Neil Cox (footballer)

Neil Cox

Neil Cox during a coaching session with AFC Wimbledon
Personal information
Full name	Neil James Cox
Date of birth	(1971-10-08) 8 October 1971 (age 45)
Place of birth	Scunthorpe, England
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Playing position	Defender
Club information
Current team	AFC Wimbledon (assistant manager)
Youth career
1985–1990	Scunthorpe United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1990–1991	Scunthorpe United	17	(1)
1991–1994	Aston Villa	40	(3)
1994–1997	Middlesbrough	106	(3)
1997–1999	Bolton Wanderers	80	(7)
1999–2005	Watford	219	(20)
2005–2006	Cardiff City	27	(2)
2006–2008	Crewe Alexandra	58	(1)
2010–2011	Leek Town	4	(0)
Total		551	(37)
National team
1993–1994	England U21	6	(0)
Teams managed
2010–2011	Leek Town
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

Neil James Cox (born 8 October 1971) is an English former professional footballer and manager. A defender capable of playing at centre or right-back, he made over 500 appearances in the Football League during his career and was capped at Under-21 level by England. He began his career at Scunthorpe United as a youth player and was eventually offered a professional contract by the club, breaking into the first-team soon after. In 1991, Cox joined First Division side Aston Villa for a fee of £400,000, going on to make over 50 appearances for the side in all competitions, including playing in the club's victory over Manchester United in the 1994 Football League Cup Final, but struggled to establish himself in the first-team.

In 1994, he joined Middlesbrough, becoming the first player to break the £1 million transfer fee mark for the club. He made over 100 appearances for Middlesbrough, including playing in his second League Cup final in 1997, before moving to Bolton Wanderers in 1997 for £1.5 million. After two seasons at Bolton, Cox joined Watford. After a difficult start with the Hornets, which included being placed on the transfer list, Cox went on to captain the side and made over 200 appearances in all competitions for the club.

His final Football League club was then League One outfit Crewe Alexandra. Cox retired from professional football in 2008, going on to become a property developer in Portugal. Cox subsequently returned to the game in 2010 after being appointed manager of Leek Town. When the club had injury concerns Cox registered himself as a player with the league, making 4 appearances. Cox was in charge just one season before he resigning for personal reasons. In October 2012, Cox joined Football League Two club AFC Wimbledon as assistant manager to former Watford teammate Neal Ardley.