Taylor replaces Cotterill at Shrewsbury
Former Burnley player Matt Taylor is back in football as head coach at Shrewsbury Town, taking over from Steve Cotterill who recently resigned his position.
Taylor signed for Burnley in the summer of 2014 following our second promotion to the Premier League. His first season was affected by a long term Achilles injury and in the second season, back in the Championship, he started just one game although he made a number of influential appearances as a substitute.
On leaving Burnley, he played for Northampton and Swindon before hanging up his boots at the end of the 2018/19 season having made over 650 league appearances.
He moved to Spurs as youth team coach and then landed his first management role at Walsall at the beginning of June two years ago but lost the job in the following February.
Now he’s at Shrewsbury, appointed by their new director of football Micky Moore and said of his appointment: “I’m delighted. I think when you come to the stadium, when you look at the infrastructure behind the football club, there is nothing other than a burning desire and excitement.
“I’m very aware the football club has a successful playing style, something that has worked when you look at the finish last season. I think it was the second highest finish for 34 years. So there is a lot that is going right at the football club. So, what do I want to bring?
“I hope to allow the players to really express themselves. There are some exceptional footballers here and part of my role is to give them a platform and a structure so they can go and express themselves and entertain our loyal supporters.
“If I look back at my career and what made me successful, it was hard work and energy. The things that are non-negotiable for me will be that the players have to give everything whenever they put the shirt on. That’s the least the fans deserve. I think you accept mistakes as a football fan, I do when I watch it.
“But what is imperative is that every time a player goes onto the pitch wearing a Shrewsbury Town shirt, they have to go and give everything they have got. That is a minimum requirement and I’m sure the players will do that. I think what’s important now is that everyone understands just how hungry I am for this opportunity. I am also very grateful to be given this opportunity at such a wonderful football club.
“Micky and I want an environment where we create players who can receive the ball under pressure, who are able to twist and turn, but also understand that it’s all under-pinned by what you do out of possession.”
Moore said of the appointment process: “We went through a thorough process. I said right at the beginning that I needed time. I met quite a few candidates for a coffee, had a lot of telephone conversations with people, and obviously then brought the number down to be interviewed.
“We interviewed five and then we got down to the last two and Matt fit the criteria we set out right at the very beginning. I think from the moment I walked in, from what I’ve said our head coach will look like, Matt fitted that script and I’m very excited to have him on board.”
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