Rob Page

Robert John Page (born 3 September 1974) is a Welsh football manager and former player, who is currently the manager of the Wales national team.

In an 18-year career in the Premier League and the English Football League, he made 550 competitive appearances for six different clubs.

He both captained a team and scored a goal in each of the top four divisions of English football.

Robert John Page was born in Llwynypia Hospital on 3 September 1974 and grew up in the nearby village of Tylorstown, Wales.

A defender, he began his career with Watford in 1993, whom he would captain to two promotions, winning the Second Division title in 1997–98 and the First Division play-off final in 1999.

Page started his professional career at Watford in 1993, having been with the club from the age of 11.

He established himself as a key member of the first team under manager Kenny Jackett, playing 42 games in the 1996–97 campaign.

His first major feat with the club came in the 1997–98 season, when new manager Graham Taylor appointed Page as captain and led the "Hornets" to the Second Division title.

He made 49 appearances in league and cup competitions, and ensured the "Hornets" earned a vital point at second-place Bristol City in his final game of the season.

Dropped at the start of the 1998–99 season in favour of Dean Yates, he soon was returned to the starting eleven alongside centre-back partner Steve Palmer and made 42 First Division appearances to help Watford to a fifth-place finish.

After defeating Birmingham City in the play-off semi-finals, Page marshalled the Watford defence to a clean sheet in the final, as Watford defeated Bolton Wanderers 2–0 to win a place in the Premier League.

He went on to be voted the club's Player of the Season in their 1999–2000 FA Premier League campaign.

Page was named as Watford's Player of the Season for the 1999–2000 campaign.

As expected Watford were relegated at the end of their maiden season in the Premier League.

However, Page did play in some memorable moments for the club, including a 1–0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield and another 1–0 victory over Chelsea at Vicarage Road.

He also scored against Sheffield Wednesday to win the club a point at Hillsborough.

Page was also voted Watford Player of the Season.

He remained with Watford for the 2000–01 campaign, making 42 appearances in league and cup competitions.

He was sold to Sheffield United for a £350,000 fee in September 2001 and helped the club to reach the First Division play-off final in 2003, as well the semi-finals of the FA Cup and League Cup.

In May 2001, in one of his first acts as manager, Gianluca Vialli transfer listed Page, demanding a £1 million fee from prospective clubs.

He was loaned out to First Division rivals Sheffield United in August 2001, before moving to Bramall Lane permanently the next month for a £350,000 fee.

He went on to make 45 appearances for the club in the 2001–02 campaign.

The next season he captained the "Blades" to a third-place finish.

He played in the club's play-off semi-final victory over Nottingham Forest, but was powerless to stop Wolverhampton Wanderers winning 3–0 in the final at the Millennium Stadium.

He recovered from an ankle injury to make 35 appearances in 2003–04, as United finish two points outside of the play-off zone.

He signed with Cardiff City in July 2004, before moving on to Coventry City in February 2005.

He moved to Championship rivals Cardiff City on a free transfer in July 2004.

Finding himself on the bench under manager Lennie Lawrence, he left Ninian Park in February 2005 after making only nine appearances.

His first team opportunities were limited by the fine centre-back partnership of Danny Gabbidon and James Collins.

Coventry City manager Micky Adams signed Page in February 2005.

Page was soon struck down with a knee injury.

In September 2005 he was handed a three match suspension by The Football Association after fighting with Southampton defender Darren Powell.

He made 34 appearances in the 2005–06 season, as Coventry finished mid-table in the Championship.

He also gained 41 caps for Wales in a ten-year international career, captaining the side once, before he retired from international football in September 2006.

He joined Huddersfield Town in January 2008, before moving on to Chesterfield in May 2008 and announcing his retirement in March 2011.

He worked as a coach at Port Vale for three years before he was appointed as manager, initially on a caretaker basis, in September 2014.

In May 2016, he was appointed manager of Northampton Town on a three-year contract, but was sacked in January 2017.

He was appointed Wales under-21 manager two months later, before becoming assistant manager for the senior team, led by Ryan Giggs, in August 2019.

He became the team's caretaker manager in November 2020, when Giggs was suspended from duty, and oversaw two victories in the UEFA Nations League that secured Wales promotion into League A. He coached Wales at UEFA Euro 2020, where they would reach the Round of 16.

In June 2022, he led Wales to qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the country's first World Cup appearance since 1958.