Stephen Frail
Encyclopedia
Stephen Frail is a Scottish
football
manager and former player. He is currently the Celtic
under-19s coach.
's Dundee
in 1985, gradually developing into a first-team player by the end of the decade. He helped the Dens Park
side to victory in the inaugural Scottish Challenge Cup in 1990–91
, however his progress was hindered by a serious knee
ligament
injury, causing him to miss almost an entire season.
Frail joined Hearts in a £130,000 deal in March 1994 and his form during the 1994–95
season as a right wingback led to media speculation of a call-up to the Scottish national side
. Injury continued to hinder him though and in an away match at Dundee United
on 21 March 1995 he suffered similar knee ligament damage to that he sustained while with Dundee. He missed the entire 1995–96
season and upon his return to fitness found his previous role in the team taken by Gary Locke.
Unable to maintain a permanent position in the team he filled-in as a defensive midfielder when required as well as deputising for Locke but left Edinburgh
for Merseyside
when Tranmere Rovers
paid £90,000 for his services in January 1998.
Following a familiar pattern, Frail's time with Tranmere was decimated by injuries and he made less than 30 total appearances during his two seasons with the club. He is best remembered for his involvement in a controversial incident in an FA Cup
tie with Sunderland
, when a bureaucratic mix-up resulted in him being substituted on for Clint Hill
who, unbeknown to Frail, had just been sent-off for a second bookable offence. After several minutes of commotion another player left the field to ensure Tranmere didn't avoid their punishment.
Frail returned to Scotland with St Johnstone
in 2000, signed for a second time by his former Hearts manager Sandy Clark
. After a single season in Perth
he moved to Greenock
side Morton
.
then former team-mate at Hearts Dave McPherson. He retired from his playing role at the end of the 2001–02
season and became a full-time assistant to Morton's third manager within the year, John McCormack
. McCormack was sacked in 2004, and Frail and the rest of the coaching staff left with him. Later that year, after attending Hearts UEFA Cup
tie with Sporting Braga, he was invited to join their coaching staff by then manager Craig Levein
. Initially coach of the under-19 side, he was promoted to become assistant coach when John McGlynn left to manage Raith Rovers
in 2006.
Frail, along with sporting director Anatoly Korobochka
, took temporary charge of Hearts' first team in March 2007 after the departure of Valdas Ivanauskas
. It was confirmed in June 2007 that Frail and Korobochka would take charge of the Jambos for the 2007–08
season with Bulgarian Angel Chervenkov
coming in as assistant, though it was left ambiguous which one of the pair had responsibility for team selection. After poor form, which saw Hearts drop to tenth in the SPL
, Frail was promoted to caretaker manager
in January 2008 as the club planned to appoint a new permanent manager. It was announced Frail will be replaced as manager at the end of the 2007/08 season.
In April 2009, Stephen was appointed the coach of Celtic's
under-19 team.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
manager and former player. He is currently the Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
under-19s coach.
Playing career
Frail began his career with Archie KnoxArchie Knox
Archibald "Archie" Knox is a Scottish football manager and former player, and is currently the assistant manager of Aberdeen....
's Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
in 1985, gradually developing into a first-team player by the end of the decade. He helped the Dens Park
Dens Park
Dens Park is a football stadium located on Dens Road in Dundee, Scotland. The stadium is the home of Dundee F.C. and has a capacity of 12,085...
side to victory in the inaugural Scottish Challenge Cup in 1990–91
1990-91 in Scottish football
The 1990–91 season was the 94th season of competitive football in Scotland. It was notable for the fact that there was a last day title decider at Ibrox between Rangers and Aberdeen. Both teams went into the match level on points and goal difference, but Rangers needed to win the match...
, however his progress was hindered by a serious knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
ligament
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
injury, causing him to miss almost an entire season.
Frail joined Hearts in a £130,000 deal in March 1994 and his form during the 1994–95
1994-95 in Scottish football
The 1994–95 season was the 98th season of competitive football in Scotland. This season seen the re-introduction of the Scottish 3rd division, after an absence of 26 years, and also the introduction of three points for a win being awarded instead of just two.-Notable events:*Raith Rovers...
season as a right wingback led to media speculation of a call-up to the Scottish national side
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...
. Injury continued to hinder him though and in an away match at 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...
on 21 March 1995 he suffered similar knee ligament damage to that he sustained while with Dundee. He missed the entire 1995–96
1995-96 in Scottish football
The 1995–96 season was the 99th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Summary:Rangers won the Premier Division with a record 87 points, finishing four ahead of rivals Celtic. Aberdeen were third with 55 points ....
season and upon his return to fitness found his previous role in the team taken by Gary Locke.
Unable to maintain a permanent position in the team he filled-in as a defensive midfielder when required as well as deputising for Locke but left Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
for Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
when Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
paid £90,000 for his services in January 1998.
Following a familiar pattern, Frail's time with Tranmere was decimated by injuries and he made less than 30 total appearances during his two seasons with the club. He is best remembered for his involvement in a controversial incident in an FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
tie with Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
, when a bureaucratic mix-up resulted in him being substituted on for Clint Hill
Clint Hill
Clinton J. Hill is a former United States Secret Service agent who was in the presidential motorcade during the assassination of John F. Kennedy. After Kennedy was shot, Hill ran from the car immediately behind the presidential limousine and leapt onto the back of it, holding on while the car...
who, unbeknown to Frail, had just been sent-off for a second bookable offence. After several minutes of commotion another player left the field to ensure Tranmere didn't avoid their punishment.
Frail returned to Scotland with St Johnstone
St Johnstone F.C.
St. Johnstone F.C. is a professional football club based in Perth, Scotland. Although it is officially recorded as being formed in 1884, the club did not play its first game until February 1885. The club's home since 1989 has been McDiarmid Park....
in 2000, signed for a second time by his former Hearts manager Sandy Clark
Sandy Clark
Alexander "Sandy" Clark is a former professional football player and currently a pundit for BBC Scotland. He was a centre forward....
. After a single season in Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
he moved to Greenock
Greenock
Greenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in United Kingdom, and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...
side Morton
Greenock Morton F.C.
Greenock Morton Football Club are a Scottish professional football club, who currently play in the Scottish Football League First Division. The club was founded as Morton Football Club in 1874, making it one of the oldest senior Scottish clubs....
.
Coaching career
While at Morton, Frail began to become involved in coaching, firstly under Peter CormackPeter Cormack
Peter Barr Cormack is a Scottish former professional footballer and football manager who reached his peak as a player in the first great Liverpool side of the 1970s.-Life and playing career:...
then former team-mate at Hearts Dave McPherson. He retired from his playing role at the end of the 2001–02
2001-02 in Scottish football
The 2001–02 season was the 105th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Key events:Celtic, domestic treble winners a year earlier, retain their Premier League title....
season and became a full-time assistant to Morton's third manager within the year, John McCormack
John McCormack (Scottish footballer)
John Duffy McCormack is a Scottish former footballer who played as a defender and has managed several Scottish clubs.-Career:...
. McCormack was sacked in 2004, and Frail and the rest of the coaching staff left with him. Later that year, after attending Hearts UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
tie with Sporting Braga, he was invited to join their coaching staff by then manager 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...
. Initially coach of the under-19 side, he was promoted to become assistant coach when John McGlynn left to manage Raith Rovers
Raith Rovers F.C.
Raith Rovers Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Kirkcaldy, Fife. They are members of the Scottish Football League, currently playing in the First Division, having secured promotion from the Second Division as champions in 2009. Rovers have won one national trophy, the...
in 2006.
Frail, along with sporting director Anatoly Korobochka
Anatoly Korobochka
Anatoliy Vasylyovych Korobochka is a former Midfielder, and was most recently Director of Football at Heart of Midlothian football club in Scotland....
, took temporary charge of Hearts' first team in March 2007 after the departure of Valdas Ivanauskas
Valdas Ivanauskas
Valdas Ivanauskas is a football coach and a former football striker from Lithuania.He is best known in Europe for his time at Hamburger SV as a player in 1993–97 and coaching at Hearts football club in 2005–07.- Career :...
. It was confirmed in June 2007 that Frail and Korobochka would take charge of the Jambos for the 2007–08
2007-08 in Scottish football
The 2007-08 season was the 111th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Overview:* Gretna were competing in the Scottish Premier League for the first time, their first ever season in the top-flight, after being promoted as First Division champions the previous season.* Dunfermline Athletic...
season with Bulgarian Angel Chervenkov
Angel Chervenkov
Angel Chervenkov is a Bulgarian former footballer.-As a player:As a footballer, Chervenkov played as a defender for Tundzha Yambol , Armeets Sofia , CSKA Sofia , Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa , Etar Veliko Tarnovo and Montana...
coming in as assistant, though it was left ambiguous which one of the pair had responsibility for team selection. After poor form, which saw Hearts drop to tenth in the SPL
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
, Frail was promoted to caretaker manager
Caretaker manager
In association football, a caretaker manager is someone who takes temporary charge of the management of a football club, usually when the regular manager is dismissed or leaves for a different club. However, a caretaker may also be appointed if the regular manager is ill or unable to attend to his...
in January 2008 as the club planned to appoint a new permanent manager. It was announced Frail will be replaced as manager at the end of the 2007/08 season.
In April 2009, Stephen was appointed the coach of Celtic's
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
under-19 team.
External links
- Appearances at londonhearts.com