Neil Harris

Early career and Millwall

Harris was born in Orsett, Essex, and educated at Brentwood School. Prior to beginning his professional football career he worked in The City as an insurance underwriter. One of his earliest clubs was Maldon Town but his real football career began when he signed for Cambridge City for £5,000. In December 1997 he had a trial at Liverpool, however this didn't lead to a transfer. He was later sold to Millwall for a fee of £30,000 on 25 March 1998, with the potential to rise to £100,000 based on performance. In his first full season, he was named player of the year for Millwall, scored in their defeat in the 1999 Football League Trophy final and later helped them to a Second Division championship in 2000–01. With 27 goals, Harris was the Golden Boot winner for being the top English goal scorer during the 2000–01 season, earning him the nickname of "Bomber", in reference to Arthur Travers Harris. Neil Harris was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2001, but after receiving intensive treatment including surgery, he was given the all clear a year later. As a consequence he set up a cancer charity, the Neil Harris Everyman Appeal. By the end of his first spell at Millwall, Harris was not being played because the then player-manager Dennis Wise did not believe he was up to par, and that led him to sign for Cardiff City on loan to prove he was good enough for first team football at Millwall. Harris made his debut for Cardiff City when he replaced…

Millwall

Before taking over as permanent manager in the summer of 2015, Harris had several stints as caretaker manager. First, he became caretaker manager, along with Scott Fitzgerald, taking over from the sacked Steve Lomas, on 26 December 2013, in which time they played 3 games, drawing one and losing twice, including a 4–1 away loss to Southend United in the FA Cup. The couple were then replaced by Ian Holloway on 7 January 2014. Harris then again took over as caretaker boss on 10 March 2015, when Holloway was sacked. By the time Harris took over, Millwall were already virtually, whilst not mathematically, relegated, however Harris went on to win 2 and draw 4 of his 9 games in charge, almost keeping the Lions in the Championship. On 28 April, the Lions were officially relegated to League One following Rotherham United's 2–1 win against Reading, however, Harris was confirmed as Millwall's permanent manager less than 24 hours later, with his assistant being his 2004 FA Cup final teammate, David Livermore. In his first full season as manager Harris led Millwall to the League One play-off final against Barnsley at Wembley after finishing 4th in the League One table and overcoming Bradford City 4–2 on aggregate in the play-off semi-finals. The Lions lost the play-off final 3–1 to Barnsley. In 2016–17 season Harris again led Millwall to Wembley after they finished 6th in the League One table and overcame Scunthorpe United 3–2 in the play-off semi-finals. Millwall won…

Playing statistics

Source:

Managerial statistics

As of match played 26 September 2026

As a player

Millwall

Football League Second Division: 2000–01 Football League One play-offs: 2010 FA Cup runner-up: 2003–04 Football League Trophy runner-up: 1998–99 Individual

Millwall Player of the Season: 1999–2000 PFA Team of the Year: 2000–01 Second Division Football League One Player of the Month: February 2010

As a manager

Millwall

EFL League One play-offs: 2017 Cambridge United

EFL League Two third-place promotion: 2025–26 Individual

EFL League One Manager of the Month: February 2017 EFL League Two Manager of the Month: January 2026