Neil Anthony Wood was born on 4 January 1983 and is an English football manager and former player.
17 Facts About Neil Wood
Neil Wood was most recently the manager of EFL League Two club Salford City.
Neil Wood began his playing career in the academy of Manchester United, though he never appeared for the first team due to several injuries.
Neil Wood was sent out on loan several times, first to Belgian club Royal Antwerp where he made his professional debut in 2001, and later to Peterborough United and Burnley, before departing the club in 2004 for Coventry City.
Neil Wood then moved first to Oldham Athletic and then to Bosnian team Zeljeznicar.
Neil Wood returned to England in 2009, spending time with amateur side Atherstone Town before retiring in 2010.
In 2023, Neil Wood was sacked by Salford with the club 21st in the league.
Neil Wood was a member of the reserve team and scored on his debut, playing as a striker alongside David Healy under the tutelage of Jimmy Ryan.
Neil Wood eventually received a first-team squad number but never made a senior team appearance, suffering with various injuries including a blood clot in his thigh, a fractured skull, and articular cartilage damage, keeping him out of action for 18 months.
In December 2001, Neil Wood was loaned out to Belgian club Royal Antwerp of the First Division alongside teammate Alan Tate, and to Peterborough United of the Football League Second Division on a one-month loan in September 2003, rejecting a move to Third Division team Swansea City in the process; neither loan proved to be successful for Neil Wood.
In January 2004, he was loaned out to First Division team Burnley, who were struggling in the season, and which was then extended the following month for a further two months; manager Stan Ternent expressed his gratitude to United manager Alex Ferguson for allowing Neil Wood to remain with the club.
Neil Wood departed United in the summer of 2004 after 13 years at the club, signing for Coventry City on a two-year contract.
In February 2008, Neil Wood signed with Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina club Zeljeznicar, where he was managed by Simo Krunic, and experienced tactics-based football for the first time since departing United.
Neil Wood was released in the summer after only a few appearances, requiring a double hernia operation.
Neil Wood was well accepted by the players and fans, and became the first Englishman in the league.
Neil Wood initially undertook the role without a wage, taking his coaching badges simultaneously.
Neil Wood was promoted by the club to the position of under-23 manager in 2019, with former United player Quinton Fortune assisting him in the role, and in his first year in the role, Wood guided the team to promotion back to the Premier League 2.