Ian Evatt
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Ian Ross Evatt | ||
Date of birth | 19 November 1981 | ||
Place of birth | Coventry, England | ||
Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[1] | ||
Position(s) |
Central defender | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Bolton Wanderers (manager) | ||
Youth career | |||
Derby County | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1999–2003 | Derby County | 34 | (0) |
2001 | → Northampton Town (loan) | 11 | (0) |
2003–2005 | Chesterfield | 84 | (9) |
2005–2007 | Queens Park Rangers | 27 | (0) |
2006–2007 | → Blackpool (loan) | 25 | (0) |
2007–2013 | Blackpool | 205 | (9) |
2013–2018 | Chesterfield | 148 | (4) |
Total | 534 | (22) | |
Managerial career | |||
2018 | Chesterfield (caretaker) | ||
2018–2020 | Barrow | ||
2020– | Bolton Wanderers | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Ian Ross Evatt (born 19 November 1981) is an English professional football manager and former player. He is the manager of Bolton Wanderers. He also owns shares in Football Ventures (Whites) Ltd, the company that own Bolton Wanderers, making him one of minority owners of the club itself.[2]
Evatt began his career as a
He began his professional career in 1999 at Derby County, and he also played for Northampton Town (on loan), Chesterfield (in two spells), Queens Park Rangers and Blackpool.
As a player, he gained promotion with Blackpool (from League One to the Championship in 2006–07, and from the Championship tier to the Premier League in 2009–10) and with Chesterfield (from League Two to League One, as champions, in 2013–14). As a manager, he won promotion with Barrow from the National League to League Two in 2019–20 and with Bolton from League Two to League One in 2020–21 as well as winning the EFL Trophy with Bolton.
Early life
Evatt was born in Coventry, West Midlands. As a child he supported hometown club Coventry City.[3] He attended Caludon Castle School for his secondary education.[4][5]
Playing career
Derby County
When he was ten years old, Evatt played for the district side in his hometown and was scouted by
On 9 September 2002, Evatt scored The Rams' third goal as they beat Division Two club
He started out as a centre-midfielder, before being moved to central defence. Evatt said of the move, "I started off my career in midfield. I played a few games in the Premier League and, as I got bigger, I moved backwards but I enjoyed it. They saw the potential for me to be a better centre-half."[6] Evatt suffered an injury in March 2003. Then, just before George Burley was appointed as manager to replace John Gregory, who had been sacked in March, Evatt had to have a double hernia operation and he did not feature much for Derby afterwards.
He made a total of 34 League appearances for The Rams, including some in the Premier League,[6] but was released by George Burley at the end of the 2002–03 season.[11][12][13]
Chesterfield
Evatt signed for Division Two club Chesterfield in July 2003, with Spireites manager Roy McFarland saying that Evatt was his number-one target to take to the club.[11] Initially he played in midfield, where he struggled, before being moved by McFarland into central defence, where his performances improved.[14] He went on to become the club captain[6] and he won the Player of the Season award for the 2003–04 season.[15] However, in the summer he needed a further hernia operation as the operation the previous year while he was with Derby did not fix the problem.[16]
On 26 August 2004, Evatt signed a contract extension with the club to the summer of 2007,[17] saying that it took him just five minutes to make the decision to sign, as he felt the club were "going in the right direction".[18] In February 2005, Chesterfield turned down an offer for Evatt from Bristol City. He was also attracting interest from other clubs, including Leicester City.[19][20]
At the end of the 2004–05 season, Evatt won the SIFA Player of the Season Award and was runner-up in the CFSS Player of the Season Award.[21] He made a total of 84 League appearances, scoring nine goals for the Spireites.
Queens Park Rangers
On 2 June 2005, Evatt signed a three-year contract with
Evatt made 27 League appearances for the Hoops. On 1 August 2006 he was sent on a six-month loan to
Blackpool
QPR terminated Evatt's contract, enabling him to join Blackpool on a permanent basis on 5 January 2007, during the transfer window. He signed an 18-month contract, with the League One club having an option for a further year.[24]
Evatt scored his first goal for the Seasiders in the fourth round of the FA Cup against Norwich City on 27 January 2007. His equaliser took the tie to a replay at Carrow Road.[25][26]
On 19 March 2007, Evatt was named in the
After 2+1⁄2 months out with a medial knee ligament injury
Evatt scored his first League goal for Blackpool on 25 October 2008 at Bloomfield Road when he headed their second equaliser in a 2–2 draw with Crystal Palace.[31]
He made his 100th League appearance for Blackpool on 24 January 2009, in a 2–0 victory over Birmingham City at Bloomfield Road. On 2 April 2009, Evatt signed a new two-year contract with Blackpool, with an option for a further year.[32]
Evatt scored his second League goal for the Seasiders on 15 August 2009 in Blackpool's first home game of the
After Blackpool's promotion to the
Evatt was named in the "Team of the Week" for week fourteen of the campaign, sharing the centre-back role with
Evatt was Blackpool's only ever-present player in their 38 Premier League matches during the 2010–11 season. This included one substitute appearance against
After the departure of Keith Southern to Huddersfield Town in July 2012, Evatt inherited the accolade of being Blackpool's longest-serving current player.
Return to Chesterfield
After his release from Blackpool in June 2013, Evatt re-joined Chesterfield on a two-year contract on 30 July 2013, and was made the club's
He was released by Chesterfield at the end of the 2017–18 season.[37]
Coaching career
Caretaker spell at Chesterfield
On 23 April 2018, following the departure of Jack Lester, Evatt was appointed caretaker manager for the remainder of the season, which ended in Chesterfield's relegation to the National League.[38]
Barrow
On 15 June 2018, Evatt was unveiled as the new manager of National League side Barrow.[39]
Evatt officially retired from playing after coming on as a forward late in a friendly at home to his former club Blackpool on 20 July 2019. The appearance was prompted by Barrow's social-media manager, who announced that, should their tweet be retweeted one thousand times, Evatt would come on for the last few minutes.[40]
In his second season in charge, Evatt guided Barrow back to the
Bolton Wanderers
On 24 June 2020,
On 28 May 2021, Evatt signed a new three-year contract with the club.[58]
On 14 November 2021, during a charity match in which the Bolton first-team played a match against a team of Bolton legends — the match helping to raise money for the mother of Bolton player
In Bolton's first season back in League One, Evatt lead them to a 9th placed finish with 73 points.[60]
On 2 February 2023, it was revealed that Evatt had been given shares in Football Ventures (Whites) Ltd, the company that own Bolton Wanderers, making him one of minority owners of the club itself.[2]
On 2 April 2023, Evatt managed Bolton to 4–0 win against Plymouth Argyle in the 2023 EFL Trophy final.[61] A month later, he signed a new three year contract.[62] His third season in charge saw Bolton qualify for the play-offs. They were defeated by Barnsley in the semi-finals.[63]
After four league wins in October 2023, Evatt was named EFL League One Manager of the Month.[64] This was followed up with three league wins — one of which was a 7–0 win against Exeter City — and a draw in November to win the award for the second consecutive month.[65]
Managerial style
Evatt prefers to play attacking possession-based football, with his Barrow team nicknamed "Barrowcelona" due to the attacking football they played.[66][67] At Barrow he played a 3-4-1-2 formation and used the same system at Bolton Wanderers. He changed to a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Bolton going from 20th to third and achieving promotion to League One.[67][68][57] Evatt frequently decides against naming a substitute goalkeeper on the bench, preferring to have more attacking options and has had outfield players do goalkeeping training, just in case.[69][70] Evatt will sometimes bring on attacking players when winning matches rather than defensive players, preferring to score more goals than defend a lead.[71]
Career statistics
Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup
|
Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Derby County | 2000–01 | Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 | |
2001–02 | Premier League | 3 | 0 | – | – | – | 3 | 0 | ||||
2002–03 | First Division | 30 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 1 | |
Total | 34 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 1 | ||
Northampton Town (loan) | 2001–02 | Second Division | 11 | 0 | – | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | |
Chesterfield | 2003–04 | Second Division | 43 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 47 | 6 |
2004–05 | Second Division | 41 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 4 | |
Total | 84 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 90 | 10 | ||
Queens Park Rangers | 2005–06 | Championship
|
27 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 | ||
Blackpool | 2006–07 | League One
|
44 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4[a] | 0 | 54 | 1 |
2007–08 | Championship | 29 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 0 | |
2008–09 | Championship | 33 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 1 | |
2009–10 | Championship | 36 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[b] | 0 | 41 | 4 | |
2010–11 | Premier League | 38 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 38 | 1 | ||
2011–12 | Championship | 39 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[b] | 0 | 42 | 3 | |
2012–13 | Championship | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
Total | 230 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 254 | 10 | ||
Chesterfield | 2013–14 | League Two
|
34 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6[c] | 1 | 42 | 2 |
2014–15 | League One | 39 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[c] | 0 | 43 | 1 | |
2015–16 | League One | 23 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 1 | |
2016–17 | League One | 31 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5[d] | 0 | 39 | 1 | |
2017–18 | League Two | 21 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[d] | 0 | 24 | 0 | |
Total | 148 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 175 | 5 | ||
Career total | 534 | 22 | 20 | 2 | 16 | 1 | 23 | 1 | 594 | 26 |
- ^ 3 Appearances in League One play-offs and 1 appearance in EFL Trophy
- ^ a b Appearances in Championship play-offs
- ^ a b Appearances in Football League Trophy
- ^ a b Appearances in EFL Trophy
Managerial statistics
- As of 20 April 2024
Team | From | To | Record | Ref. | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
P | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
Chesterfield (caretaker) | 23 April 2018[38] | 15 May 2018[citation needed] | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 33.33 | [72] |
Barrow | 15 June 2018[citation needed] | 1 July 2020[45] | 90 | 40 | 21 | 29 | 44.44 | [73] |
Bolton Wanderers | 1 July 2020[45] | Present | 222 | 113 | 50 | 59 | 50.90 | [74] |
Total | 315 | 154 | 71 | 90 | 48.89 | — |
Honours
Player
Blackpool
Chesterfield
- Football League Two: 2013–14
Individual
- Blackpool Player of the Season: 2010–11[76]
- PFA Team of the Year: 2013–14 League Two[77]
Managerial
Barrow
Bolton Wanderers
- EFL League Two third-place promotion: 2020–21[57]
- EFL Trophy: 2022–23[61]
Individual
- National League Manager of the Month: December 2018[78]
- National League Manager of the Year: 2019–20[79]
- EFL League Two Manager of the Month: November 2020,[52] February 2021,[55] March 2021[56]
- EFL League One Manager of the Month: October 2023,[64] November 2023[65]
References
- ^ "Premier League Player Profile". Premier League. Archived from the original on 3 October 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
- ^ "Evatt hails 'excellent' Pool fans". Blackpool Gazette. 27 January 2010. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
- ^ "Notable Alumni". Caludon Castle School. Archived from the original on 21 January 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
- ^ Clemons, Pete (3 March 2016). "Revealed: MORE of Caludon Castle School's arts and sports heritage". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
- ^ a b c d e "From young ram to grown man – Evatt puts Derby disappointment behind him and pushes forward in his career". Up the Pool. 2008–09 season (Blackpool vs Derby County). Blackpool: Blackpool: 34–37. 21 October 2008.
- ^ a b "In focus this week Ian Evatt". Chesterfield F.C. 27 September 2003. Archived from the original on 20 August 2008. Retrieved 7 May 2008.
- bbc.co.uk. 6 September 2001. Retrieved 25 October 2008.
- bbc.co.uk. 9 September 2006. Retrieved 25 October 2008.
- ^ "Derby 1-2 Oldham". BBC. 2 October 2002. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
- ^ bbc.co.uk. 15 July 2003. Retrieved 25 October 2008.
- ^ "players – Ian Evatt". Soccerbase. Archived from the original on 9 January 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2008.
- bbc.co.uk. 15 May 2003. Retrieved 25 October 2008.
- ^ "Mac sticks with Evo". Chesterfield F.C. 2 February 2004. Retrieved 7 May 2008.
- ^ "Ian Evatt Player of the Season". Chesterfield F.C. 2 March 2005. Retrieved 7 May 2008.
- ^ "Evatt faces hernia op". Chesterfield F.C. 9 May 2004. Retrieved 7 May 2008.
- ^ "Evatt extends contract". Chesterfield F.C. 26 August 2004. Retrieved 7 May 2008.
- ^ "Why I signed new deal". Chesterfield F.C. 28 August 2004. Retrieved 7 May 2008.
- bbc.co.uk. 25 February 2005. Retrieved 25 October 2008.
- ^ "The latest on Ian Evatt". Chesterfield F.C. 2 March 2005. Retrieved 7 May 2008.
- ^ "Nicholson scoops award". Chesterfield F.C. 29 April 2005. Retrieved 7 May 2008.
- bbc.co.uk. 2 June 2005. Retrieved 25 October 2008.
- bbc.co.uk. 17 January 2006. Retrieved 25 October 2008.
- bbc.co.uk. 5 January 2007. Retrieved 25 October 2008.
- ^ "Results/Fixtures Blackpool 1 Norwich 1". Soccerbase. Retrieved 25 October 2008.
- bbc.co.uk. 27 January 2007. Retrieved 25 October 2008.
- The Football League. 5 January 2007. Retrieved 25 October 2008.
- bbc.co.uk. 27 May 2007. Retrieved 25 October 2008.
- bbc.co.uk. 8 December 2007. Retrieved 25 October 2008.
- ^ Canavan, Steve (18 February 2008). "Grayson set to raid loan market". Blackpool Gazette. Retrieved 25 October 2008.
- ^ "Match report, Blackpool vs Crystal Palace". Blackpool. 25 October 2008. Retrieved 25 October 2008.
- bbc.co.uk. 2 April 2009. Retrieved 2 April 2009.
- The Football League. 9 November 2009. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
- ^ "Official Site of the Premier League - Barclays Premier League News, Fixtures and Results | Statistics | EA SPORTS Index | Team of the Week | Week 14 30-11-2010". Archived from the original on 10 December 2010. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
- ^ "Ian Evatt makes Chesterfield return after Blackpool exit" (URL). BBC Sport. 30 July 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
- ^ "Fleetwood 1–3 Chesterfield". BBC. 4 February 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
- ^ "Ian Evatt: Chesterfield release veteran defender after spell in caretaker charge". BBC Sport. 11 May 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
- ^ a b "Departure of managerial team confirmed". Chesterfield FC. 23 April 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
- ^ "Evatt appointed new Barrow manager" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Blackpool legend Ian Evatt delighted to call time on playing career with cameo against former club" - Blackpool Gazette, 20 July 2019
- ^ "Barrow promoted back to English Football League after National League vote" - BBC Sport, 17 June 2020
- ^ "Bolton Wanderers make their move for Barrow boss Ian Evatt". The Bolton News.
- ^ "Barrow reject offer 'well below' buy-out fee from Bolton Wanderers for Blackpool legend Ian Evatt". www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk.
- ^ "Wanderers set to appoint Ian Evatt as new boss after striking compensation deal". The Bolton News.
- ^ a b c "Ian Evatt: Bolton Wanderers name Barrow manager as new head coach". BBC Sport. 1 July 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
- ^ "Ali Crawford signs Two-Year Deal with Wanderers". www.bwfc.co.uk.
- ^ "Eoin Doyle: Bolton Wanderers sign ex-Swindon Town striker on three-year deal". BBC Sport. 10 July 2020.
- ^ "Report: Bolton Wanderers 1–2 Bradford City". www.bwfc.co.uk.
- ^ "MATCH REACTION: Colchester United 2 Bolton Wanderers 0". The Bolton News.
- ^ ""It really can work" - Ian Evatt makes case for new thinking at Wanderers". The Bolton News.
- ^ "Report: Harrogate Town 1–2 Bolton Wanderers". www.bwfc.co.uk.
- ^ a b "Ian Evatt wins November Manager of the Month". www.bwfc.co.uk.
- ^ "Head of Football Operations Tobias Phoenix exits Bolton Wanderers". The Bolton News.
- ^ "Ian Evatt's Job Title Changes To Manager". www.bwfc.co.uk.
- ^ a b "Manager and Defender win Sky Bet monthly awards". www.bwfc.co.uk.
- ^ a b "Ian Evatt wins second successive Manager of the Month award". www.bwfc.co.uk.
- ^ a b c BBC Sport: Bolton promoted after win at Crawley
- ^ BWFC: "Wanderers Manager Ian Evatt signs new contract"
- ^ BWFC: "Wanderers 7 All Stars 4"
- ^ Manchester Evening News: "Bolton Wanderers boss Ian Evatt on Fleetwood Town win, player contract decisions & next season aim"
- ^ a b "Bolton Wanderers 4–0 Plymouth Argyle". BBC Sport.
- ^ "Ian Evatt: Bolton Wanderers boss signs new three-year contract with League One club". BBC Sport.
- ^ Barnsley 1–0 Bolton Wanderers (Agg 2–1): Tykes to face Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday in final
- ^ a b See the Sky Bet League One Manager and Player of the Month winners for October
- ^ a b Sky Bet League One Player and Manager of the Month for November
- ^ The National League: "'Barrowcelona' A Thing Of Beauty For Bolton-Bound Evatt"
- ^ a b Total Football Analysis: "How Ian Evatt’s tweaked possession system has pushed Bolton Wanderers for League Two title contention"
- ^ The Bolton News: "Why four could be the magic number for Ian Evatt and Bolton Wanderers"
- ^ Manchester Evening News: "Bolton Wanderers boss Ian Evatt on Walsall, promotion potential and substitute goalkeepers"
- ^ The Bolton News: "Bolton Wanderers boss Ian Evatt hints at outfield player as emergency keeper option"
- ^ The Bolton News: "While Evatt may like to use attacking options off the bench to close out games, that doesn't mean they don't get stuck in defensively as well."
- ^ "Chesterfield FC: Matches". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
- ^ "Barrow AFC: Matches". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
- ^ "Bolton Wanderers FC: Matches". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ^ Woodcock, Ian (30 March 2014). "Chesterfield 1–3 Peterborough United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- ^ "Vaughan and Evatt winners on awards night". Blackpool Gazette. 24 May 2011. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011.
- ^ "Luis Suarez: Liverpool striker wins PFA Player of the Year award". BBC Sport. 28 April 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
- ^ "Barrow AFC boss Evatt wins Manager of the Month award". The Mail.
- ^ "Former Chesterfield defender Ian Evatt named National League Manager of the Year after Barrow triumph". www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk.
External links
- Ian Evatt profile at blackpoolfc.co.uk
- Ian Evatt profile at qpr.co.uk
- Ian Evatt at Soccerbase