Matt Gill Explained

Matthew Gill
Fullname:Matthew James Gill[1]
Birth Date:8 November 1980
Birth Place:Chatham, England
Height:1.80 m
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Southampton (assistant)
Youthclubs1:Peterborough United
Years1:1997–2004
Clubs1:Peterborough United
Caps1:149
Goals1:5
Years2:2004–2006
Clubs2:Notts County
Caps2:57
Goals2:0
Years3:2006–2009
Clubs3:Exeter City
Caps3:148
Goals3:14
Years4:2009–2011
Clubs4:Norwich City
Caps4:12
Goals4:0
Years5:2010
Clubs5:Peterborough United (loan)
Caps5:4
Goals5:0
Years6:2011
Clubs6:Walsall (loan)
Caps6:8
Goals6:2
Years7:2011–2014
Clubs7:Bristol Rovers
Caps7:45
Goals7:0
Years8:2013–2014
Clubs8:Exeter City (loan)
Caps8:24
Goals8:0
Years9:2014
Clubs9:Tranmere Rovers
Caps9:8
Goals9:0
Totalcaps:455
Totalgoals:21
Manageryears1:2014
Managerclubs1:Tranmere Rovers (assistant)
Manageryears2:2021
Managerclubs2:Ipswich Town (caretaker)
Manageryears3:2022–2023
Managerclubs3:Swansea City (assistant)
Manageryears4:2023–
Managerclubs4:Southampton (assistant)

Matthew James Gill (born 8 November 1980) is an English professional football coach and former player who is the assistant manager of club Southampton.

He began his career in 1997, notably representing Peterborough United, Exeter City and Bristol Rovers.

Following his retirement in 2014, he moved into coaching, first becoming assistant manager at Tranmere Rovers before taking a post at the Norwich City academy.[2] He left Norwich in October 2018, joining local rivals Ipswich Town as first-team coach to new manager Paul Lambert.[3] Following Lambert's departure in February 2021, Gill was appointed as caretaker manager before Lambert's successor, Paul Cook, was appointed.[4] Gill left the club in May 2021.[5] He briefly joined Russell Martin at Milton Keynes Dons, before the pair moved to Swansea City in August 2021.

Playing career

Peterborough United

Born in Chatham, Kent, Gill began his career as a trainee with Third Division side Peterborough United. On 25 April 1998, during the 1997–98 season, Gill broke through into Peterborough's first team during a 3–1 loss to Torquay United. In over seven years at Peterborough, Gill made 149 first team appearances, scoring five goals.

Notts County

On 3 May 2004, Gill moved to League Two side Notts County for the 2004–05 season. After a tough start at Meadow Lane, Gill was placed on the transfer list by struggling manager Gary Mills. In November 2004 Mills was replaced by Ian Richardson who immediately removed him from the list. Gill went on to make 57 appearances for the club before being transferred to Conference National side Exeter City on 16 January 2006 during the 2005–06 season, on a free transfer.

Exeter City

Since joining Exeter in 2006, Gill quickly established himself as a first-team regular. He was sent off in the 2007 Conference National playoff final for a headbutt, becoming the first player to receive the red card at the new Wembley Stadium.

In September 2008, he was voted League Two player of the month, after scoring four goals in four games.[6]

Norwich City

Gill agreed to sign for Norwich City on 9 June 2009 on a free transfer, which came into effect on 1 July.[7] He made his debut in the opening day 7–1 defeat to Colchester United at Carrow Road. Injury blighted Gill's first season at Carrow Road, and he only managed 10 appearances in all competitions. Gill particularly impressed in the 3–0 win over Bristol Rovers on 1 May 2010. He continued his role of a substitute during the 2010–2011 Championship season, making some appearances off the bench, showcasing his long throw-ins to the fans.Gill was released by Norwich on 1 June 2011.

Gill returned to his first club, Peterborough United, on 23 September 2010 on a one-month loan[8] and made his second debut for the Posh at home to MK Dons.

Bristol Rovers

Bristol Rovers agreed terms with Gill on 6 July 2011. Rovers faced competition for his signature, from clubs including Walsall and Exeter City, both of whom are League One clubs. On 1 August 2011 it was announced that Gill would be the club captain for Bristol Rovers for the 2011–12 season.

Gill returned to his former club Exeter City on 18 October 2013 on loan until the end of the year.[9]

Tranmere Rovers

Gill signed for League Two outfit Tranmere Rovers on 29 May 2014 on a one-year contract. He signed as a player-coach as Tranmere's second signing by new manager, Rob Edwards.[10]

Coaching career

Tranmere Rovers

On 8 September 2014, he was named as assistant manager, following three months working with the manager at the club.[11] After Edwards was replaced by Micky Adams, Gill left Tranmere by mutual consent on 3 November 2014.

Norwich City

Gill returned to Norwich in 2015 to work in the Academy as a coach. He took on the interim role of Norwich's Under-23 manager for the remainder of the 2016–17 season following the exit of Dmitri Halajko, who left to become head of technical coaching at Leicester City's academy in February. Gill's role was confirmed as being permanent on 4 July 2017.[12]

Ipswich Town

On 27 October 2018, Gill left his role at Norwich to join local rivals Ipswich Town as first team coach as part of Paul Lambert's new backroom staff.[13] Following Lambert's departure by mutual consent in February 2021, Gill was appointed as caretaker manager with fellow club coach Bryan Klug as his assistant.[4] Gill oversaw one game while in caretaker charge, a 2–1 away win at Accrington Stanley, before new boss Paul Cook was appointed. It was confirmed that Gill would remain as a first team coach under Cook, alongside fellow coach Gary Roberts.[14] However, on 7 May 2021, Gill left the club after Cook outlined his intentions of appointing a new backroom ahead of forthcoming season.[5]

MK Dons

Gill joined up with Russell Martin at Milton Keynes Dons on 29 June 2021. He was handed the role of technical development coach at Stadium MK.

Swansea City

Russell Martin and his MK Dons coaching staff, including Gill, left to join Swansea City in August 2021 with Gill serving as technical development coach.[15] He held this role until February 2022, where following the departure of Luke Williams, Gill became the interim assistant head coach at the swans. During pre season preparations ahead of the 2022–23 season, Gill was promoted to assistant head coach permanently.[16]

Southampton

On 27 June 2023, it was confirmed that Gill had joined Martin's backroom staff at Southampton as an assistant head coach.[17]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Peterborough United1997–98Third Division2020
1998–992602010290
1999–002011030241
2000–01Second Division1613010201
2001–02122122
2002–034111010431
2003–04320201020370
Total14957040!701675
Notts County2004–05League Two430402010500
2004–051401010160
Total57050!3010660
Exeter City2005–06Conference National16120180
2006–074611030501
2007–084232050503
2008–09League Two439101010469
Total148144010!11016414
Norwich City2009–10League One801010100
2010–11Championship402060
Total120003010160
Peterborough United (loan)2010–11League One4040
Walsall (loan)2010–11League One8282
Bristol Rovers2011–12League Two3302010360
2012–131101010130
2013–141010
Total450003020500
Exeter City (loan)2013–14League Two24010250
Tranmere Rovers2014–15League Two801010100
Career total4552117015023051021

Honours

Peterborough United

Exeter City

Norwich City

2009–10

Individual

September 2008[18]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Hugman, Barry J. . The PFA Premier & Football League Players' Records 1946–2005 . Queen Anne Press . 2005 . 235 . 1-85291-665-6 .
  2. Web site: ACADEMY STAFF PROFILES. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150917045611/http://www.canaries.co.uk/youth/academy_staff_profiles/. 17 September 2015.
  3. News: Lambert's Backroom Staff Confirmed. 27 October 2018. 28 March 2019. Ipswich Town Official Website.
  4. Web site: Matt Gill to Take Charge at Accrington.
  5. Web site: Matt Gill Departs Town.
  6. News: Gill is named Player of the Month. 8 October 2008. 18 November 2008. BBC Sport.
  7. News: Exeter's Gill to sign for Norwich. 9 June 2009. 16 June 2009. BBC Sport.
  8. News: Gill seals Posh return. 23 September 2010. 25 September 2010. Yahoo! Eurosport.
  9. News: Matt Gill: Exeter re-sign Bristol Rovers midfielder on loan. 18 October 2013. 18 October 2013. BBC Sport.
  10. News: Matt Gill: Gill signs for Tranmere as player coach. 29 May 2014. 29 May 2014. Tranmere Rovers.
  11. News: Matt Gill: Gill promoted to Assistant Manager. 8 September 2014. 8 September 2014. Tranmere Rovers.
  12. News: Matt Gill. 30 October 2018. 30 October 2018.
  13. News: Matt Gill: Lambert adds Norwich U23s coach Gill to his Ipswich coaching staff. 27 October 2018. 27 October 2018. Eastern Daily Press.
  14. Web site: 'The lads deserve credit after everything that's gone on' - Gill on Ipswich Town's 2-1 win at Accrington. 2 March 2021.
  15. Web site: RUSSELL MARTIN CONFIRMED AS NEW SWANSEA CITY HEAD COACH . Swansea City . 1 August 2021 . 1 August 2021.
  16. Web site: Matt Gill becomes Swansea City's assistant head coach. www.swanseacity.com. 15 June 2022.
  17. Web site: 27 June 2023 . Four new faces join Martin’s staff . 27 June 2023 . Southampton FC.
  18. News: GILL NAMED BEST IN LEAGUE 2. 7 October 2008. 18 October 2013. The Football League. https://web.archive.org/web/20131022021810/http://www.football-league.co.uk/latestnews/20081007/gill-named-best-in-league-2_2293301_1414978#. 22 October 2013. dead. dmy-all.