Joseph "Joe" Royle
Royle, born just along the road from the gates of Goodison Park, made his Everton debut at 16 - the youngest player in the history of the club. He is widely acknowledged to have been Everton's finest post-war striker, making 272 appearances. He was a key member of the championship-winning side of 1970, which also included former managers of the club, Howard Kendall and Colin Harvey.
Wembley holds mixed memories for Royle. He played in the 1968 FA Cup final team that lost 1-0 to West Brom but it was there he scored his first goal for England against Yugoslavia in 1973. Royle made his international debut against Malta in 1971 and gained the last of his six caps when he faced Luxembourg in 1976.
By then he was playing for Manchester City, helping them to lift the League Cup that year when they defeated
Newcastle.
A year later he joined Bristol City before moving to Norwich in 1980
Oldham Athletic [1982-1994]
Royle was forced to quit playing in 1982 because of a knee injury and took over as manager of Oldham in July of that year. He arrived on the back of a lorry the day he was announced as boss. His car had broken down on the motorway and he had to hitch a lift. He spent twelve years in charge at Boundary Park, turing a small time club into a Premiership outfit by 1991. Royle's teams won many friends with their care-free, cavalier style. But the bubble bursted when they were relegated and Royle left to manage Everton.
Everton [1994-1997]
Royle returned to Goodison, saying: "I played for four clubs but Everton never left my heart.". And he did well; leading his team to victory in their first three matches, securing a comfortable 6th place in the league, and beating Manchester United in the FA. Cup final in his first season. The year before, Everton had avoided relegation by an inch. But things did not work out as in the fairy tails. Royle sold popular players like Limpar and Amokachi, and brought in unknown faces like Claus Thomsen. On transfer deadline 1997, he was not permitted enough money to get the two norwegians Tore Andre Flo and Claus Lundekvam. The next day he resigned.
Manchester City [1998-2001]
On Wednesday 18th of February 1998, Royle was appointed manager of Manchester City, after a year absence since quitting the job at Everton. The former management team of Frank Clark, Alan Hill, Richard Money and Peter Edwards were dismissed overnight. At a packed press conference this morning, Francis Lee, Dennis Tueart and Chief Executive Mike Turner welcomed Royle to the job, allowing him an opportunity to speak to the press.
Joe Royle said: "I'm delighted to take on this job. I've been out of the game for 11 months. Although I've enjoyed the rest I have been itching to get back into the game of late. I've had a number of offers of work, but none have really excited me apart from this one. Nobody has a bad word to say about this club. I had three good years here and have a great affection for the place. I also made a lot of good friends here and have always been made to feel very welcome at Maine Road."
After City was relegated from the Premiership in 2001 City chairman David Bernstein informed the press on May 21st that Royle had been sacked as Manager of the club. He left with three other members of the backroom staff. This action led to some controversy as Royle later took City to court to get compensated on his full salary based on fact that the club were still in the Premiership at the point of the sacking. Royle eventually lost the case in the Court of Appeal in 2005, and ordered to repay the £423,000 compensation + £80,000 in costs.
Ipswich Town [2002-2006]
Royle returned to the game in November 2002 to manage Ipswich Town, who had been relegated from the Premier League the previous season. In January 2003 the club entered administration, which lead to the exit of several leading players and a restriction of transfer and wage funds. Royle twice led Ipswich to the play-offs, in 2004 and 2005, but lost on both occasions to West Ham United. Several players were subsequently sold off to Premier League sides, and Ipswich finished 15th in the 2005–06 season, their lowest finish since 1966, and Royle left the club by 'mutual consent' in the close season.
Oldham [2009]
On 15 March, 2009, Royle was re-appointed to Oldham Athletic on a temporary basis, following the resignation of John Sheridan.He was offered the job on a permanent basis but turned it down announcing that he would be leaving the club after the final game. On 2 May, in his final game, Royle led Oldham to a 2–1 away victory in the club's final game of the season.
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