Phil Parkinson

Early playing career

Parkinson, a former Southampton trainee, signed for Third Division side Bury for £12,000 in March 1988, making his Football League debut shortly after. He later joined Reading for £50,000 in July 1992.

Reading

Parkinson was named player of the season for two consecutive years (1997–98 and 1998–99) and was also a key member of the 1993–94 Football League Second Division championship-winning team. He captained the team to promotion from the Second Division in 2001–02 and soon after promotion success, Parkinson celebrated his testimonial year with a memorable night at Madejski Stadium, where 20,000 fans watched former Reading teammates such as Shaka Hislop, Michael Gilkes and Jeff Hopkins take on an England XI including the likes of Paul Gascoigne, John Barnes and Chris Waddle. Parkinson's final competitive appearance for Reading was a League Cup defeat against Cambridge United on 10 September 2002. Although Parkinson rarely featured on the field in his final season as Reading returned to the First Division, he remained a well-respected member of the squad until his departure to Layer Road. In a 2005 poll to compile the Royals' best-ever XI, Parkinson was voted the best central midfielder with 60.3% of the vote.

Colchester United

Parkinson left Reading early in 2003 after 11 seasons to take his first steps in management with EFL League One club Colchester United. Despite showing promising signs as he steered the U's to safety upon arrival in February 2003, the 2003–04 season started poorly as Colchester slipped to three straight league defeats, only softened by a victory in the League Cup. Colchester's form improved and a strong FA Cup run, LDV run and a good finish to the season left optimism for U's supporters. The 2005–06 season saw them finish in second place, thereby gaining an unlikely promotion to the Championship, despite having the lowest average attendance of the division. However, he resigned in June 2006 with a year left to run on his contract.

Hull City

Parkinson was confirmed as the new manager of Championship club Hull City in late June 2006, following the departure of Peter Taylor. Hull agreed to pay Colchester £400,000 compensation. When he led Hull against his old club, however, he was embarrassed as his former club romped home 5–1. After another defeat in the next match at home to Southampton 4–2, he left by "mutual consent" in early December, leaving Hull in the relegation zone.

Charlton Athletic

Parkinson then joined Championship club Charlton Athletic in January 2007 as assistant manager to Alan Pardew, having previously worked together at Reading. He was close to a return to management with Huddersfield Town in April 2007, but made…

Parkinson was born in Chorley, England, and grew up there until the age of ten, when he moved with his parents and two siblings to Stockton-on-Tees, where he attended Our Lady and St Bede RC School.

Player

Reading

Football League Second Division: 1993–94 Football League Second Division second-placed promotion: 2001-02 Individual

Reading Player of the Season: 1997–98, 1998–99

Manager

Colchester

Football League One second-place promotion: 2005–06 Bradford City

Football League Two play-offs: 2013 Football League Cup runner-up: 2012–13 Bolton Wanderers

EFL League One second-place promotion: 2016–17 Wrexham

EFL League One second-place promotion: 2024–25 EFL League Two second-place promotion: 2023–24 National League: 2022–23 FA Trophy runner-up: 2021–22 Individual

LMA Special Merit Award: 2013 LMA FA Cup Manager of the Year: 2015 Football League/EFL Outstanding Managerial Achievement: 2013 Football League/EFL League One Manager of the Month: March 2003, January 2006, August 2009, November 2010, December 2014, August 2016, October 2016, March 2017, January 2020, August 2024, March 2025 Football League/EFL League Two Manager of the Month: December 2011 National League Manager of the Month: March 2022, September 2022, January 2023 National League Manager of the Season: 2022–23