View source for Ian Cox

{{Short description|Trinidad and Tobago footballer}}
{{for|the cricketer|Ian Cox (cricketer)}}
{{BLP sources|date=December 2014}}
{{EngvarB|date=November 2021}}
{{Use Trinidad and Tobago English|date=January 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Ian Cox <br><small>[[Chaconia Medal|CM]]</small>
| image = Ian Cox 2021.jpg
| fullname = Ian Gary Cox
| height = 1.83 m
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|3|25|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Croydon]], London, England
| position = [[Central defender]]
| youthyears1 = 1993–1994
| youthclubs1 = [[Carshalton Athletic F.C.|Carshalton Athletic]]
| years1 = 1994–1996
| clubs1 = [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]]
| caps1 = 15
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 1996–2000
| clubs2 = [[AFC Bournemouth]]
| caps2 = 173
| goals2 = 16
| years3 = 2000–2003
| clubs3 = [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]]
| caps3 = 115
| goals3 = 5
| years4 = 2003–2008
| clubs4 = [[Gillingham F.C.|Gillingham]]
| caps4 = 153
| goals4 = 6
| years5 = 2008–2009
| clubs5 = [[Maidstone United F.C.|Maidstone United]]
| caps5 = 21
| goals5 = 2
| years6 = 2013–2015
| clubs6 = [[Whitstable Town F.C.|Whitstable Town]]
| caps6 = 
| goals6 = 
| totalcaps = 477
| totalgoals = 29
| nationalyears1 = 2000–2006
| nationalteam1 = [[Trinidad and Tobago national football team|Trinidad and Tobago]]
| nationalcaps1 = 16
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| managerclubs1 = [[Whitstable Town]] (joint)
| manageryears1 = 2015–2016
}}
'''Ian Gary Cox''' [[Chaconia Medal|CM]] (born 25 March 1971)<ref>{{cite book|title=Crystal Palace: A Complete Record 1905–2011|author=Ian King|date=April 2012|page=534|isbn=9781780910468}}</ref> is a [[Trinidad and Tobago]] former professional [[association football|footballer]]. Cox was most recently joint manager at [[Whitstable Town F.C.|Whitstable Town]], a post he took up in November 2015. He was part of the [[Trinidad and Tobago national football team|Trinidad and Tobago national team]]'s squad at the [[2006 FIFA World Cup]].

==Playing career==
Born in [[Croydon]], England, Cox joined [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]] from [[Non-League football|non-League]] side [[Carshalton Athletic F.C.|Carshalton Athletic]] for a fee of £40,000 in 1994.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tervet |first=Steve |date=2013-11-14 |title=Former Gillingham defender Ian Cox returns to first club Carshalton Athletic with Whtstable Town in the FA Trophy |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/canterbury/sport/ian-cox-returns-to-first-8847/ |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=Kent Online |language=en}}</ref> Opportunities were limited and he eventually joined [[AFC Bournemouth]] on a free transfer in 1996 having made just a handful of appearances for [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]]. At Palace he scored his first professional goal in an [[FA Cup]] defeat to [[Port Vale]] in January 1996.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/palaces-cup-form-6357116.html|title=Palace's Cup form|website=standard.co.uk|date=5 January 2001}}</ref>

He enjoyed a hugely successful spell at Bournemouth where he played alongside [[Rio Ferdinand]], his no-nonsense playing style endeared himself to the fans in a playing spell that included over 170 league appearances. In the [[2000–01 in English football|2000–01]] season, Cox joined Burnley for £500,000. He notched up over 100 appearances for the [[Football League Championship|Championship]] side scoring five goals, before joining [[Gillingham F.C.|Gillingham]] on a free transfer, in the [[2003–04 in English football|2003–04]] season.

Predominantly a [[central defender]], Cox can also play in [[midfielder|midfield]]. 

On 28 March 2008, Cox was released by Gillingham and signed for [[Isthmian League Premier Division]] side and local rivals [[Maidstone United F.C.|Maidstone United]].<ref>{{cite web|title =Former Gills defender Cox signs for Maidstone|website=kentnews.co.uk|date =12 May 2008|access-date =22 December 2014|url =http://www.kentnews.co.uk/sport/former_gills_defender_cox_signs_for_maidstone_1_1040275|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20141222032059/http://www.kentnews.co.uk/sport/former_gills_defender_cox_signs_for_maidstone_1_1040275|archive-date =22 December 2014|url-status =dead}}</ref> Up until the turn of the year Cox was a permanent fixture in Maidstone's starting XI, playing a big part in what was one of the best defences in the league. However, in January 2009, Cox's work as a [[prison officer]] meant he could no longer commit himself to the club. He did not appear for the Stones in over four months, however he did return in April 2009 to make three more appearances before retiring from football at the end of the season. In August 2013, however, he came out of retirement to play for [[Whitstable Town F.C.|Whitstable Town]], managed by former teammate [[Nicky Southall]].<ref>{{cite web|last =Short|first =Andy|title =TOWN SIGN IAN COX|publisher =Whitstable Town FC|date =21 August 2013|access-date =21 December 2014|url =http://www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk/2013/first-team-club-news/town-sign-ian-cox/|url-status =dead|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20141221051202/http://www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk/2013/first-team-club-news/town-sign-ian-cox/|archive-date =21 December 2014|df =dmy-all}}</ref>

==International career==
Cox was born in [[Croydon]], England, but qualified for Trinidad and Tobago through his Tobago-born mother.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Bailey |first=Joel |date=29 October 2005 |title=Cox makes up for lost time |url=https://socawarriors.net/mens-senior-team/1982-cox-makes-up-for-lost-time.html |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=Soca Warriors Online - Trinidad and Tobago Football |language=en-gb}}</ref> He made his debut in a 0–1 loss to [[Morocco national football team|Morocco]] in January 2000, and was named in the Soca Warriors' [[2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup]] squad shortly thereafter.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-06-02 |title=Football: Warriors go to World Cup |url=https://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/781881.football-warriors-go-world-cup/ |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=Your Local Guardian |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=CONCACAF Championship, Gold Cup 2000 - Full Details |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/00gc-full.html |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=www.rsssf.org}}</ref>

After frustration from his then [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]] manager [[Stan Ternent]] that his international duties were limiting his availability for club football,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2001-02-27 |title=Cox set to win cap for Trinidad |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/6042730.cox-set-win-cap-trinidad/ |access-date=2025-03-16 |work=[[Lancashire Telegraph]] |language=en-GB |issn=}}</ref> in April 2001 Cox chose to withdraw from the international side. However, after a consistent run of form for [[Gillingham F.C.|Gillingham]], as well as a return to the helm of [[Bertille St. Clair|Bertille St Clair]] who had handed him his international debut, Cox came out of international retirement in 2004.<ref name=":0" />

After appearing as a substitute in the crucial second-leg of Trinidad and Tobago's [[2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF–AFC play-off)|qualifying play-off]] against [[Bahrain national football team|Bahrain]], Cox was named in the Trinidad and Tobago squad for the [[2006 FIFA World Cup]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mitchener |first=Mark |date=2005-12-24 |title=Cox cautious on World Cup dreams |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4558234.stm |access-date=2025-03-16 |work=[[BBC Sport]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> He was on the bench against [[Sweden men's national football team|Sweden]], [[England national football team|England]] and [[Paraguay national football team|Paraguay]] in Trinidad and Tobago's first ever games in a World Cup, but did not feature. Cox retired from international football immediately after Trinidad's elimination from the tournament.

==Coaching career==
In June 2015, Cox joined [[Isthmian League|Isthmian League Division One South]] side [[Ramsgate F.C.|Ramsgate]] as head coach,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gidley |first=Andrew |date=2015-07-09 |title=Ward - "Ian Cox is making an impact already" |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/thanet/sport/ward----ian-cox-39904/ |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=Kent Online |language=en}}</ref> and in November of the same year moved to [[Whitstable Town F.C.|Whitstable Town]] as joint manager with Wayne Wilson.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2015-11-24 |title=Ian Cox and Wayne Wilson handed the reins at Whitstable Town |url=https://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/isthmian-league-step-three/14244/ian-cox-and-wayne-wilson-handed-the-reins-at-whitstable-town/ |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=The Non-League Football Paper |language=en-US}}</ref> He left the club by mutual consent on 1 March 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hoad |first=Alex |date=2016-03-01 |title=Former Gillingham, Crystal Palace, Burnley, Bournemouth and Trinidad & Tobago defender Ian Cox leaves Whitstable Town by mutual consent |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/whitstable/sport/cox-leaves-town-91828/ |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=Kent Online |language=en}}</ref>

Cox has also worked as an Equality Officer and first-team coach at his former club Gillingham,<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 February 2016 |title=SHOW YOUR SUPPORT |url=https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2016/february/show-your-support |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=[[Gillingham F.C.]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=19 April 2019 |title=Coxy {{!}} "We are over the moon" |url=https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2019/april/coxy-argyle |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=[[Gillingham F.C.]] |language=en}}</ref> and coordinator of the [[National Citizen Service]] programme at former club [[AFC Bournemouth|Bournemouth]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lewis |first=Jason |date=2019-09-04 |title=Former Cherries skipper Cox returns in community role |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/17881177.former-afc-bournemouth-skipper-ian-cox-returns-community-role/ |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=[[Bournemouth Echo]] |language=en}}</ref>

==Awards==
As a member of [[Trinidad and Tobago at the 2006 FIFA World Cup|the Trinidad and Tobago squad]] that competed at the [[2006 FIFA World Cup]] in Germany, Cox was awarded the [[Chaconia Medal|Chaconia Medal (Gold Class)]], the second highest [[Orders, decorations, and medals of Trinidad and Tobago|state decoration]] of Trinidad and Tobago.<ref>{{cite web |title=Birchall and Bell up for award |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/coventry/content/articles/2006/11/13/midlands_sports_awards_feature.shtml |website=[[BBC Sport]] |access-date=6 September 2021}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Soccerbase}}
*[http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player4/iancox.html Ian Cox Stats at neilbrown.com]

{{Navboxes
| title = Trinidad and Tobago squads
| bg = #ce1126
| fg = white
| bordercolor = black
| list1 = 
{{Trinidad and Tobago squad 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
{{Trinidad and Tobago squad 2006 FIFA World Cup}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cox, Ian}}
[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Trinidad and Tobago men's footballers]]
[[Category:21st-century Trinidad and Tobago sportsmen]]
[[Category:Trinidad and Tobago men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Carshalton Athletic F.C. players]]
[[Category:Crystal Palace F.C. players]]
[[Category:AFC Bournemouth players]]
[[Category:Burnley F.C. players]]
[[Category:Maidstone United F.C. players]]
[[Category:Gillingham F.C. players]]
[[Category:Whitstable Town F.C. players]]
[[Category:2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup players]]
[[Category:2006 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:Footballers from the London Borough of Croydon]]
[[Category:People from Croydon]]
[[Category:English people of Trinidad and Tobago descent]]
[[Category:Sportspeople of Trinidad and Tobago descent]]
[[Category:Premier League players]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:British prison officers]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Chaconia Medal]]
[[Category:Men's association football defenders]]
[[Category:English men's footballers]]