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Archibald Knox (born 1 May 1947) is a Scottish football player and coach. He was most recently the assistant manager of Aberdeen until leaving the club in March 2013.

Knox worked with Alex Ferguson as an assistant manager at Aberdeen and Manchester United, and with Walter Smith at Rangers and Everton.

Playing career

As a player, Knox played in his native Scotland, featuring for Forfar Athletic (twice), St Mirren, Dundee United and a short spell with Montrose. During his time with Dundee United, Knox was a runner-up in the 1974 Scottish Cup final, his only honour as a player.

Managerial career

Knox's first managerial role came in a player-manager capacity when he returned to first club Forfar in 1976, spending four years in the dual role. In 1980, Knox became assistant to Alex Ferguson at Aberdeen, helping the team to two Scottish Cups, the European Cup Winners' Cup and subsequent European Super Cup in his three years with the Dons. In 1983, Knox returned to management with Dundee, where he would spend two-and-a-half years, with a best finish of sixth place in 1984–85 and 1985–86, narrowly missing out on UEFA Cup qualification. There then followed a short spell back at Aberdeen, where he was made co-manager so Ferguson could fulfil his duties as Scotland manager. He went on to join Ferguson at Manchester United in 1986, where he stayed until April 1991. At this point, Knox came back to Scotland, becoming assistant to Walter Smith at Rangers, where the pair would enjoy six titles over the next seven years together. In July 1998, both men moved south to Everton, although their time was ended by March 2002.

It was at this point that Knox's association with the national team began, with a three-year spell assisting then-manager Craig Brown. Short spells followed at Millwall and Coventry City (as assistant to Mark McGhee and Eric Black respectively) before returning to Scotland as Richard Gough's assistant at Livingston in November 2004. Knox again assisted the national team as a coach, helping at the Kirin Cup in May 2006. Knox was appointed Scotland under-21 manager in July 2006 following Rainer Bonhof's departure. In August 2007 he was appointed as Bolton's Assistant Manager by Wanderers manager Sammy Lee. When Lee left Knox was made caretaker manager for two games (against Arsenal and in the UEFA Cup against S.C. Braga) before Gary Megson took over. Knox remained at the club under Megson.

Two days after Bolton Wanderers secured their premiership status he was axed by Megson with six other members of the coaching staff at the club. The club denied it was due to cost-cutting measures and stated it was due to Megson wanting to bring in his own staff.

On 4 July 2008 Knox was appointed as the first-team coach of Blackburn Rovers by Paul Ince. They had previously worked together at Manchester United. He became the second member of the backroom staff to be appointed by Ince; his appointment followed that of Ray Mathias as assistant manager. On 18 December 2008, Knox was relieved of his duties along with Ray Mathias following the sacking of Paul Ince and the subsequent arrival of Sam Allardyce as the new Rovers manager.

On 29 December 2009, he was appointed as the assistant manager to Craig Brown at Motherwell. On 10 December 2010, after Brown moved to Aberdeen, Knox followed him back to his former club. After three years with Brown, it announced that he and Brown would leave the club at the end of the season. Though leaving the club, Knox reversed his decision to retire, insisting he "not retiring now. I still feel young and I've plenty to offer."

In October 2013, Knox returned to Scottish Championship side Dundee as a playing scout role. Knox will be reunited with manager John Brown, whom he signed whilst manager at Dundee.

In November 2017, he was one of four inductees into the Aberdeen Hall of Fame.

Honours

Assistant manager

Aberdeen

• Scottish Cup: 1981–82, 1982–83
• European Cup Winners' Cup: 1982–83
• UEFA Super Cup: 1983

Manchester United

• FA Cup: 1989–90

Rangers

• Scottish Premier Division: 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97
• Scottish Cup: 1991–92, 1992–93, 1995–96
• Scottish League Cup: 1992–93, 1993–94, 1996–97

Individual

• Scottish Football Hall of Fame inductee: 2018

References

1. ^ "Interview: Archie Knox, former right hand man of Alex Ferguson, recalls life at Manchester United". The Scotsman. 30 October 2011. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
2. "Knox quits Scotland for Bolton". BBC Sport website. 30 August 2007.
3. "Bolton axe Archie Knox in end of season shake-up". Daily Mirror. 14 May 2008. Archived from the original on 25 July 2008. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
4. "Ince appoints Knox at Blackburn". BBC Sport. 6 July 2008.
5. "Neil McDonald is new assistant manager". Blackburn Rovers Website. 18 December 2008. Archived from the original on 19 December 2008. Retrieved 18 December 2008.
6. "Craig Brown and Archie Knox ready to steady Motherwell". STV. 29 December 2009.
7. "Aberdeen name Craig Brown as new manager at Pittodrie". BBC News. 10 December 2010. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
8. "Aberdeen boss Craig Brown to retire in the summer". BBC News. 14 March 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
9. "Aberdeen FC's Knox changes mind over retiring". Evening Express. 27 March 2013. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
10. "Former boss Archie Knox returns to Dundee in player scouting role". STV. 14 October 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
11. "In pictures: Archie Knox has worked with some of the biggest names in football...now he hopes to discover gems for Dundee". Daily Record. 19 October 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
12. "2017 AFC Hall of Fame". Aberdeen F.C. 11 November 2017. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
13. "Roy Aitken inducted into Scottish Hall of Fame". BT Sport. 21 October 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018.

External links

• Archie Knox at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database
• Archie Knox management career statistics at Soccerbase
• Scottish FA profile

• 1947 births
• Living people
• Scottish men's footballers
• Forfar Athletic F.C. players
• St Mirren F.C. players
• Dundee United F.C. players
• Montrose F.C. players
• Scottish football managers
• Forfar Athletic F.C. managers
• Dundee F.C. managers
• Manchester United F.C. non-playing staff
• Rangers F.C. non-playing staff
• Everton F.C. non-playing staff
• Millwall F.C. non-playing staff
• Bolton Wanderers F.C. managers
• Bolton Wanderers F.C. non-playing staff
• Blackburn Rovers F.C. non-playing staff
• Motherwell F.C. non-playing staff
• Premier League managers
• Livingston F.C. non-playing staff
• Aberdeen F.C. non-playing staff
• Scottish Football League managers
• Scotland national under-21 football team managers
• Alloa Athletic F.C. players
• Men's association football midfielders
• Scottish Football Hall of Fame inductees
• Scottish Football League players