AS A player Owen Coyle was a man of many clubs.
As a manager he’s had even MORE.
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The striker played for ten different teams including Dundee United twice and Airdrie three times.
But he’s bossed 11 different sides in Scotland, England, America and India – including two spells at his current club Chennaiyin.
But the incident that placed him on the path to more than 20 years of dugout duty came out of the blue, in the middle of a storm – and couldn’t have gone any WORSE.
Coyle had already had a taste of coaching at Dundee United where he worked with the Tannadice youngsters, and co-managed Falkirk to the First Division title in 2003 on an interim basis.
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But when St Johnstone‘s legendary chairman Geoff Brown called him on a break just north of Perth it changed the course of his career – as a football boss, and certainly not as a barista!
It turned out to be ‘all gravy’, and he was just the McDiarmid Park man’s cup of tea.
Coyle even kicked his family out into a STORM ahead of signing talks but then was so nervous he couldn’t find a coffee for his arriving guest.
Recalling the hilarious escapade, he said: “Geoff Brown called me up and he said Owen, would you be interested in being the St. Johnston manager?
“And I said, ‘Oh chairman, I’ve not applied for your job.’
“He says ‘no, I know, but you come highly recommended. I’ve seen what you did at Falkirk. Your brother Thomas played for me at St. Johnstone, so I know the family values, what you stand for and everything else. I’d love to speak to you.’
“I was actually up at Dunkeld which is a few miles from Perth where St. Johnstone is – we’d a holiday lodge up there.
“He says ‘Right, I’ll come and see you.’
“I turned to Kerry, my wife and I said, ‘Kerry, you’re going to have to take the kids out. The St. Johnstone chairman’s coming to speak to me about the job.’
“She went ‘But it’s torrential rain!’ and I said, ‘I know, we’ll just wrap them up in the macks.’
“So anyway, she got the two wee ones in the macks. She got the wee one in the buggy and away she went, it was obviously torrential rain.
“Anyway, the chairman comes in and I said, ‘Come in Mr Chairman, please take a seat. Would you like a tea or a coffee?’ He says, ‘I’d love a coffee’ – and I thought ‘Oh No!’
“We don’t drink coffee. I’m tee-total, never had an alcoholic drink in my life. But me and my missus, we love our cups of tea.
“So I went through. I’m looking about. Eventually found the coffee. Made the tea and coffee, milk and sugar. Sat there for over an hour.
“It couldn’t have went any better. Brilliant, brilliant football chat. So anyway, he finishes and says ‘Owen, I’ve really enjoyed the chat. I’ll be in touch sooner rather than later’.
“So he leaves, I check my mobile phone. 12 missed calls from my wife obviously wanting back in.
“So she comes back in and it’s been that wet that the rain’s still dripping down her nose and all the kids are soaked through.
Life in the dugout
- Early Managerial Career: Owen Coyle began his managerial career at Falkirk as a player-coach before taking over as manager of St Johnstone in April 2005.
- St Johnstone Success: Coyle led St Johnstone to a Scottish Challenge Cup victory in 2007 and nearly achieved promotion to the Scottish Premier League.
- Burnley Appointment: In November 2007, Coyle was appointed manager of Burnley, where he achieved significant success.
- Premier League Promotion: Coyle guided Burnley to the Premier League in the 2008-09 season after winning the Championship play-offs.
- Bolton Wanderers Move: In January 2010, Coyle left Burnley to become the manager of Bolton Wanderers.
- Mixed Results at Bolton: Coyle had a mixed tenure at Bolton, with notable highs such as reaching the FA Cup semi-final in 2011, but also experiencing relegation from the Premier League in 2012.
- Wigan Athletic: Coyle was appointed manager of Wigan Athletic in June 2013 but left the club in December 2013 after a poor run of results.
- Houston Dynamo: In 2014, Coyle moved to the United States to manage Major League Soccer side Houston Dynamo.
- Short Stint in MLS: Coyle left Houston Dynamo by mutual consent in May 2016 after a series of underwhelming performances.
- Return to Blackburn: Coyle returned to English football in June 2016 as the manager of Blackburn Rovers, but was dismissed in February 2017.
- Chennaiyin FC: In December 2019, Coyle took over as head coach of Indian Super League club Chennaiyin FC, leading them to the ISL final in the 2019-20 season.
- Jamshedpur FC: He later joined Jamshedpur FC in the Indian Super League, securing the club’s first-ever ISL League Winners Shield in the 2021-22 season.
“She says, ‘That better have been worth it.’
“I said, ‘Kerry, it couldn’t have been any better. The only thing was he threw me at the start, he wanted a coffee – but eventually found it Made the tea and coffee. Great chat,
“She went ‘We’ve not got coffee… that’s Bistro gravy, you clown!’
“As good as my judge. I’d made him a full mug – not a little cup of tea with milk and sugar a FULL mug, milk and sugar.
“By the way, he drank a lot.”
Sharing the hilarious anecdote with Under The Cosh podcast he explained it all worked out in the end.
Coyle went on: “I picked the phone up. ‘Mr Chairman, it’s Owen, I need to apologise’.
“He says, ‘Why’s that?’ and I said, ‘It turns out that wasn’t coffee – it was bistro gravy.
“He said ‘Aye, I thought it was a funny tang. Anyway, while I’ve got you I want to give you the job!’
“So, true story. Trying not to be rude. Just imagine, I mean, outstanding candidate but he made his boss a cup of gravy.”
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Coyle went on to spend two years with the club before heading to Burnley and taking the Lancashire side to the Premier League 15years ago.
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He’s also won the Indian Super League with Jamshedspur and is back at Chennaiyin who he took to second place in 2020.
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
