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Owen Coyle

Posted on: Tue 14 Sep 2010

The appointment as manager signalled a second coming at Bolton Wanderers for Owen Coyle, who served as a player for two-and-a-half years between 1993 and 1995.

The 43 year-old Scot was an integral member of the squad that earned promotion to the Premier League in the 1994/95 season and indeed scored Wanderers' first goal in the dramatic 4-3 Play-Off Final victory over Reading at Wembley.

The Republic of Ireland international's spell with the Trotters also coincided with an era which saw the club embark on numerous famous cup runs. During the 1993/94 campaign, the scalps of both Everton and Arsenal in the FA Cup were claimed with Coyle finding the net against both opponents. A total 23 goals were notched in 78 appearances in his time at Burnden Park.

Owen Coyle

Bolton Wanderers was the only English club that Coyle represented in a playing career which spanned a total of 22 years.

Having started out in 1985 with Dumbarton, he went on to play for Clydebank, Airdrieonians, Dundee United, Motherwell and Dunfermline amongst several others in the Scottish Football League.

Coyle's first solo venture into management came in 2005 when he was placed in charge of St Johnstone. Only two years previously, he worked alongside John Hughes at Falkirk in a joint manager-player capacity, helping the Bairns to the First Division title.

But it was at McDiarmid Park where the Paisley-born man really developed his managerial credentials. He guided St Johnstone to two successive second placed finishes in the Scottish First Division and was nominated for the Manager of the Year award.

Owen Coyle

It was these achievements which tempted Burnley to approach the Saints for his services and in November 2007, Coyle was confirmed as the Burnley boss.

The move to Turf Moor also saw the striker finally hang up his boots, ending a career which produced more than 300 goals in over 700 games.

Coyle was at the helm for 26 months and he transformed the Clarets from a midtable Championship side into a Premier League force. Having guided Burnley to 13th position in the 2007/08 campaign, the Scot's first full season in command was nothing short of remarkable.

Owen Coyle

Burnley reached the semi-final of the Carling Cup before valiantly falling to eventual runners-up Tottenham Hotspur. They also reached the fifth round of the FA Cup, but undoubtedly the most impressive achievement was the Championship Play-Off Final success over Sheffield United.

Burnley regained top-flight status for the first time in 33 years and they began the 2009/10 season in sensational fashion by beating reigning Premier League Champions Manchester United at Turf Moor.

Further victories over Everton, Sunderland and Hull City saw Coyle's Clarets occupy 13th position at the halfway stage of the season.

When Bolton offered Coyle the opportunity to become manager at the Reebok, the Scot accepted the latest challenge in his football career.

And he helped guide the club to a 14th placed finish in his first five months in the role.