6'2"  12st.10lb.
b. Swansea 10 June 1970
 

Debut  16 December 1995 (25y 189d) Final Game 30 September 1997 (27y 112d)
CAREER: St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School;Bishop Vaughan Catholic School;Manchester City Nov'84 (ass sc);Swansea City Aug'87 (trainee Jun'87)[159+1-2];Crystal Palace Jul'91(£275,000)[143+11-13];Blackburn Rovers Dec'95 (£2,800,000);Fulham Dec'98-Oct'02 (£2,100,000)[136-8].
INTERNATIONALS   Wales  28 + 3 apps   4 gls
’92 v Aut(s) 1gl.’93 v RoI(s).’94 v Nor 1gl,Est.’95 v Alb 1gl,Mol,Geo,Bul,Bul,Ger.’96 v Mol,Ita, Swi,SaM.’97 v SaM.’98 v Bra,Jam,Mlt,Tun.’99 v Ita,Den,Blr 1gl,Swi.’00 v Blr,Swi,Qat,Fin.’01 v Blr,Nor,Pol.’02 v Ger(s).
HONOURS 1 Div Ch (Crystal Palace) ’94.(Fulham ’01.2 Div Ch (Fulham) ’98.Welsh Cp win ’89,’91 (SwanseaCity).
SQUAD NUMBER  2 Dec’95
 

PL           27 + 1 apps  - 3 wdn                                         1 ns
FAC         2 apps
FLC          2 apps
Total      31 + 1 apps  - 3 wdn  + 45m - 22m et 30m   1 ns

Coleman first came north to take up a traineeship at Maine Road but home sick he walked out and moved to his hometown club. A reputation for using his exceptional physique well and keeping calm brought him a transfer to Crystal Palace, where he was often used as an emergency striker. When his club was relegated he decided to leave and was about to sign for Coventry when the Rovers decided they could use him as a replacement for Ian Pearce. Within a week Graeme Le Saux received a crippling injury and so Coleman slotted in alongside Hendry at the centre of the defence. Despite his promise he never cemented his place and a year's lay off because of Achilles tendon trouble relegated him well down the list of potential central defenders. Realising that he had to move he took the unusual step of dropping two divisions to join Kevin Keegan's  Fulham. At least his ability to spot potential was acute because two seasons later they were in the Premiership although the last games were played without his services. A horror crash whilst driving his high powered car at night almost cost him a leg and although he bravely fought his way through a series of operations he was forced to give up the game, remaining with his club on the coaching staff. Thrust into the final games of the season as acting manager, following the departure of Jean Tigana, he displayed sufficient acumen for the club to hand him the role permanently. Although lauded as on of the best young managers in the Premiership, he fell foul of the politics at Craven Cottage and was dismissed in 2007, returning to football as coach at Real Sociedad. By the start of 2008 he was once again out of work after resigning in Spain but immediately he was appointed manager of Coventry City. He was dismissed from this position in 2010. In May 2011 he became coach to the Greek side, Larissa. In 2012 he succeeded Gary Speed as manager of  the Welsh national team. He proved hugely successful and in 2016 guided his side to the semi-finals of the European Championships. After Wales  failed to qualify for the World Cup Finals he resigned his position and took over as manager of Sunderland, a decision he had cause to regret as the side was relegated to the third tier of English football and he was dismissed. He was appointed head coach of the Chinese side Hebei  China Fortune but was in the position for just less than a year.