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Mark Wright (born August 1, 1963) is an English football player turned manager. He is currently the manager of League Two side Chester City.

Playing career

Oxford United

Mark Wright started his career with Oxford United after coming through the ranks as a trainee with his local club. After only 10 league appearances, the outstanding young defender was transferred to Southampton F.C. together with Keith Cassells in a deal which also sent Trevor Hebberd to Oxford.

Southampton and Derby County

He really made his name as a player with Southampton F.C. and Derby County and reached such a high standard as a centre-back that he included in the England squad for the 1990 FIFA World Cup, a surprise selection ahead of the higher-rated Tony Adams, as he was not fully fit when the squad was named. Some suspected he was an emotion-driven choice, as he had missed the 1986 tournament with a broken leg. However, he was one of England's many stars that year.

Liverpool

Derby were relegated from the old First Division in 1991 and Wright was not prepared to play outside the top division as it would sabotage his chances of international football. He joined Liverpool for £2.5 million and was a regular until his retirement seven years later at the age of 35. During his time at Anfield he won an FA Cup and a League Cup in a young team consisting of players like Steve McManaman and Robbie Fowler who came close but never managed to outwit Manchester United's domination on the Premiership title of the 1990s.

Management career

Following a brief spell in charge of Southport FC of the Conference, in June 2001, Mark Wright made his Football League management debut with Oxford United who had just been relegated to the fourth level of the Football League (then called Division Three) after an absence of more than 30 years. But his appointment was not a success after he was sacked for allegedly racially abusing a match official in December after an unremarkable start to the season.

Wright was not out of work for long. He was put in charge of Conference strugglers Chester City and did well to keep them clear of relegation to the Northern Premier League. The following season, 2001-02 season, Chester were pushing hard for promotion but lost to eventual winners Doncaster Rovers in the playoff semi-finals. A year later they went one better by finishing top of the division and regaining their league status four years after losing it, but Wright suddenly announced his resignation just 48 hours before the Coca-Cola League Two campaign began. This was allegedly following a long-running affair with a player's wife.

Having been given what people viewed as a last chance to resurrect his career with Peterborough United, he managed to get them into contention for promotion, and all appeared well. However, on 25 January 2006 Wright was suspended from his position as manager pending an internal inquiry. Six days later he was sacked for gross misconduct after failing to appear in front of the board members. It is alleged that a racial comment was made towards one of his staff, something that he has consistently denied and court action is pending over the issue.

A month after leaving Peterborough, Wright rejoined Chester City as manager. His initial contract with the club lasted until the summer of 2006. Wright staved off relegation upon his return to Chester and was rewarded with a 2 year contract.

• Mark Wright

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