Frank Connor (13 February 1936 – 3 March 2022) was a Scottish football player and manager.

Frank Connor
Personal information
Date of birth (1936-02-13)13 February 1936
Place of birth Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, Scotland
Date of death 3 March 2022(2022-03-03) (aged 86)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
Polkemmet Juniors
Blantyre Celtic
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1961–1962 Celtic 2 (0)
1962–1963 Portadown
1963–1964 St Mirren 6 (0)
1964–1967 Derry City
1967–1968 Portadown
1968–1969 Albion Rovers (player-coach) 8 (0)
1975–1976 Cowdenbeath (player-manager) 1 (0)
Managerial career
1974–1976 Cowdenbeath
1980–1982 Berwick Rangers
1982–1983 Motherwell (assistant)
1983–1986 Celtic (assistant)
1986–1990 Raith Rovers
1990–1993 Hearts (assistant)
1993 Celtic (caretaker)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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As a player, he played for Celtic, Portadown, St Mirren, Derry City, Albion Rovers and Cowdenbeath. After coaching at Celtic and Albion Rovers, Connor moved to Cowdenbeath in 1974 as player-manager, before a spell as assistant manager at Morton. He managed Berwick Rangers between 1980 and 1982 and then had a spell working under Jock Wallace at Motherwell as assistant manager.[1]

In the summer of 1983, Connor moved back to Celtic as new manager David Hay's assistant. He spent 2+12 years in that role at Parkhead until he was sacked by Hay in February 1986.[1] He then went to manage Raith Rovers from 1986 to 1990. Connor led Raith Rovers to promotion to the Scottish First Division in his first season in charge there,[2] and succeeded in keeping them in that division for the remainder of his tenure as manager. After leaving Raith Rovers in 1990, Connor had a spell at Hearts as assistant to manager Joe Jordan.[3]

In June 1993, Connor returned once again to Celtic, this time as part of Liam Brady's new backroom team. He was joined at Celtic by his former boss at Hearts, Joe Jordan.[4]

In October 1993 following the departures of Brady and Jordan, Connor took over as caretaker manager of Celtic for four games. He was in charge for two Scottish Premier Division matches (one win, one draw) a UEFA Cup tie first leg (won 1–0 against Sporting CP),[5] and he picked the team to face Rangers (a 2–1 Premier Division Celtic win) three days after Lou Macari's arrival. Connor had an unbeaten record in charge of Celtic.[6]

Personal life

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Connor died on 3 March 2022, at the age of 86.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Celtic Sack Connor", The Glasgow Herald, 3 February 1986, p. 9
  2. ^ "Tribute night for Frank Connor - Scottish Professional Football League". Spfl.co.uk. 31 January 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  3. ^ "19930503 Hearts in the Press from Herald Stand-in role for Clark as Jordan is shown the door James Traynor". Londonhearts.com. 4 May 1993. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  4. ^ Ian Paul (11 June 1993). "Jordan joins Celtic as Brady clears out his backroom staff". Herald Scotland. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  5. ^ Ian Paul (21 October 1993). "Bonner closes the door on Lisbon". Herald Scotland. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  6. ^ "Celtic Managers". Nafcsc.com. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  7. ^ "Frank Connor dies at 86 as ex-Celtic player, coach and caretaker manager remembered". Football Scotland. 3 March 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
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