Derek Rae (born 1967^[1] in Aberdeen, Scotland ^[2]) is a Scottish football announcer for ESPN, working as a sports commentator for its coverage of the UEFA Champions League and Scottish Premier League.^[3] He is also the host of ESPNsoccernet's PressPass.

Career[link]

Rae grew up in Aberdeen, Scotland, attending matches with a tape recorder to work on his commentary. He began his professional broadcasting career at age 15, calling games for a radio station that broadcast to local hospitals. He got his big break at the age of 19, when his broadcasting idol, David Francey, suffered a knee injury and Rae filled in on the radio call of a Scottish Premier Division game. Rae was then hired by BBC Scotland to call a match between rivals England and Scotland. The BBC liked what they heard and hired Rae as its Scotland soccer correspondent, a job he held for five years. Rae was the 1987 British Sports Broadcaster of the Year.^[4]

Rae moved to the United States in anticipation of the 1994 World Cup. He was a press officer with FIFA during the '94 World Cup, overseeing the World Cup games that were held at Foxboro Stadium. Rae met his wife Beth Powers while working on World Cup preparations and the two would later settle in Beverly, Massachusetts.^[4]

Rae called Major League Soccer games for the New England Revolution from 1996–1999 and again in 2001, for the Metrostars in 2000 and the Los Angeles Galaxy in 1996. However, with his extensive background in high-level international soccer, Rae proved a poor fit for MLS games.^[4]

Following the World Cup, Rae joined ESPN International, lending his voice to Eredivisie and Campeonato Brasileiro Série A games. His role has expanded to calling more than 150 games a year for ESPN International and hosting a weekly studio-based soccer discussion show, ESPNsoccernet PressPass.^[4] He also writes a column called "Rae's Say" for ESPNsoccernet.

Most of the games Rae broadcasts are done in ESPN's studios in Bristol, Connecticut, using a foreign video feed. Rae is fluent in German and dabbles in several other languages. He is so particular about pronouncing a player's name correctly that he has been known to call consulates to confirm the pronunciation.^[4]

As of August 2009, Rae will split his time between the States and Scotland after being hired as lead commentator for Scottish Premier League matches on the recently launched UK version of ESPN.

In June 2010 he was in South Africa to commentate on 12 matches at the FIFA World Cup finals for ESPN USA partnered by Robbie Mustoe and Ally McCoist. In the summer of 2010 it was announced that Rae would be making the move back to the UK to continue commentating on a wider basis for ESPN's London-based channel.

Tidbits[link]

Rae speaks fluent German and still supports the club Hessen Kassel from his student exchange days in Germany.^[5]

References[link]

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Clive Allen

Personal information
Full name	Clive Darren Allen
Date of birth	(1961-05-20) 20 May 1961 (age 51)
Place of birth	Stepney, England
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Playing position	Forward
Club information
Current club	Tottenham Hotspur
Youth career
Havering/Essex Schools	Romford Juniors
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1978–1980	Queens Park Rangers	49	(32)
1980	Arsenal	0	(0)
1980–1981	Crystal Palace	25	(9)
1981–1984	Queens Park Rangers	87	(40)
1984–1988	Tottenham Hotspur	105	(60)
1988–1989	Bordeaux	30	(21)
1989–1991	Manchester City	53	(16)
1991–1992	Chelsea	16	(7)
1992–1994	West Ham United	38	(17)
1994–1995	Millwall	12	(0)
1995	Carlisle United	3	(0)
Total		418	(202)
National team
1980	England U21	3	(0)
1984–1988	England	5	(0)
Teams managed
2007	Tottenham Hotspur (caretaker)
2008	Tottenham Hotspur (caretaker)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Clive Darren Allen (born 20 May 1961) is a retired English footballer, a prolific scorer for a number of clubs.

Allen is the son of ex-Tottenham Hotspur forward Les Allen, who was a member of the legendary team which won the First Division title and FA Cup "double" in 1961 (the Cup success occurred exactly two weeks before Allen Jnr's birth). He is the brother of former footballer Bradley Allen and cousin of football manager Martin Allen and ex West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Paul Allen. He holds the unique distinction of playing for more London based football clubs than any other footballer in history.

Club career[link]

Queens Park Rangers[link]

A fearfully accurate centre forward, Allen joined Queens Park Rangers as a youth player, making his debut in 1978 at the age of 17. Allen scored a hat trick on his full debut against Coventry City in a 5-1 win, but QPR were relegated at the end of that season and Allen became a first-choice striker in their quest to return to the top flight, scoring a phenomenal 28 goals in 1979-80, though QPR failed to win promotion. This prompted Arsenal to make a bid of £1,250,000 for him in the summer of 1980, which QPR accepted. At the time, it was the highest fee to be paid for a teenager by any British club.

Arsenal[link]

There followed a most bizarre sequence of events which led to Allen leaving Arsenal within just two months of arriving at Highbury, having not played a single competitive match (although he did play three matches in Arsenal's 1980-81 pre-season friendly campaign). He was sold in part-exchange to Crystal Palace in another seven-figure deal which saw England full back Kenny Sansom come the other way. There was a rumour that QPR and Palace had secured a deal for Allen on the condition that QPR did not sell Allen to Palace directly, and Arsenal acted as go-betweens. This has never been confirmed.

Crystal Palace[link]

During his time at Palace, Allen "scored" one of the most controversial disallowed goals of all-time. During Palace's 3-1 away defeat to Coventry City, on 6 September 1980, Allen, who had already scored earlier in the game, was fouled just outside the Coventry penalty area. Allen took the free-kick himself, which thumped against the right-hand stanchion inside the goal (from Allen's view), then appeared to hit the net, before coming back out again. After much arguing and consulting with his linesman, the referee decided that the goal did not count, and this counted towards a season of misery for Palace, in which they were eventually relegated.

Allen was Palace's top scorer for the 1980-81 season with nine goals in the league and 11 in all competitions, when Palace finished bottom of the First Division and fell back into the Second Division just two years after promotion.^[1]

Queens Park Rangers[link]

QPR, still in the Second Division, were now managed by Terry Venables and Allen's first season back at the club (1981-82) revived his fortunes as he scored 13 Second Division goals, though not enough to win promotion. QPR also had their most successful FA Cup run, reaching the FA Cup Final for the first time with Allen scoring the vital goals in 1-0 victories in both the 6th Round (vs Crystal Palace) and Semi final (vs West Bromwich Albion). Getting to the Cup Final was unusual for a club outside the top flight - and, adding extra intrigue to the occasion, QPR's opponents were Tottenham, his father's former club.

The day went appallingly for Allen - he was injured after just two minutes (following a late tackle) at Wembley and he had to be substituted early into the second half. The match ended 1-1 after extra-time but Allen was not fit enough to take part in the replay, which Tottenham won 1-0.

Over the next two seasons, Allen scored 27 League goals as QPR first won the Second Division Championship in 1982-83 and then consolidated their new status helping them to finish fifth in the First Division in 1983-84, but would be playing UEFA Cup football for Tottenham rather than QPR the following season as a £700,000 fee took him to White Hart Lane. He arrived at Tottenham at the time when Keith Burkinshaw stepped down after eight years as manager to be succeeded by Peter Shreeves.

That summer, Allen made his England debut.

Tottenham Hotspur[link]

A settling-in period at Spurs followed, with Allen scoring twice on his debut and ultimately weighing in with eight goals from 15 appearances in his first season, where Spurs finished third after being top of the league at Christmas, the fact that he was unavailable for 27 league games leaving all the observers wondering that Spurs might have won the league if it hadn't been for Allen's absences. It was a similar story in 1985-86, as he was restricted again by injuries, and this time Spurs slumped to mid table and manager Peter Shreeves was sacked in favour of Luton Town boss David Pleat.

However, a fully fit Allen took to the field at the start of his third season at White Hart Lane as Spurs found themselves able to chase three trophies thanks to their red-hot goalscorer. By now, Allen's cousin Paul had also joined the club to provide support from midfield.

Allen, playing as a lone forward with the creative forces of Glenn Hoddle, Osvaldo Ardiles and Chris Waddle laying on the chances from a five-man midfield, fired 33 League goals plus 16 more in the League Cup and FA Cup competitions (49 in all competitions) as Spurs reached both semi-finals while challenging for the League. In the League Cup semi, Spurs faced their fierce rivals Arsenal and Allen scored three goals over three matches (it was level after two legs so a replay was required) but still Arsenal won through to the final. However, Spurs reached the 1987 FA Cup Final at Wembley after easily overpowering Watford in the semi.

At Wembley, Spurs took on Coventry City and Spurs started as clear favourites. After all, Spurs had won all seven of their previous FA Cup finals and Coventry had never reached the final before. However, following an exciting match (in which Allen scored the last of his 49 goals that season), Coventry eventually triumphed 3–2 after extra time. This left Allen and his colleagues without any major honours after they had threatened to win a unique treble.

Five years earlier Allen picked up an injury in the second minute of the FA Cup final; this time he had picked up a goal, even though he had to be content with a runners-up medal yet again. An early Hoddle free kick was cleared to Waddle on the right flank, and the England winger thundered in a near post cross which the perfectly positioned Allen headed home. However, it would all end in heartbreak for Tottenham, as Coventry fought back to win 3-2 in extra time. Allen's final tally of 49 goals in all competitions that season broke the Spurs club record held by Jimmy Greaves, and remains unbroken to this day. No player associated with any top division club has managed to match or exceed Allen's total of goals in all competitions since then, either. However, his top-flight league goals tally was surprassed by Andy Cole of Newcastle United in 1993-94 and a year later by Alan Shearer at Blackburn Rovers.

He also picked up the titles of PFA Player of the Year and Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year.

Tottenham seemed to peak at this point and the following season Allen's touch was not quite the same although he did score eleven goals for the club as they finished 13th. The season had also seen the appointment of new manager Terry Venables in the autumn after the resignation of David Pleat following allegations about his private life.

Bordeaux[link]

In August 1988, Spurs sold Allen to French champions Bordeaux for £1 million. His transfer was just one of many during the mid to late 1980s which saw English-based players departing to the continent, lured away by the prospect of higher wages as well as the chance of playing in European competitions - English clubs were barred between 1985 and 1990 due to the Heysel disaster.

Later career[link]

He spent just one season in France before returning to England in August 1989 when he joined Manchester City, who had just been promoted to the First Division. He scored 10 league goals as City survived their first season back in the top flight, but scored just four goals in 20 league games in 1990-91 after falling out of favour with new player-manager Peter Reid, who guided City to fifth place in the league.

He managed three appearances and scored twice in the league for City the following season, and was transferred to Chelsea in December 1991.

He scored seven goals in 16 league games over the next three months before he joined struggling West Ham United in March 1992, scoring once in four league games and unable to stop them from being relegated and missing out on the first season of the new FA Premier League, instead being faced with the challenge of helping them win promotion from the new Division One.

He scored 14 goals in the 1992-93 Division One campaign as West Ham were promoted as runners-up, but played just seven league games (scoring twice) in the 1993-94 in the new Premier League and by March 1994 he had given up hope of displacing new arrival Lee Chapman.

In January 1994, when Allen was out of favour at West Ham United, Tottenham manager Ossie Ardiles (who had been his Tottenham team mate the previous decade) expressed interest in bringing Allen back to White Hart Lane as he looked to spend up to £500,000 on buying a striker to cover for the injured Teddy Sheringham, but the transfer never happened.^[2] Allen opted to drop down a division and join Millwall for a fee of £75,000.^[3] He helped Millwall finish third in Division One but they missed out on promotion to the Premier League after being beaten by Derby County in the playoff semi-finals. He left the Lions at the end of the 1994-95 season having played just 12 Division One games and failed to score a single goal.

Allen finished his playing career at the age of 34 with three appearances in Division Two for Carlisle United during the autumn of 1995.

In an intriguing change of sport, he had a brief spell with the London Monarchs in the NFL Europe.

International career[link]

In the summer of 1984, Allen was given his first England cap by Bobby Robson in a friendly against Brazil, coming on as a substitute. England won 2-0 but when Allen started the next game of this tour of South America three days later, they lost 2-0 to Uruguay. He played in the third game of the tour too, which was a goalless draw against Chile. In 1987, Allen got his fourth England cap in a goalless draw versus Turkey, scoring a disallowed goal. He won his fifth and final England cap in another goalless draw, versus Israel. He never scored for his country.

Management career[link]

Allen was the Tottenham Hotspur reserve team coach under Martin Jol at White Hart Lane, as well as being a pundit for a variety of media organisations. He was coach of Spurs Reserves when they won the FA Premier Reserve League Southern Division in 2005-06.

After Jol's dismissal in October 2007, Allen took up the position of Interim Manager of the senior squad. He took charge of the team for one match, a 1-2 defeat by Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League, before handing the reins over to Juande Ramos.

TV work[link]

Clive Allen has worked for ITV as an analyst on football shows such as The Goal Rush and UEFA Champions League coverage.

Family[link]

His son Oliver played for Stevenage but was bought out of his contract due to a persistent knee injury.

Managerial statistics[link]

Club	First Game	Last Game	G	W	D	L	Win %
Tottenham Hotspur	26 October 2007, v Blackburn Rovers, White Hart Lane, Premier League	6 November 2011(joint with Joe Jordan), v Fulham, Craven Cottage, Barclays Premier League	4	2	0	2	50%

References[link]

External links[link]

• Clive Allen England profile at Englandstats

Neil Lennon

Personal information
Full name	Neil Francis Lennon[1]
Date of birth	(1971-06-25) 25 June 1971 (age 41)
Place of birth	Lurgan, Northern Ireland
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Celtic (manager)
Youth career
1987–1989	Manchester City
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1987–1988	Glenavon	?	(1)
1989–1990	Manchester City	1	(0)
1990–1996	Crewe Alexandra	147	(15)
1996–2000	Leicester City	170	(6)
2000–2007	Celtic	214	(3)
2007–2008	Nottingham Forest	18	(0)
2008	Wycombe Wanderers	9	(0)
Total		?	(26)
National team
	Northern Ireland U21	2	(0)
	Northern Ireland U23	2	(0)
	Northern Ireland B	1	(0)
1994–2002	Northern Ireland	40	(2)
Teams managed
2010–	Celtic
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Neil Francis Lennon (born 25 June 1971)^[2] is a former footballer from Northern Ireland. He is the manager^[3][4] and former captain of Celtic.^[5]

During his playing career he represented English clubs Manchester City, Crewe Alexandra and Leicester City before moving to Scottish club Celtic where he made over 200 appearances as a midfielder. Before retiring as a player, he returned to England to represent Nottingham Forest and Wycombe Wanderers.

Lennon made 40 appearances for Northern Ireland in nine years, scoring two goals.

Early life[link]

Lennon was born in Lurgan, County Armagh^[6] and attended St Michael's Grammar School in the town.^[7] As a youngster he played gaelic football for the school and was also selected for the Armagh minor team.^[8] He grew up supporting Celtic^[9] and played football for the local Lurgan Celtic youth team.^[10]

Club career[link]

Lennon joined Glenavon, after reaching the final of the Milk Cup^[10] and scored on his Irish League debut.^[10] He then joined Manchester City as a trainee in 1987, before he signed for Crewe Alexandra on a free transfer in August 1990.^[11]

In February 1996, Lennon signed for Leicester City for a fee of £750,000.^[12] He moved to Celtic in December 2000.^[13] Lennon became Celtic captain in 2005.

When his former club Leicester City sacked Craig Levein, Lennon was linked with a return to the Midlands side in a player-manager role. He went on record saying he was flattered but wanted to captain Celtic to the Scottish Premier League title.^[14]

Although he was also linked with a move to Crystal Palace in a player-manager role in the summer of 2006,^[15] on 23 June 2006, Celtic announced he had signed a new one-year contract. Sunderland manager Roy Keane made an attempt to sign Lennon prior to the closure of the August 2006 transfer window, but his approach for the player was rejected by Celtic. On 25 April 2007, Lennon announced he would be leaving Celtic, and in his last game for the club on 26 May 2007, he captained the team to victory in the Scottish Cup Final against Dunfermline Athletic. Celtic's 1–0 win clinched the League and Cup Double.^[16]

Lennon joined Nottingham Forest on a one-year contract with an option for a second year on 12 June 2007.^[17] He made his debut captaining the side in a 0–0 draw at home to Bournemouth. He missed a week's training with Forest in November 2007, because of family reasons in Scotland,^[18] and lost his place in the team as a consequence.^[19]

Lennon joined Wycombe Wanderers on 31 January 2008,^[19] leaving on 3 April to take up a coaching role with Celtic.^[20]

International career[link]

Lennon was capped 40 times by Northern Ireland,^[6] scoring two goals. He also captained the team.

Lennon decided to retire from international football in August 2002 upon receiving a death threat before a Northern Ireland match against Cyprus. The threats came after his alleged claim that he wanted to play for a team representing a United Ireland.^[21] The threat was allegedly made by the Loyalist Volunteer Force, although the organisation later denied this.^[22][23]

International goals[link]

Scores and results list Northern Ireland's goal tally first

Goal	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	5 October 1996	Belfast, Northern Ireland	Armenia	1–0	1–1	1998 World Cup qualification[24][25]
2	18 October 1998	Belfast, Northern Ireland	Moldova	2–2	2–2	Euro 2000 qualification[26][27]

Management and coaching[link]

Lennon was linked with the vacant manager's job at Hibernian after the resignation of John Collins,^[28] but the job was given to Mixu Paatelainen. Lennon's first coaching appointment was as first team coach with Celtic in 2008.^[29] After the appointment of Tony Mowbray as Celtic manager, Lennon took charge of the Celtic reserve team.^[30]

Following Mowbray's departure from Celtic on 25 March 2010, Lennon was appointed caretaker manager for the remainder of the 2009–10 season.^[31] He appointed former team-mate Johan Mjällby as his assistant. Celtic won all of their remaining league games under Lennon, including wins over Kilmarnock,^[32] Hibernian,^[33] and Rangers,^[34] but lost 2–0 to First Division side Ross County in the Scottish Cup.^[35]

Neil Lennon returned to play for Celtic in the John Kennedy testimonial match, 9 August 2011

Lennon was appointed manager of Celtic on a full time basis on 9 June 2010.^[3][36] On 28 July, in his first competitive game as full time manager, Celtic lost 3–0 away to Braga in the UEFA Champions League.^[37] In the 2010–11 season, Lennon was given a six match touchline ban for excessive misconduct, which was later reduced to four matches after appeal.^[38] He was given another four match touchline ban by the SFA following an altercation with Rangers assistant manager Ally McCoist after a Scottish Cup match in March 2011.^[39]

Lennon led Celtic to the final of the League Cup in March 2011, but they lost 2–1 to Rangers after extra time.^[40] They remained in contention for the SPL title until the final day of the 2010–11 season, when they won 4–0 at home to Motherwell, but finished a point behind Rangers.^[41] He won his first silverware as a manager when Celtic beat Motherwell 3–0 in the Scottish Cup Final a week later.^[42]

Lennon won the SPL Manager of the Month award for November 2011.^[43]

Personal life[link]

Lennon has spoken about having suffered from depression since 2000.^[44]

In September 2008, Lennon was assaulted whilst in the West End of Glasgow.^[45] His attackers were subsequently charged, convicted and jailed for two years each on 16 January 2009.^[46]