Michael Oliver (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Michael Oliver is a former Scottish football player and manager. Oliver now holds the position as national team scout for the Scotland national football team
, reporting directly to the national coach Craig Levein. Oliver is responsible for all aspects of player assessment and identification as well as intelligence on all the Scottish national team's opposition. Oliver, who has spent all of his life in football in various roles, is well known in football circles and is widely regarded among experts, managers and coaches for his knowledge and understanding of the game and especially his ability to recognise talent. Most of the top clubs in the UK have used Oliver in some capacity over the last 10 years.
Oliver had a journeyman
career as a player, playing for eight different Scottish Football League
clubs in 10 separate spells although some people say that Oliver failed to reach the levels predicted as a youngster after captaining juvenile side Campsie Black Watch before moving into the senior game. Oliver built a good reputation the professional game as an honest, hardworking, dependable, and athletic central defender. Oliver's career started well, playing in the Scottish Premier League with Falkirk, where he was a regular in the first team spending five seasons before moving to Cowdenbeath
, where he played in defence alongside a young Craig Levein
.Oliver also had successful spells at QOS and Albion Rovers, winning the Division 2 championship.
Oliver had ambitions to go into coaching and is a graduate of the SFA coaching school at Largs in Scotland where coaches like Jose Maurinho and Alex Ferguson chose to study . Oliver was appointed manager
of Albion Rovers in 1991. He also worked as assistant manager to Gordon Dalziel
at Ayr United
, where he was building a growing reputation as a coach and especially in developing young players. Oliver then moved to be general manager at Clydebank
.
Since leaving the latter of those positions, Oliver has build up a great reputation in the area of player identification and has worked as a scout for Dundee United
, Wigan Athletic
and Birmingham City
. Oliver was hired by the Scottish Football Association
soon after Craig Levein
was appointed as national team manager. Levein explained at the time of Oliver's appointment that he wants to inform his players about all of their opponents, which necessitated the hiring of a full-time scout.
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
, reporting directly to the national coach Craig Levein. Oliver is responsible for all aspects of player assessment and identification as well as intelligence on all the Scottish national team's opposition. Oliver, who has spent all of his life in football in various roles, is well known in football circles and is widely regarded among experts, managers and coaches for his knowledge and understanding of the game and especially his ability to recognise talent. Most of the top clubs in the UK have used Oliver in some capacity over the last 10 years.
Oliver had a journeyman
Journeyman
A journeyman is someone who completed an apprenticeship and was fully educated in a trade or craft, but not yet a master. To become a master, a journeyman had to submit a master work piece to a guild for evaluation and be admitted to the guild as a master....
career as a player, playing for eight different Scottish Football League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
clubs in 10 separate spells although some people say that Oliver failed to reach the levels predicted as a youngster after captaining juvenile side Campsie Black Watch before moving into the senior game. Oliver built a good reputation the professional game as an honest, hardworking, dependable, and athletic central defender. Oliver's career started well, playing in the Scottish Premier League with Falkirk, where he was a regular in the first team spending five seasons before moving to Cowdenbeath
Cowdenbeath F.C.
Cowdenbeath Football Club are a professional Scottish football team based in the town of Cowdenbeath, Fife. They currently play in the Second Division of the Scottish Football League. The club plays its home games at Central Park in the centre of the town which has the unusual feature of a motor...
, where he played in defence alongside a young Craig Levein
Craig Levein
Craig William Levein is a Scottish former professional footballer and manager of the Scotland national team. During his playing career he played for Cowdenbeath and Heart of Midlothian...
.Oliver also had successful spells at QOS and Albion Rovers, winning the Division 2 championship.
Oliver had ambitions to go into coaching and is a graduate of the SFA coaching school at Largs in Scotland where coaches like Jose Maurinho and Alex Ferguson chose to study . Oliver was appointed manager
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
of Albion Rovers in 1991. He also worked as assistant manager to Gordon Dalziel
Gordon Dalziel
Gordon Dalziel is a Scottish former footballer, ex-manager of Ayr United, Raith Rovers and Glenafton Athletic.-Career:...
at Ayr United
Ayr United F.C.
Ayr United Football Club are a Scottish association football team based in Ayr, South Ayrshire, that plays in the First Division of the Scottish Football League. Formed in 1910 after the merger of former clubs Ayr Parkhouse F.C. and Ayr F.C...
, where he was building a growing reputation as a coach and especially in developing young players. Oliver then moved to be general manager at Clydebank
Clydebank F.C.
Clydebank Football Club are a Scottish football club based in the town of Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, near Yoker. The present club, formed in 2003, is a member of the Scottish Junior Football Association, and currently plays in West Super League Premier Division...
.
Since leaving the latter of those positions, Oliver has build up a great reputation in the area of player identification and has worked as a scout for Dundee United
Dundee United F.C.
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
, Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
and Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
. Oliver was hired by the Scottish Football Association
Scottish Football Association
The Scottish Football Association is the governing body of football in Scotland and has the ultimate responsibility for the control and development of football in Scotland. Members of the SFA include clubs in Scotland, affiliated national associations as well as local associations...
soon after Craig Levein
Craig Levein
Craig William Levein is a Scottish former professional footballer and manager of the Scotland national team. During his playing career he played for Cowdenbeath and Heart of Midlothian...
was appointed as national team manager. Levein explained at the time of Oliver's appointment that he wants to inform his players about all of their opponents, which necessitated the hiring of a full-time scout.