List of Blackpool F.C. managers


Including repeat appointments, there have been 41 full-time managers of Blackpool F.C., the first being Bill Norman between 1918 and 1923. The longest-serving manager was Joe Smith, who occupied the role for 23 years;
Michael Appleton, meanwhile, lasted 65 days in the role in his first stint at the club. Blackpool have, on average, appointed a new manager just under every three years. As of October 2025, the club have had fourteen full-time managers in thirteen years.
There have been five repeat appointments: Bob Stokoe, Allan Brown, Simon Grayson, Michael Appleton and Neil Critchley.
In 2014, Jose Riga became the club's first foreign manager.
In 2020, Neil Critchley became the first appointment to be known as a head coach.

List of managers

NameFromToGamesWonDrawnLostWin%Honours won
No manager1896190319663389532.14
Tom Barcroft 19031909220615510427.73
Jack Cox 190919117630182839.47
No manager1911191515248356931.58
Bill Normanc. 1 August 1918c. 31 May 192316874365844.05
No managerc. 31 May 19235 October 1923815212.50
Major Frank Buckley6 October 1923c. 31 May 192716066365841.25
Sydney Beaumontc. 1 August 1927c. 31 May 1928421382130.95
Harry Evans c. 1 August 1928c. 31 May 193321083359239.52Division Two championship
Sandy MacFarlane1 July 193331 July 19358436242442.86
Joe Smithc. 1 August 193530 April 195867228815522942.86Promotion to Division One, FA Cup
Ron Suart1 May 19581 February 19673631169115631.96
Stan Mortensen1 February 1967April 19699940273240.40
Harry Johnston April 1969April 1969??????.??
Les Shannon1 May 196926 October 19705622171739.29Promotion to Division One
Jimmy Meadows 26 October 197020 December 1970811612.50
Bob Stokoe20 December 197023 November 19728028242835.001971 Anglo-Italian Cup
No manager23 November 19721 January 1973740357.14
Harry Potts1 January 19735 May 197614352474436.36
Allan Brown5 May 19766 February 19786928231840.58
Bobby Smith 6 February 19787 March 1978201100.00
Jimmy Meadows 7 March 197820 May 19781316607.69
Bob Stokoe 20 May 197817 August 1979461891939.13
Stan Ternent19 September 19791 February 198029971331.03
Freddie Scott February 1980February 1980??????.??
Alan BallFebruary 198028 February 19815113142425.49
Allan Brown 1 March 198131 May 19825817172429.31
Sam Ellis1 June 198228 March 19893111178910537.62Promotion to Division Three
Jimmy Mullen 28 March 198920 May 19891151545.45
Jimmy Mullen20 May 198930 April 19904510161922.22
Tom White 30 April 199011 June 1990100100.00
Graham Carr11 June 199030 November 19901653831.25
Billy Ayre30 November 199010 June 199416468375941.46Promotion to Division Two
Sam Allardyce19 July 199429 May 19969241232844.57
Gary Megson5 July 19961 July 19974618151339.13
Nigel Worthington8 July 199723 December 199911334324730.09-
Mike Hennigan &
Mike Davies 		23 December 19997 January 2000301200.00
Steve McMahon7 January 20006 June 200420672538134.95Promotion to Division Two, League Trophy
Colin Hendry7 June 200410 November 20056218192529.03
Simon Grayson 10 November 20055 June 2006309101130.00
Simon Grayson5 August 200623 December 200811643373637.06Promotion to The Championship
Tony Parkes &
Steve Thompson 		24 December 200818 May 20092269727.27
Ian Holloway21 May 20093 November 2012143544049Promotion to the Premier League
Steve Thompson 3 November 20127 November 20122101
Michael Appleton7 November 201211 January 201311272
Steve Thompson 11 January 201318 February 20136204
Paul Ince18 February 201321 January 201440121513
Barry Ferguson 21 January 20143 May 2014203512
José Riga11 June 201427 October 2014141310
Lee Clark30 October 20149 May 20153231118
Neil McDonald2 June 201518 May 201614446
Gary Bowyer1 June 20166 August 2018115424033Promotion to League One
Terry McPhillips6 August 20185 July 2019562118170
Simon Grayson6 July 201912 February 20202910910
David Dunn 12 February 20202 March 20204211
Neil Critchley2 March 20202 June 202294392431Promotion to The Championship
Michael Appleton17 June 202218 January 2023276813
Mick McCarthy19 January 20238 April 202314239
Stephen Dobbie 8 April 202323 May 20236303
Neil Critchley23 May 202321 August 202448211017
Richard Keogh 21 August 20243 September 20242020
Steve Bruce3 September 20244 October 202562221921
Ian Evatt21 October 20253300100.00