Jimmy Nicholl
Encyclopedia
James Michael "Jimmy" Nicholl (born 28 December 1956) is a Canadian-born former Northern Ireland
international footballer who played for Manchester United
.
He was mainly a right-back
but could also play in other defensive roles. After retiring, he moved into management.
Nicholl won a total of 73 international caps for Northern Ireland, scoring once and is currently assistant manager at Kilmarnock
.
. His senior career started in 1974. He helped the club win the 1977 FA Cup Final and collected a runners-up medal in the 1979 final
.
In 1981, he left the club after scoring five goals, joining Sunderland
on a permanent contract after a loan spell, and playing 32 games in one season before moving to Toronto Blizzard
in Canada
, scoring 11 goals in 77 games over the next two years before signing for Rangers
.
In 1984, he returned to the English league to sign for West Bromwich Albion
where he stayed until their relegation from the First Division in 1986, then returning to Rangers for three years, helping them win two Scottish league titles in the process.
After leaving Rangers, he signed for Dunfermline Athletic in 1989 before moving to a player-manager role at Raith Rovers, having originally joined them on 27 November 1990. Following his time at Rovers, Nicholl played one game for Bath City
in February 1996, a 3-0 defeat at home to Macclesfield Town
. He was sent off after 55 minutes and never played for the club again.
on 27 November 1994—four years to the day that he had arrived at the club—and reaching the Scottish Premier Division as First Division champions six months later. Due to their SFL Cup triumph, they qualified for the UEFA Cup
and reached the second round, where they were eliminated by eventual winners Bayern Munich.
On 28 February 1996, Nicholl was appointed manager of Millwall
, who just over two months earlier had been top of Division One but were now sliding down the table. He was unable to arrest the decline and Millwall slipped into Division Two on the last day of the season. He remained at Millwall until the following February, and six months after that returned to Raith Rovers. His second spell at Raith lasted two years, and ended on 14 June 1999 after he had failed to get them back into the top flight.
A 28-day spell as manager of Dunfermline Athletic followed later in 1999, and he later served as assistant manager to Jimmy Calderwood
at East End Park
. In May 2004, Nicholl followed Calderwood when he took over as manager at Aberdeen
, again serving as his assistant until the two parted company with the club in May 2009. He resumed his partnership with Calderwood at Kilmarnock
in 2010.
Nicholl was appointed manager of Cowdenbeath
in June 2010, but he left Cowdenbeath at the end of the 2010–11 season after they were relegated from the First Division.
Nicholl was then appointed assistant manager of Kilmarnock
for a second time, by Kenny Shiels
on 15 June 2011.
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
international footballer who played for Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
.
He was mainly a right-back
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
but could also play in other defensive roles. After retiring, he moved into management.
Nicholl won a total of 73 international caps for Northern Ireland, scoring once and is currently assistant manager at Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock F.C.
Kilmarnock Football Club is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Founded in 1869, "Killie" is the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premier League. Home matches are played at Rugby Park...
.
Playing career
Nicholl started his career as a junior player at Manchester UnitedManchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
. His senior career started in 1974. He helped the club win the 1977 FA Cup Final and collected a runners-up medal in the 1979 final
1979 FA Cup Final
The 1979 FA Cup Final was a football match played on 12 May 1979 at Wembley Stadium. The match was contested by Arsenal and Manchester United. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest-ever finishes in an FA Cup final. For over 85 minutes the game had been unremarkable, with Arsenal taking...
.
In 1981, he left the club after scoring five goals, joining Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
on a permanent contract after a loan spell, and playing 32 games in one season before moving to Toronto Blizzard
Toronto Blizzard (NASL)
The Toronto Blizzard were a professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that played in the North American Soccer League.-History:The Toronto Metros joined the NASL in 1971. Their home field was Varsity Stadium....
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, scoring 11 goals in 77 games over the next two years before signing for Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
.
In 1984, he returned to the English league to sign for West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
where he stayed until their relegation from the First Division in 1986, then returning to Rangers for three years, helping them win two Scottish league titles in the process.
After leaving Rangers, he signed for Dunfermline Athletic in 1989 before moving to a player-manager role at Raith Rovers, having originally joined them on 27 November 1990. Following his time at Rovers, Nicholl played one game for Bath City
Bath City F.C.
Bath City Football Club are a semi-professional football club based in Bath, Somerset. They play in the Conference National league after gaining promotion from the Conference South via the play-offs in May 2010...
in February 1996, a 3-0 defeat at home to Macclesfield Town
Macclesfield Town F.C.
Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium...
. He was sent off after 55 minutes and never played for the club again.
Management career
Nicholl had great success at Raith Rovers, winning the Scottish League CupScottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
on 27 November 1994—four years to the day that he had arrived at the club—and reaching the Scottish Premier Division as First Division champions six months later. Due to their SFL Cup triumph, they qualified for the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
and reached the second round, where they were eliminated by eventual winners Bayern Munich.
On 28 February 1996, Nicholl was appointed manager of Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
, who just over two months earlier had been top of Division One but were now sliding down the table. He was unable to arrest the decline and Millwall slipped into Division Two on the last day of the season. He remained at Millwall until the following February, and six months after that returned to Raith Rovers. His second spell at Raith lasted two years, and ended on 14 June 1999 after he had failed to get them back into the top flight.
A 28-day spell as manager of Dunfermline Athletic followed later in 1999, and he later served as assistant manager to Jimmy Calderwood
Jimmy Calderwood
James "Jimmy" Calderwood is a Scottish former footballer and currently without a club having recently been manager of Ross County. Calderwood played for English clubs Birmingham City and Cambridge United and Dutch clubs Sparta Rotterdam, Willem II Tilburg, Roda JC and Heracles Almelo...
at East End Park
East End Park
East End Park is a football stadium situated in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland with a seating capacity of 11,380.The stadium plays host to the home matches of Scottish Premier League side, Dunfermline Athletic F.C. It currently comprises four stands: East Stand, Main Stand, SGM Stand and the Norrie...
. In May 2004, Nicholl followed Calderwood when he took over as manager at Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
, again serving as his assistant until the two parted company with the club in May 2009. He resumed his partnership with Calderwood at Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock F.C.
Kilmarnock Football Club is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Founded in 1869, "Killie" is the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premier League. Home matches are played at Rugby Park...
in 2010.
Nicholl was appointed manager of Cowdenbeath
Cowdenbeath F.C.
Cowdenbeath Football Club are a professional Scottish football team based in the town of Cowdenbeath, Fife. They currently play in the Second Division of the Scottish Football League. The club plays its home games at Central Park in the centre of the town which has the unusual feature of a motor...
in June 2010, but he left Cowdenbeath at the end of the 2010–11 season after they were relegated from the First Division.
Nicholl was then appointed assistant manager of Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock F.C.
Kilmarnock Football Club is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Founded in 1869, "Killie" is the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premier League. Home matches are played at Rugby Park...
for a second time, by Kenny Shiels
Kenny Shiels
Kenny Shiels is a Northern Irish former football player and current manager. He is manager of Scottish Premier League club Kilmarnock.-Player:...
on 15 June 2011.