Carl Craig (football manager) explained

Carl Craig
Birth Date:	^[1]
Birth Place:	Newcastle, England
Currentclub:	Minneapolis City (head coach)
Youthclubs1:	Newcastle United
Manageryears1:	2010–2015
Managerclubs1:	Minnesota United (assistant)
Manageryears2:	2015–2016
Manageryears3:	2020–2021
Managerclubs3:	Forward Madison
Manageryears4:	2023–2024
Managerclubs4:	Minneapolis City

Carl Craig is an English football manager. He was formerly the head coach of NASL club Minnesota United.^[2]

Early life

Craig spent some time on the books of Newcastle United as a young footballer but fell away from the game in his mid-teens.^{[3] [4]} During the 1980s he was a member of punk bands called Reality Control and The Abductor, and toured with Chumbawamba.^[5] Craig then ran a whole foods co-operative with bandmates out of a flat in Newcastle. Craig was also a vegan in this period and his first experience of football coaching was for the team of a workers co-op music club.^[4]

Coaching career

Prior to moving to the United States, Craig had acquired his full English FA badge and spent some time working for the FA in the English north-east, as well as for the Newcastle United academy system along with Sheffield Wednesday. After moving to the United States in 1994, Craig progressed through the managerial ranks in the Minnesota area working in youth leagues (including stints as men's varsity coach at Hopkins High School and Minneapolis South High School), then the Premier Development League and National Premier Soccer League before becoming assistant manager of Minnesota United in 2010.^[6]

Craig was promoted to head coach of Minnesota United in December 2015.^{[7] [3]} Under Craig's guidance in the 2016 season, Minnesota finished 5th in NASL missing out on the playoffs.^[8]

On 1 December 2020, Craig was announced as the head coach and technical director of USL League One club Forward Madison FC.^{[9] [10]}

Craig was appointed manager of USL League Two club Minneapolis City of 24 January 2023.^[11] Craig left Minneapolis City on 22 May 2024.^[12]

Managerial record

Team	From	To	Record
			Minnesota United	3 December 2015	30 October 2016
Forward Madison	1 December 2020	4 November 2021

External links

• Club profile

Notes and References

1. Web site: Carl Craig: The Most Interesting Man In Minnesota Sports – WCCO | CBS Minnesota . Minnesota.cbslocal.com . 2016-02-21 . 2021-12-16.
2. Web site: Greder . Andy . Minnesota United FC makes Carl Craig head coach, Manny Lagos GM – Twin Cities . Twincities.com . 2021-12-16.
3. Web site: Greder . Andy . Carl Craig, former vegan punk rocker, is United FC's coach . Twincities.com . 2021-12-16.
4. Web site: Minnesota United FC head coach Carl Craig ready for moment in spotlight after 20 years waiting in wings . Telegraph.co.uk . 2016-03-04 . 2021-12-16.
5. News: Carl Craig: the man with the punk past leading Minnesota United into MLS . The Guardian . Bryan . Kay . 29 June 2016 . 24 March 2021 .
6. Web site: Coaching Staff | Minnesota United FC . 29 June 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160703060849/http://www.mnunitedfc.com/coaching-staff/carl-craig . 3 July 2016 . dead .
7. Web site: Minnesota's Carl Craig Has Had 'Smooth' Transition To Head Coach . NASL . 2016-03-10 . 2021-12-16.
8. Web site: mlssoccer. Minnesota United coach Carl Craig hoping to stay on when team joins MLS | MLSSoccer.com. 2021-12-16. mlssoccer. en.
9. Web site: Forward Madison names Carl Craig as new Head Coach . Forwardmadisonfc.com . 2021-12-16 . 24 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210124021131/https://www.forwardmadisonfc.com/news_article/show/1135227 . dead .
10. Web site: FORWARD MADISON TO REPLACE CARL CRAIG . ForwardMadisonFC.com . 4 November 2021 . 4 November 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211104164525/https://www.forwardmadisonfc.com/news_article/show/1192505 . dead .
11. Web site: Carl Craig joining as new head coach . MPLSCitySC.com . . 24 January 2023.
12. Web site: STAFF UPDATE . Twitter.com . . 22 May 2024.