Club:
Stevenage
Date Of Birth:
03/12/1968
Place Of Birth:
Harlow
Previous Club(s):
Colorado Rapids (USA)
Playing Career:
Aylesbury United
Barnet
Welling United
Wycombe Wanderers
Enfield
Colchester United
Fulham
Arsenal
Boro' Honours:
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Years: 2012-
If you had asked Stevenage supporters "who is Gary Smith?" at the time of Graham Westley's departure as manager in January 2012, you'd assume that not many would have come back with anything useful. And that would probably have done a disservice to Smith's managerial record to that point, but Stevenage were to provide the former Arsenal man with his first job in an English dugout.
Smith's playing career spanned 13 years after starting out with the Gunners as a youth. He made the switch across London to Fulham and also had stints with Colchester United and Enfield, before moving to Wycombe Wanderers - arguably where he enjoyed his most successful time on the pitch. But injuries started to have a negative impact on his playing days, and after time at Welling, Barnet and Aylesbury, Smith retired aged 27.
A career as a coach then beckoned for Smith, who worked at Wimbledon (latterly MK Dons) ahead of a return to Wycombe Wanderers. Roles with Watford and his first club, Arsenal, also followed. But it was in the US where Smith established his managerial credentials, leading Colorado Rapids to MLS Cup glory on a shoestring budget and winning 47 out of 112 matches.
The decision not to renew his contract rankled with Rapids fans and suddenly the name of Gary Smith started cropping up on the radar of clubs this side of the Atlantic. Perhaps it was Phil Wallace's US links that alerted him to the potential of the Harlow-born man, but Boro' moved to bring in a man who knew what it took to win through when others may flaunt greater resources.
If there is any nugget of information that is missing, or any gaping holes you may be able to plug, or even a photo we could use if there is no image to the right, please do e-mail us and let us know.
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