Former Bristol City manager and Bristol Rovers hero retires from management

There will be no return to the dugout for the one-time Bristol City boss
Tony Pulis will not return to management after more than a two-year exile. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)Tony Pulis will not return to management after more than a two-year exile. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Tony Pulis will not return to management after more than a two-year exile. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Former Bristol City manager and Bristol Rovers player Tony Pulis has today his retirement from football management, bringing to an end a thirty-year career.

The 65-year-old is most known for his time as manager of Stoke City, where he led them to the Premier League for the first time in their history, guiding them to promotion in 2008 with the likes of Rory Delap, Glenn Whelan and Ricardo Fuller. Pulis' second reign at the bet365 Stadium saw him take the Potters to the Europa League group stages, qualifying after losing to Manchester City in the FA Cup final in 2011.

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His management career began in 1992, taking over at Bournemouth, after working as a player-coach to Harry Redknapp before the Tottenham manager resigned. He had two yars there before joining Gillingham, spending four years with the Kent club, before a surprise move to Bristol City, despite his affiliation to Rovers. Pulis and only lasted half-a season there before joining Portsmouth and later Stoke and Plymouth Argyle.

The Newport-born former defender also managed Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League, as well as Middlesbrough in the Championship. Pulis' last job in management was at Sheffield Wednesday, managing them for just over a month, before he was sacked after just ten games in December 2020.

"I'm 65 now. I had a really good run at it," said the Welshman, who was appearing on Sky Sports to discuss the latest transfer dealings on Deadline Day. He added: "Management has passed me by now."

Pulis had two spells as a player at Rovers, beginning his career with the Gas, making 85 appearances across six years, where he built up a good friendship with Ian Holloway. He had a brief spell in Happy Valley before returning to Rovers in 1982, adding a further 42 appearances to his name nd scoring two goals. Pulis returned to Newport, and later had two spells at Bournemouth in between one season as a player at Gillingham.

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At Bristol City, he succeeded Benny Lennartsson who was unable to stave off the threat of relegation, and they were subsequently relegated from the old First Division, which is what the Championship is today. Pulis had been manager of Gillingham who lost to Manchester City in the 1998/99 play-offs, but despite leading 2-0 lost on penalties in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium.

He was unable to mount a promotion push, and they failed to win games in both October and November, with the potential of asecond relegation on the cards for the Robins. Pulis called time on his brief spell at Ashton Gate and he was replaced by Tony Fawthrop who was assisted by Leroy Rosenior and the pair led them to a ninth-placed finish before being replaced by Danny Wilson.

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