.gif)
Chris Cummins (football coach)
Encyclopedia
Chris Cummins is an English
football coach
. Currently employed by Reading F.C.
as the youth development coordinator. Hired at Watford by former England
manager, Graham Taylor, he was later promoted to Watford's assistant academy manager in 1998 and went on to become director of youth - youth and reserve team. He left Watford in January 2007 and as one of the longest-serving members of staff.
One of Cummins greatest achievements at Watford was the development of forward Ashley Young. Young played under Cummins from the age of ten, and in January 2007, Young was sold to Premiership side Aston Villa
for £
9.6 million, Watford's record transfer fee.
Cummins joined Luton Town
in July 2007, as Director of Youth Football and spent eight months there before accepting an offer from Toronto FC
. In April 2011 Cummins took up a full time coaching role for Reading F.C.
's reserve team.
as First Assistant to then Manager John Carver
. He was officially named Interim Head Coach on 29 April 2009 following Carver's resignation. He won the Canadian Soccer Championship's Voyageurs Cup
in 2009 (Toronto's first honour) in a 6–1 victory over Montreal, beating Vancouver by one goal in goal differential. He left the club after the 2009 MLS Season
since his wife and children were not able to get working visas in Canada, and moved back to the UK.
In his first extensive interview since leaving Toronto FC
, Cummins was quoted as saying, "In every club I've been at, you need to look up top, and you need to ask advice and get their help at times and, I don't think I got that"
He went on to say "Johnston interfered with the lineup selection for game days, favouring a three-man defensive unit instead of Cummins' preferred four-man formation. Additionally, he often waited until late in the week to have these discussions with the coach. "I'd go out there 30, 40 minutes late for a training session because we were arguing about the team," and he said there was a division that season between the club's Canadian and American players, although Johnston disavowed any such knowledge at the end of the season. As well, Cummins said players held their tongues around Johnston. "The players won't say what they feel when Mo's around," and he went on to say "assistant coach Nick Dasovic was told he was going to be named Carver's replacement before the official announcement made Cummins the interim boss. Cummins said MLSE chairman and part owner Larry Tanenbaum made a phone call wishing Dasovic well for becoming the first Canadian coach in Major League Soccer" (although Frank Yallop
has coached American MLS sides).
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
football coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
. Currently employed by Reading F.C.
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
Youth development
Cummins began his professional career in 1996 with WatfordWatford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
as the youth development coordinator. Hired at Watford by former England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
manager, Graham Taylor, he was later promoted to Watford's assistant academy manager in 1998 and went on to become director of youth - youth and reserve team. He left Watford in January 2007 and as one of the longest-serving members of staff.
One of Cummins greatest achievements at Watford was the development of forward Ashley Young. Young played under Cummins from the age of ten, and in January 2007, Young was sold to Premiership side Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
for £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
9.6 million, Watford's record transfer fee.
Cummins joined Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
in July 2007, as Director of Youth Football and spent eight months there before accepting an offer from Toronto FC
Toronto FC
Toronto FC is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada....
. In April 2011 Cummins took up a full time coaching role for Reading F.C.
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
's reserve team.
Toronto FC
On 9 May 2008, he joined Toronto FCToronto FC
Toronto FC is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada....
as First Assistant to then Manager John Carver
John Carver (footballer)
John William Carver is a former English footballer and current assistant manager of Newcastle United.-Biography:...
. He was officially named Interim Head Coach on 29 April 2009 following Carver's resignation. He won the Canadian Soccer Championship's Voyageurs Cup
Voyageurs Cup
The Voyageurs Cup is the only trophy for top-level professional soccer in Canada. From 2002 to 2007, the cup was awarded annually to the Canadian team finishing with the best record in the USL First Division, from regular season matches against other Canadian teams in the league, and from 2008 the...
in 2009 (Toronto's first honour) in a 6–1 victory over Montreal, beating Vancouver by one goal in goal differential. He left the club after the 2009 MLS Season
2009 Major League Soccer season
The 2009 Major League Soccer season was the 14th season of Major League Soccer. The season began on March 19 and ended with Real Salt Lake winning the MLS Cup 2009, on November 22 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington-Changes from the 2008 season:...
since his wife and children were not able to get working visas in Canada, and moved back to the UK.
In his first extensive interview since leaving Toronto FC
Toronto FC
Toronto FC is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada....
, Cummins was quoted as saying, "In every club I've been at, you need to look up top, and you need to ask advice and get their help at times and, I don't think I got that"
He went on to say "Johnston interfered with the lineup selection for game days, favouring a three-man defensive unit instead of Cummins' preferred four-man formation. Additionally, he often waited until late in the week to have these discussions with the coach. "I'd go out there 30, 40 minutes late for a training session because we were arguing about the team," and he said there was a division that season between the club's Canadian and American players, although Johnston disavowed any such knowledge at the end of the season. As well, Cummins said players held their tongues around Johnston. "The players won't say what they feel when Mo's around," and he went on to say "assistant coach Nick Dasovic was told he was going to be named Carver's replacement before the official announcement made Cummins the interim boss. Cummins said MLSE chairman and part owner Larry Tanenbaum made a phone call wishing Dasovic well for becoming the first Canadian coach in Major League Soccer" (although Frank Yallop
Frank Yallop
Frank Walter Yallop is an English-born Canadian former professional association football player. He is currently the head coach of San Jose Earthquakes in Major League Soccer....
has coached American MLS sides).
Managerial stats
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | L | D | Win % | ||||
| Toronto FC Toronto FC Toronto FC is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada.... |
 |
April 29, 2009 | October 24, 2009 | 31 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 38.71 |
| |
31 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 38.71 | |||