Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Paul Jonathan Holland | ||
Date of birth | 8 July 1973 | ||
Place of birth | Lincoln, England | ||
Playing position | Midfielder | ||
Youth career | |||
Mansfield Town | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1991–1995 | Mansfield Town | 149 | (25) |
1995–1996 | Sheffield United | 18 | (1) |
1996–1999 | Chesterfield | 114 | (11) |
1999–2000 | Bristol City | 32 | (1) |
Total | 313 | (38) | |
National team | |||
1994–1995 | England U21 | 2 | (0) |
Teams managed | |||
2006 | Mansfield Town (caretaker) | ||
2008 | Mansfield Town | ||
2016–2017 | Ilkeston | ||
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
Paul Holland (born 8 July 1973 in Lincoln) is a former English footballer who made over 300 appearances in the Football League for Mansfield Town, Sheffield United, Chesterfield and Bristol City and was capped two times for the England U21s, playing alongside the likes of David Beckham and Robbie Fowler. He is a former manager of Mansfield Town and Ilkeston.
As a player, Holland was a combative midfielder. He began his career with the Stags, and later played for Sheffield United, Chesterfield and Bristol City. He suffered a serious knee injury during a match in September 2000 and then a stress fracture of the kneecap in May 2001. He retired from playing and returned to Mansfield as youth team coach in January 2002. In the 1996–97 season, he was part of Chesterfield's historic run to the FA Cup semi-final, coming on as a substitute in both the semi-final and semi-final replay against Middlesbrough.
He served as the Stags' assistant manager under Peter Shirtliff. When Shirtliff was dismissed in December 2006 following a run of poor results, Holland was made caretaker manager. He reverted to assistant manager when Billy Dearden was appointed manager nine days later. When Dearden left the club in March 2008, Holland was again appointed caretaker manager. After four matches, he was given the opportunity by the board at Mansfield to stay as manager until the end of the 2007–08 season, with Stephen Booth, chief executive saying, ""We have had three good performances out of four under Paul. I am confident in his abilities and hope everyone gets behind him." However, he was unable to prevent Mansfield from being relegated from the Football League and in July 2008, he was sacked with immediate effect.