Brian James McDermott (born 8 April 1961 in Slough, Berkshire) is a football player and coach. He is currently the Reserve Team Manager and Chief Scout at Reading Football Club. Following the departure of Reading First Team manager Brendan Rodgers, on 16 December 2009, it was announced that McDermott would temporarily fulfill his duties.

[edit] Playing career

McDermott joined Arsenal as an apprentice in January 1977 and signed professional forms with the club in February 1979. He was a regular in Arsenal's reserve team, finishing top scorer in the London Combination in 1978-79, before making his debut as a substitute against Bristol City on 10 March 1979. He did not properly break into the Arsenal first team until the 1980-81 season, notching 45 appearances (14 as sub) in all competitions in that season and 1981-82.

Unable to match his goalscoring rate at the top level, he featured much less in the 1982-83 and 1983-84 seasons and was loaned out twice by the Gunners, once to Fulham in 1983 and then to IFK Norrköping between April and October 1984, where he was named Sweden's Player of the Year.^{[citation needed]}. McDermott secured a permanent move to Oxford United in December 1984, having played 70 games for Arsenal, scoring 13 goals.

Brian's later career included a spell at Huddersfield Town on loan, before stints at Cardiff City and Exeter City.

[edit] Coaching career

After management positions at Slough and Woking, McDermott joined Reading as Chief Scout in September 2000, taking over from the late Maurice Evans. Brian also became the under-19s and reserve team manager, before taking over as caretaker first team manager following the departure of Brendan Rogers on 17 December 2009.^[1]. McDermott's first game in charge was a 1-1 draw at Bristol City with Simon Church grabbing a 90th minute equaliser for the Royals.^[2] Another 1-1 draw followed on Boxing Day, this time at home to promotion-chasing Swansea.^[3]

[edit] Personal life

Brian currently lives with his wife, Sarah, and their two daughters Lianne and Emily in Buckinghamshire.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Brian McDermott management career stats at Soccerbase