Peter Houston (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Peter Houston is a Scottish former footballer
who played as a striker. He is currently manager of Scottish Premier League
club Dundee United
, and is at present the longest continuous serving manager in the league.
but made just one senior league appearance and dropped into junior football with Livingston United
. In 1979, Houston moved back into the senior game with Albion Rovers and played over 100 league matches over four years, scoring 33 times. Curiously, a similar length of spell at Falkirk
yielded another 33 goals and upon leaving in 1986 to join Dumbarton
, Houston had made over 250 senior league appearances. After two years with The Sons, Houston returned to Falkirk for three years before a final playing spell with East Stirlingshire
. Houston was worshipped by the Falkirk supporters and even had his own supporters club called The Houstie Hardcore.
Development Officer at Brockville
. When manager Jim Jefferies
moved to Hearts in 1995, Houston joined him as reserve and youth team manager, becoming caretaker manager when Jefferies left for Bradford City
in 2000. Despite being backed by the players for the manager role, Houston had to settle for an assistant manager role when Craig Levein
was appointed instead. Houston followed Levein to Leicester City
in 2004, where he stayed until Levein and his backroom staff were sacked in January 2006.
, with Houston taking over as caretaker manager. Despite initially being considered favourite to take over on a permanent basis, Houston announced he would not be applying for the job following a 7–1 defeat against Rangers
under his tenure. In the wake of that result, the club tried to appoint Bohemians
manager Pat Fenlon
as Levein's successor, but the deal to bring Fenlon to Tannadice broke down after the clubs were unable to agree compensation. After an improved run of form under his management, Houston was appointed United's manager until the end of the 2009–10 season. Houston will also assist Levein with his Scotland duties on a part-time basis.
He guided Dundee United to 3rd place in the SPL and the final of the Scottish Cup
, where they defeated Ross County
3–0 at Hampden Park
on 15 May 2010 to seal their first major trophy for 16 years.
On 25 May 2010, Houston accepted a three year deal to become manager of Dundee United. "I'm absolutely privileged and honoured to be the manager of Dundee United. For me, the hard works starts now," he told BBC Scotland
.
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...
who played as a striker. He is currently manager of Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
club Dundee United
Dundee United F.C.
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
, and is at present the longest continuous serving manager in the league.
Player
Houston began his career in 1977 with AirdrieoniansAirdrieonians F.C.
Airdrieonians Football Club, more commonly known as Airdrie, were a Scottish professional football team from the town of Airdrie, in the Monklands area of Lanarkshire....
but made just one senior league appearance and dropped into junior football with Livingston United
Livingston United F.C.
Livingston United F.C. are a Scottish football club based in Livingston, West Lothian. The club joined the Scottish Junior Football Association in 1970, having existed as a Juvenile side since 1935. Their home ground is Station Park....
. In 1979, Houston moved back into the senior game with Albion Rovers and played over 100 league matches over four years, scoring 33 times. Curiously, a similar length of spell at Falkirk
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
yielded another 33 goals and upon leaving in 1986 to join Dumbarton
Dumbarton F.C.
Dumbarton Football Club is Scotland's 4th oldest football club – founded in 1872, just after Queen's Park , Kilmarnock and Stranraer...
, Houston had made over 250 senior league appearances. After two years with The Sons, Houston returned to Falkirk for three years before a final playing spell with East Stirlingshire
East Stirlingshire F.C.
East Stirlingshire Football Club is a Scottish football club originating in Falkirk. Founded in 1880, originally as Bainsford Britannia, the club changed to their current name a year later in 1881...
. Houston was worshipped by the Falkirk supporters and even had his own supporters club called The Houstie Hardcore.
Coaching
Upon retiring in 1993, Houston returned to Falkirk for his third spell with the club, although this time in a coaching capacity. Houston was involved in setting up Falkirk's youth academy and went on to work as an SFAScottish Football Association
The Scottish Football Association is the governing body of football in Scotland and has the ultimate responsibility for the control and development of football in Scotland. Members of the SFA include clubs in Scotland, affiliated national associations as well as local associations...
Development Officer at Brockville
Brockville Park
Brockville Park was a football stadium located on Hope Street in Falkirk, Scotland, north-west of the town centre. It was the home of Falkirk F.C. from 1885 until the end of 2002–03 Scottish football season. The record attendance at Brockville Park was 23,100 on 21 February 1953 in a match...
. When manager Jim Jefferies
Jim Jefferies
James "Jim" Jefferies is a Scottish football former player and manager. Jefferies played for Heart of Midlothian for almost his whole playing career and enjoyed a successful first managerial spell with the club, winning the 1998 Scottish Cup...
moved to Hearts in 1995, Houston joined him as reserve and youth team manager, becoming caretaker manager when Jefferies left for Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
in 2000. Despite being backed by the players for the manager role, Houston had to settle for an assistant manager role when Craig Levein
Craig Levein
Craig William Levein is a Scottish former professional footballer and manager of the Scotland national team. During his playing career he played for Cowdenbeath and Heart of Midlothian...
was appointed instead. Houston followed Levein to Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
in 2004, where he stayed until Levein and his backroom staff were sacked in January 2006.
Dundee United
Houston was out of football until his appointment as assistant manager to Levein at Dundee United in October 2006. During the summer of 2007, he suffered a bizarre injury by falling off his bike over the handlebars and breaking both wrists. Houston said at the time that it was due to having the stabilisers removed from the bike for the first time. Levein left the club in December 2009 to become manager of the Scottish national teamScotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
, with Houston taking over as caretaker manager. Despite initially being considered favourite to take over on a permanent basis, Houston announced he would not be applying for the job following a 7–1 defeat against 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...
under his tenure. In the wake of that result, the club tried to appoint Bohemians
Bohemian F.C.
Bohemian F.C. , more commonly referred to as Bohemians, is a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. Bohemians compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the third most successful club in League of Ireland football history, having won the League of Ireland title 11...
manager Pat Fenlon
Pat Fenlon
Patrick "Pat" "Nutsy" Fenlon is an Irish former footballer and manager. He is currently in charge of Scottish Premier League club Hibernian....
as Levein's successor, but the deal to bring Fenlon to Tannadice broke down after the clubs were unable to agree compensation. After an improved run of form under his management, Houston was appointed United's manager until the end of the 2009–10 season. Houston will also assist Levein with his Scotland duties on a part-time basis.
He guided Dundee United to 3rd place in the SPL and the final of the Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
, where they defeated Ross County
Ross County F.C.
Ross County Football Club are a Scottish professional football team from the town of Dingwall, Ross and Cromarty. Founded in 1929 they currently compete in the Scottish Football League First Division and play their home matches at Victoria Park. Prior to the 1994–95 season they played in the...
3–0 at Hampden Park
Hampden Park
Hampden Park is a football stadium in the Mount Florida area of Glasgow, Scotland. The 52,063 capacity venue serves as the national stadium of football in Scotland...
on 15 May 2010 to seal their first major trophy for 16 years.
On 25 May 2010, Houston accepted a three year deal to become manager of Dundee United. "I'm absolutely privileged and honoured to be the manager of Dundee United. For me, the hard works starts now," he told BBC Scotland
BBC Scotland
BBC Scotland is a constituent part of the British Broadcasting Corporation, the publicly-funded broadcaster of the United Kingdom. It is, in effect, the national broadcaster for Scotland, having a considerable amount of autonomy from the BBC's London headquarters, and is run by the BBC Trust, who...
.
Club
Dundee United- Scottish CupScottish CupThe Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
(1): 2009–10
- SPL Manager of the MonthScottish Premier League monthly awardsThis article lists the winners of the Manager, Player and Young Player monthly awards in the Scottish Premier League since the2000–01 season. No Young Player of the Month were awarded in the 2000–01 season. Rising Star awards were issued most months in the 2007–08 season.The awards are currently...
(2): Mar 2010 and Mar 2011