| Terry Neill | 1975-1976 |
Appointed player-manager in 1975 as successor to Terry Neill, it was Dave Clements' continuing playing career that prevented him having a prolonged stab at international management...
Name: David Clements:
See Playing Career
Coaching Career:
Northern Ireland (Player-Manager) Mar/75-May/76
Colorado Carabous (NASL) (Player-Manager) 1978
Denver Avalanche (MISL) (Manager) 1981-1982
St Louis Steamers (MISL) (Manager) 1982-1985
Kansas City Comets (MISL) (Manager) 1986-1987
Honours:
MISL Coach of the Year 1982 (Denver), 1987 (Kansas)
Western Division Runner-Up 1984 (St Louis)
Play-Off Qualification 1982 (Denver), 1983 (St Louis), 1987 (Kansas)
Biography:
In 1975, at the age of just 29, and still playing regular FIrst Division football, Dave Clements succeeded Terry Neill as player-manager of Northern Ireland. His first game in charge brought great hope to the Province, seeing the team play in Belfast for the first time since 1971, defeating Yugoslavia 1-0 in the process. An impressive draw with England and a win over Wales then saw Northern Ireland finish equal second in that seasons Home Nations Championship.
Mid-way through the 1975/76 season Clements joined the exodus to the North American Soccer League, signing a lucrative playing contract with the New York Cosmos. He continued as player-manager of Northern Ireland until the end of the season, but managing the team from across the Atlantic proved too difficult. He resigned after that seasons Home Nations Championship, in which Northern Ireland lost, and failed to score in, all three games.
Interviewed as a potential successor to Billy Bingham as Everton manager early in 1977, Clements impressed the board, but the job went to Colin Lee. Instead Clements returned to the USA, becoming player-coach of Colorado Caribous, and he later coached Denver Avalanche, St. Louis Steamers and Kansas City Comets in the Major Indoor Soccer League.
Northern Ireland Record:
16-04-1975 Yugoslavia H W 1-0 ECQ
17-05-1975 England... H D 0-0 BC
20-05-1975 Scotland.. A L 0-3 BC
23-05-1975 Wales..... H W 1-0 BC
03-09-1975 Sweden.... H L 1-2 ECQ
29-10-1975 Norway.... H W 3-0 ECQ
19-11-1975 Yugoslavia A L 0-1 ECQ
24-03-1976 Israel.... A D 1-1 FR
08-05-1976 Scotland.. A L 0-3 BC
11-05-1976 England... A L 0-4 BC
14-05-1976 Wales..... A L 0-1 BC
Summary:
Comp..Pl...W...D...L....F:A....Success
WCQ....0
WCF....0
ECQ....3...2...0...2....5:..3...50.0%
FR.....1...0...1...0....1:..1...33.3%
BIC....6...1...1...4....1:.11...22.2%
Tot...11...3...2...6....7:.15...33.3%
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