Mark Sampson

Mark Sampson
Sampson in 2014
Personal information
Date of birth (1982-10-18) 18 October 1982
Place of birth Creigiau, Wales
Playing position Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Cardiff Corinthians
Teams managed
2008–2010 Taff's Well
2009–2013 Bristol Academy
2013–2017 England Women
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Mark Sampson (born 18 October 1982) is a Welsh football coach, who was, until September 2017, the manager of the England women's national team. In September 2017, Sampson was fired from that role following evidence of "inappropriate and unacceptable" behaviour with female players in 2014, which relates to the time when he was manager at Bristol Academy.[1]

Playing career

Born and raised in Creigiau,[2][3] a suburb of Cardiff, Sampson played amateur football for Cardiff Corinthians, where his brother was the manager.[4]

Management career

After completing a BA in sports development at the University of Wales Institute, Sampson was employed by the Football Association of Wales Trust in 2003 as a coach co-ordinator. He went on to become a coach, teaching youth players at Cardiff City.[5]

In 2007, Sampson became head of Swansea City's centre of excellence whilst the club was under the management of Roberto Martínez,[5] working there until 2009. He was appointed manager of Welsh Football League club Taff's Well in November 2008, having previously been youth team coach at the club.[6] The following year, he was also appointed manager of FA Women's Premier League club Bristol Academy, leaving Taff's Well in May 2010. He led the club to finish as runners up in the 2013 FA WSL season, the club's best-ever finish,[7] and to FA Women's Cup finals in 2010–11 and 2012–13.

In December 2013 Sampson was appointed manager of the England women's team.[7] In March 2015 England won the Cyprus Cup. In the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup later in the year, he led England to the semi-finals, marking the first time England had won a match beyond the group stage of a World Cup. After losing the semi-final to Japan, England secured victory in the match for third place, beating Germany for the first time in 21 games.[8]

On 20 September 2017, Sampson was sacked as the manager of the England women's national team because of what the FA described as, "clear evidence of inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour by a coach"[9] during his tenure as the manager of Bristol Academy prior to his appointment as England coach in 2014. An FA investigation into the allegations that led to his dismissal had concluded in 2014 that, "he did not pose a risk working in the game"[9] but the decision to terminate his employment was taken when senior FA figures read the full report in 2017.

This sacking followed FA investigations into allegations of racist behaviour and remarks by Sampson, initially brought by Eniola Aluko. The FA oversaw two investigations, the second of them an independent investigation by a barrister, Katharine Newton, which cleared Sampson. The FA reasserted, in their press release regarding his dismissal, that they continued to have confidence in those findings and his dismissal was unrelated to that issue saying, "In respect of investigations into specific allegations made by Eniola Aluko in 2016, The FA stands by the findings of the independent barrister Katharine Newton's investigation. Sampson has denied all of the accusations put to him and no evidence of wrong-doing was found."[9][10][11]

On 18 October 2017, the FA apologised to players Eniola Aluko and Drew Spence after it emerged that Sampson had made comments that were "discriminatory on the grounds of race".[12]

Honours

England Women

Managerial statistics

All competitive league games (league and domestic cup) and international matches (including friendlies) are included.

As of 20 September 2017
Team Nat Year Record
GWDLWin %
Taff's Well A.F.C. Wales 2008–2011 93 58 5 30 062.37
Bristol Academy W.F.C. England 2009–2013 72 23 15 34 031.94
England Women England 2013–2017 58 36 8 14 062.07
Career Total 223 117 28 78 052.47

References

  1. ↑ "Mark Sampson sacked as England women's manager". BBC Sport. 20 September 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  2. ↑ The Welsh 'Tinkerman' making the Lionesses roar: How 32-year-old failed footballer Mark Sampson is hoping to steer England Women's World Cup team to glory Daily Mail, 29 June 2015
  3. ↑ Mark Sampson: Welshman at the heart of English football success BBC Sport, 25 June 2015
  4. ↑ Women’s World Cup guide: how to be an instant expert The Guardian, 1 July 2015
  5. 1 2 Mark Sampson determined to harness his experience as England's Lionesses prepare for crucial World Cup clash with Mexico Daily Mail, 12 June 2015
  6. ↑ Mark Sampson named as new Taffs Well manager Wales Online, 11 November 2008
  7. 1 2 Mark Sampson appointed new England women boss by FA BBC News, 6 December 2013
  8. ↑ Lauletta, Dan (5 July 2015). "Bassett starts, England beats Germany for 3rd place". The Equalizer. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  9. 1 2 3 Association, The Football. "FA terminates Sampson's contract". The Football Association.
  10. ↑ Lauletta, Dan (20 September 2017). "Mark Sampson sacked as England women's manager". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  11. ↑ "Why the FA sacked Mark Sampson as manager of the England women's team". London Evening Standard. 21 September 2017.
  12. ↑ "Mark Sampson: FA apologises over remarks to Eniola Aluko & Drew Spence". BBC News. 18 October 2017.
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