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John Napier
Personal information
Full name	Robert John Napier
Date of birth	23 September 1946 (age 78)
Place of birth	Lurgan, Northern Ireland
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Position(s)	Centre half
Senior career*
Years	Team
1963–1967	Bolton Wanderers
1967–1972	Brighton & Hove Albion
1972–1975	Bradford City
1975	→ Baltimore Comets (loan)
1975–1976	Mossley
1976	→ San Diego Jaws (loan)
1976–1978	Bradford City
Total
International career
	Northern Ireland U-23
1966	Northern Ireland
Managerial career
1978	Bradford City
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Robert John Napier (born 23 September 1946) is a Northern Irish former football centre half and manager, who currently teaches soccer in San Diego, California.

Biography

Napier was born in Lurgan. With a career as both player and coach, Napier has also been a player agent and a television and radio sports analyst.^[2]

Career

Club playing career

Napier began his career in September 1963 playing for the Bolton Wanderers, where he played until 1967, when he was transferred to Brighton & Hove Albion for £25,000. He played until 1972 playing more than 200 games including two seasons as ever-present. In 1972, he was transferred to Bradford City for a record-equalling £10,000. He spent six seasons at Valley Parade interspersed with spells in America at Baltimore Comets and the same team after they became San Diego Jaws, and also at Mossley. In all he played more than 100 games at City, and served as manager, and assistant coach.^[3]

Club management career

Napier served as manager at City from February 1978 to October 1978. He was unpopular as manager of Bradford City, as the team was relegated to the now-defunct Division Four.^[4] Napier returned to the United States in 1979 to take a coaching position at Pepperdine University, and continues to coach soccer.^[5]

International career

Napier was a Northern Ireland schoolboy international, won 11 youth caps, two under-23 caps. He won his only full international cap against West Germany in May 1966.^[6]

Honours

Most Valuable Player, Bolton Wanderers: 1966
Most Valuable Player, Brighton: 1969
Football League Division Three Runner-Up, Brighton: 1971
Most Valuable Player, Bradford City: 1973

Managerial statistics

Team	Nat	Year	Record
Team	Nat	Year	G	W	D	L	Win %
Bradford City		1978	34	11	5	18	032.35
Career Total			34	11	5	18	032.35

References

^ "John Napier". Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats (NIFG). Jonny Dewart. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
^ "John Napier's website". Johnnapiersoccer.com. Retrieved 11 October 2007.
^ "John Napier's resume". johnnapiersoccer.com. Retrieved 11 October 2007.
^ "John Napier management profile". Geocities.com. Archived from the original on 4 September 2009. Retrieved 11 October 2007.
^ Murphy, Erin (7 January 2009). "Coach's Corner: John Napier". Daily San Diego Soccer News. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2009.
^ Frost, Terry (1988). Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988. Breedon Books Sport. p. 127. ISBN 0-907969-38-0.