Christopher "Chris" Hughton (born 11 December 1958 in Stratford, London) is a professional association football manager and former player. He is currently the manager of Football League Championship club Newcastle United.

After making his professional debut at age 18, Hughton spent most of his playing career with Tottenham Hotspur, leaving in 1990 after 13 years. He also earned 53 caps for the Republic of Ireland national team, starting all three games in UEFA Euro 1988 in West Germany. After relatively brief spells with West Ham and Brentford, Hughton retired from playing in 1993 aged 34.

From 1993 to 2007 Hughton served as a coach and then assistant manager for Tottenham. He joined Newcastle as first team coach in 2008, and following their relegation, Hughton as caretaker manager took charge of their first season in the Championship, before being announced as permanent manager in October 2009.

[edit] Club career

A product of Tottenham Hotspur F.C.'s youth system, the right back debuted for the first team aged 18, and amassed (all competitions included) more than 300 appearances. Although he played at right back, Hughton usually wore the no. 3 shirt. He played three more seasons, two at West Ham United and 1992-1993 with Brentford F.C., before retiring at the age of 34.

[edit] International career

Hughton won 53 caps for the Republic of Ireland from 1979 to 1991. He was part of the nation's final squads for Euro 1988 (playing all three matches) and 1990 World Cup (where he did not play, Chris Morris playing instead) .

Hughton was awarded a testimonial which was played on May 29, 1995 at Lansdowne Road. He would also serve as the national team's assistant manager under Brian Kerr, from February 2003 to October 2005.

Hughton was the first black footballer to represent the Republic of Ireland at international level.^[1]

[edit] Coaching career

[edit] Tottenham Hotspur

From June 1993 to October 2007, Hughton was a coach at Tottenham Hotspur F.C., initially in charge of the under-21 team, then the reserve side in 1999, being promoted to the first team two years later. In his time at Spurs, he served under ten different managers, who include; Ray Clemence, Doug Livermore, Osvaldo Ardiles, Gerry Francis, Christian Gross, George Graham, Glenn Hoddle, David Pleat, Jacques Santini and Martin Jol. He also served as caretaker manager on two separate occasions.

With Hughton on board (under Dutchman Jol), Tottenham finished in fifth place for two consecutive seasons (2005-06 and 2006-07), while also reaching the semifinals of the 2007 Carling Cup. In the same season, Spurs narrowly lost in the FA Cup quarterfinals against Chelsea FC. Internationally, the side bowed out to eventual UEFA Cup winners Sevilla FC, also in the last-eight round.

On 25 October 2007, Hughton was sacked as assistant manager along with Jol, following a UEFA Cup home defeat (in the group stages) to Getafe CF.^[2]

[edit] Newcastle United

On 22 February 2008, he was appointed first team coach at Newcastle United by director of football Dennis Wise, joining Kevin Keegan's coaching staff, working primarily on defense with Steve Round.^[3] In his first game, Newcastle beat former club Tottenham Hotspur 4-1, at White Hart Lane.

On 8 September 2008 Hughton was named caretaker manager of Newcastle following the departures of Keegan, Terry McDermott and Adam Sadler.^[4] After a defeat to newly promoted, but in-form Hull City and a League Cup exit to Tottenham Hotspur though, Hughton stood down as caretaker and was replaced on a temporary basis by Joe Kinnear. Hughton was promoted to Assistant Manager after the Magpies appointed Colin Calderwood as First-Team Coach on January 26, 2009. In February, Kinnear took ill before a game with West Bromich Albion, Hughton took charge of that game which Newcastle won 3-2. In the subsequent week following the win it was revealed that Kinnear needed a heart bypass operation and that Hughton along with Colin Calderwood and Paul Barron would have take charge of the team for the next few weeks and possibly months. However following defeats to Bolton Wanderers, Manchester United, Arsenal and a draws against Everton and Hull City resulted in Newcastle appointing Alan Shearer as interim manager until the end of the season.

[edit] Managerial Career

[edit] Newcastle United - Caretaker

During the off season of 2009 owner Mike Ashley announced he was selling the club, Hughton was again left with the job of caretaker manager, when the club failed to further secure the services of Alan Shearer. This was followed by a statement from Llambias saying "Mike Ashley feels it would be unwise to appoint a team manager when the club is for sale", leaving Hughton in charge for the start of the 2009 - 2010 season. Hughton's first two games in charge of the new season saw inspired performances in a 1-1 draw with West Brom away from home and a memorable 3-0 win against Reading at home, which ended in Shola Ameobi getting his first ever hat trick. He continued Newcastle's unbeaten start of the new season with a 1-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday which also featured his first transfer signing of the season the on loan Danny Simpson. Hughton has also completed the recent transfer/return of Peter Lovenkrands on the 1 September 2009 after he departed the club in May 2009, and the loan signings of Blackburn Rovers defender Zurab Khizanishvili ^[5] and Aston Villa striker Marlon Harewood.

A positive start to the 2009 - 2010 campaign saw Hughton win successive manager of the month awards for August and September and then again in November.

[edit] Newcastle United - Tenure as Permanent Manager

Wikinews has related news: Chris Hughton appointed permanent manager of Newcastle United

On 27th October 2009, Hughton was named the permanent manager of Newcastle United after being offered an 18 month contract.^[6] Hughton's first game in charge as permanent manager of Newcastle United resulted in a 1-0 win against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane. Chris Hughton made his first signing as permanent manager by recruiting former PSG winger Fabrice Pancrate as a free agent. Since the win at Sheffield United, Hughton went on to win 5 consecutive matches in a row against Peterborough United, Preston North End, Swansea City, Watford and Coventry City before slipping up in a 2-2 draw to Barnsley. Hughton continued his run of 11 games unbeaten as manager with a 2-0 Tyne-Tees derby victory over Middlesbrough, a 2-2 draw against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough and a 0-0 draw against Derby County at St.James' Park. ^[7]

[edit] Personal life

Hughton's brother Henry played for Crystal Palace, for (Leyton) Orient, and alongside Chris for Republic of Ireland under-21 national football team in 1981, while son Cian played for Tottenham Hotspur, and currently represents the Republic of Ireland under-21 national football team. Cian signed a 6 month professional contract with Lincoln City on 27 July 2009.

[edit] Managerial statistics

As of 23 November 2009.^[8]

Team	Nat	From	To	Record
				G	W	L	D	Win %
Tottenham Hotspur (caretaker)		7 September 1998	1 October 1998	6	3	1	2	50.00
Newcastle United (caretaker)		8 September 2008	29 September 2008	4	0	4	0	0.00
Newcastle United (caretaker)		28 February 2009	31 March 2009	8	1	5	2	12.50
Newcastle United1		1 June 2009	Present	26	16	4	6	61.54

• Note 1: Started his tenure as caretaker then took over permanently

[edit] Honours

[edit] As a player

Tottenham Hotspur

• FA Cup winner: 1981, 1982
• UEFA Cup winner: 1984

[edit] As a manager (Individual)

Newcastle United

• August 2009 : Coca-Cola Championship Manager of the Month
  
• September 2009 : Coca-Cola Championship Manager of the Month
• November 2009 : Coca-Cola Championship Manager of the Month
  

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Chris Hughton career stats at Soccerbase

v • d • e Republic of Ireland squad – UEFA Euro 1988 1 Bonner • 2 Morris • 3 Hughton • 4 McCarthy • 5 Moran • 6 Whelan • 7 McGrath • 8 Houghton • 9 Aldridge • 10 Stapleton • 11 Galvin • 12 Cascarino • 13 O'Brien • 14 Kelly • 15 Sheedy • 16 Peyton • 17 Byrne • 18 Sheridan • 19 Anderson • 20 Quinn • Coach: Charlton

v • d • e Republic of Ireland squad – 1990 FIFA World Cup 1 Bonner • 2 Morris • 3 Staunton • 4 McCarthy • 5 Moran • 6 Whelan • 7 McGrath • 8 Houghton • 9 Aldridge • 10 Cascarino • 11 Sheedy • 12 O'Leary • 13 Townsend • 14 Hughton • 15 Slaven • 16 Sheridan • 17 Quinn • 18 Stapleton • 19 Kelly • 20 Byrne • 21 McLoughlin • 22 Peyton • Coach: Charlton