| Name: | Paul Heckingbottom |
| Age: | 47 |
| Date of birth: | July 17, 1977 |
| Height: | 5 ft 11 |
| Place of birth: | Barnsley |
| Nationality: | English |
Preston North End appointed Paul Heckingbottom as their latest manager in August 2024 following the shock departure of Ryan Lowe.
The Lilywhites were in desperate need of a manager following Lowe’s exit and turned to the former Sheffield United and Barnsley coach – a move that has excited supporters.
Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom’s past coaching career
Paul Heckingbottom’s managerial career began at Barnsley, where he initially served as the head of the club’s academy. His transition to the first team in 2016 was nothing short of meteoric. Taking over as interim manager, he guided Barnsley to a surprising promotion from League One to the Championship.
Following his success at Oakwell, Heckingbottom moved on to Leeds United in 2018, where his spell was relatively short-lived only managing 16 games.
Heckingbottom’s next challenge came with Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership, where he further demonstrated his managerial versatility. He guided his Hibs side to an impressive fifth place in his first campaign but would ultimately be sacked the following season with the Scottish outfit sat 10th.
In 2020, he would be appointed as under-23s lead coach at Sheffield United, eventually going on to replace first-team manager Chris Wilder in March 2021, taking charge of the Blades as interim manager. It would however be too late for Heckingbottom to save Sheffield United from Premier League relegation and he would return to his role as under-23’s boss in the summer.
Slavisa Jokanovic would take over the reins at Bramall Lane in the summer of 2021 but the former Fulham boss would only last until November before receiving the sack. Heckingbottom would then return as Sheffield United manager, bagging the job on a permanent basis this time around.
Heckingbottom would guide the Blades to promotion in the 22/23 season with a comfortable second-placed finish behind runner-away winners Burnley. Sheffield United’s time in the Premier League however would not go as planned as Heckingbottom would receive the sack in December 2023 following a 5-0 loss away to relegation rivals Burnley.
Paul Heckingbottom’s coaching career
| 2015 | Barnsley (caretaker) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016–2018 | Barnsley | ||
| 2018 | Leeds United | ||
| 2019 | Hibernian | ||
| 2021 | Sheffield United (interim) | ||
| 2021–2023 | Sheffield United | ||
| 2024– | Preston North End | ||
Paul Heckingbottom’s playing career
Heckingbottom began his professional career in the early 1990s with his hometown club, Sheffield Wednesday, but it was with Barnsley where he truly began to make a name for himself. The solid, no-nonsense defender was a cornerstone of Barnsley’s backline, contributing significantly to the club’s defensive stability in the lower leagues.
In the late 1990s, Heckingbottom’s career took him to various clubs, including a notable spell with Darlington. The early 2000s saw the defender return to Barnsley, where he continued to be a stalwart presence in the defence. The Preston manager’s career also included stints with clubs such as Luton Town and Halifax Town.
Despite not reaching the pinnacle of the English game, Heckingbottom’s career was marked by his consistent performances and his ability to adapt to the demands of various leagues.