Mark Sampson

Mark Geraint Sampson (born 18 October 1982) is a Welsh football coach who was most recently a first team coach at Stevenage.

Born in Creigiau, Wales, Sampson played amateur football for Cardiff Corinthians. He began his coaching career with Cardiff City at youth levels before a spell with Swansea City at their centre of excellence. Sampson began his management career with Taff's Well in 2008. He moved into the women's game in 2009, becoming manager at Bristol Academy. He led the club to their highest league finish, as well as two cup finals. In 2013, Sampson was announced as the new manager of England women. After winning the Cyprus Cup in 2015, he led England to a third place finish at that year's World Cup. He was dismissed by the FA in 2017. He moved to Stevenage in 2019 as first-team coach and had a brief spell as caretaker manager with the club. Sampson departed the club in 2021.

Playing career Born and raised in Creigiau, a suburb of Cardiff, Sampson played amateur football for a host of clubs in Wales including Cardiff Corinthians.

Management career

Early years After completing a BA in sports development at the University of Wales Institute, Sampson was employed by the Football Association of Wales Trust in 2003 as a coach co-ordinator. He went on to become a coach, teaching youth players at Cardiff City.

In 2007, Sampson became head of Swansea City's centre of excellence whilst the club was under the management of Roberto Martínez,

Bristol Academy

The following year, he was also appointed manager of FA Women's Premier League club Bristol Academy. He led the club to finish as runners up in the 2013 FA WSL season, the club's best-ever finish, In March 2015 England won the Cyprus Cup. In the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup later in the year, he led England to the semi-finals, marking the first time England had won a match beyond the group stage of a World Cup. After losing the semi-final to Japan, England secured victory in the match for third place, beating Germany for the first time in 21 games. Post the tournament Sampson was recognised for Englands record breaking achievement by being nominated for Women's Coach of the Year at the 2015 Ballon d'Dor FIFA Football Awards.

Following the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, Sampson became one of the youngest coaches in the UK to complete the UEFA Pro Licence.

In the UEFA Women's Euro 2017, Sampson again led England to the semi-finals. England began the tournament with a 6-0 opening day win against rivals Scotland. They went on to defeat Spain 2-0 and Portugal by two goals to one to reach the quarter finals against France. England beat France for the first time in 43 years thanks to a goal from Jodie Taylor as the Lionesses won 1-0 and earned a place in the semi final against tournament hosts Netherlands. In the semi final England came up short and were defeated 3-0 by the eventual tournament winners.

As a result of their achievements England Women reached a new high in the FIFA rankings as the Lionesses climbed to second after strong Euro 2017 showing.

On 20 September 2017, Sampson was sacked as the manager of the England women's national team because of what the FA described as, "clear evidence of inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour by a coach" during his tenure as the manager of Bristol Academy prior to his appointment as England coach in 2014. An FA investigation into the allegations that led to his dismissal had concluded in 2014 that, "he did not pose a risk working in the game" Sampson subsequently brought an unfair dismissal case against the FA.

On 18 October 2017, the FA apologised to players Eniola Aluko and Drew Spence after Katharine Newton concluded, on a balance of probabilities, in a third investigation that Mark Sampson made comments that were "discriminatory on the grounds of race". The FA agreed to pay a "significant " financial settlement to Sampson in January 2019, on the week his claim for unfair dismissal was due to be heard in court.

Stevenage Mark Sampson was appointed as a first-team coach of Stevenage on 4 July 2019. Sampson was appointed as caretaker manager on 9 September 2019 after the sacking of Dino Maamria. On 15 December 2019 Stevenage announced that Graham Westley would return for this fourth stint as Stevenage's head coach, restoring Sampson to his previous role as a first team coach. During his oversight the club played 18 matches, winning five, with seven draws, and six losses. Stevenage finished the 2019–20 season in 23rd place, but were reprieved from relegation thanks to Bury's expulsion from League One, and after Macclesfield Town was deducted four points for failing to both pay their players' wages and to fulfil a fixture. The following season Stevenage finished in 14th place. Sampson remained with the club until his departure on 8 November 2021.

Honours Bristol Academy Women's FA Cup runner-up: 2010–11, 2012–13

England Women FIFA Women's World Cup third place: 2015 Cyprus Women's Cup: 2015