John Richard Filan (born 8 February 1970) is an Australian football coach and former professional player.
 Filan warming-up with Sydney FC | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | John Richard Filan | ||
| Date of birth | 8 February 1970 | ||
| Place of birth | Sydney, Australia | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1989–1991 | St. George Saints | 52 | (0) |
| 1991–1992 | Wollongong Wolves | 23 | (0) |
| 1992 | St. George Saints | 0 | (0) |
| 1992–1993 | Wollongong Wolves | 6 | (0) |
| 1993–1995 | Cambridge United | 68 | (0) |
| 1995 | → Nottingham Forest (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 1995–1997 | Coventry City | 16 | (0) |
| 1997–2001 | Blackburn Rovers | 64 | (0) |
| 2001–2007 | Wigan Athletic | 184 | (0) |
| 2006 | → Doncaster Rovers (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| 2008 | Sydney FC | 0 | (0) |
| Total | 416 | (0) | |
| International career | |||
| 1990–1992 | Australia U23 | 14 | (0) |
| 1992–1997 | Australia | 2 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2008-2011 | Sydney FC (goalkeeper coach) | ||
| 2013 | Prescot Cables | ||
| 2014 | Blackburn Rovers (goalkeeper coach) | ||
| 2014-2015 | Blackburn Rovers U21 (assistant) | ||
| 2015-2016 | Blackburn Rovers U21 | ||
| 2018 | Shrewsbury Town (assistant) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
As a player, he was a goalkeeper from 1989 until 2008 and notably played in the Premier League for Coventry City where he was a specialist at kicking the ball out of the stadium when under pressure[citation needed], Blackburn Rovers and Wigan Athletic, having also been contracted without playing for Nottingham Forest in England's top division. He also played in the Football League for Cambridge United and Doncaster Rovers, and in his native country for St. George Saints, Wollongong Wolves and Sydney F.C. He was capped three times by Australia.
Following retirement, Filan has worked as a coach and held a role with Sydney FC before a spell as assistant manager with both Macclesfield Town and Shrewsbury Town.
Club career
editHe played for St. George Saints and Wollongong Wolves in the old National Soccer League in Australia before moving to England to join Cambridge United in 1993, after an unsuccessful trial at Southampton.[1] In 1995, he signed for Coventry City, then moved on to Blackburn Rovers in 1997.
He joined Wigan Athletic in December 2001 for £600,000. Prior to the start of Wigan's debut season in the Premier League he had missed only one match for the club but was injured at the start of the 2005–06 season with Wigan's new signing Mike Pollitt taking his place in the side. Filan, however signed a new contract which kept him at the club until 2007. Seeing out his contract with Wigan, he was released at the end of the season. Whilst at Wigan he appeared as a substitute in the 2006 Football League Cup Final when Pollitt had to come off early in the first half with an injury. He is also remembered for saving a Nolberto Solano penalty in a 1–0 win over Newcastle United in February 2007.[2]
International career
editFilan was a member of the Australian team that competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona and finished in fourth place. As he has an Irish passport through his ancestry, he once sought to play international football for Ireland. However, FIFA ruled against it in February 1999 because he had played for the Australian Olympic team.[3][4]
Coaching career
editFilan returned to Australia in semi-retirement, resettling in his home town of Sydney. In August 2007 agreed terms with A-League side Sydney FC as backup to Clint Bolton,[5] however the deal fell through citing outside issues.[6]
Filan was appointed as assistant manager to John Askey at League One side Shrewsbury Town in June 2018, having previously worked with Askey during his managerial tenure at Macclesfield Town.[7] This role lasted only five months, with the whole management team departing after only four wins in seventeen league matches.[8]
Honours
editBlackburn Rovers
- Football League First Division runner-up: 2000–01
Wigan Athletic
- Football League Championship runner-up: 2004–05
- Football League Second Division: 2002–03
- Football League Cup runner-up: 2005–06[9]
Individual
References
edit- ^ Holley, Duncan; Chalk, Gary (2003). In That Number – A post-war chronicle of Southampton FC. Hagiology Publishing. p. 612. ISBN 0-9534474-3-X.
- ^ "Wigan 1-0 Newcastle". BBC. 25 February 2007. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
- ^ Given hoping return to Ewood is a happy one Archived 29 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ FIFA rule Leeds must free players
- ^ "Oh what a Filan: Sydney get their hands on veteran keeper". The Sydney Morning Herald. 28 August 2007. Retrieved 28 August 2007.
- ^ "Filan's about-face puts Sydney on spot". The Sydney Morning Herald. 31 August 2007. Retrieved 31 August 2007.
- ^ "Shrewsbury Town: John Filan named assistant manager to John Askey". BBC Sport. 6 June 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
- ^ "John Askey: Shrewsbury Town sack manager after five months in charge". BBC Sport. 12 November 2018. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
- ^ "Man Utd ease to Carling Cup glory". BBC Sport. 26 February 2006. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ David McKechnie (28 April 2003). "Henry lands PFA award". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
