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{{Short description|English football manager (born 1969)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Mark Robins
| image = RobinsViveash.jpg
| upright = 
| caption = Robins (left) as manager of Coventry City in 2020 with assistant manager [[Adi Viveash]]
| full_name = Mark Gordon Robins<ref name=Hugman>{{Hugman|16890|access-date=28 May 2018}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|12|22|df=y}}<ref name=Hugman/>
| birth_place = [[Ashton-under-Lyne]], [[Lancashire]], England<ref name=Hugman/>
| height = {{height|ft=5|in=7}}<ref>{{cite book |title=Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88 |editor-first=Peter |editor-last=Dunk |publisher=Queen Anne Press |location=London |date=1987 |page=[https://archive.org/details/rothmansfootball00lond/page/234 234] |isbn=978-0-356-14354-5 |url=https://archive.org/details/rothmansfootball00lond/page/234}}</ref>
| position = [[Forward (association football)|Striker]]
| currentclub = [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]] (manager)
| youthyears1 = 1984–1988
| youthclubs1 = [[Manchester United F.C. Under-21s and Academy|Manchester United]]
| years1 = 1988–1992
| clubs1 = [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]
| caps1 = 48
| goals1 = 11
| years2 = 1992–1995
| clubs2 = [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]]
| caps2 = 68
| goals2 = 20
| years3 = 1995–1998
| clubs3 = [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]]
| caps3 = 56
| goals3 = 12
| years4 = 1996
| clubs4 = → [[F.C. Copenhagen|Copenhagen]] (loan)
| caps4 = 6
| goals4 = 4
| years5 = 1997
| clubs5 = → [[Reading F.C.|Reading]] (loan)
| caps5 = 5
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 1998
| clubs6 = [[CD Ourense|Ourense]]
| caps6 = 18
| goals6 = 5
| years7 = 1998–1999
| clubs7 = [[Panionios F.C.|Panionios]]
| caps7 = 13
| goals7 = 1
| years8 = 1999
| clubs8 = → [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] (loan)
| caps8 = 2
| goals8 = 0
| years9 = 1999–2000
| clubs9 = [[Walsall F.C.|Walsall]]
| caps9 = 40
| goals9 = 6
| years10 = 2000–2003
| clubs10 = [[Rotherham United F.C.|Rotherham United]]
| caps10 = 107
| goals10 = 44
| years11 = 2003
| clubs11 = → [[Bristol City F.C.|Bristol City]] (loan)
| caps11 = 6
| goals11 = 4
| years12 = 2003–2004
| clubs12 = [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]]
| caps12 = 15
| goals12 = 3
| years13 = 2004–2005
| clubs13 = [[Burton Albion F.C.|Burton Albion]]
| caps13 = 9
| goals13 = 1
| totalcaps = 393
| totalgoals = 111
| nationalyears1 = 1985
| nationalteam1 = [[England national under-16 football team|England U16]]
| nationalcaps1 = 9
| nationalgoals1 = 3
| nationalyears2 = 1990
| nationalteam2 = [[England national under-21 football team|England U21]]
| nationalcaps2 = 6
| nationalgoals2 = 7
| manageryears1 = 2007–2009
| managerclubs1 = [[Rotherham United F.C.|Rotherham United]]
| manageryears2 = 2009–2011
| managerclubs2 = [[Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley]]
| manageryears3 = 2012–2013
| managerclubs3 = [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]]
| manageryears4 = 2013–2014
| managerclubs4 = [[Huddersfield Town A.F.C.|Huddersfield Town]]
| manageryears5 = 2014–2016
| managerclubs5 = [[Scunthorpe United F.C.|Scunthorpe United]]
| manageryears6 = 2017–2024
| managerclubs6 = [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]]
| manageryears7 = 2025–
| managerclubs7 = [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]]
}}
'''Mark Gordon Robins''' (born 22 December 1969) is an English [[association football|football]] manager and former player who is the manager of {{English football updater|StokeCty}} club [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]]. As a player, he was a [[Forward (association football)|striker]] and is best known for his time in the [[Premier League]] with [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]], [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]] and [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]].

Robins began his career with [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]. During this period, he scored a goal against [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]] in a [[1989–90 FA Cup]] tie that has subsequently been credited with "saving" manager [[Alex Ferguson]]'s job at Old Trafford. After spending time with Norwich and Leicester, Robins went on to play for [[Reading F.C.|Reading]], [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]], [[Walsall F.C.|Walsall]], [[Rotherham United F.C.|Rotherham United]], [[Bristol City F.C.|Bristol City]] and [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]] in the [[English Football League|Football League]]. Robins also played across Europe during spells with [[F.C. Copenhagen|Copenhagen]], [[CD Ourense|Ourense]], and [[Panionios F.C.|Panionios]] before finishing his career with [[Burton Albion F.C.|Burton Albion]] in the [[Conference National]].

In 2007, he became manager of [[Rotherham United F.C.|Rotherham United]], and joined [[Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley]] in the same capacity in 2009, before leaving in 2011, following differences between him and the board. In 2012, he became manager of [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]] until 2013 when he joined [[Huddersfield Town A.F.C.|Huddersfield Town]]. Robins left Huddersfield Town in 2014 by mutual agreement. A few months later he became manager of [[Scunthorpe United F.C.|Scunthorpe United]] before leaving in 2016.

In March 2017, Robins rejoined Coventry City and a few months later won the [[EFL Trophy]]. In the [[2017–18 EFL League Two|2017–18 season]], Robins won the [[EFL League Two play-offs]] with the Sky Blues and were promoted to [[EFL League One|League One]]. After a solid eighth placed finish in [[EFL League One|League One]] in the [[2018–19 EFL League One|2018–19 season]], Robins led Coventry to promotion to the [[EFL Championship]] as [[EFL League One|League One]] Champions in the [[2019–20 EFL League One|2019–20 season]]. He followed that up by guiding Coventry to a respectable 16th placed finish in the [[EFL Championship|Championship]] in the 2020–21 season, and further improved upon this with a 12th placed finish in the [[2021–22 EFL Championship|2021–22 season]]. In the [[2022–23 EFL Championship|2022–23 season]], Robins led Coventry to a fifth place finish in the [[EFL Championship|Championship]], qualifying for [[EFL Championship play-offs|promotion play-offs]]. [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]] met [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]] at [[Wembley Stadium|Wembley]] in the final, where they ultimately lost on penalties. In the [[2023-24 EFL Championship|2023–24 season]] saw Robins lead Coventry to reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup for the first time since 1987, where they met his former club Manchester United.

In 2024, Robins was awarded an honorary doctorate from Coventry University for his impact on both [[Coventry City FC|Coventry City]] and the area of Coventry itself.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-18 |title=Mark Robins returning to Coventry to collect honorary doctorate |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c20nqeey33xo.amp |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-gb}}</ref>

==Club career==

===Manchester United===
Robins played an important part in winning the [[FA Cup]] for [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] in [[1990 FA Cup final|1990]], which was the first trophy of manager [[Alex Ferguson]]'s reign at the club, scoring the winning goal in the semi-final replay against Oldham Athletic.<ref>{{cite news|title=25 years on: Robins saves Ferguson|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/30709994|publisher=BBC}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/fa-cup/12089097/FA-Cup-heroes-Mark-Robins-remembers-the-goal-that-saved-Sir-Alex-Ferguson-from-the-Man-Utd-sack.html|title=FA Cup heroes: Mark Robins remembers the goal that saved Sir Alex Ferguson from the Man Utd sack|newspaper=The Telegraph}}</ref> United were playing away from home against [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]] on 7 January 1990, in the FA Cup third round tie. It was widely speculated in the media (but perennially denied by then-chairman [[Martin Edwards]]) that under-pressure United manager Alex Ferguson would have been sacked had United lost and gone out of the Cup, as they were 15th in the league by this stage and had already been eliminated from the [[1989–90 Football League Cup|League Cup]]. Instead, Robins scored the winning goal from a [[Mark Hughes]] cross. That goal was a turning point in the history of the football club – Ferguson would keep his job and go on to achieve an unmatched run of success at the club over the next 23 years.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bevan |first=Chris |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/6096520.stm |title= How Robins saved Ferguson's job |work=BBC News |date=4 November 2006 |access-date=27 October 2009}}</ref>

In that season, Robins scored seven First Division goals and a further two in the FA Cup, bringing his tally that season to nine in all competitions. His goal in the FA Cup third round also had the distinction of making him the player to score the first goal of the 1990s for Manchester United.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.manchester-united-fans-site.com/manchester-united-results-1989-1990.html |title=Manchester United Results 1989-1990, Division One, FA Cup, League Cup |access-date=12 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426175846/http://www.manchester-united-fans-site.com/manchester-united-results-1989-1990.html |archive-date=26 April 2011  }}</ref> He also scored one of United's two goals in the semi-final replay where they beat [[Oldham Athletic A.F.C.|Oldham Athletic]].{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

He was second only to Mark Hughes in the goalscoring charts at [[Old Trafford]], while Hughes's regular strike-partner [[Brian McClair]] had managed a mere five goals and it was starting to look as though Robins would displace McClair as the club's regular second striker. However, McClair recovered his goalscoring form in [[1990–91 in English football|1990–91]], and Robins managed only 19 First Division appearances and four goals. He was, however, in the squad that won the [[1990–91 European Cup Winners' Cup|European Cup Winners' Cup that season]]. September was a good month for him, as he scored twice in a 3–1 home win over [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]] in the league and the winning goal in a visit to [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]].

However, the [[1991–92 in English football|1991–92]] season was a frustrating one for Robins as he played just twice in the league, failing to score, and in total made just eight appearances in all competitions. His only goals that season came in the League Cup second round at home to [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]], when he scored twice in a 3–1 win at Old Trafford. When the opportunity for a place returned in the first team arose in April as fixture congestion took its toll on an increasingly goal-shy United were being overhauled by [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] in the title race, Robins was injured and unavailable for selection.

On 19 November 1991, he collected a [[1991 European Super Cup|European Super Cup]] winner's medal (as an unused substitute) as United beat [[Red Star Belgrade]] in the game at Old Trafford.

Following a frustrating season, and with United looking to sign a new striker, he asked to be transfer listed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=43244 |title=Mark Robins |publisher=Sporting-heroes.net |access-date=27 October 2009}}</ref>

===Norwich City===
He left Manchester United for [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]] for a fee of £800,000 where he played an important role in some of the club's greatest successes, including the [[FC Bayern Munich 1–2 Norwich City F.C. (1993)|remarkable win]] in the [[Olympiastadion (Munich)|Olympiastadion]] against [[Bayern Munich]] in the [[1992–93 UEFA Cup|UEFA Cup]].

In his first game, his two goals helped Norwich defeat [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] 4–2 at [[Highbury Stadium|Highbury]] on the opening day of the first ever [[Premier League]] season. The Canaries were 2–0 down with a quarter of the game remaining before Robins scored the club's first Premier League goal in the 69th minute, followed swiftly by goals from wingers [[David Phillips (Welsh footballer)|David Phillips]] and [[Ruel Fox]], before Robins completed a 4–2 triumph with an 84th-minute goal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statbunker.com/football/btb/index.php?PL=match&MatchID=3412|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130202235953/http://www.statbunker.com/football/btb/index.php?PL=match&MatchID=3412|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-02-02|title=Arsenal VS Norwich City Match overview Premier League 92/93|website=Statbunker football}}</ref> On 9 November 1992, he became the first English player to score a hat-trick and the first player to achieve that in an away game in the Premier League in a 3-2 win against [[Oldham Athletic A.F.C.|Oldham Athletic]].

He helped them qualify for the UEFA Cup at the end of the [[1992–93 in English football|1992–93]] season, in which Norwich finished third in the Premier League, having led the league at several stages and featured in the title race until well into April, before his old club Manchester United finally won the title. His [[1993–94 in English football|1993–94]] season was interrupted by a serious injury, and coincided with a slump in form for Norwich, who finished 12th, after spending most of the first half of the season in the top five.

===Leicester City===
In [[1994–95 in English football|1994–95]], after falling out with Norwich manager [[John Deehan]], he was sold to [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]], but was unable to prevent them from being relegated to Division One. He did, however, help them win a promotion return to the Premier League via the play-offs in [[1995–96 in English football|1995–96]], and win the League Cup in [[1996–97 in English football|1996–97]], when they finished ninth in the Premier League. While at Leicester, Robins was loaned out to [[F.C. Copenhagen|Copenhagen]] and [[Reading F.C.|Reading]].

Leicester loaned Robins to Copenhagen in 1996. He played six games for the Danish club, scoring four goals. Among the FC Copenhagen supporters, Robins and his then attacking partner [[Michael Manniche]] got the nicknames "Batmanne and Robins".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sidelinien.dk/forums/showthread.php?4621-Svaret-p%25E5-vores-evige-angrebs-problem&highlight=Batmanne+Robins|title=Svaret på vores evige angrebs-problem|website=sidelinien.dk}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=August 2022}}

===Ourense and Panionios===
After leaving Leicester in January 1998, Robins had further spells abroad playing for Spanish side [[CD Ourense|Ourense]] and Greek side [[Panionios F.C.|Panionios]]. While at Panionios, he had a brief loan spell on return in England for [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]; however, this was disrupted by injury.<ref>{{cite news 
|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/robins-set-to-resume-cup-affair-9191604.html
|title=Robins set to resume Cup affair
|publisher=Independent
|date=16 January 2002 |access-date=27 April 2020}}</ref>

===Later career===
Robins returned to England when he signed for [[Walsall F.C.|Walsall]] in the summer of 1999, and went on to score eight goals in 46 appearances in his one season at the club.<ref>{{Soccerbase season|6809|1999|name=Mark Robins|access-date=2020-04-27}}</ref> After one season at Walsall, Robins signed for [[Rotherham United F.C.|Rotherham United]] in the summer of 2000. Ironically, he made his debut for the club against Walsall, and scored two goals as his former side won 3–2.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/876108.stm|title=Rotherham 2-3 Walsall|publisher=BBC|date=12 August 2000 |access-date=27 April 2020}}</ref> He went on to score 26 goals in all competitions in his first season at Rotherham, including a hat-trick in a 4–3 win over [[Swindon Town]].<ref>{{Soccerbase season|6809|2000|name=Mark Robins|access-date=2020-04-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/1249202.stm|title=Rotherham 4-3 Swindon|publisher=BBC|date=31 March 2001 |access-date=27 April 2020}}</ref> In February 2003, Robins was loaned to [[Bristol City F.C.|Bristol City]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Mark Robins |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bristol_city/2780229.stm |title= Robins keen to make a mark |work=BBC News |date=19 February 2003 |access-date=27 October 2009}}</ref> He scored on his debut for the club in a [[Football League Trophy]] tie against [[Cambridge United]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/2766313.stm|title=Bristol City 4-2 Cambridge|publisher=BBC|date=18 February 2003 |access-date=27 April 2020}}</ref> In his brief spell at Bristol City, he scored five goals in eight appearances and helped his side reach the [[2003 Football League Trophy Final]]. However, by the time of the final, he was recalled by Rotherham and unable to take part. Bristol City went on to win the final in his absence.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/2898425.stm|title=Bristol City sink Carlisle|publisher=BBC|date=6 April 2003 |access-date=27 April 2020}}</ref>

After falling out of favour at Rotherham, Robins joined [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]] in December 2003.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11703/2282540/robins-denies-owls-bid|title=Robins denies Owls bid|publisher=Sky Sports|date=1 December 2003 |access-date=27 April 2020}}</ref> As he had done at Bristol City, Robins made an impressive debut for his new club in the [[Football League Trophy]], scoring twice as Wednesday defeated [[Carlisle United F.C.|Carlisle United]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/3296641.stm|title=Carlisle 0-3 Sheff Wed|publisher=BBC|date=9 December 2003 |access-date=27 April 2020}}</ref>

Robins ended his playing career at [[National League (division)|Conference]] side [[Burton Albion F.C.|Burton Albion]], whom he joined after leaving Sheffield Wednesday in 2004. He stayed at Burton until leaving to take up an assistant manager role at Rotherham United in January 2005.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rotherham_utd/4223359.stm|title=Moore parts company with Millers|publisher=BBC|date=31 January 2005|access-date=27 April 2020}}</ref>

==International career==
Robins made his debut for the [[England national under-21 football team|England under-21s]] at the [[Toulon Tournament]] in May 1990.<ref name="engonline21">{{cite web|url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/MatchRsl/MatchRslTmU21pg1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191102001144/http://englandfootballonline.com/MatchRsl/MatchRslTmU21pg1.html |archive-date=2 November 2019 |title=England's Matches the under-21's 1976−1990 |work=EnglandFootballOnline.com |publisher=England Football Online |first1=Chris |last1=Goodwin |first2=Glen |last2=Isherwood |access-date=28 April 2020}}</ref><ref name="espoirs">{{cite web|url=https://festival-foot-espoirs.com/festival/archives/palmares.php?annee=1990 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190912175902/https://festival-foot-espoirs.com/festival/archives/palmares.php?annee=1990 |archive-date=12 September 2019 |title=18È Festival International Espoirs |work=Festival-Foot-Espoirs.com |publisher=Festival International Espoirs |language=fr |access-date=28 April 2020}}</ref> He started the opening group game against [[Portugal national under-21 football team|Portugal]] as England lost 1−0.<ref name="engonline21"/><ref name="espoirs"/> In the next game, he scored five goals against [[France national under-21 football team|France]] in the 7−3 win, then followed that up with a goal against [[Russia national under-21 football team|Russia]] as England qualified for the final.<ref name="engonline21"/><ref name="espoirs"/> Robins played the whole game in the final as England beat [[Czechoslovakia national under-21 football team|Czechoslovakia]] to lift the trophy.<ref name="engonline21"/><ref name="espoirs"/> On 11 September, he scored in the friendly against [[Hungary national under-21 football team|Hungary]] as England ran out 3−1 winners at [[The Dell, Southampton|The Dell]].<ref name="engonlineu21s">{{cite web|url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/MatchRsl/MatchRslTmU21pg2.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200415020338/http://www.englandfootballonline.com/MatchRsl/MatchRslTmU21pg2.html |archive-date=15 April 2020 |title=England's Matches the under-21's 1990−2000 |work=EnglandFootballOnline.com |publisher=England Football Online |first1=Chris |last1=Goodwin |first2=Glen |last2=Isherwood |access-date=28 April 2020}}</ref> His last appearance was in the defeat against [[Poland national under-21 football team|Poland]] during qualifying for the [[1992 UEFA European Under-21 Championship]].<ref name="engonlineu21s"/> Overall, Robins made six appearances for the U21s and scored seven goals.<ref name="engonline21"/><ref name="engonlineu21s"/>

==Managerial career==
===Rotherham United===
Robins joined [[Rotherham United F.C.|Rotherham United]] in June 2000 as a player and subsequently as assistant manager,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ex-canaries.co.uk/players/robins.htm |title=Mark Robins |website=Flown from the Nest |access-date=27 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100218181614/http://www.ex-canaries.co.uk/players/robins.htm |archive-date=18 February 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> under manager [[Alan Knill]]. However, by the end of February 2007, the Millers sat 13 points adrift of safety, making the threat of relegation almost inevitable. This resulted in Knill being sacked on 1 March, with Robins becoming caretaker manager.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/southyorkshire/content/articles/2007/03/01/rotherham_sack_alan_knill_feature.shtml |title=Rotherham sack Knill |publisher=BBC |date=6 March 2007 |access-date=27 October 2009}}</ref> After a spell of three wins in six games while in charge as caretaker manager, and moving the club off the bottom of [[EFL League One|League One]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rotherham_utd/6502231.stm |title= Robins sees confidence returning |work=BBC News |date=28 March 2007 |access-date=27 October 2009}}</ref> Robins's position was made permanent on 6 April 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rotherham_utd/6529979.stm |title= Millers name Robins as new boss |work=BBC News |date=6 April 2007 |access-date=27 October 2009}}</ref>

Robins gained much praise for his first two seasons with the Millers.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}} The first saw Rotherham consistently in the automatic promotion places until a late dip in form, and the second almost brought promotion despite a 17-point deduction imposed by the Football League. Robins also attracted several high calibre players to the [[Don Valley Stadium]], including League 2 player of the season [[Nicky Law (footballer born 1988)|Nicky Law]] and prolific goalscorer [[Adam Le Fondre]].

===Barnsley===
Robins was appointed as the new manager of [[Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley]] on 9 September 2009, succeeding [[Simon Davey]]. After his first game in charge, the Championship club sat at the bottom of the table looking likely candidates for relegation. By Christmas, Robins had taken them a full nine points clear of the relegation zone and on a run of eight games unbeaten. This was followed by a poor spell towards the end of the season, and Barnsley finished 18th in the table. Robins resigned from his job at the end of the 2010–11 season, because of differences with the board.

===Coventry City===
On 19 September 2012, Robins was appointed as the new manager of [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]], signing a three-year deal. His first game was a 2–1 home defeat against [[Carlisle United F.C.|Carlisle United]] at the [[Ricoh Arena]].

Robins became a fan-favourite catapulting them up the league from relegation battlers to play-off contenders in the short time that he had been at the club.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

Robins took the club to the Area Final of the [[Football League Trophy]] which left the club two games away from [[Wembley Stadium|Wembley]]. Coventry City also had to face two [[Premier League]] clubs away from home during his time. The first being [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] in the [[English League Cup|League Cup]] third round, which resulted in a 6–1 defeat and the second being Arsenal's North London rivals [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] which ended as a 3–0 loss, knocking the Sky Blues out of the [[FA Cup]] third round.

Robins was first linked{{by whom|date=August 2022}} with the vacant [[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]] position and various other clubs. On 12 February 2013, Coventry City released a statement saying they had allowed Robins to go into talks with [[Huddersfield Town A.F.C.|Huddersfield Town]] about their vacant managerial position.

===Huddersfield Town===
On 14 February 2013, Robins was unveiled as the new manager of Huddersfield Town on a rolling contract.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21450038 |title=Huddersfield Town appoint Mark Robins as manager |work=BBC Sport |date=14 February 2013 }}</ref> His first game in charge came three days later, a 4–1 defeat to [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]] in the FA Cup fifth-round at [[John Smith's Stadium]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21448831 |title=Huddersfield 1–4 Wigan |work=BBC Sport |date=17 February 2013 }}</ref> On 19 February 2013, Robins took charge of his first league match as Huddersfield manager, a 6–1 defeat away from home against [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21448640 |title=Nott'm Forest 6–1 Huddersfield |work=BBC Sport |date=19 February 2013 }}</ref> Robins earned his first win as Huddersfield manager on 26 February 2013, a 1–0 victory against Burnley at [[Turf Moor]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21502338 |title=Burnley 0–1 Huddersfield |work=BBC Sport |date=26 February 2013 }}</ref> Huddersfield avoided relegation to League One on the final day of the 2012–13 season after drawing 2–2 with [[Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22320562|title=Huddersfield 2–2 Barnsley|date=4 May 2013|work=BBC Sport}}</ref>

After surviving the following season, Robins and Huddersfield mutually agreed to part company after the first game of the 2014–15 season, a 4–0 home defeat to [[AFC Bournemouth|Bournemouth]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Huddersfield Town part company with manager Mark Robins |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28730678 |publisher=BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation) |date=10 August 2014 |access-date=25 August 2014 }}</ref>

===Scunthorpe United===
On 13 October 2014, Robins was appointed manager of League One club [[Scunthorpe United F.C.|Scunthorpe United]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29596845|title=Mark Robins: Scunthorpe United appoint former Huddersfield boss|work=BBC Sport|date=13 October 2014|access-date=16 October 2014}}</ref> After a run of two wins in eight games, Robins was sacked by Scunthorpe on 18 January 2016, leaving the club six points above the League One relegation zone.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mark Robins: Scunthorpe United sack manager and assistant |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/35343370 |work=BBC Sport |date=18 January 2016 |access-date=18 January 2016}}</ref>

===Return to Coventry City===
On 6 March 2017, Coventry City re-appointed Robins as manager with immediate effect, the day after the sacking of previous manager [[Russell Slade]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39179554|title=Mark Robins: Coventry City name new manager, replacing Russell Slade|work=BBC Sport|date=6 March 2017|access-date=6 March 2017}}</ref>

On 2 April 2017, Robins led Coventry to a 2–1 victory over Oxford United in the [[2017 EFL Trophy final|EFL Trophy final]] at Wembley.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39404886|title=EFL Trophy final: Coventry City 2-1 Oxford United|date=2 April 2017|work=BBC Sport|access-date=24 October 2018}}</ref> Robins won his first promotion as a manager after leading Coventry to a sixth-place finish in League Two, and winning the play-offs at Wembley.<ref name="auto">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44192549 |title=Coventry City 3–1 Exeter City |first=James |last=Law |work=BBC Sport |date=28 May 2018 |access-date=28 May 2018}}</ref> Over the course of the 2017–18 season, Robins broke numerous records as Coventry City manager, including the club's first top six finish in 48 years,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2018/05/28/coventry-beat-exeter-league-two-play-off-final-win-first-promotion/|title=Coventry beat Exeter in League Two play-off final to win first promotion in 51 years|last=Winrow|first=Ian|date=28 May 2018|work=The Telegraph|access-date=24 October 2018|issn=0307-1235}}</ref> their first promotion in 51 years<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/may/28/coventry-city-exeter-city-league-two-play-off-final-match-report|title=Jordan Willis sends Coventry City into play-off final rapture against Exeter City|last=Fisher|first=Ben|date=28 May 2018|website=The Guardian|access-date=24 October 2018}}</ref> and their most points in a season.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/coventry-city-season-in-stats-14750038|title=The amazing stats that sum up Coventry City's unforgettable season|last=Brown|first=Jim|date=6 June 2018|work=Coventry Telegraph|access-date=24 October 2018}}</ref> Robins's achievements gained much plaudits from local press and fans alike,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/mark-robins-coventry-city-wembley-14717246|title=Mark Robins' message to Coventry City fans after Wembley heroics|last=Turner|first=Andy|date=29 May 2018|work=Coventry Telegraph|access-date=24 October 2018}}</ref> when considering Coventry City had only moved down the Football League since relegation from the Premier League in 2001. The win in the League Two play-off final represented Coventry's third competitive win at Wembley and Robins' second trophy in just over a year.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.efl.com/news/2018/may/play-off-final-mark-robins-praises-players-and-fans-following-coventry-city-promotion/|title=Play-Off Final: Mark Robins praises players and fans following Coventry City promotion|access-date=24 October 2018}}</ref>

After an eighth-place finish in the [[2018–19 Coventry City F.C. season|2018–19]] season, Robins signed a new contract with the club in October 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50012688|title=Mark Robins: Coventry City boss signs new contract after approach from Sunderland|date=11 October 2019|work=BBC Sport|access-date=16 November 2019}}</ref> In the [[2019–20 EFL League One|2019–20]] season, Robins took [[Coventry City]] to the Championship after winning the league, with just three defeats all season and unbeaten since 14 December 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ccfc.co.uk/news/2020/june/news-coventry-city-confirmed-as-league-one-champions-and-promoted-to-the-championship/|title=NEWS: Coventry City confirmed as League One Champions and promoted to the Championship!}}</ref> On 8 May 2021, Robins guided Coventry City to beat Millwall 6–1 to secure a 16th-place finish, in the club's first season return in the [[EFL Championship|Championship]] in nine years. The following season, Robins guided the Sky Blues to a 12th-place finish in the Championship, their highest league placing in over ten years.

Robins signed a new deal with the club in May 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 May 2022 |title=Mark Robins: Coventry City manager signs new deal with Championship club |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61313565.amp |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=3 May 2022 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> Robins said he was "delighted" to have signed a new deal. The [[2022–23 Coventry City F.C. season|2022–23]] season under Robins' stewardship saw further improvement, having guided Coventry to a fifth-placed finish, which secured them a place in the Championship play-offs. Coventry were ultimately unsuccessful in their bid for promotion to the Premier League, narrowly losing the penalty shootout in the [[2023 EFL Championship play-off final|final]] at Wembley against [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]], after playing out a 1–1 draw following extra time. On 17 May 2023, Robins agreed to a four-year contract to remain at Coventry until 2027.<ref>{{cite web|date=17 May 2023 |title=Robins agrees four-year contract until 2027 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65620140 |access-date=17 May 2023 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> In the 2023–24 season, Coventry reached the [[2023–24 FA Cup|semi-finals]] of the FA Cup for the first time since 1987, losing to Manchester United on penalties.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68596599 |title=Coventry City v Man Utd: FA Cup semi-final draw 'special' - Mark Robins |first1=Ged |first2=Clive |last1=Scott |last2=Eakin |website=BBC Sport |date=18 March 2024 |access-date=23 April 2024}}</ref><ref name="2324SF">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68860463 |title=Coventry City 3–3 Manchester United (aet; 2–4 on pens) |first=Simon |last=Stone |website=BBC Sport |date=21 April 2024 |access-date=23 April 2024}}</ref> Coventry had initially fought back from 3–0 down to level the match in stoppage time before losing on penalty kicks.<ref name="2324SF"/> On 7 November 2024, after a slow start to the 2024–25 season, Coventry announced they had dismissed Robins. At the time, Robins was the longest serving manager in the Championship.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Butler |first=Michael |last2=Unwin |first2=Will |date=2024-11-07 |title=Coventry sack Mark Robins, Championship's longest-serving manager |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/nov/07/coventry-city-sack-mark-robins |access-date=2024-11-07 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

===Stoke City===
Robins was appointed manager of [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]] on 1 January 2025 on a three-and-a-half year contract, with [[Paul Nevin]] and [[James Rowberry]] as his assistants.<ref>{{cite web |title=Robins appointed Manager of the Potters |url=https://www.stokecityfc.com/news/2025/january/01/robins-appointed-Manager-of-the-Potters/ |website=Stoke City |access-date=1 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Stoke appoint ex-Coventry boss Robins as manager |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cx2ndg3944xo |website=BBC Sport |access-date=1 January 2025}}</ref>

==Managerial statistics==
{{updated|match played 3 May 2025}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Managerial record by team and tenure
|-
!rowspan=2|Team
!rowspan=2|From
!rowspan=2|To
!colspan=5|Record
!rowspan=2|{{abbr|Ref|Reference}}
|-
!{{abbr|P|Matches played}}!!{{abbr|W|Matches won}}!!{{abbr|D|Matches drawn}}!!{{abbr|L|Matches lost}}!!{{abbr|Win %|Win percentage}}
|-
|align=left|[[Rotherham United F.C.|Rotherham United]]
|align=left|1 March 2007
|align=left|9 September 2009
{{WDL|129|56|30|43|decimals=2}}
|<ref name="robins-soccerbase">{{cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/managers/manager.sd?manager_id=2074 |title=Managers:Mark Robins |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |access-date=8 September 2024}}</ref>
|-
|align=left|[[Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley]]
|align=left|9 September 2009
|align=left|15 May 2011
{{WDL|92|29|25|38|decimals=2}}
|<ref name="robins-soccerbase"/>
|-
|align=left|[[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]]
|align=left|19 September 2012
|align=left|14 February 2013
{{WDL|33|17|6|10|decimals=2}}
|<ref name="robins-soccerbase"/>
|-
|align=left|[[Huddersfield Town A.F.C.|Huddersfield Town]]
|align=left|14 February 2013
|align=left|10 August 2014
{{WDL|68|23|14|31|decimals=2}}
|<ref name="robins-soccerbase"/>
|-
|align=left|[[Scunthorpe United F.C.|Scunthorpe United]]
|align=left|13 October 2014
|align=left|18 January 2016
{{WDL|71|23|23|25|decimals=2}}
|<ref name="robins-soccerbase"/>
|-
|align=left|Coventry City
|align=left|6 March 2017
|align=left|7 November 2024
{{WDL|387|154|106|127|decimals=2}}
|<ref name="robins-soccerbase"/>
|-
|align=left|[[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]]
|align=left|1 January 2025
|align=left|''present''
{{WDL|23|7|8|8|decimals=2}}
|<ref name="robins-soccerbase"/>
|-
!colspan="3"|Total
{{WDLtot|803|309|212|282|decimals=2}}
!
|}

==Honours==
===As a player===
'''Manchester United'''
*[[FA Cup]]: [[1989–90 FA Cup|1989–90]]
*[[FA Charity Shield]]: [[1990 FA Charity Shield|1990]]
*[[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|European Cup Winners' Cup]]: [[1990–91 European Cup Winners' Cup|1990–91]]
*[[UEFA Super Cup|European Super Cup]]: [[1991 European Super Cup|1991]]

'''Leicester City'''
*[[Football League First Division play-offs]]: [[1996 Football League play-offs#First Division|1996]]
*[[Football League Cup]]: [[1996–97 Football League Cup|1996–97]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/claridge-s-fivestar-silver-service-1267700.html |title=Claridge's five-star silver service |first=Glenn |last=Moore |website=The Independent |date=16 April 1997 |access-date=2 April 2024}}</ref>

'''Individual'''
*[[Manchester United F.C. Reserves and Academy#Players of the Year|Denzil Haroun Young Player of the Year]]: [[1988–89 Manchester United F.C. season|1988–89]]
*[[Manchester United F.C. Reserves and Academy#Players of the Year|Denzil Haroun Reserve Team Player of the Year]]: [[1989–90 Manchester United F.C. season|1989–90]]<ref>{{cite news |first=Adam |last=Bostock |title=De Laet's delight |url=http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2010/May/De-Laets-delight.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013055232/http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2010/May/De-Laets-delight.aspx |archive-date=13 October 2012 |website=ManUtd.com |publisher=Manchester United Football Club |date=4 May 2010 |access-date=4 May 2020}}</ref>

===As a manager===
'''Coventry City'''
*[[EFL League One]]: [[2019-20 EFL League One|2019–20]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52705124|title= League One & League Two clubs vote to end seasons early  |first=BBC |last=Sport |work=BBC Sport |date=9 June 2020 |access-date=15 June 2020}}</ref>
*[[EFL League Two play-offs]]: [[2018 English Football League play-offs#League Two|2018]]<ref name="auto"/>
*[[EFL Trophy]]: [[2016–17 EFL Trophy|2016–17]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39404886 |title=Coventry City 2–1 Oxford United |first=Ged |last=Scott |work=BBC Sport |date=2 April 2017 |access-date=28 May 2018}}</ref>

'''Individual'''
*[[EFL League One Manager of the Month|Football / EFL League One Manager of the Month]]: December 2012,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.efl.com/news/2013/january/robins-named-manager-of-the-month/ |title=Robins named Manager of the Month |publisher=EFL |date=11 January 2013 |access-date=3 October 2022}}</ref> October 2015,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://leaguemanagers.com/managers/manager-of-the-month/league-one/?season=2015 |title=Manager of the Month |publisher=LMA |access-date=3 October 2022}}</ref> October 2018,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.efl.com/news/2018/november/league-one-manager-of-the-month-mark-robins/ |title=League One Manager of the Month: Mark Robins |publisher=EFL |date=9 November 2018 |access-date=3 October 2022}}</ref> February 2020<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.efl.com/news/2020/march/sky-bet-league-one-manager-and-player-of-the-month-winners/ |title=Sky Bet League One: Manager and Player of the Month winners |publisher=EFL |date=13 March 2020 |access-date=3 October 2022}}</ref>
*[[Football League Two Manager of the Month]]: November 2007,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/r/rotherham_utd/7118958.stm |title=Boss Robins scoops monthly prize |publisher=BBC Sport |date=29 November 2007 |access-date=4 October 2022}}</ref> August 2008<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/r/rotherham_utd/7598316.stm |title=Millers boss nets monthly award |publisher=BBC Sport |date=4 September 2008 |access-date=4 October 2022}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Soccerbase}}
*{{soccerbase (manager)|id=2074|name=Mark Robins}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100218181614/http://www.ex-canaries.co.uk/players/robins.htm Career information at ex-canaries.co.uk]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090918130855/http://www.fck.dk/saesonen/statistik/spillerstatistik/?search=1&play_playerid_fk=82 FC Copenhagen statistics]

{{Stoke City F.C. squad}}
{{EFL Championship managers}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Managerial positions
| list1 = 
{{Rotherham United F.C. managers}}
{{Barnsley F.C. managers}}
{{Coventry City F.C. managers}}
{{Huddersfield Town F.C. managers}}
{{Scunthorpe United F.C. managers}}
{{Stoke City F.C. managers}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Robins, Mark}}
[[Category:1969 births]]
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[[Category:English football managers]]
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[[Category:Scunthorpe United F.C. managers]]
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[[Category:Stoke City F.C. managers]]