Frankie McAvoy explained

Frankie McAvoy (born 9 July 1967) is a Scottish professional football coach who is currently the assistant coach at Scottish Premiership club Heart of Midlothian.

McAvoy was previously the head coach at club Preston North End.

Playing career

McAvoy did not play football at a professional level,^[2] instead playing junior football locally for Bellshill Athletic, Thorniewood United, Wishaw, Bellshill YM and Blantyre Victoria.^{[3] [4]}

Coaching career

In 2003, McAvoy joined Dunfermline Athletic as an academy coach. In 2005, McAvoy joined Hamilton Academical in the same role, later becoming academy director. In 2013, following Alex Neil's appointment as manager, McAvoy became first team coach at Hamilton. In 2015, both McAvoy and Neil moved to Norwich City, with McAvoy once again acting as first team coach. In July 2017, the pair moved to EFL Championship club Preston North End.^[5]

Following the dismissal of Neil on 21 March 2021, McAvoy was named as interim head coach of Preston until the end of the 2020–21 season.^[6] On 10 May 2021, McAvoy appointed head coach permanently, after winning five of his eight matches in interim charges.^[7]

On 6 December 2021, McAvoy was dismissed by Preston despite a respectable record, winning fourteen league games out of his 33 in charge.^[8]

On 3 February 2022, McAvoy joined Scottish Premiership side Heart of Midlothian as Academy Director, being given "a wide-ranging remit to oversee the youth system".^[9] McAvoy became Hearts head coach in June 2023, working with Steven Naismith.^[10] McAvoy was given that job title as Naismith did not have a coaching licence needed to be the lead coach for matches in European competitions.^[10] In September 2023, a week after Hearts had been eliminated from the Europa Conference League, Naismith was made head coach and McAvoy his assistant.^[11]

Managerial statistics

^{[6] [7] [12]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: Frankie McAvoy . Preston North End F.C. . 10 June 2021.
2. Web site: Who is Frankie McAvoy? PNE's interim head coach tasked with securing Championship status. Lancs Live. 23 March 2021. 21 April 2021.
3. Web site: From 19 years at Royal Mail to leading Preston, Frankie McAvoy is the head coach who never dreamed of being one. The Athletic. 5 August 2021. 24 December 2021.
4. Web site: THUNDER RADAR THE RADAR; Quiet man who's helping Accies to become big noise.. Sunday Mail. 30 November 2014. 24 December 2021.
5. Web site: Frankie McAvoy. Flown From The Nest. 21 April 2021.
6. Web site: Club Statement: Alex Neil . Preston North End F.C. . 21 March 2021 . 10 June 2021.
7. Web site: Frankie McAvoy Appointed Head Coach . Preston North End F.C. . 10 May 2021 . 10 June 2021.
8. Web site: Championship: Preston sack head coach Frankie McAvoy . Sky Sports . 6 December 2021 . 19 December 2021.
9. Web site: Frankie McAvoy appointed Academy Director Heart Of Midlothian Football Club. 2022-02-03. www.heartsfc.co.uk.
10. Web site: Hearts confirm Steven Naismith is to remain in charge of first team at Tynecastle . STV News . 7 June 2023 . 7 June 2023 . Andy . Coyle.
11. Web site: Naismith named Head Coach . heartsfc.co.uk . 6 September 2023 . 6 September 2023.
12. Web site: Preston: Results: 2020/21 . Soccerbase . Centurycomm . 10 June 2021.