Neil James Cox was born on 8 October 1971 and is an English former professional footballer and manager who was last in charge of EFL League Two side Scunthorpe United.
22 Facts About Neil Cox
2.
Neil Cox began his career at Scunthorpe United as a youth player and was eventually offered a professional contract by the club, breaking into the first-team soon after.
3.
Neil Cox retired from professional football in 2008, going on to become a property developer in Portugal.
4.
Neil Cox subsequently returned to the game in 2010 after being appointed manager of Leek Town.
5.
Neil Cox was in charge just one season before resigning for personal reasons.
6.
In October 2012, Neil Cox joined Football League Two club AFC Wimbledon as assistant manager to former Watford teammate Neal Ardley.
7.
On 7 August 2020, Neil Cox was appointed first team manager of Scunthorpe United.
8.
Neil Cox began his career at his hometown club, the team he supported as a child, Scunthorpe United.
9.
Neil Cox was involved with the team from an early age, being allowed to join in pre-season training sessions with the squad at the age of just 11.
10.
Neil Cox was later allowed to train with the first-team by manager Frank Barlow at the age of 13 and was allowed to travel to an away game with the senior players.
11.
Neil Cox gradually progressed through the youth ranks at the club before signing his first professional deal with the club in 1990, being handed a two-year deal, along with fellow youth graduates Graham Alexander and Richard Hall.
12.
Neil Cox's move to the Villans progressed rapidly, receiving a call from Scunthorpe assistant manager Bill Green on a Sunday evening, signing for the club the following day before flying out to Hong Kong to join the first-team on Tuesday for pre-season training.
13.
Neil Cox later stated that he believed that there was "a bit of pressure" on himself to impress due to the transfer fee involved in his move.
14.
Neil Cox later stated that his biggest regret over the incident was "that I never played in an FA Cup final".
15.
In 2001, Italian Gianluca Vialli was appointed manager of the club and Neil Cox was one of a handful of first-team players left in England to train with the reserves as the squad traveled to Italy for a pre-season tour.
16.
Neil Cox later stated that he was dropped by Vialli as outgoing manager Graham Taylor had expressed concern to him that Neil Cox was a bad influence on the dressing room.
17.
Neil Cox entered talks with a number of clubs but was unable to complete a move away from the Hornets as the club were unable to agree an acceptable transfer fee.
18.
Neil Cox remained with the side into the new season and was eventually recalled to the first-team due to injury problems and formed a central defensive partnership with Filippo Galli, who Cox later described as "a world class player who was so down to earth".
19.
Neil Cox scored against MK Dons in the FA Cup the following season.
20.
Neil Cox signed for Crewe in June 2006 after being released by Cardiff City.
21.
On 10 October 2012, it was announced that Neil Cox would reunite with former Watford and Cardiff teammate Neal Ardley, a friend of Neil Cox's for over 20 years, as his assistant manager at Football League Two side AFC Wimbledon.
22.
On 7 August 2020, Neil Cox was confirmed as first team manager of EFL League Two side Scunthorpe United.