Neil Warnock admits to Sky Sports that he’s retiring from management

Neil Warnock admits to Sky Sports that he’s retiring from management after 42 years, saying it was “the right time” to move on.

Warnock confirmed his decision during Soccer Saturday, having last managed Championship side Middlesbrough, before he departed in November 2021.

In total, Warnock managed more than 1,600 matches across his managerial career, winning a record eight EFL promotions and leading Sheffield United, Queens Park Rangers and Cardiff to the top flight. He also holds the record for the most games managed in English professional football.

“I just thought it was the right time, really, coming towards the end of the season, there’s not really a job you’re going to get before then,” he told Sky Sports. “I’ve had a good run really. I’m enjoying things I’ve not done for years, I’m having a lot of time with the family, my dogs and I’ve taken up cycling too.

🚨 NEIL WARNOCK HAS RETIRED FROM FOOTBALL MANAGEMENT 🚨

You can hear the collective *sigh* from referees around the country! All the best with your retirement! 👏 pic.twitter.com/MeDYKEwJWX

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) April 9, 2022

A record 1,603 games managed in English professional football 👏

And turning @morrisonclinton career around is one of his proudest moments…😂 pic.twitter.com/yupplOZTZv

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) April 9, 2022

“I’m not saying the enthusiasm’s gone, I’ve not lost that, but when I see some of my friends who are struggling health wise, there comes a time where you have to let your family enjoy a little bit more of your time, in particular my wife Sharon.

“When you’re a manager you’re very selfish, you take your job home with you whether you’re on a high or a low and it’s very difficult for your wife and kids.

“It’s hard to replicate the final whistle when you’re won a game, there’s nothing quite like that in normal life, and you have to realise you’re not going to get that buzz again in that situation. But I’m doing a couple of evenings in the theatre, and I imagine I’ll still be nervous before them!”

Warnock started his managerial career with Gainsborough Trinity and Burton Albion before guiding Scarborough into the Football League in 1986/87. From there he led Notts County to back-to-back promotions and into the First Division for 1991/92.

He won his third EFL promotion through the play-offs with Huddersfield in 1994/95, before adding a fourth with Plymouth a year later crowned by their first trip to Wembley Stadium. He had his first taste of Premier League management when he led boyhood club Sheffield United to the top flight in 2005/06, and returned there with QPR in 2010/11.

You could say his most impressive top-flight promotion came with Cardiff City in 2017/18 in what would prove to be his penultimate role before moving to Middlesbrough, who he left at the end of last year.

WARNOCK’S PLAYING CAREER:

1967–1969 – Chesterfield – 24 games (2 goals)
1969–1971 – Rotherham United – 52 games (5 goals)
1971–1973 – Hartlepool United – 60 games (5 goals)
1973–1975 – Scunthorpe United – 72 games (7 goals)
1975–1976 – Aldershot – 37 games (6 goals)
1976–1978 – Barnsley – 57 games (10 goals)
1978 – York City – 4 games (0 goals)
1978–1979 – Crewe Alexandra – 21 games (1 goal)
Total – 327 games (36 goals)

MANAGERIAL CAREER:

Scarborough – 1 August 1986 until 1 January 1989 – 78 games, 30 wins, 25 draws, 23 defeats, 38.5 win %
Notts County – 5 January 1989 until 14 January 1993 – 209 games, 90 wins, 49 draws, 70 defeats, 43.1 win %
Torquay United – 15 February 1993 until 2 June 1993 – 15 games, 5 wins, 5 draws, 5 defeats, 33.3 win %
Huddersfield Town – 15 July 1993 until 5 June 1995 – 108 games, 44 wins, 34 draws, 30 defeats, 40.7 win %
Plymouth Argyle – 22 June 1995 until 3 February 1997 – 88 games, 35 wins, 24 draws, 29 defeats, 39.8 win %
Oldham Athletic – 21 February 1997 until 7 May 1998 – 69 games, 27 wins, 22 draws, 20 defeats, 39.1 win %
Bury – 2 June 1998 until 2 December 1999 – 77 games, 19 wins, 29 draws, 29 defeats, 24.7 win %
Sheffield United – 2 December 1999 until 15 May 2007 – 388 games, 165 wins, 100 draws, 123 defeats, 42.5 win %
Crystal Palace – 11 October 2007 until 2 March 2010 – 129 games, 47 wins, 39 draws, 43 defeats, 36.4 win %
Queens Park Rangers – 2 March 2010 until 8 January 2012 – 84 games, 33 wins, 27 draws, 24 defeats, 39.3 win %
Leeds United – 18 February 2012 until 1 April 2013 – 63 games, 23 wins, 15 draws, 25 defeats, 36.5 win %
Crystal Palace – 27 August 2014 until 27 December 2014 – 17 games, 3 wins, 6 draws, 8 defeats, 17.6 win %
Queens Park Rangers – 5 November 2015 until 4 December 2015 – 4 games, 2 wins, 1 draw, 1 defeat, 50.0 win %
Rotherham United – 11 February 2016 until 18 May 2016 – 16 games, 6 wins, 6 draws, 4 defeats, 37.5 win %
Cardiff City – 5 October 2016 until 11 November 2019 – 144 games, 59 wins, 29 draws, 56 defeats, 41.0 win %
Middlesbrough – 23 June 2020 until 6 November 2021 – 75 games, 29 wins, 14 draws, 32 defeats, 38.7 win %
Total – 1,556 games, 624 wins, 423 draws, 509 defeats, 40.10 win %

Twitter users reacted as Neil Warnock admits to Sky Sports that he’s retiring from management…

@LibbeyMelanie: @SkyFootball an absolute pleasure when Neil Warnock managed @Boro. A man of integrity, values and passion. We will miss you Neil UTB always 🔴⚪️⚽️❤️

@nigerockett: One of the very best!! Enjoy retirement Neil and please keep on TV..

@PWo_Sport_View: Until Everton come calling for a great escape.

@BornAgainBantam: Neil Warnock an absolutely fabulous listen on Soccer Saturday. As direct as his teams were, no frills and not worried what anyone else thinks

@_lewisnufc_: Could listen to Neil Warnock talk football for hours

@mymatehaydn: Happy retirement to Neil Warnock. A proper English footballing legend ❤️

@bigal9_wwfc: Love him or hate him, he will be missed. An old school manager who tells you how it is !

@kirky0110: Football is going to miss Neil Warnock. You cannot hate someone with as much character as him

@IcemanDavid2k10: Definitely sign him up as a pundit for soccer Saturday next season

@ArcticReviews: Warnock retires and a lot of second rate footballers can now breathe a sigh of relief knowing they’ll be £200 richer each time they’re a sub. Probably.

@PrinceofPallion: This is a shame. The banter era at #safc feels a little incomplete without a spell under Warnock and an opportunity to tarnish his career

@Azzer28: Love him or hate him, he’s one of a kind. Cheers for the good times Neil UTB!

@Aaronamw07: Glad I was at his last game in management, legend of the English game and a character that we will no longer see on the touchline unfortunately

@GeorgeHogg93: Neil Warnock. One of the most controversial, but colourful figures in the game imo. He is just a legend this #Warney. To be fair he is well into his 70s and still looks stronger than ever 💙

Neil Warnock retiring is a bigger loss to football than Messi and Cr7 combined pic.twitter.com/0lb5DC08Kz

— Jcc  (@WorldofJCC) April 9, 2022