Russell Osman

Russell Charles Osman (born 14 February 1959) is an English former professional footballer who played as a centre back in the Football League for Ipswich Town, Leicester City, Southampton, Bristol City, Brighton & Hove Albion and Cardiff City. Osman played senior international football for England, for whom he received eleven caps. He is now a football pundit in the Indian Super League.

Playing career Osman was born in Repton, Derbyshire, the son of Rex Osman who played a handful of games for Derby County in the early 1950s. Osman played nearly 400 games for Ipswich Town, winning the 1980–81 UEFA Cup. Osman also contributed to Ipswich's victorious 1977–78 FA Cup campaign, making four appearances during the run. However he wasn't part of the squad for the final itself. Osman also represented his country 11 times. His first England cap came against Australia in a friendly on 31 May 1980, his last on 21 September 1983 in England's 1–0 Euro 84 qualifying match defeat to Denmark.

Managerial career Later in his playing career he was player-manager of Bristol City, famously guiding the club to a 1-0 victory against Liverpool at Anfield in an F.A. Cup replay in 1994, and had a brief spell as caretaker manager of Plymouth Argyle before later managing Cardiff City. He had a brief role as joint caretaker manager of Bristol Rovers in 2004. In February 2011 he was appointed coach of the Ipswich Town Under 18s. He left the role in August 2013. In July 2015 Osman joined Newport County as assistant manager to Terry Butcher. Butcher, Osman and Steve Marsalla were sacked on 1 October 2015 with Newport bottom of League Two after gaining just 5 points from the first 10 matches of the 2015–16 season.

Escape to Victory He played Doug Clure, one of the prisoner-of-war footballers, in the 1981 film Escape to Victory, which also included American actor Sylvester Stallone, British actor Michael Caine, Swedish actor Max von Sydow, and football stars Pelé, Ossie Ardiles, and Kazimierz Deyna. The film was based on a game between an Allied team and a Nazi German team during the Second World War.

Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Honours Ipswich Town UEFA Cup: 1981

Individual Football League First Division PFA Team of the Year: 1980–81 Ipswich Town Hall of Fame: Inducted 2011