This is a reverse chronological list of all previous managers of Coventry City and the dates of their time in charge. For a biography and a deeper look at the facts and figures of their reign – click the link on the name of the person.
In the early days the club did not appoint a ‘team manager’ in the traditional way. A Secretary was appointed to arrange matches and provide administrative duties. He would also influence team selection and may have consulted the team captain in this respect. By 1888 the management of the club had changed dramatically with the introduction of Club Officers and Committee Members. Some of those elected may have been consulted regarding team selection. Committee members also assisted with crowd control and most likely collection of gate receipts. It’s interesting to note that James George Morgan (Secretary August 1888 to December 1892) displayed the team selection for each match in the window of his shop in Canterbury Street, Hillfields, situated directly opposite the Singer Factory. This always attracted great interest from local youngsters.
Coventry City F.C. became a limited liability company in July 1907. This enabled the election of the club’s first Board of Directors, who may have been consulted on team selection thereafter. The Board appointed Henry Redmond Buckle as the club’s first official manager in readiness for the 1909-10 season. He worked with Robert Patterson Wallace (Secretary) who was appointed on 8 June 1909.
Frank Lampard, Head Coach, 28th November 2024 – present
Rhys Carr, Interim Head Coach, 7th November 2024 – 27th November 2024
Mark Robins, 6th March 2017 – 7th November 2024
Russell Slade, 21st December 2016 – 5th March 2017
Mark Venus, Caretaker Manager, 29th September 2016 – 21st December 2016
Tony Mowbray, 3rd March 2015 – 29th September 2016
Neil MacFarlane & Dave Hockaday, Caretaker Managers, 23rd February 2015 – 3rd March 2015
Steven Pressley, 8th March 2013 – 23rd February 2015
Lee Carsley, Caretaker Manager, 14th February 2013 – 8th March 2013
Mark Robins, 19 September 2012 – 14th February 2013
Richard Shaw, Caretaker Manager, 26th August 2012 – 19 September 2012
Andy Thorn, 28th April 2011 – 26th August 2012
Andy Thorn & Steve Harrison, Caretaker Managers, 14th March 2011- 28th April 2011
Aidy Boothroyd, 20th May 2010 – 14th March 2011
Chris Coleman, 19th February 2008 – 4th May 2010
Frankie Bunn & John Harbin, Caretaker Managers, 11th February 2008 – 19th February 2008
lain Dowie, 19th February 2007 – 11th February 2008
Adrian Heath, Caretaker Manager, 17th January 2007 – 19th February 2007
Micky Adams, 21st January 2005 – 17th January 2007
Adrian Heath, Caretaker Manager, 6th January 2005 – 21st January 2005
Peter Reid, 6th May 2004 – 6th January 2005
Eric Black, Caretaker Manager, 11th December 2003 – 16th January 2004, Manager, 16th January 2004 – 3rd May 2004
Gary McAllister, 24th April 2002 – 11th December 2003
Steve Ogrizovic & Trevor Peake, Caretaker Managers, 16th April 2002 – 24th April 2002
Roland Nilsson, Caretaker Manager, 11th September 2001 – 16th October 2001, Manager, 16th October 2001 – 16th April 2002
Gordon Strachan, 5th November 1996 – 10th September 2001
Ron Atkinson, 15th February 1995 – 5th November 1996
Phil Neal, Caretaker Manager, 26th October 1993 – 23rd November 1993, Manager, 23rd November 1993 – 14th February 1995
Bobby Gould, 29th June 1992 – 23rd October 1993
Don Howe, 8th January 1992 – 24th June 1992
Terry Butcher, 15th November 1990 – 6th January 1992
John Sillett, 1st June 1987 – 14th November 1990
John Sillett & George Curtis, 14th April 1986 – 1st June 1987
Don Mackay, 28th December 1984 – 12th April 1986
Bobby Gould, 16th May 1983 – 28th December 1984
Dave Sexton, 19th May 1981 – 16th May 1983
Gordon Milne, 1st May 1974 – 13th May 1981
Joe Mercer, 15th June 1972 – 1st May 1974
Bob Dennison, Caretaker Manager, 12th March 1972 – 2nd May 1972
Noel Cantwell, 13th October 1967 – 12th March 1972
Jimmy Hill, 29th November 1961 – 13th October 1967
Billy Frith, 25th September 1957 – 29th November 1961
Harry Warren, 16th July 1957 – 25th September 1957
George Raynor, 2nd January 1956 – 26th June 1956
Jesse Carver, 27th June 1955 – 31st December 1955
Charlie Elliott, Caretaker Manager, 1st November 1954 – 27th June 1955
Jack Fairbrother, 11th January 1954 – 1st November 1954
HG (George) Jones, Secretary and Caretaker Manager, 4th November 1953 – 11th January 1954
Harry Storer, 29th November 1948 – 4th November 1953
HG (George) Jones, Chairman and Caretaker Manager, 10th November 1948 – 29th November 1948
Billy Frith, 9th July 1947 – 10th November 1948
Frank Stringer, Chairman and Caretaker Manager, 17th February 1947 – 9th July 1947
Dick Bayliss, 30th June 1945 – 17th February 1947
Harry Storer, appointed 11th April 1931, commenced duties 1st August 1931 – 30th June 1945
John William “Bill” Gudge Slade, Director and Caretaker Manager, 17th February 1931 – July 1931
James McIntyre, June 1928 – 17th February 1931
Albert Saunders, Director and Temporary Manager, March 1928 (appointed at the CCFC AGM) – June 1928
James Kerr, May 1925 – March 1928
Henry “Harry” Harbourne, temporary Secretary and Manager, 20th November 1924 – May 1925
Albert James Evans, 18th June 1920 – 19th November 1924 (resigned)
Henry “Harry” Harbourne, temporary Secretary and Manager, 11th May 1920 – 15th June 1920
Harry Pollitt, Secretary and Manager, 17th November 1919 – 11th May 1920 (resigned)
Henry “Harry” Harbourne, temporary Secretary and Manager, 16th October 1919 – 17th November 1919
Committee, 30th September 1919 – 16th October 1919
William Clayton, Secretary and Manager, 23rd December 1916 – 30th September 1919 (resigned)
H Howard, Secretary, July 1915 – December 1916 (assisted by a Committee)
Frank Scott-Walford, Secretary and Manager, 10th March 1914 – July 1915
Robert Patterson Wallace, Secretary, 8th June 1909 – 10th March 1914 (resigned)
Henry “Harry” Redmond Buckle, Player/Manager May 1909 – 1910
Walter Joseph Harris, Secretary, September 1907 – May 1909
Joseph “Joe” Henry Beaman, Secretary, August 1905 – 1906, Match Secretary 1906 – July 1907
Michael O’Shea, Secretary, June 1902 – August 1905
Benjamin “Ben” Ernest Newall, Secretary, 31st August 1900 – June 1902
Thomas “Tom” James Cashmore, Secretary, June 1895 – August 1900
Joseph “Joe” Charles Collins, Secretary, July 1893 – June 1895
Edwin “Teddy” Kirk, Secretary, 1st January 1893 – July 1893
James George Morgan, Secretary, August 1888 – December 1892
Henry “Harry” Hathaway, Secretary, 1885 – August 1888
Willie Stanley, Secretary, August 1883 – 1885
