Mick Brown (football scout)
Encyclopedia
Michael J. "Mick" Brown (born 11 July 1939 in Dublin) is an Irish
football scout
who currently works for Tottenham Hotspur
.
Brown began his career as a full-back for Hull City
, before moving on to Lincoln City
. Soon after, Brown moved on to Cambridge City
.
Soon after, he was offered a full-time coaching position at Oxford United
. After six years as a coach, and following the departure of Gerry Summers
to Gillingham
, Brown was offered the manager's job at Oxford, a position he held for a further four years. Despite having limited success with the Us, Brown impressed enough to be offered a job at West Bromwich Albion
as Ron Atkinson
's assistant. When Atkinson was signed by Manchester United
in 1981, he was followed by Brown soon after. The two had a successful spell together at Old Trafford, winning two FA Cup
s in 1983 and 1985, as well as reaching the final of the League Cup
in 1983. In addition, the team never finished below fourth in the league in Brown's time there.
However, in November 1986, Atkinson was dismissed by United. His replacement, Alex Ferguson
, brought his own assistant manager with him, and Brown was no longer required at the club. In 1989, he was signed by Phil Neal
as his assistant at Bolton Wanderers
. He remained at Bolton for a further three years, until Neal lost his job with the Trotters and Brown followed him out of the exit door. That summer, he took up a coaching post in Pahang
, Malaysia, with the Pahang FA
.
Brown did not stay in Malaysia for very long, and soon returned to England
as Coventry City
's chief scout. He then took up a similar position at Blackburn Rovers
in 1997, but only stayed for one season before moving back to Manchester United. He stayed at United for eight years, before he was forcibly retired by the club, whose policy at the time required all staff over the age of 65 to retire. West Brom re-signed Brown in the summer of 2005, and he stayed there for almost two years before linking up with the former Manchester United captain, Roy Keane
, at Sunderland
, joining fellow United old-boys Neil Bailey
, Raimond van der Gouw
and Michael Clegg
.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
football scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
who currently works for Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham 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....
.
Brown began his career as a full-back for Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
, before moving on to Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
. Soon after, Brown moved on to Cambridge City
Cambridge City F.C.
Cambridge City Football Club is an English football club currently playing in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:The club was founded in 1908 Cambridge Town F.C., as Cambridge had not been granted city status at that point, and were committed to amateur sport...
.
Soon after, he was offered a full-time coaching position at Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
. After six years as a coach, and following the departure of Gerry Summers
Gerry Summers
Gerald Thomas Francis "Gerry" Summers was an English professional football player with West Bromwich Albion, Sheffield United, Hull City and Walsall; he then went into football coaching with Oxford United, Gillingham, Derby County and Leicester City.Summers joined Sheffield United in May 1957, Joe...
to Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
, Brown was offered the manager's job at Oxford, a position he held for a further four years. Despite having limited success with the Us, Brown impressed enough to be offered a job at 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...
as Ron Atkinson
Ron Atkinson
Ronald Ernest Atkinson, commonly known as "Big Ron" and "Bojangles" is an English former football player and manager. In recent years he has become one of Britain's best-known football pundits...
's assistant. When Atkinson was signed by 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...
in 1981, he was followed by Brown soon after. The two had a successful spell together at Old Trafford, winning two FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
s in 1983 and 1985, as well as reaching the final of the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
in 1983. In addition, the team never finished below fourth in the league in Brown's time there.
However, in November 1986, Atkinson was dismissed by United. His replacement, Alex Ferguson
Alex Ferguson
Sir Alexander Chapman "Alex" Ferguson, CBE is a Scottish association football manager and former player, currently managing Manchester United, where he has been in charge since 1986...
, brought his own assistant manager with him, and Brown was no longer required at the club. In 1989, he was signed by Phil Neal
Phil Neal
Philip George "Phil" Neal is a former footballer who was, at one time, the most successful player in English football history. He played for Liverpool 650 times over an eleven year period and is the only player to have appeared in the first five of their European Cup finals, winning four of them...
as his assistant at Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
. He remained at Bolton for a further three years, until Neal lost his job with the Trotters and Brown followed him out of the exit door. That summer, he took up a coaching post in Pahang
Pahang
Pahang is the third largest state in Malaysia, after Sarawak and Sabah, occupying the huge Pahang River river basin. It is bordered to the north by Kelantan, to the west by Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, to the south by Johor and to the east by Terengganu and the South China Sea.Its state...
, Malaysia, with the Pahang FA
Pahang FA
The Football Association of Pahang enters a team in Malaysian football competitions to represent the state of Pahang. The team is based in Kuantan, Pahang. They play in the top division in Malaysian football, the Malaysian Super League...
.
Brown did not stay in Malaysia for very long, and soon returned to England
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...
as 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...
's chief scout. He then took up a similar position at Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
in 1997, but only stayed for one season before moving back to Manchester United. He stayed at United for eight years, before he was forcibly retired by the club, whose policy at the time required all staff over the age of 65 to retire. West Brom re-signed Brown in the summer of 2005, and he stayed there for almost two years before linking up with the former Manchester United captain, Roy Keane
Roy Keane
Roy Maurice Keane is an Irish former footballer and manager. In his 18-year playing career, he played for Cobh Ramblers in the League of Ireland, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United, before ending his career at Celtic in Scotland....
, at 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...
, joining fellow United old-boys Neil Bailey
Neil Bailey
Neil Bailey is an English former footballer. He played as a midfielder.He began his career at Newport County in the early 1980s, during the most successful period in the club's history...
, Raimond van der Gouw
Raimond van der Gouw
Raimond van der Gouw is a former Dutch footballer, who played as a goalkeeper.After a successful career with Vitesse and well into his 30s, he moved to Manchester United, also experiencing relative recognition, although he played very sparingly; he scored his only goal in the last game of his...
and Michael Clegg
Michael Clegg
Michael Jamie Clegg is an English former football defender who played in the Premier League for Manchester United and in the Football League for Ipswich Town, Wigan Athletic and Oldham Athletic...
.