Mike Walker (Welsh footballer)
Michael Stewart Gordon "Mike" Walker ( born November 28, 1945 in Colwyn Bay ) is a former Welsh football player and coach. His son Ian Walker was also active as a goalkeeper and played four caps for the England national team.
- 2.1 Colchester United ( 1986-1987)
- 2.2 Norwich City (1992-1994)
- 2.3 FC Everton (1994 )
- 2.4 Norwich City (1996-1998 )
- 2.5 APOEL Nicosia ( 2000-2001)
Playing career
Watford FC (1968-1973)
After Mike Walker was able to establish the English fourth division York City as a goalkeeper, he moved in 1968 to the third division side FC Watford and celebrated with his new team in the 1968/69 season winning the championship in the Third Division. He achieved the greatest success with his team in the FA Cup 1969/70 by the semi-finals (1:5 against Chelsea ). Previously Watford had Liverpool in the quarter -finals 1-0. After three years in the second division, Watford rose 1971/72 as Table back into the Third Division.
Colchester United (1973-1983)
On August 25, 1973, he moved to the fourth division Colchester United and rose in the season 73/74 in third place in the third league. After the descent in the 1975/76 season the team managed to direct resurgence. The club spent the next three years in the top half of the Third Division, before 1980/81 was the renewed descent into the Fourth Division. After two years in the fourth division Mike Walker ended in 1983 with 37 years of his playing career.
Coaching career
Colchester United (1986-1987)
The previously active already in the coaching staff Mike Walker took over on April 10, 1986, head coach job at Colchester United. After just missing out on promotion in the 1986/87 season, but this activity ended at fourth division on November 1 1987. Walker was released as the leader of the executive committee.
Norwich City (1992-1994)
After working as a youth coach at Norwich City, Walker was promoted on 1 June 1992 and became head coach Dave Stringer 's successor at the first division to. In the first season of the newly introduced Premier League 1992/93 Walker led his team to third place in the standings behind Manchester United and Aston Villa and thus to the best placement of the club's history. This success City starts in the UEFA Cup 1993/94 for the first time in the European Cup and reached successes over Vitesse Arnhem (3:0 and 0:0) and Bayern Munich (2:1 and 1:1 ) the third round. There was against the eventual champions Inter Milan with two 0-1 defeats the corner. The elected in October 1993 Trainer of the Month Mike Walker left Norwich on 6 January 1994 to become the new coach of FC Everton.
Everton FC (1994 )
With his new team, he finished the Premier League 1993/94 only to the seventeenth place and secured until the final day with two points ahead of relegated Sheffield United in the league. After a false start in the Premier League 1994/95 Mike Walker, was lying on the bottom of the table, released on 8 November 1994. At this time, Everton had to finish no league game victorious.
Norwich City (1996-1998)
His next coaching job Walker did not occur until about 1 1 / two years later. On 1 August 1996 he returned to Norwich City, which in 1995 were relegated to the second division. Walker also 1997/98 According to a thirteenth place in the 1996/97 season, with Norwich found only in the lower mid-table again, before he was released shortly before the season ends on April 30, 1998.
APOEL Nicosia (2000-2001)
His last coaching job took Mike Walker in 2000 at the Cypriot first division club APOEL Nicosia. With his new team, however, it was only a fifth place in the first Cypriot League 2000/ 01.