Neil Redfearn

Late playing career and early managerial career At Halifax, he also got his first taste of management, being appointed caretaker manager alongside Tony Parks following the resignation of Paul Bracewell on 30 August 2001. His spell as caretaker manager came to an end on 12 October following the appointment of Alan Little. Redfearn started a second spell in caretaker charge on 4 March 2002 due to the enforced absence of Little. However, his contract with the club was terminated on 25 April and having been snubbed for the permanent manager's job he joined Boston United as player-coach.

Redfearn spent the better part of two years at Boston, before finishing his Football League career at Rochdale in the spring of 2004. Rochdale did not offer him a new contract at the end of the season, meaning he finished his Football League career with 790 appearances and so being fifth in the all-time list of most Football League appearances. His last league appearance for Rochdale took his total to . after which Redfearn dropped down to the Conference, where he became player-coach at Scarborough, managed at the time by his former Oldham teammate Nick Henry. He signed a new contract with Scarborough in April 2005. When Henry was dismissed on 24 October 2005 Redfearn was named caretaker manager, before being appointed permanently on 1 November while remaining registered as a player. Redfearn resigned on 6 July 2006 after Mark Patterson was brought in as assistant manager. He subsequently signed with Northern Premier League First Division side Bradford Park Avenue later that month. He made his 1,000th competitive appearance on 4 November 2006, when Bradford Park Avenue faced Solihull Borough in the second qualifying round of the FA Trophy.

Redfearn quit Bradford Park Avenue in March 2007, joining Northern Premier League First Division rivals Stocksbridge Park Steels, but left on 19 June to become manager of Conference Premier side Northwich Victoria. He resigned on 17 September 2007, after the club only managed one point from their first nine games, leaving them bottom of the Conference Premier.

He joined Northern Premier League Premier Division club Frickley Athletic as a player in September 2007. He left the club over a month later to join Bridlington Town on 5 November. He left them in January 2008 after the departure of manager Ash Berry. He was appointed as York City's youth team coach in February. He joined Emley in July, where he would play when his commitments with York's youth team allowed. Redfearn moved onto Salford City of the Northern Premier League Division One North in October 2008. He took over as caretaker manager at York on 21 November 2008, following Colin Walker's dismissal, and was in charge for the team's 2–2 draw against Crawley Town. Following Martin Foyle's appointment as manager on 24 November, Redfearn took up the position of assistant manager at the club.

Coaching and managerial career

Leeds United Redfearn left York over a month later after being appointed coach of the under-18 academy team at Leeds United on 30 December 2008 and he assumed this role on 1 January 2009. He took over as manager of the Leeds reserve team in December 2010 following the dismissal of Neil Thompson. He was appointed caretaker manager at Leeds following the dismissal of manager Simon Grayson on 1 February 2012. Three days later he won his first match in charge by beating Bristol City 3–0. It was later confirmed by club chairman Ken Bates that Redfearn would retain the managerial post for the following three games. After two wins and two defeats in his four-game spell as manager, Redfearn was replaced as manager by Neil Warnock as permanent manager on 18 February 2012. In April 2012, Redfearn guided Leeds' Under 18's side to a second-place finish in the Under-18s League, narrowly missing out on top spot to Newcastle's Under-18s team.

Following the departure of Neil Warnock on 1 April 2013, Redfearn again took charge of the first team for the game at for the 2–1 away defeat against Charlton Athletic on 6 April.

Redfearn's spell as the Head of academy was praised due to the influx of Leeds academy players breaking through into the first team such as Dominic Poleon, Chris Dawson, Sam Byram, Alex Mowatt, Lewis Cook and Kalvin Phillips.

On 28 August 2014, Redfearn was appointed caretaker head coach after head coach Dave Hockaday and his assistant Junior Lewis were dismissed by owner Massimo Cellino, having been in the job for only 70 days. This was the third time Redfearn had been appointed as a caretaker manager/head coach of Leeds. Redfearn picked up a victory in his first game back in charge with a 1–0 win on 30 August against Bolton Wanderers. On 20 September, Redfearn's Leeds picked up a 3–0 win over local rivals Huddersfield Town. After recording a record of three wins and one draw in his latest stint as caretaker, Leeds announced that Redfearn would be stepping back down into a role described as "Academy manager and head of coaching." with Darko Milanič appointed the new head coach of Leeds on a two-year deal replacing previous head coach Dave Hockaday, he was joined at Leeds by his SK Sturm Graz Assistant Novica Nikčević.

On 25 October 2014, Milanič was dismissed by the club after only 32 days in charge. Cellino confirmed that Redfearn would be appointed as Leeds' new head coach. On 27 October 2014 Redfearn confirmed that he verbally agreed to become head coach of Leeds after receiving reassurances that if it does not work out, he will revert to his previous job back in the academy. On 1 November 2014, Redfearn was confirmed as the club's new head coach, on an initial 12-month contract with the option of a further 12 months, the contract also had a clause that would see Redfearn return to the academy if he was to leave his role as head coach. On 18 December 2014, Steve Thompson was hired as Redfearn's new assistant manager.

On 2 April 2015, Redfearn's assistant Steve Thompson was suspended by Leeds for an 'internal matter' by Leeds Sporting Director Nicola Salerno, with Redfearn saying that he was kept in the dark about the cause.

Also on 2 April 2015, a story emerged that Redfearn had been put under pressure to 'not select' top scorer Mirco Antenucci, because Antenucci's contract featured a clause of an extra year on his contract, should he score 12 goals in his first season. Antenucci's agent Silvio Pagliari confirmed the clause was correct. Despite this, Redfearn started Antenucci, with Antenucci making a relatively rare start against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 6 April in a 4–3 defeat. On 24 June 2015, former Sporting Director Nicola Salerno proclaimed the decision to not play Antenucci prior was Redfearn's decision.

On 9 April, after rumoured Premier League interest in Alex Mowatt and teammates Lewis Cook, Charlie Taylor and Sam Byram, Redfearn challenged Leeds United's owners to keep a hold of their home grown talents.

On 18 April 2015, six of owner Massimo Cellino's signings (Mirco Antenucci, Giuseppe Bellusci, Souleymane Doukara, Dario Del Fabro, Marco Silvestri and Edgar Cani) controversially pulled out of the squad with an 'injury' the day before a 2–1 loss against Charlton Athletic.

On 14 May 2015, Cellino gave a press conference announcing Adam Pearson as the club's executive director to work directly alongside Cellino. The press conference included Cellino leaving halfway through for a cigarette break only to return, and for the press conference to run for over an hour, with Cellino refusing to reveal the future of Redfearn.

On 16 May, with speculation increasing about his future as Leeds United Head Coach, Cellino in an interview with the Sunday Mirror said that Redfearn was "weak" and "a baby".

On 20 May 2015, Leeds announced Uwe Rösler as the new head coach, ending Redfearn's leadership at the club, with no announcement made of Redfearn's departure as head coach. Leeds executive director Adam Pearson said in the Rosler press conference that Redfearn had been offered back his previous role as Academy Director.

Rotherham United On 9 October 2015, Redfearn was appointed manager of Championship club Rotherham United on a two-and-a-half-year deal. He was dismissed as manager on 8 February 2016, with Rotherham 22nd in the table.

Doncaster Rovers Belles On 29 December 2017, Doncaster Rovers Belles announced the appointment of Redfearn as their new manager. On 13 May 2018, the Belles won the FA WSL 2 title, their first trophy since 1994. His first and ultimately only match in charge ended in a sobering 5–0 loss to Arsenal Women. He resigned on 14 September 2018 after just one game in charge.

Newcastle United U23 On 2 October 2018, Redfearn was appointed as the new assistant coach of Ben Dawson at Newcastle United U23.

On 21 June 2019, Redfearn was promoted to the role of Newcastle United U23 head coach.

On 4 July 2019, Redfearn was announced as the caretaker head coach, assisted by Ben Dawson after the departure of manager Rafael Benítez on 30 June. He took charge of first team training for the 2019/20 pre-season. On 5 November 2019, Redfearn stepped down from this position.

Sheffield United Women On 28 August 2020, Redfearn was announced as the new head coach of Sheffield United Women.

In November 2022, he announced his immediate resignation from the Blades.

Oldham Athletic On 22 September 2023, Redfearn returned to former club Oldham Athletic in the role of caretaker assistant manager, assisting Steve Thompson. With the appointment of a permanent manager imminent, both Redfearn and Thompson departed the club on 12 October.

In November 2023 he became the lead professional development phase coach of Bradford City.

Farsley Celtic On 17 January 2025, Redfearn was appointed manager of National League North side Farsley Celtic. However after less than 3 weeks in the post, Redfearn resigned after 4 matches in charge.

Personal life Redfearn's father, Brian, is a former professional footballer. He is a lifelong Leeds fan. Redfearn married Susan Roberts in 1985. He is currently in a relationship with Lucy Ward, a former footballer and current football broadcaster and pundit.

Managerial statistics

Honours

Player Oldham Athletic Football League Second Division: 1990–91 Barnsley Hall of Fame inductee

Manager Doncaster Rovers Belles FA WSL 2: 2017–18