Kevin Watson
Encyclopedia
Kevin Edward Watson is a former professional football
er, turned coach and sports broadcaster
. He can now regularly be seen as a touchline pundit for Sky Sports show Soccer Saturday.
. As a youngster his first-team opportunities were limited and he went out on loan to several sides to build his experience, namely Brentford
, Bristol City
and Barnet
.
In 1996 he was signed by Swindon Town
manager Steve McMahon
. Newly promoted to second tier of the English Football League - Watson helped them avoid relegation.
Watson moved on to Rotherham United
in July 1999, astute Millers' manager Ronnie Moore
signing him on a free transfer. In his first season Watson helped Rotherham to promotion from League Two, narrowly missing out on the title.
Another promotion (and another title near miss) followed in the next season and Rotherham were promoted again into the Football League Championship. A key part of their rapid acceleration, Watson helped guide the team to survival by the narrowest of goal-difference margins.
After over 100 games at Rotherham his knack for promotions was spotted by then Reading
manager Alan Pardew
who at first, took Watson on loan before signing him permanently in March 2002 for £150,000 - where he promptly repeated the trick, guiding the Royals to promotion from League One, in his now customary second place.
His first full season at Reading saw the Royals into a play-off place, where narrow defeat to Wolves cost them a place in the Premiership. Perhaps tellingly Watson was on the bench for those key play-off games.
When former team-mate Phil Parkinson
was installed as manager at Colchester United
one of his first acts was to bring Watson to Layer Road.
Marshalling the midfield Watson played a key role as in his (and Parkinson's) first full season the U's stormed to promotion from League One, finishing in second place.
Now with over 100 games for the U's under his belt he has been a key part of "The Best Col U ever" as the underdog U's finished their first season in the Football League Championship in 10th place.
He was released by Colchester at the end of the 2007-08 season, and then signed on a free transfer for Luton Town
. However, Watson failed to make an impact at Luton as a result of a knee injury that kept him out of action for much of his contract duration, and he was released at the end of 2008.
on 14 January 2009. After Harford's departure on 1 October 2009, Watson continued in his coaching capacity under new boss Richard Money until May 2010, when he left the club.
Following the departure of Aidy Boothroyd from Colchester United
to take the manager's job at Coventry City
on 20 May 2010, Watson expressed an interest in taking up the vacant managerial position at his former club.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
er, turned coach and sports broadcaster
Sports commentator
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
. He can now regularly be seen as a touchline pundit for Sky Sports show Soccer Saturday.
Football career
Watson started his career as a trainee with his local side Tottenham HotspurTottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
. As a youngster his first-team opportunities were limited and he went out on loan to several sides to build his experience, namely Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
, Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
and Barnet
Barnet F.C.
Barnet Football Club is an English football team from High Barnet, London, England, currently playing in Football League Two. The ground is in the town of Barnet within the London Borough of Barnet....
.
In 1996 he was signed by Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
manager Steve McMahon
Steve McMahon
Stephen Joseph McMahon is an English former football midfielder who most notably played for Liverpool in the late 1980s...
. Newly promoted to second tier of the English Football League - Watson helped them avoid relegation.
Watson moved on to Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
in July 1999, astute Millers' manager Ronnie Moore
Ronnie Moore
Ronald David "Ronnie" Moore is an English football manager and former player. He is considered one of the greatest Rotherham United players of all time, and is also considered the best manager Rotherham United have ever had, becoming a club legend. and went on to manage the Millers for seven years...
signing him on a free transfer. In his first season Watson helped Rotherham to promotion from League Two, narrowly missing out on the title.
Another promotion (and another title near miss) followed in the next season and Rotherham were promoted again into the Football League Championship. A key part of their rapid acceleration, Watson helped guide the team to survival by the narrowest of goal-difference margins.
After over 100 games at Rotherham his knack for promotions was spotted by then Reading
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...
manager Alan Pardew
Alan Pardew
Alan Scott Pardew is an English football manager and former player, currently the manager of Newcastle United....
who at first, took Watson on loan before signing him permanently in March 2002 for £150,000 - where he promptly repeated the trick, guiding the Royals to promotion from League One, in his now customary second place.
His first full season at Reading saw the Royals into a play-off place, where narrow defeat to Wolves cost them a place in the Premiership. Perhaps tellingly Watson was on the bench for those key play-off games.
When former team-mate Phil Parkinson
Phil Parkinson
Philip John "Phil" Parkinson is an English football manager and former player who currently manages Bradford City.-Playing career:...
was installed as manager at Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
one of his first acts was to bring Watson to Layer Road.
Marshalling the midfield Watson played a key role as in his (and Parkinson's) first full season the U's stormed to promotion from League One, finishing in second place.
Now with over 100 games for the U's under his belt he has been a key part of "The Best Col U ever" as the underdog U's finished their first season in the Football League Championship in 10th place.
He was released by Colchester at the end of the 2007-08 season, and then signed on a free transfer for 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...
. However, Watson failed to make an impact at Luton as a result of a knee injury that kept him out of action for much of his contract duration, and he was released at the end of 2008.
Coaching career
After his release from a playing contract at Luton, Watson was given the position of first-team coach by Luton manager Mick HarfordMick Harford
Michael Gordon "Mick" Harford , is an English former football player turned manager. He is former manager of Rotherham and Luton Town and has also been caretaker manager of Nottingham Forest and QPR...
on 14 January 2009. After Harford's departure on 1 October 2009, Watson continued in his coaching capacity under new boss Richard Money until May 2010, when he left the club.
Following the departure of Aidy Boothroyd from Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
to take the manager's job at Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
on 20 May 2010, Watson expressed an interest in taking up the vacant managerial position at his former club.
External links
- Kevin Watson profile at cu-fc.co.uk
- Kevin Watson profile at readingfc.co.uk