Barry Simmonds
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Born in the UK, Barry Simmonds was the coach of A-League football team, New Zealand Knights. Simmonds took the job until the club appoints a new manager after the Knights sacked Paul Nevin on the 15th of November 2006 due to the teams poor showing in the league. He immediately changed the system and style of play with improved performances creating a resurgence in results and the basis for an excellent end of season run when the club ownership was handed back to the Australian Football Federation. Simmonds has previously spent time involved with New Zealand football during the '80s and '90s in various roles, including coaching in the national league. As a player he came through the youth ranks at Crystal Palace but a career in semi-professional football followed including a spell under Bobby Moore during the England World Cup winning captains tenure at Oxford City before moving into coaching. Simmonds became one of the youngest coaches ever appointed in the Football League joining Fulham as Reserve and Youth Coach aged 23 years. In addition to coaching he is highly regarded for his work as a scout and talent spotter with a reputation for unearthing relatively unknown players. A trend he continued at the Knights when signing Alen Marcina from Puerto Rico and Gao LeiLei from China. In 1999 he rejoined Crystal Palace and whilst Head of Scouting credited with bringing amongst others Aki Riihilati, Tony Popovic and Danny Butterfield to the club for bargain fees all of whom became crowd favourites. His career has included spells at English Premiership club Bolton Wanderers, Viking FK of the Norwegian Premier League and English Championship clubs [[Cardiff City] Crystal Palace]]and Queens Park Rangers.
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