Steve Rutter

Playing career Early career at Wealdstone Rutter was born in Northampton in 1962, and after leaving school, he spent seven years working for the police force. Rutter came to semi-professional football relatively late joining Wealdstone and was part of the side who won the Alliance Premier League and FA Trophy double in 1985.

Yeovil Town Rutter followed his former Wealdstone manager Brian Hall to Isthmian League side Yeovil Town in January 1987, and made 12 appearances in the second half of the season. In his first full season in Somerset, Rutter won the Western Gazette merit mark award player of the year as Yeovil won the Isthmian League and Isthmian League Cup double. Yeovil's return to the Football Conference saw them finish 9th, the club's highest finish for a decade, Rutter made 55 appearances in all competitions and again won the Western Gazette merit mark award player of the year. The following season saw Yeovil lift the Conference League Cup trophy, in the club's final season at the Huish Athletic Ground, with Rutter having the honour of being the final player to touch the ball at the ground.

Yeovil's first season at Huish Park in 1990–91, Rutter applied to be transfer listed while he was shortlisted for the first team manager role at Dorchester Town, in March 1991, Rutter was made Yeovil's captain.

Rutter was still a regular in the side as player-manager and upon his departure from Yeovil in 1993, he had made 247 appearances and scored 11 times. The third round fixture against Premier League side Arsenal has been cited as a game which reputedly saved the club. The following season saw Yeovil complete another giantkilling after defeating Fulham, but in November 1993, Rutter stepped down as manager of Yeovil, and was succeeded by his former manager Brian Hall.

While manager of Yeovil, Rutter encouraged the board to set up the club's Youth Training Scheme programme.

Trowbridge Town After leaving Yeovil went on to be player-manager Southern League side Trowbridge Town,

San Juan Jabloteh In 2002 after leaving the FA, Rutter was briefly involved in coaching at the CareerSports Soccer Academy in Florida, a project set up by former Liverpool footballer Mark Lawrenson. Additionally after leaving the FA he conducted coaching courses hosted by CONCACAF in 2002 and 2003 at the Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence in Macoya, Tunapuna, and these coaching courses brought him to Trinidad, in 2004 he was appointed manager of TT Pro League side San Juan Jabloteh briefly Rutter admitted when the offer from Jabloteh came it was a mind boggling decision to make, he was not only confronted with other offers, one of which would have seen him in charge of setting up a national coaching educational structure for China, but it would mean leaving England and coming to Trinidad leaving behind his wife Betty and two young children.

Panathinaikos Rutter joined Yannis Anastasiou as his assistant manager at Panathinaikos. Having previously taught Yannis Anastasiou on his UEFA B and A Licence courses and started him on his UEFA Pro Licence, Rutter joined him as his assistant manager at Greek Super League side Panathinaikos upon his appointment in May 2013. Having spent two years as assistant manager, in November 2015, following the sacking of Anastasiou, Rutter was appointed as caretaker manager of Panathinaikos. Managing the club against Atromitos, on 7 November 2015, he guided the club to a 2–1 away victory. Upon the appointment of Andrea Stramaccioni, on 9 November 2015, Rutter left the club.

Roda JC Rutter then followed Anastasiou to Dutch Eredivisie side Roda JC Kerkrade as a fitness coach in July 2016, after six months in the role Rutter left on 1 January 2017 to return to England.

Return to Yeovil Town On 31 January 2017, after leaving Roda, Rutter returned to Yeovil Town, now in League Two, as head of coaching in their academy.

KV Kortrijk In June 2017, after only six months at Yeovil, Rutter left to once again link up with Anastasiou, becoming assistant manager at Belgian First Division A side KV Kortrijk. Rutter left Kortrijk following the sacking of Anastasiou in November, and returned to his role of head of coaching in Yeovil's academy until the end of the 2017–18 season.

Luton Town On 1 October 2018, Rutter was appointed assistant manager to Nathan Jones at League One club Luton Town. He left the club in June 2019 to join his former Panathinaikos boss, Giannis Anastasiou at Greek Super League club, Atromitos FC as assistant coach.

Honours

Player Wealdstone Alliance Premier League: 1984–85 FA Trophy: 1984–85

Yeovil Town Isthmian League: 1987–88 Isthmian League Cup: 1987–88 Isthmian Championship Shield: 1988–89 Conference League Cup: 1989–90