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22 Facts About Mike Pejic

1.

Mike Pejic started his career with Stoke City under the management of Tony Waddington.

2.

Mike Pejic became an important player in Stoke's successful early 1970s side, helping the club win the League Cup in 1972.

3.

Mike Pejic was renowned for being a tough player and was prone to being sent off, and on one occasion was suspended for five matches.

4.

Mike Pejic broke his leg in February 1975, and in his absence, City's genuine First Division title challenge fell away.

5.

Mike Pejic later managed Leek Town, Northwich Victoria, Chester City, and Malaysian side Selangor FA, and coached Port Vale from 1986 to 1992.

6.

Mike Pejic was born in Chesterton in Newcastle-under-Lyme on Wednesday, 25 January 1950, and supported Stoke City from an early age.

7.

Mike Pejic took over from the disappointing Alex Elder and established himself in the first-team.

8.

Mike Pejic was a 'hard player' and was a strong tackler who enjoyed letting his opposing winger know he was around with a scything tackle.

9.

Mike Pejic was a fitness fanatic who, unlike many of his Stoke teammates, had another job outside of football, as he kept a farm near Leek.

10.

Mike Pejic earned a call-up to the England national side in 1974, playing in four matches, but lost his place to Liverpool's Alec Lindsay.

11.

Mike Pejic was replaced by John Bailey at Everton, and he joined Ron Saunders's Aston Villa in September 1979.

12.

Mike Pejic's stay at Harrison Park was brief, as he resigned to take over as manager of Northwich Victoria.

13.

Mike Pejic was appointed youth team coach at Port Vale in July 1986, being promoted to first-team coach in December 1987.

14.

Mike Pejic was named Chester City manager in June 1994 after the shock resignation of Graham Barrow.

15.

Mike Pejic returned to Leek Town as caretaker manager in 1998, before the appointment of Ernie Moss.

16.

Mike Pejic went on to be the regional director for the North East FA and has coached such stars as Jermain Defoe, Aaron Lennon and Stewart Downing.

17.

Mike Pejic then taught FA coaching courses at NWHC in Nuneaton.

18.

On 14 November 2010, Mike Pejic was suspended from his coaching role at Ipswich Town after allegations of bullying.

19.

Mike Pejic took up the martial art of taekwondo at 62 and earned a place in the national team for the over-60 age group.

20.

Mike Pejic married in December 1970 and again in April 1991.

21.

Mike Pejic worked as a co-commentator on Stoke City matches for a local radio station, Signal 1.

22.

Mike Pejic writes a column about Stoke in the Saturday edition of The Sentinel.