Viv began his playing career at Nottingham Forest under the mercurial Brian Clough back in 1972. His first appearance for the club came as a fresh faced 17 year old and he satyed with the club for 12 years, before moving to Arsenal. During his time with Forest he won the League Championship in 1977, the League Cup in both 1978 and 1979, and in memorable style, the European Cup for two successive seasons in 1979 and 1980.
In 1984 he moved to Arsenal, where he was a regular for 3 seasons, missing only 3 games during his time at the Highbury club. Again, whilst at the club he won honours, claiming the League Cup for a third time.
By 1987 he was on his way again, as he became Sir Alex Ferguson's first signing for Manchester United. His first season ended as runners up in the First Division, but again he sercured a trophy, winning the 1990 FA Cup - a win that folklore says kept Sir Alex in a job at Old Trafford.
Sheffield Wednesday followed, albeit breifly, where as captain of the club, he won promotion to the top division, and led the team for both the League Cup Final and the FA Cup Final against George Graham's Arsenal.
His last playing club, was also his first managerial appointment, when in 1993 he arrived at Barnsley Football Club as Player Manager.
Viv also had a good career with England, becoming the first black player to represent England in a full international match. His international career lasted 12 years, and amassed him thirty England Caps, taking in two World Cups (Mexico and Italy) and two European Championships.
With his playing career finished, and having served under various managerial greats, most notably Clough and Ferguson, it was obvious that he was destined to move into front line management.
In 1994, he joined up with his old playing partner Bryan Robson, as Assistant Manager at Middlesborough. During his time at the club, he twice achieved promotion to the Premiership (in 1995 and 1998), guided Middlesbrough to both the FA Cup Final and the Coca Cola Cup Final (in 1997), and the Coca Cola Cup Final in 1998.
By the end of his time at the club, he had been there seven years, with himself and Bryan Robson being the second longest serving management team in the Premiership.
In 2000 his career in football was rewarded when he was awarded the MBE by the Queen for services to football in the Millennium Honours list.
Currently the patron for Youth Against Racism, he is currently looking to use ten years experience in management to take up a new challenge and with his history of success matched with his personal experiences with the managerial greats of the game who would bet against him succeeding in that challenge.
