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Richard "Richie" Ian Barker (born 30 May 1975) is an English former professional footballer. He is currently assistant head coach of EFL Championship club Derby County.

He has previously managed Portsmouth, Bury and Crawley Town.

Playing career

Born in Sheffield, Barker began his career at Sheffield Wednesday, but only played in the Intertoto Cup for the first team. He was sold by the Owls in 1997 to Northern Irish side Linfield after loan spells at Doncaster and Ards, before returning home to play for Brighton & Hove Albion. He played two seasons at Brighton, scoring 12 goals, before moving to Macclesfield on a free transfer in 1999.

At Macclesfield, Barker scored 23 goals in 58 league games. He was signed by Rotherham United in January 2001, and helped the Millers gain promotion to the Championship. He was mostly used as a substitute by Rotherham, and was allowed to move to Mansfield Town on a free transfer in November 2004.

Barker soon became a fan favourite at Field Mill, scoring 10 goals in his first season at the club. In the summer of 2005, he was named team captain, and he led by example with his professionalism and work-rate. Barker was the Stags' top scorer in 2005–06 with a career-best 23 goals, including two goals against his old club Rotherham in the FA Cup first round.

In the summer of 2006, Barker signed a contract extension with Mansfield which tied him with the club until the end of the 2008–09 season. However, in January 2007 he was reluctantly forced to transfer to Hartlepool United during the January transfer window, much to the anger of the Stags fans.

He re-joined Rotherham United on 3 October 2008, on an emergency loan in January 2009. He scored on his second Millers debut in the 4–1 over Grimsby Town after coming off the bench. He made his move permanent on 1 January 2009. Due to a knee injury in January 2009, he decided to hang up his boots on 29 May 2009.

Managerial career

Bury

After joining Sheffield United, being part of the academy, Barker was named the manager of Bury's youth team from July 2010. Barker became caretaker manager of Bury in April 2011 after Alan Knill left for Scunthorpe United with eight games left in the season. Barker led Bury to six consecutive victories and promotion to League One. He was named Football League Two Manager of the Month for April 2011. This successful spell led to him being appointed as Bury's permanent manager on 1 June 2011.

Crawley Town

Barker was appointed manager of Crawley Town on 7 August 2012.

On 27 November 2013, Crawley Town terminated Barker's contract with immediate effect. At the time of his dismissal Crawley had not won any of their last seven games, scoring just once in those games.

Portsmouth

On 9 December 2013, Portsmouth announced Barker as their new manager with Steve Coppell being appointed as director of football. Barker was sacked on 27 March 2014 after 20 games in charge. At the time of his dismissal Portsmouth had not won any of their last six games, scoring just once in those games.

Milton Keynes Dons

On 1 April 2014 Barker was appointed Assistant Manager at Milton Keynes Dons. This has initially been confirmed as being until the end of the 13/14 season. This has since been extended to a position as head of coaching for the forthcoming 2014/15 season.

On 23 October 2016, following the mutual-termination of the contract of manager Karl Robinson, Barker was announced as caretaker manager of the club whilst a replacement was sought.

On 20 December 2016, following the appointment of new manager Robbie Neilson early in the month, Milton Keynes Dons announced that Barker had left the club by mutual consent.

Charlton Athletic

On 21 December 2016, Barker joined League One side Charlton Athletic as a first-team coach, re-joining manager Karl Robinson having previously worked alongside him at Milton Keynes Dons. On 28 April 2017 the club announced he would be leaving at the end of the season.

Rotherham United

On 4 May 2017, Barker was appointed assistant manager of Rotherham United, following their relegation from the EFL Championship. Barker left this role in September 2022.

Derby County

On 22 September 2022, Barker was appointed assistant manager of Derby County, after Paul Warne's appointment as Derby's head coach who also made the same move.

Personal life

He is the father of current Wealdstone and former Charlton Athletic player Charlie Barker.

Managerial statistics

As of 3 December 2016

Honours

Player

Hartlepool United

• League Two runner-up: 2006–07

Individual

• PFA Team of the Year: 1999–2000 Third Division

Manager

Bury

• League Two runner-up: 2010–11

Individual

• League Two Manager of the Month: April 2011

References

1. ^ "Paul Warne Appointed as Derby County Head Coach". dcfc.co.uk. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
2. ^ "Richie Barker sacked as Portsmouth manager". BBC Sport. 27 March 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
3. Scunthorpe Telegraph Archived 16 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine
4. "Portsmouth appoint Richie Barker and Steve Coppell". The Guardian. 9 December 2013. Archived from the original on 25 November 2022.
5. "Injured Barker forced to retire". BBC Sport. 29 May 2009. Retrieved 30 May 2009.
6. "Bury | Team | Youth Team | Richard Barker". Archived from the original on 5 May 2011.
7. Higginson, Marc (25 April 2011). "Barker hails his Bury heroes (From Bury Times)". Burytimes.co.uk.
8. PA Sport. "League Two – Barker rewarded for Bury run – Yahoo! Eurosport". Uk.eurosport.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012.
9. "Barker promoted to Bury manager". BBC Sport. 1 June 2011.
10. "Crawley Town appoint Bury's Richie Barker as new manager". BBC Sport. 7 August 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
11. "Crawley Town dismiss manager Richie Barker after goal drought". BBC Sport. 27 November 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
12. "Portsmouth: Richie Barker & Steve Coppell take charge". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
13. "BBC Sport – Football – Portsmouth Results". Archived from the original on 14 December 2013.
14. "Club statement: Karl Robinson". Milton Keynes Dons Official Site. 23 October 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
15. "Barker departs Stadium MK". Milton Keynes Dons Official Site. 20 December 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
16. "Richie Barker joins Karl Robinson's backroom staff". Charlton Athletic Official Site. 21 December 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
17. "First-team coaches to depart at the end of the season". Charlton Athletic Official Site. 28 April 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
18. "Rotherham:Richie Barker appointed assistant manager at Championship club". BBC Sport. 4 May 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
19. "Bowyer on fitness of Aneke and Gilbey, impressive Barker and injunction ruling". cafc.co.uk. 1 September 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
20. "Richard Barker". Soccerbase. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
21. "Richie Barker". Soccerbase. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
22. "Keane claims award double". BBC Sport. 30 April 2000. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
23. "Richie Barker". LMA. Retrieved 4 October 2022.

External links

• Richard Barker at Soccerbase
• Vital Hartlepool Profile: Richie Barker

• 1975 births
• Living people
• Footballers from Sheffield
• English men's footballers
• Men's association football forwards
• Sheffield Wednesday F.C. players
• Doncaster Rovers F.C. players
• Ards F.C. players
• Linfield F.C. players
• Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. players
• Macclesfield Town F.C. players
• Rotherham United F.C. players
• Mansfield Town F.C. players
• Hartlepool United F.C. players
• English Football League players
• English football managers
• Bury F.C. managers
• Crawley Town F.C. managers
• Portsmouth F.C. managers
• English Football League managers
• Milton Keynes Dons F.C. non-playing staff
• Charlton Athletic F.C. non-playing staff
• Rotherham United F.C. non-playing staff
• Derby County F.C. non-playing staff