Mark Wright

Mark Wright (born 1 August 1963) is a former England international football player and English football manager.

As a player, he had spells with Liverpool, Derby County, Southampton and Oxford United during the 1980s and 1990s.

Wright began his career with Oxford United, eventually signing his first professional contract in August 1980.

He was handed his first team debut at the age of 16 by manager Ian Greaves when the club were playing in the Third Division.

The tall central defender made only ten appearances for the club, all of which came in his second season as a professional, when he helped Oxford finish fifth in the league.

Wright did not finish the 1981–82 campaign with Oxford, however, as on 25 March 1982 (deadline day) he was transferred to Southampton, who were then playing in the top flight of English football.

Wright moved to Southampton for a transfer fee of £80,000 along with Oxford United forward Keith Cassells in a deal that saw Trevor Hebberd move the other way.

Wright was only 18 when he arrived at the Dell and the Saints were flying high at the top of the table under manager Lawrie McMenemy.

He made his debut for the club in a 3–1 win over Leeds United at Elland Road on 17 April 1982, a game which saw two Saints legends, Kevin Keegan and David Armstrong, score the goals.

He featured in two of the Saints' remaining five league matches that season as Southampton eventually finished seventh in the league and qualified for the UEFA Cup.

In the 1982–83 season, Wright's first full campaign with the club, the Saints finished 12th in the old First Division.

Wright scored his first league goal for the club in a 2–2 draw with Luton Town at The Dell on 30 April 1983.

After finishing with two goals in 39 appearances, he was voted Player of the Year by the club's supporters.

Wright's star continued to rise during the 1983–84 season as he helped Saints to second place in the league – their highest ever finish.

They finished only three points behind Liverpool, who also won the European Cup that season.

A Southampton team that included England goalkeeper Peter Shilton also reached the FA Cup semi-finals that season, losing in extra-time to eventual winners Everton.

Wright's performances at the heart of Saints' defence that year resulted in him making his debut for England in May 1984.

Publishing magnate Robert Maxwell, the former chairman of Oxford United, had helped save Derby from going out of business in 1984.

The following season Southampton performed strongly again, finishing fifth in the league, and after Chris Nicholl replaced McMenemy as manager in July 1985, Wright helped the club reach the 1986 FA Cup semi-final.

Southampton took on Liverpool at White Hart Lane in what would prove a particularly disappointing day for Wright.

Ten minutes before half-time Shilton rushed from his line to help the defender cut off a Liverpool attack but the goalkeeper then collided with his own player.

Wright was stretchered off due to injury and Southampton again lost after extra-time against the eventual champions.

Soon afterwards it was confirmed that Wright had broken his leg, ruining his chances of making England's 1986 World Cup squad.

Wright bounced back from that setback to feature 30 times in the 1986–87 season and Southampton finished 12th in the table.

Arthur Cox was the Derby County manager when Wright arrived at the East Midlands club, who had been promoted as champions of the Second Division at the end of the 1986–1987 season.

In July 1987, Wright's international colleague Shilton joined Derby County, who were returning to the top flight after a seven-year absence.

Soon afterwards Derby also made a bid to bring Wright to the Baseball Ground.

Saints accepted the offer and Wright completed his move in August for a then-club record fee of £760,000.

Installed as the club's chairman in 1987, Maxwell spent heavily to bolster the Rams' squad for their return to the First Division.

Wright joined Derby four games into the new season and made his debut on 29 August 1987, a 1–0 home defeat in the league against Wimbledon.

He made 45 appearances for the England national team, and was a member of the team which reached the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup in 1990.

At club level, the central defender won the 1992 FA Cup final as captain of Liverpool.

Since retiring as a player in 1998, Wright has worked as a football manager, pundit, and businessman.

He has had three stints as manager of Chester City, during the first of which he led the club back into the Football League as Football Conference champions after a four-year exile.

He has also had spells managing Peterborough United, Oxford United and Southport.

He is a regular pundit on LFC TV, Liverpool's official TV channel, and uses his experience as a foster carer and ambassador to advocate for more people to help children in need.

Along with Michael Owen, another ex-Liverpool and England player, Wright is a founder of Red Sports, a Liverpool-based company that specialises in soccer school and coaching education programmes in China.

Wright also founded Premier Legends, a company that gives fans around the world the chance to join ex-England and Premier League players for stadium tours, exhibition games, golf outings, dinners and audience Q+A sessions.

Wright was born in Dorchester on Thames, Oxfordshire.

He said he got into professional football late because he had stayed in school an extra year in order to get qualifications to become a PE teacher.