The League Managers Association (LMA) congratulates Ian Holloway on his induction into the LMA Hall of Fame 1000 Club.
Ian will become only the 38th manager in the modern era of English football to reach the milestone of managing 1000 competitive matches when Swindon Town play Grimsby Town on the 21st December 2024.
On his induction to the LMA Hall of Fame 1000 Club, Ian Holloway said: “Every day of my career to date has been a privilege and I can’t believe how fast the time has gone. I would like to thank all of the players and staff that I have worked with over the years. No one does it on their own.
“It has been a marvellous journey and I am honoured to join the LMA Hall of Fame 1000 Club and all of the incredible managers who have achieved this milestone in the past.”
LMA Chair Martin O’Neill OBE said: “I am absolutely delighted that Ian has been inducted into the LMA Hall of Fame 1000 Club, honouring and recognising his exceptional career to date. Ian has demonstrated the sacrifice required of a modern day manager with nearly 30 years in English football.
"His rise from player-manager at Bristol Rovers to the Premier League - achieving three promotions along the way - clearly demonstrates his resilience, commitment to learning and desire to improve, all through an infectious personality.”
LMA 1000 Club member Harry Redknapp said: “Ian brings such a unique energy and charisma to football management and I am really pleased to welcome him into the LMA Hall of Fame 1000 Club. Ian achieved such a fairytale story at Blackpool and he did an outstanding job to achieve this with the resources at his disposal. I am thrilled to see a good friend reach such an illustrious milestone.”
LMA Chief Executive Richard Bevan OBE said: "On behalf of everyone at the LMA, I congratulate Ian on reaching this outstanding and deserved milestone. Ian joins an elite group of managers, who have been pioneers in working in the ever-volatile industry of football management. The LMA Hall of Fame 1000 Club is a celebration of success and longevity in the game, and Ian has been an ever-popular figure among his peers.”
The LMA will honour Ian’s achievement with a special presentation, and formally induct him into the LMA Hall of Fame 1000 Club, at the LMA Annual Awards dinner in May 2025.
CAREER SUMMARY
An undoubtedly charismatic leader, Ian began his time in management in 1996 whilst at Bristol Rovers as a player-manager and achieved a play-off finish in only his second season in charge, before retiring as a player at the end of the 1998-99 season to fully concentrate on his time in the dugout.
In February 2001, he was appointed manager of Queens Park Rangers. Despite relegation in his first season, Ian guided the West London side to promotion back to the Championship in 2004. After establishing QPR as a Championship side, in 2006 Ian was appointed manager of Plymouth Argyle before joining Leicester City.
Ian joined Blackpool in 2009 and, just a year later, masterminded Blackpool’s remarkable journey to the Premier League, becoming only the second ever Blackpool manager to win promotion in his first full season.
In November 2012, Ian moved back to London and joined Crystal Palace where he led the Eagles to promotion back to the Premier League, marking his second promotion to the Premier League in his career and his third overall.
Ian went on to manage Millwall, guiding them to Championship safety in his first season, before rejoining QPR for a second spell for two seasons. In December 2019, Ian was appointed as Grimsby Town manager.
In between roles, Ian became a regular broadcaster for Sky Sports, sharing his knowledge and expertise with fans across the country and in October 2024, Ian took charge at Swindon Town. On Saturday, 21st December 2024, he will oversee his 1000th competitive match and join the prestigious LMA Hall of Fame 1000 Club.
LMA HALL OF FAME 1000 CLUB INFORMATION:
The LMA Hall of Fame 1000 Club recognises any LMA member who has managed 1000 competitive first team matches at full-time professional clubs in the following sanctioned competitions:
*Equivalent overseas leagues must be fully professional
**Only matches played after the professionalisation of the Women’s Super League in September 2018 to be counted
LMA HALL OF FAME 1000 CLUB MEMBERS:
- Sam Allardyce
- Carlo Ancelotti
- Len Ashurst
- Ron Atkinson
- Dave Bassett
- Rafa Benítez
- Steve Bruce
- Alan Buckley
- Sir Matt Busby CBE
- Brian Clough OBE
- Steve Coppell
- Unai Emery
- Sven-Göran Eriksson
- Sir Alex Ferguson CBE
- Dario Gradi MBE
- Roy Hodgson CBE
- Ian Holloway
- Brian Horton
- Jürgen Klopp
- Lennie Lawrence
- Mick McCarthy
- Lawrie McMenemy MBE
- José Mourinho
- David Moyes
- Tony Pulis
- Claudio Ranieri
- Harry Redknapp
- Sir Bobby Robson CBE
- Joe Royle
- Denis Smith
- Jim Smith
- Alec Stock
- Graham Taylor OBE
- John Toshack MBE
- Graham Turner
- Neil Warnock
- Arsène Wenger OBE
- Danny Wilson
