=London | work=The Independent | first=Henry | last=Winter | title=Football: Sutton will choose his destination today | date=14 July 1994}}</ref> and [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ElBIAAAAIBAJ&pg=3963,3803900&dq=chris-sutton&hl=en|title=New Straits Times – Google News Archive Search}}</ref>

===Blackburn Rovers (1994–1999)===
Sutton became the most expensive player in English football in July 1994, when he was transferred from Norwich City to [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]] for £5&nbsp;million.<ref name="Eye injury forces Sutton to quit">{{Cite news
| title = Eye injury forces Sutton to quit
| url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/6272566.stm
| publisher = BBC Sport
| date = 5 July 2007
| access-date = 5 July 2007}}</ref>
In his first season at [[Ewood Park]], he developed a partnership (known as 'SAS') with [[Alan Shearer]] and scored 15 Premier League goals, helping Blackburn Rovers to secure their first top flight league title since 1914.<ref name="bblt">{{cite news|title=English football's dying breed of strike partnerships|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/20469693|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=2 October 2014}}</ref>

A succession of injuries, combined with a loss of form, saw Sutton making only 13 Premier League appearances during the [[1995–96 in English football|1995–96]] season and failing to score a single league goal. Shearer's regular strike partner that season became [[Mike Newell (footballer)|Mike Newell]], but, at the end of the season, both Shearer and Newell departed from the club, leaving Sutton and [[Kevin Gallacher]] as Blackburn's only major strikers.

Sutton regained his form over the next three seasons, achieving joint highest goalscoring place in the Premier League in 1997–98, by scoring 18 times.<ref name="sporting-heroes1"/><ref name="gboot">{{cite web|title=Premiership Golden Boot Awards|url=http://www.goldenboot.me.uk/premiership_golden_boot_awards/|publisher=Golden Boot|access-date=2 October 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006093817/http://www.goldenboot.me.uk/premiership_golden_boot_awards/|archive-date=6 October 2014}}</ref>

Sutton was involved in a controversial moment towards the end of the [[FA Premier League 1996–97|1996–97]] season in a league game against [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] at Highbury. Late in the game, with ''The Gunners'' leading by a single goal, the ball was kicked out of play by Arsenal to allow an injured teammate to receive treatment. Under the unwritten sportsmanship rule, Arsenal would expect the ball to be returned to them unhindered. Sutton chased the ball instead of allowing it to be thrown back to Arsenal and won a corner from his efforts, from which Blackburn scored. At the end of the season, Arsenal missed out on a lucrative place in the [[UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] to [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] on [[goal difference]]. Following the incident, Blackburn's interim manager [[Tony Parkes]] described Sutton as "a boy who was sometimes a bit dizzy ... a bit silly",<ref>{{Cite news|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629075146/http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/1997/12/13/phead.htm |url=http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/1997/12/13/phead.htm |title=Gunners urged to call truce with Sutton |work=Irish Examiner |date=13 December 1997 |archive-date=29 June 2011 }}</ref> stating "It was against the spirit of the game and he should not have done it".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/S-PLATT+GOES+THE+TITLE!%3B+Angry+Gunners+in+Sutton+%27cheat%27+storm%3A...-a061141639 |title=S-Platt goes the title! |work=Sunday Mirror |format=reprint hosted at The Free Library |date=20 April 1997 |access-date=7 January 2013 | first=Jack | last=Steggles}}</ref>

Sutton refused to apologise for his action.<ref name="Sutton - the facts">{{Cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/celtic/825710.stm |title=Sutton – the facts |date=9 July 2000 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=4 February 2009}}</ref>

Although, in 1997/98, Sutton's 18 goals helped Blackburn finish sixth in the League and qualify for the [[UEFA Cup]], he managed just 17 league games and three goals the following season, [[1998–99, in English football|1998–99]], as they were [[promotion and relegation|relegated]] four years after being crowned champions.

===Chelsea (1999–2000)===
Sutton was sold to [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] for £10&nbsp;million after Blackburn's relegation.<ref>{{cite news |title=Chelsea seal £10m Sutton deal |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/386816.stm |work=BBC News |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=5 July 1999 |access-date=4 April 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Sutton joins Chelsea for pounds 10m |first=Alan |last=Nixon |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-sutton-joins-chelsea-for-pounds-10m-1104670.html |work=The Independent |publisher=Independent Print Limited |date=6 July 1999 |access-date=4 April 2012 |location=London}}</ref> His time at [[Stamford Bridge (stadium)|Stamford Bridge]] proved an unhappy one, as he struggled both to live up to the price tag and to adapt to Chelsea's style of play, scoring just one league goal; in the 5–0 win against Manchester United<ref>{{Cite news
|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/464027.stm
|title=Chelsea maul Man Utd
|publisher=BBC
|date=3 October 1999 |access-date=5 November 2009}}</ref> in 28 appearances, and 3 goals in total, the other 2 coming from one goal against [[Skonto Riga]] in a Champions League qualifier,<ref>{{cite news |title=Chelsea relief after late goal feast |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/417698.stm |work=BBC News |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=12 August 1999 |access-date=4 April 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news
|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-chelsea-3-skonto-riga-0--sutton-seals-chelsea-flourish-1112284.html
|title=Chelsea 3 Skonto Riga 0 – Sutton seals Chelsea flourish
|work=[[The Independent]]
|date=11 August 1999 |access-date=5 November 2009
| location=London
| first=Steve
| last=Tongue}}</ref> and one against Hull City in the FA Cup.<ref>{{Cite news
|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/fa_cup/560289.stm
|title=Poyet sparks Chelsea romp
|publisher=BBC
|date=11 December 1999 |access-date=5 November 2009}}</ref> He failed to even make the bench for the club's [[2000 FA Cup Final|FA Cup Final]] win against [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]. In July 2000, he was sold to [[Scottish Premier League]] side [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] for £6&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news |title=O'Neill secures Sutton |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/northern_ireland/829023.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=11 July 2000 |access-date=4 April 2012 }}</ref>

===Celtic (2000–2006)===
Sutton regained his goal-scoring form at Celtic. He scored the winner on his league debut in a 2–1 win against [[Dundee United F.C.|Dundee United]] in July 2000,<ref>{{cite news |title=Celtic new boys off to winning start |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_prem/858625.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=30 July 2000 |access-date=4 April 2012 }}</ref> but was then sent off in his second appearance against [[Motherwell F.C.|Motherwell]].<ref>{{cite news 
|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_prem/867264.stm
|title=Nine-man Celtic hold on
|publisher=[[BBC]] 
|date=5 August 2000 |access-date=3 November 2021}}</ref> Sutton endeared himself to Celtic fans four weeks later in his first [[Old Firm]] match against [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]] – scoring the first and last goals in a dramatic 6–2 victory for Celtic.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_prem/898428.stm |title=Celtic's six of the best |date=27 August 2000 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=4 February 2009}}</ref> Sutton went on to form a prolific partnership with Swede [[Henrik Larsson]].

Sutton's goals helped Celtic win three SPL titles, three [[Scottish Cup]]s and one [[Scottish League Cup]], as well as reaching the [[2003 UEFA Cup Final|UEFA Cup final]]. Many of Sutton's most "memorable goals" for Celtic were scored in European competition: Against [[Ajax FC|Ajax]] away in 2001,<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2001/aug/09/newsstory.ajax | location=London | work=The Guardian | first=Michael | last=Walker | title=Fighting fans mar Celtic success | date=8 August 2001}}</ref> Juventus at Celtic Park the same year,<ref>{{cite news| url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/champions_league/1627972.stm | work=BBC News | title=Celtic bow out in style | date=31 October 2001}}</ref>  away against Blackburn Rovers, and against [[VfB Stuttgart]] during the team's UEFA Cup run to the final in Seville in 2003,<ref>{{cite news| url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/uefa_cup/2442877.stm | work=BBC News | title=Celtic win Battle of Britain | date=14 November 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/2798753.stm | work=BBC News | title=Celtic kill off Stuttgart | date=27 February 2003}}</ref> and the volley from close range against [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] at Celtic Park in 2004.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/3645872.stm | work=BBC News | title=Celtic 1–3 Barcelona | date=14 September 2004}}</ref>

Sutton holds the record for the quickest goal ever in an [[Old Firm]] clash, scored at [[Ibrox Stadium|Ibrox]] in 2002, hitting the net inside of 18 seconds.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/scottish-premier/3039361/Celtic-lose-way-after-Suttons-fastest-strike.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/scottish-premier/3039361/Celtic-lose-way-after-Suttons-fastest-strike.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | first=Roddy | last=Forsyth | title=Celtic lose way after Sutton's fastest strike | date=9 December 2002}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Sutton's nature came to the fore again at the end of the [[2002–03 in Scottish football|2002–03]] season when he accused [[Dunfermline Athletic F.C.|Dunfermline Athletic]] of "lying down", in order for Celtic to lose the title.<ref>{{cite news |title=Death threat rekindles row |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/d/dunfermline_athletic/3044266.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=4 July 2003 |access-date=4 April 2012 }}</ref> He failed to apologise<ref>{{cite news |title= Chris Sutton: Jimmy Calderwood will NEVER get an apology from me.. only he will know why his Pars team put in such a weak display to hand Rangers the title|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/opinion/sport/chris-sutton-jimmy-calderwood-never-5577790|work=Daily Record|date=27 April 2015 |access-date=27 April 2015 }}</ref> and was charged with "bringing the game into disrepute." He received for the non-apology statement a one-match ban to add to the four-match suspension he was serving for abusing match officials on the same day.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/celtic/3090101.stm |title=Sutton gets further ban |publisher=BBC Sport |date=28 July 2003 |access-date=4 February 2009}}</ref>

Sutton's best season at Celtic was arguably the 2003–04 season, when he scored 19 SPL goals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=43922 |title=Chris Sutton - Celtic FC - Football-Heroes.net |publisher=Sporting-heroes.net |access-date=13 January 2010}}</ref> and was voted [[SPFA Players' Player of the Year|SPFA Player of the Year]].<ref name="poy">{{cite web |url=http://www.scotprem.com/content/default.asp?page=s2&newsid=7409 |title=Season review 2003/04 |publisher=Scottish Premier League |access-date=4 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612194444/http://www.scotprem.com/content/default.asp?page=s2&newsid=7409 |archive-date=12 June 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> As the 2003–04 season drew to a conclusion, he struck the [[Association football#Duration and tie-breaking methods|injury-time]] winner against Rangers at Celtic Park, giving his side a clean sweep of victories against their rivals that season (four league wins and one Scottish Cup win).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_prem/3691469.stm|title=Celtic 1–0 Rangers|date=8 May 2004|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref>

In Sutton's five and a half years at Celtic, Sutton showed versatility on many occasions. Although primarily a striker, he was often deployed in central midfield to allow Welsh striker [[John Hartson]] to play up front alongside Larsson. On occasion, Sutton was fielded in his original position of centre-half, notably against Rangers in a league game on 4 October 2003, which Celtic won 1–0.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_prem/3161428.stm|title=Celtic take Old Firm spoils|date=4 October 2003|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref>

As [[Gordon Strachan]] took up the reins of managing Celtic in 2005–06, his appearances for Celtic became more sporadic. Sutton departed from Celtic on a [[Free transfer (association football)|free transfer]] in January 2006.

===Birmingham City (2006)===
Sutton joined Premier League club [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]] in January 2006,<ref>{{cite news |title=Birmingham seal Sutton free deal |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/birmingham_city/4583102.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=5 January 2006 |access-date=4 April 2012 }}</ref> but injuries restricted him to just eleven appearances and one goal, scored in the [[Birmingham derby|derby]] defeat to [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] in mid-April.<ref name="sb0506" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Aston Villa 3–1 Birmingham |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4890642.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=16 April 2006 |access-date=4 April 2012 }}</ref> One of a number of players on high wages subjected to criticism by club owner [[David Sullivan (publisher)|David Sullivan]], Sutton was released at the end of the season following Birmingham's relegation to the [[Football League Championship|Championship]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2006/SPORT/football/05/02/england.birmingham/index.html |title=Football Updates: Birmingham preparing for clearout |website=CNN.com |date=2 May 2006 |access-date=18 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/birmingham_city/4754683.stm |title=Birmingham release seven players |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=2 May 2006 |access-date=18 March 2024}}</ref>

===Aston Villa (2006–2007)===
In October 2006, Sutton signed until the end of the [[2006–07 Aston Villa F.C. season|2006–07 season]] with [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]]'s arch rivals [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]], managed by former Celtic boss [[Martin O'Neill]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Striker Sutton joins Aston Villa |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/5404102.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=3 October 2006 |access-date=4 April 2012 }}</ref> He scored his first goal for the club with the winner against [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] in November 2006.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/6116240.stm |title=Everton 0–1 Aston Villa |publisher=BBC |date=11 November 2006 |access-date=15 September 2009 |first=Phil |last=McNulty}}</ref>

However, in a game against [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] in December 2006, he suffered [[blurred vision]] and, despite visiting several specialists, did not recover. O'Neill said, "Chris has got a genuine concern. No-one can give him any guarantees about what might be the consequences if he got cracked on the head again. Whatever eyesight Chris has now, he would obviously want to keep, so he must bear that in mind when deciding his whole future and career."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/6449487.stm |title=Sutton delays decision on future |publisher=BBC Sport |date=21 May 2007 |access-date=4 February 2009}}</ref> On 5 July 2007, after an eye injury, Sutton retired from football.<ref name=retired>{{cite news|last=Adams|first=Tom|date=5 July 2007|title=Aston Villa striker Chris Sutton has been forced to retire due to an eye injury|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/2494089/sutton-forced-to-call-it-quits|work=[[Sky Sports]]|access-date=2 May 2023}}</ref>

===Wroxham (2012)===
Six years after the reckoning in the Man United game, in October 2012, and his 2007 retirement, Sutton made a surprise appearance in the [[Isthmian League]] Division One North squad of [[Wroxham F.C.|Wroxham]], coming on in the 63rd minute of the Yachtsmen's home game in [[Trafford Park]] against [[Tilbury F.C.|Tilbury]], as a substitute. His goalkeeper son Oliver had already substituted the Wroxham goalkeeper, when the latter got injured in the first half.<ref name="edp"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Dockers no match for the Suttons |url=http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?&newsmode=FULL&nid=88346 |website=NonLeagueDaily.com |date=7 October 2012 |access-date=7 October 2012 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130130032842/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?&newsmode=FULL&nid=88346 |archive-date=30 January 2013}}</ref> The home side lost the game 2-3.

==International career==
Sutton's form for Blackburn won him an [[England national football team|England]] cap on 15 November 1997, when he came on in the 79th minute against [[Cameroon national football team|Cameroon]], although he was left out of the [[FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] squad after a fall-out with national manager [[Glenn Hoddle]]. Having been relegated to the [[England B national football team|England B team]] Sutton refused to play, and Hoddle never selected Sutton for an England squad again.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lipton|first1=Martin|last2=Curtis|first2=John|title=Sutton snubs Hoddle by refusing his England B call|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-sutton-snubs-hoddle-by-refusing-his-england-b-call-1143198.html|access-date=10 January 2016|work=The Independent|date=6 February 1998}}</ref>

==Management career==

===Lincoln City===
Sutton was interviewed in January 2009 by [[Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C.|Inverness Caledonian Thistle]] for the post of manager, but was unsuccessful.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/i/inverness_ct/7842208.stm |title=Butcher named as Inverness boss |publisher=BBC Sport |date=27 January 2009 |access-date=4 February 2009}}</ref> On 28 September 2009, Sutton was appointed manager of [[Football League Two|League Two]] side [[Lincoln City F.C.|Lincoln City]], succeeding [[Peter Jackson (footballer born 1961)|Peter Jackson]] who was dismissed earlier in the month. Despite having no managerial experience, Sutton was preferred to more than 70 other applicants. [[Caretaker manager]] [[Simon Clark (English footballer)|Simon Clark]] would take charge of the following day's game, with Sutton and assistant [[Ian Pearce (footballer)|Ian Pearce]] to take over the day after.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/lincoln_city/8278445.stm |title=Lincoln appoint Sutton as manager |publisher=BBC Sport |date=28 September 2009 |access-date=28 September 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.redimps.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10440~1810603,00.html |title=Chris Sutton Appointed New Manager |publisher=Lincoln City FC |date=28 September 2009 |access-date=28 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001173855/http://www.redimps.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10440~1810603%2C00.html |archive-date=1 October 2009}}</ref>

Sutton's first game as manager came at [[Sincil Bank]] against [[Aldershot Town F.C.|Aldershot Town]] on 3 October 2009.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8273439.stm |title=Lincoln City 1–0 Aldershot |work=BBC News |date=3 November 2009 |access-date=13 January 2010}}</ref> Lincoln were victorious through a second half [[Sergio Torres (footballer, born 1981)|Sergio Torres]] goal to give Sutton a winning start in management. Sutton took Lincoln to the [[FA Cup]] third round for the first time since 1999, but lost 4–0 to [[Premier League]] outfit [[Bolton Wanderers]]. Football League survival was confirmed on 24 April 2010 when Sutton guided the Imps to a 1–0 victory over promotion-chasing Bury at [[Sincil Bank]], with two games remaining.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8620856.stm | work=BBC News | title=Lincoln City 1–0 Bury | date=24 April 2010}}</ref> Sutton left his post as Lincoln manager on 29 September due to family reasons.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/lincoln_city/9043871.stm |title=Manager Chris Sutton leaves Lincoln City |publisher=BBC Sport |date=28 September 2010 |access-date=28 September 2010}}</ref>

==Media career==
Sutton acted as a main co-commentator, including on all of [[Celtic FC]]'s [[UEFA Champions League]] games, alongside either [[Rob MacLean]] or Rory Hamilton for [[TNT Sports (United Kingdom)|TNT Sports]], leaving in 2023 to join [[Sky Sports]], again working as pundit and co-commentator for the channels Scottish football coverage. He also works as a pundit and co-commentator for [[BBC Radio 5 Live]] and [[BBC Sport]]. He also presents [[606 (radio show)|606]] for [[BBC Radio 5 Live]], currently alongside  [[Robbie Savage]].  In January 2015, Sutton attracted criticism for saying that Celtic's [[2014–15 Scottish League Cup|Scottish League Cup semi-final]] against Rangers would be "so one-sided" that Celtic "could win it blindfolded".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/31073260|title=Rangers: Chris Sutton defended 'Celtic will win blindfold' remark|date=31 January 2015|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=8 February 2016}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Sutton is married with six children.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/6361097.stm |title=Sutton to play again, says agent |first=Paul |last=Fletcher |publisher=BBC Sport |date=14 February 2007 |access-date=4 February 2009}}</ref>

After retiring from football, Sutton remained an athlete, playing cricket for Norwich Cricket Club in the EAPL.<ref name="Sutton regrets no Norwich return">{{Cite news | title = Sutton regrets no Norwich return | url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/norwich/7414606.stm | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 22 May 2008 | access-date = 4 February 2009}}</ref>

In February 2022, Sutton and [[Micah Richards]] spoke about [[Mental health in association football|mental health issues]] in their playing days.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/60296727|title=Richards & Sutton open up on mental health|work=BBC Sport }}</ref>

==Career statistics==

===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes [[FA Cup]], [[Scottish Cup]]}}
!colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes [[Football League Cup]], [[Scottish League Cup]]}}
!colspan="2"|Europe
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]]
|[[1990–91 Norwich City F.C. season|1990–91]]<ref name="ENFA">{{cite web |url=http://www.enfa.co.uk/playersearch.php |title=Player search: Sutton, CR (Chris) |website=English National Football Archive |access-date=1 March 2020 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
|[[Football League First Division|First Division]]
|2||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||2||0
|-
|[[1991–92 Norwich City F.C. season|1991–92]]<ref name="ENFA"/>
|First Division||21||2||6||3||2||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||29||5
|-
|[[1992–93 Norwich City F.C. season|1992–93]]<ref name="ENFA"/>
|[[Premier League]]||38||8||2||0||3||2||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||43||10
|-
|[[1993–94 Norwich City F.C. season|1993–94]]<ref name="ENFA"/>
|Premier League||41||25||2||2||4||1||6{{efn|name=statsUEFA|Appearance(s) in [[UEFA Cup]]}}||0||colspan="2"|—||53||28
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!102||35||10||5||9||3||6||0||colspan="2"|—||127||43
|-
|rowspan="6"|[[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]]
|[[1994–95 Blackburn Rovers F.C. season|1994–95]]<ref name="ENFA"/>
|Premier League
|40||15||2||2||4||3||2{{efn|name=statsUEFA}}||1||colspan="2"|—||48||21
|-
|[[1995–96 Blackburn Rovers F.C. season|1995–96]]<ref name="ENFA"/>
|Premier League
|13||0||0||0||3||1||6{{efn|name=statsUCL|Appearance(s) in [[UEFA Champions League]]}}||0||1||0||23||1
|-
|[[1996–97 Blackburn Rovers F.C. season|1996–97]]<ref>{{soccerbase season|7732|1996|access-date=1 March 2020}}</ref>
|Premier League
|25||11||2||0||2||1||0||0||colspan="2"|—||29||12
|-
|[[1997–98 Blackburn Rovers F.C. season|1997–98]]<ref>{{soccerbase season|7732|1997|access-date=1 March 2020}}</ref>
|Premier League
|35||18||4||2||2||1||0||0||colspan="2"|—||41||21
|-
|[[1998–99 Blackburn Rovers F.C. season|1998–99]]<ref>{{soccerbase season|7732|1998|access-date=1 March 2020}}</ref>
|Premier League
|17||3||1||0||1||1||1{{efn|name=statsUEFA}}||0||colspan="2"|—||20||4
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!130||47||9||4||12||7||9||1||1||0||161||59
|-
|[[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]]
|[[1999–2000 Chelsea F.C. season|1999–2000]]<ref>{{soccerbase season|7732|1999|access-date=1 March 2020}}</ref>
|Premier League||28||1||4||1||0||0||7{{efn|name=statsUCL}}||1||colspan="2"|—||39||3
|-
|rowspan="7"|[[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]]
|[[2000–01 Celtic F.C. season|2000–01]]<ref>{{soccerbase season|7732|2000|access-date=1 March 2020}}</ref>
|[[Scottish Premier League]]
|24||11||4||0||3||2||4{{efn|name=statsUEFA}}||1||colspan="2"|—||35||14
|-
|[[2001–02 Celtic F.C. season|2001–02]]<ref>{{soccerbase season|7732|2001|access-date=1 March 2020}}</ref>
|Scottish Premier League
|18||4||2||0||2||0||8{{efn|Seven appearances three goals in Champions League, one appearance in UEFA Cup}}||3||colspan="2"|—||30||7
|-
|[[2002–03 Celtic F.C. season|2002–03]]<ref>{{soccerbase season|7732|2002|access-date=1 March 2020}}</ref>
|Scottish Premier League
|28||15||1||0||2||0||12{{efn|Two appearances one goal in Champions League, ten appearances three goals in UEFA Cup}}||4||colspan="2"|—||43||19
|-
|[[2003–04 Celtic F.C. season|2003–04]]<ref>{{soccerbase season|7732|2003|access-date=1 March 2020}}</ref>
|Scottish Premier League
|25||19||4||2||1||0||14{{efn|Ten appearances six goals in Champions League, four appearances one goal in UEFA Cup}}||7||colspan="2"|—||44||28
|-
|[[2004–05 Celtic F.C. season|2004–05]]<ref>{{soccerbase season|7732|2004|access-date=1 March 2020}}</ref>
|Scottish Premier League||27||12||5||3||0||0||5||1||colspan="2"|—||37||16
|-
|[[2005–06 Celtic F.C. season|2005–06]]<ref name="sb0506">{{soccerbase season|7732|2005|access-date=1 March 2020}}</ref>
|Scottish Premier League||8||2||colspan="2"|—||1||0||1{{efn|name=statsUCL}}||0||colspan="2"|—||10||2
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!130||63||16||5||9||2||44||16||colspan="2"|—||199||86
|-
|[[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]]
|[[2005–06 Birmingham City F.C. season|2005–06]]<ref name="sb0506"/>
|Premier League||10||1||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||11||1
|-
|[[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]
|[[2006–07 Aston Villa F.C. season|2006–07]]<ref>{{soccerbase season|7732|2006|access-date=1 March 2020}}</ref>
|Premier League||8||1||0||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||9||1
|-
! colspan=3 | Career total
!408||148||40||15||31||12||66||18||1||0||546||193
|}
{{notelist}}

===Managerial===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!rowspan="2"|Team
!rowspan="2"|From
!rowspan="2"|To
!colspan="7"|Record
|-
!P!!W!!D!!L!!Win %
|-
|align=left|[[Lincoln City F.C.|Lincoln City]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/managers/manager.sd?manager_id=2173 |title=Managers: Chris Sutton |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |access-date=1 March 2020}}</ref><!-- soccerbase figures include match of 29 September 2009, in which caretaker manager Simon Clark was in charge -->
|align=left|30 September 2009<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/lincoln_city/8278445.stm |title=Lincoln appoint Sutton as manager |publisher=BBC Sport |date=28 September 2009 |access-date=1 March 2020}}</ref>
|align=left|29 September 2010
{{WDL|50|14|13|23}}
|-
!colspan="3"|Total
{{WDLtot|50|14|13|23}}
|}

==Honours==
'''Blackburn Rovers'''
* [[Premier League]]: [[1994–95 FA Premier League|1994–95]]<ref name=PL>{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/390/Chris-Sutton/overview |title=Chris Sutton: Overview |publisher=Premier League |access-date=27 September 2018}}</ref>

'''Celtic'''
* [[Scottish Premier League]]: [[2000–01 Scottish Premier League|2000–01]], [[2001–02 Scottish Premier League|2001–02]], [[2003–04 Scottish Premier League|2003–04]], [[2005–06 Scottish Premier League|2005–06]]<ref name="sway">{{cite web|title=C. Sutton|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/chris-sutton/4550/|publisher=Soccerway|access-date=2 October 2014}}</ref>
* [[Scottish Cup]]: [[2000–01 Scottish Cup|2000–01]], [[2003–04 Scottish Cup|2003–04]], [[2004–05 Scottish Cup|2004–05]];<ref name="sway" /> runner-up: [[2001–02 Scottish Cup|2001–02]]
* [[Scottish League Cup]]: [[2000–01 Scottish League Cup|2000–01]];<ref name="sway" /> runner-up: [[2002–03 Scottish League Cup|2002–03]]
* [[UEFA Cup]] runner-up: [[2002–03 UEFA Cup|2002–03]]<ref name="sway" />

'''England U21'''
* [[Toulon Tournament]]: 1993<ref>{{ cite web | url = https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003741/19930614/038/0038 | title = YOU'VE BEEN | newspaper = [[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]] | date = 14 June 1993 | access-date = 28 May 2022 | url-access=subscription | via = [[British Newspaper Archive]] }}</ref>

'''Individual'''
* [[Premier League Golden Boot]]: [[1997–98 FA Premier League#Top scorers|1997–98]]<ref name=PL/>
* [[Premier League Player of the Month]]: [[1994–95 FA Premier League#Monthly awards|November 1994]], [[1997–98 FA Premier League#Monthly awards|February 1998]]<ref name=PL/>
* [[Norwich City F.C. Player of the Season|Norwich City Player of the Season]]: [[1993–94 Norwich City F.C. season|1993–94]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Norwich City FC Player of the Year |url=https://www.myfootballfacts.com/premier-league/premier-league-clubs-2/norwich_city_player_of_the_year/ |access-date=26 January 2024 |publisher=My Football Facts (which owns "myfootballfacts.com"}}</ref>
* [[PFA Scotland Players' Player of the Year]]: [[2003–04 in Scottish football|2003–04]]<ref name="poy" />
* [[PFA Team of the Year]]: [[1994–95 Premier League]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Lynch |title=The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes |page=150}}</ref>
* [[List of Scottish Premier League monthly award winners|Scottish Premier League Player of the Month]]: [[2003–04 Scottish Premier League#Monthly awards|November 2003]],<ref name="spom">{{cite web |date=26 January 2024 |title=Scottish Premier League Manager, Player & Young Player of the Month Awards |url=https://www.myfootballfacts.com/world-football/scottish-football/spl_manager_and_player_of_the_month_awards/ |access-date=26 January 2024 |publisher=My Football Facts (which owns myfootballfacts.com)}}</ref> [[2004–05 Scottish Premier League#Monthly awards|January 2005]]<ref name="spom" />

==See also==
* [[Norwich City F.C. Hall of Fame]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Soccerbase}}
* {{IMDb name|id=3994554|name=Chris Sutton}}
* [https://archive.today/20140918115303/http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/players/profile.career-history.html/chris-sutton Profile] at premierleague.com
* [http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/searchresults.asp?ButtonLeap=0&countryLinkDescription=+matching+search+results&FootballHeroName=chris+sutton&FootballHeroClubCountry=&FootballHeroDecade=Select+One&SearchButton=Search Photos and stats] at sporting-heroes.net
* [http://www.ex-canaries.co.uk/players/sutton.htm Career information at ex-canaries.co.uk]
* [https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/6273060.stm Sutton's playing career in pictures] at [[BBC Sport]]
* {{Englandstats}}

{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg = gold
| fg = navy
| list1 = 
{{1994–95 Premier League Team of the Year}}
{{Premier League Golden Boot}}
{{SPFA Players' Player of the Year}}
{{Blackburn Rovers F.C. Player of the Year}}
{{Norwich City F.C. Player of the Season}}
{{Norwich City F.C. Hall of Fame}}
}}
{{Lincoln City F.C. managers}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sutton, Chris}}
[[Category:1973 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Horsford]]
[[Category:People from East Leake]]
[[Category:Footballers from Nottinghamshire]]
[[Category:Footballers from Nottingham]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:Men's association football utility players]]
[[Category:English men's footballers]]
[[Category:England men's under-21 international footballers]]
[[Category:England men's B international footballers]]
[[Category:England men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Norwich City F.C. players]]
[[Category:Blackburn Rovers F.C. players]]
[[Category:Chelsea F.C. players]]
[[Category:Celtic F.C. players]]
[[Category:Birmingham City F.C. players]]
[[Category:Aston Villa F.C. players]]
[[Category:Wroxham F.C. players]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:Premier League players]]
[[Category:First Division/Premier League top scorers]]
[[Category:Scottish Premier League players]]
[[Category:English football managers]]
[[Category:Lincoln City F.C. managers]]
[[Category:English Football League managers]]