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Gary Brazil
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Gary Brazil
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Gary Nicholas Brazil (born 19 September 1962) is an English former professional footballer and football manager. He scored 160 goals in 658 league and cup games in an 18-year professional career.

Key Information

Starting at Crystal Palace, he turned professional with Sheffield United in 1980. Five years later, following a loan spell with Port Vale, he signed with Preston North End. He spent four seasons with Preston, then spent one season at Newcastle United, before transferring to Fulham in 1990. After six years with the club, he moved on to Cambridge United, Barnet, and finally Slough Town. He helped Sheffield United to win promotion out of the Third Division in 1983–84 and was named Preston North End's Player of the Year in 1987, having helped the club to win promotion out of the Fourth Division in 1986–87.

He went into coaching in 1999, and spent two periods as manager of Notts County and three spells as a caretaker manager at Nottingham Forest, where he was appointed academy manager for nine years, starting in 2014.

Playing career

[edit]

Sheffield United

[edit]

Having joined Crystal Palace straight from school in 1979, Brazil stayed with Palace for just twelve months before taking the opportunity of first-team football with Sheffield United, signing on a free transfer in August 1980.[3] In nearly five years at Bramall Lane he played 78 games, of which 30 were as a substitute, scoring 10 goals. The "Blades" suffered relegation out of the Third Division in 1980–81 under Harry Haslam. After Ian Porterfield took charge, they then made an immediate return as champions of the Fourth Division in 1981–82. A mid-table finish in 1982–83 followed, before a second promotion in three years was achieved with a third-place finish in 1983–84. However, they had only finished ahead of Hull City on goals scored.[4] In August 1984 he joined Port Vale on loan, and scored three goals in six Fourth Division appearances for John Rudge's "Valiants".[1]

Preston North End

[edit]

Brazil was sold on to Preston North End for £25,000 in August 1985 but could not prevent Tommy Booth's "Lilywhites" from being relegated out of the Third Division.[3] The next season again was a disappointment. However, Brazil was now a regular and scoring frequently. Preston finished the season in 91st place in the Football League and were forced to seek re-election, forcing the powers that be at Deepdale to make vast changes. Brazil was voted Player of the Year in 1987, as the club won promotion in second place, with Brazil and John Thomas scoring 48 goals between them.[5] The 1987–88 campaign was one of consolidation. However, Preston narrowly missed out on a Wembley cup final when they lost to Burnley in the Football League Trophy semi-final. A promotion push in 1988–89 ended in defeat to former club Port Vale in the play-off semi-finals. However, Brazil had already departed, having been picked up by Newcastle United for a fee of £200,000 (of which half was made up in a swap deal with Ian Bogie) in February 1989.[3] In all competitions, he had played 202 games for Preston, scoring 72 goals.

Newcastle United and Fulham

[edit]

Brazil started just three games of the rest of the season, as Newcastle suffered relegation out of the First Division. Manager Jim Smith gave him just five starts in 1989–90 behind strike partners Mark McGhee and Micky Quinn in the first-team pecking order at St James' Park. In September 1990, he moved on to Fulham for a fee of £110,000.[3] In six seasons at Craven Cottage Brazil played 254 matches and scored 60 goals. He hit five goals in 1990–91, as the "Cottagers" almost exited the Third Division at the wrong end under the stewardship of Alan Dicks. Brazil finished as the club's top scorer in 1991–92 with 14 goals, as the club missed out on the play-offs by three places and four points. Following an indifferent 1992–93 campaign, he finished as the club's top scorer again in 1993–94 with 14 goals; however, his scoring record was not enough to prevent the club slipping into the bottom tier under Don Mackay. An unsuccessful promotion campaign followed in 1994–95 under Ian Branfoot's stewardship, with Fulham finishing two places and three points outside the play-offs.

Later career

[edit]

Upon leaving Fulham at the end of 1995–96 he had spells at Cambridge United and Barnet, also of the Third Division.[3] Fulham would finally win promotion out of the division in 1996–97 under new boss Micky Adams. In February 1997, he moved into Conference football with Slough Town.[6] He scored on his debut for the club.[6] He had 15 months with Slough, scoring ten goals in 69 games.[6]

Managerial and coaching career

[edit]

Notts County

[edit]

After retiring as a player, Brazil joined Notts County as a coach and then as assistant manager to Sam Allardyce.[7] Following Allardyce's departure to Bolton Wanderers in October 1999, Brazil was prompted to take charge of a "Magpies" team that was enjoying a promising start to the season. The team faltered during the first half of 2000 and finished the 1999–2000 season in eighth place, two places but 17 points outside the play-offs. Brazil was demoted back down to assistant manager in May 2000, making way for Jocky Scott.[8] He did receive a second chance at the helm between October and November 2001 after Scott was sacked following repeated clashes with the board,[9] but this short reign was ended abruptly when Brazil was fired after failing to win a game over five weeks. He went on to serve Doncaster Rovers as youth team coach.[10]

Nottingham Forest

[edit]

In May 2012, he was appointed as a youth team coach at Nottingham Forest, replacing the departed Eoin Jess; he was to work alongside Steve Chettle.[11] Brazil progressed through the ranks to become Academy Manager at the club in 2014.[12] He became caretaker manager of the first-team after the sacking of Billy Davies in March 2014. During his temporary reign, he handed debuts to Ben Osborn, Dimitar Evtimov and Stephen McLaughlin, as well as a league debut to Dorus de Vries, before returning to his role as Academy manager whilst Stuart Pearce took over as first-team manager.[13][14]

He was handed a second spell as caretaker manager of the club after the departure of Philippe Montanier in January 2017. On 9 February, following a good start to his caretaker spell, Brazil was confirmed as manager for the rest of the 2016–17 season.[15] He was named as EFL manager of the week after overseeing a 3–0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion at the City Ground on 4 March, having changed the game with his substitution of Zach Clough.[16] However, after Forest underwent a series of five defeats in seven games the club appointed Mark Warburton as first-team manager on 14 March.[17]

Credited with the progress of Oliver Burke, Ben Osborn, Joe Worrall, Matty Cash, Jordan Smith and Ben Brereton, Brazil signed a signed a new long-term contract five months later.[18][19] Warbuton was sacked on New Year's Eve, leaving Brazil to again take on the role as caretaker manager.[20] On 7 January, he oversaw Forest's 4–2 victory over Arsenal in the third round of the FA Cup.[21] Aitor Karanka was appointed as manager the following day.[22]

On 14 October 2020, Nottingham Forest announced that Brazil had signed a new long-term contract with the club. The club announced that he now held the role of Director of Football Development, in which he will assist with Forest's domestic scouting, footballing philosophy and loan programme alongside his role in the club's academy.[23] Brazil's academy graduates have generated over £50 million in transfer revenue for Forest.[24] On 25 May 2021, Nottingham Forest announced that their academy had been upgraded to Category One status. Brazil said "The current and future investments in facilities by Mr Marinakis will take us to another level. It is a fantastic opportunity for the club and it will be really exciting for the staff and players to challenge themselves at the elite end of academy football."[25] He left his role as academy manager at Nottingham Forest in June 2023.[26] He went on to work for The Football Association as head of men's recruitment and retention.[27]

Personal life

[edit]

He is the father of former England youth player Ellie Brazil,[28] as well as Jack Brazil, former coach of New Mongol Bayangol.[29]

Career statistics

[edit]

Playing statistics

[edit]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[30][31]
Club Season League FA Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Sheffield United 1980–81 Third Division 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
1981–82 Fourth Division 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
1982–83 Third Division 33 5 5 0 2 0 40 5
1983–84 Third Division 19 2 4 1 5 0 28 2
1984–85 Second Division 19 2 4 1 5 0 28 3
Total 62 9 9 1 7 0 78 10
Port Vale (loan) 1984–85 Fourth Division 6 3 0 0 0 0 6 3
Preston North End 1984–85 Third Division 17 3 0 0 1 0 18 3
1985–86 Fourth Division 43 14 1 1 5 3 49 18
1986–87 Fourth Division 45 18 5 1 7 1 57 20
1987–88 Third Division 36 14 2 1 7 5 45 20
1988–89 Third Division 25 9 2 0 6 2 33 11
Total 166 58 10 3 26 11 202 72
Newcastle United 1988–89 First Division 7 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
1989–90 Second Division 16 2 1 0 3 1 20 3
Total 23 2 1 0 3 1 27 3
Fulham 1990–91 Third Division 42 4 3 1 3 0 48 5
1991–92 Third Division 46 14 1 0 6 5 53 19
1992–93 Second Division 30 7 0 0 0 0 30 7
1993–94 Second Division 46 14 1 0 9 5 56 19
1994–95 Third Division 32 7 2 0 6 0 40 7
1995–96 Third Division 18 1 2 0 7 1 27 2
Total 214 47 9 1 31 11 254 59
Cambridge United 1996–97 Third Division 1 1 0 0 1 0 2 1
Barnet 1996–97 Third Division 19 2 1 0 0 0 20 2
Slough Town 1996–97 Conference 12 3 0 0 1 1 13 4
1997–98 Conference 38 4 8 1 10 1 56 6
Total 50 7 8 1 11 2 69 10
Career total 541 129 38 6 79 25 658 160

Managerial statistics

[edit]
As of 8 January 2018[32]
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record
P W D L Win %
Notts County (caretaker) 14 October 1999 28 June 2000 39 12 10 17 030.8
Notts County (caretaker) 10 October 2001 7 January 2002 20 4 6 10 020.0
Nottingham Forest (caretaker) 24 March 2014 3 May 2014 9 2 2 5 022.2
Nottingham Forest (caretaker) 14 January 2017 14 March 2017 11 4 1 6 036.4
Nottingham Forest (caretaker) 31 December 2017 8 January 2018 2 1 1 0 050.0
Total 81 23 20 38 028.4

Honours

[edit]

Individual

Sheffield United

Preston North End

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Gary Brazil

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Gary Nicholas Brazil (born 19 September 1962) is an English former professional footballer and current football administrator, best known for his prolific goal-scoring career as a forward and his influential roles in youth development and recruitment within English football. Brazil began his professional playing career with Sheffield United in 1980, where he made 78 appearances and scored 10 goals over five years, including a loan spell at Port Vale in 1984–85 during which he netted 3 goals in 6 matches. He then joined Preston North End in 1985, becoming a key figure in their promotion-winning 1986–87 Fourth Division championship campaign, in which he scored 20 goals in all competitions and was named the club's Player of the Year after amassing 72 goals in 202 appearances overall. In total, Brazil scored more than 150 goals across over 600 league and cup appearances for clubs including Newcastle United (27 appearances, 2 goals in 1989–90), Fulham (254 appearances, 60 goals from 1990 to 1996), and later non-league Slough Town (69 appearances, 10 goals in 1997–98), establishing himself as a versatile second striker renowned for his clinical finishing and consistency in lower divisions. Transitioning to coaching after retiring in 1998, Brazil served as assistant manager and twice as at Notts County in 1999–2000 and 2001, before taking youth development roles at Rovers and returning to Fulham as U18 coach in 2006. His most prominent coaching tenure came at Nottingham Forest starting in 2012, where as academy manager and later Director of Football Development, he oversaw the progression of talents such as , , Joe Worrall, and (sold for £13 million in 2016), leading the U18s to the 2022 final and the U21s to the 2023 2 play-off final; he also acted as caretaker first-team manager on three occasions between 2014 and 2018. In 2023, following the end of his contract at Forest, Brazil joined as Head of Men's Player Recruitment and Retention, a role focused on identifying and securing future internationals while strengthening the national scouting network.

Playing career

Sheffield United

Gary Brazil began his professional career with Sheffield United in August 1980, having spent the previous year in the reserves at after being released from their youth setup. During his five-year stint at , Brazil made 62 league appearances and scored 9 goals, primarily operating as a versatile with attacking instincts. He often came off the bench early in his tenure, gradually establishing himself in the first team by the 1983–84 season. In August 1984, Brazil was loaned to Port Vale in the Fourth Division, where he featured in 6 matches and netted 3 goals, providing him with valuable playing time before returning to Sheffield United. Brazil played a key role in Sheffield United's promotion from the Third Division in the 1983–84 campaign, finishing third to secure automatic promotion under manager . His breakthrough that season included a notable goal in a 3–1 away win against Exeter City on 12 November 1983, where he converted a scramble in the to extend the lead. This performance highlighted his growing influence as a dynamic capable of contributing in the final third, helping the team to a strong finish with 24 wins from 46 league games. In February 1985, following the conclusion of his loan and amid limited first-team opportunities, Brazil transferred to Preston North End.

Preston North End

Gary Brazil joined Preston North End on loan from Sheffield United in February 1985 before signing permanently in August for a fee of £25,000. His previous experience at Sheffield United, where he had developed as a forward, aided his quick adaptation to the demands of the lower divisions. Over four seasons from 1985 to 1989, Brazil made 166 league appearances for the club, scoring 58 goals and establishing himself as one of the team's most consistent performers. Brazil played primarily as a second striker, often partnering John Thomas in attack and utilizing his pace and positioning to create scoring opportunities through assists and diagonal runs behind defenses. He was instrumental in Preston's promotion from the Fourth Division during the 1986–87 season, finishing second in the table under manager John McGrath. That campaign, Brazil netted 20 goals across all competitions, including crucial strikes in key matches such as the 1-0 victory over Northampton Town that edged Preston closer to promotion and the promotion-clinching 2-1 win against . His contributions extended to the run, reaching the fourth round with a notable performance at Newcastle United. In recognition of his outstanding form, Brazil was awarded Preston North End's Player of the Year for the 1986–87 season, an accolade that highlighted his pivotal role in the team's success amid strong competition from teammates.

Newcastle United and Fulham

In February 1989, Gary Brazil transferred to Newcastle United from Preston North End for a fee of £250,000 as part of a deal involving moving to Preston, bringing his emerging reputation as a prolific forward to a club seeking reinforcement in the Second Division. His goal-scoring prowess, honed during a standout spell at Preston where he netted frequently, influenced his selection for this higher-profile move. Over the next 18 months, Brazil made 26 appearances across all competitions for Newcastle, scoring 3 goals and providing key contributions in attack, though the team struggled with consistency under manager Jim Smith. Brazil's time at Newcastle included notable moments in competitive fixtures, such as scoring his first league goal in a 3–1 victory over Hull City on 30 September 1989, which helped secure an important away win during a challenging relegation battle. He also found the net in a 5-1 thrashing of West Bromwich Albion in November 1989, partnering effectively with forwards like to exploit defensive lapses and boost team morale amid a mid-table push. In the League Cup, Brazil converted a penalty during a 4-0 second-round win against Reading in October 1989, contributing to Newcastle's progression before their eventual exit. These performances highlighted his role in injecting dynamism into Newcastle's forward line, though limited starts—often as a substitute—reflected the squad's depth and his adaptation to First Division pressures following the club's promotion. In September 1990, Brazil moved to for a £110,000 fee, marking a return to the Third Division but offering stability at where he would spend the next six seasons. Across 204 appearances in all competitions, he scored 51 goals and recorded 26 assists, establishing himself as a reliable second striker whose consistent output supported Fulham's ambitions in the lower tiers. His contributions were particularly vital in the team's promotion pushes, including the 1991–92 season when Fulham finished ninth in the Third Division with 57 league goals scored. Fulham's 1992-93 return to the Second Division—following a league restructure—saw Brazil adapt to tougher opposition, where he netted 14 league goals despite the team's eventual relegation after finishing 20th, underscoring his personal impact amid collective struggles. Subsequent seasons in the Third Division (1993-96) featured steady performances, with Brazil chipping in during playoff efforts, such as the 1994-95 semi-final run lost to York City, and providing assists that enhanced team dynamics by linking midfield to frontline in a side often reliant on his experience. No major injuries significantly disrupted his tenure at , allowing for his longest professional stint and a total of 77 goal involvements that bolstered the club's resilience in Division Two and Three.

Later career

Following his departure from Fulham at the end of the 1995–96 season, Brazil joined Cambridge United on a short-term basis in August 1996, where he made one league appearance and scored one goal before leaving in September. He then moved to Barnet later that month, also in the Third Division, appearing in 19 league matches and scoring 2 goals during the 1996–97 campaign. In February 1997, Brazil transferred to non-league Slough Town in the , where he spent his final season in 1997–98, making 50 appearances and scoring 7 goals. Over his 18-year , Brazil amassed 541 league appearances and 129 goals across all clubs. Born on 19 September 1962, he retired at the age of 35 at the conclusion of the 1997–98 season.

Coaching and managerial career

Notts County

Following his retirement from professional football at the end of the 1997–98 season, Gary Brazil joined Notts County in July 1998 initially as a coach before being promoted to assistant manager under . Allardyce's sudden resignation on 14 October 1999 prompted Brazil to step up as from 16 October 1999 until the conclusion of the 1999–2000 season on 28 June 2000. In this role, he oversaw 38 matches across league and cup competitions, achieving 15 wins, 8 draws, and 15 losses, which contributed to Notts County's 8th-place finish in the Second Division with 65 points from 46 league games. Brazil's tenure emphasized a balanced tactical setup that maintained defensive organization while encouraging forward play from key attackers, helping stabilize the squad after the managerial change and fostering developments in players such as Mark Jones, who emerged as a consistent goal threat with 10 league goals that season. Brazil returned to the assistant manager position under , who was appointed in June 2000, but Scott's dismissal on 10 October 2001 led to Brazil's second caretaker spell from 10 October 2001 to 7 January 2002. During these 19 matches, he recorded 4 wins, 4 draws, and 11 losses, focusing on pragmatic tactics to arrest a poor run of form amid the club's struggles near the relegation zone. This period saw limited player progression due to the team's instability, though Brazil provided opportunities to young prospects like , who scored crucial goals in cup ties. Notts County ultimately finished 19th in the Second Division, avoiding relegation with 50 points. Brazil's overall managerial record at Notts County across the two caretaker spells comprised 19 wins, 12 draws, and 26 losses in 57 games. He departed the club in January 2002 following the appointment of Bill Dearden as permanent manager.

Nottingham Forest

Gary Brazil joined Nottingham Forest in May 2012, initially serving as a coach within the club's academy setup following his departure from the Premier League's coaching support team. He was promoted to Academy Manager in February 2013, a role in which he focused on nurturing young talent and integrating academy players into the senior squad. Brazil's first caretaker manager spell came in March 2014, following the dismissal of Billy Davies, where he led the team for the remainder of the Championship season across 8 matches, achieving two wins—including 3–0 over Blackpool and 2–0 at Leeds United—and two draws, which contributed to a secure mid-table finish of 11th place. His interim strategy emphasized defensive solidity and youth integration, such as handing a debut to academy product Ben Osborn in a 1–1 draw against Ipswich Town. In 2017–18, Brazil assumed caretaker duties twice: first from January to March 2017 after Philippe Montanier's sacking, overseeing 11 Championship games with four wins, including a 2–1 triumph over Aston Villa, and a points-per-game average of 1.18 to steady the side amid instability; and second from late December 2017 to early January 2018 after Mark Warburton's departure, managing two games highlighted by a memorable 4–2 FA Cup third-round upset against Arsenal. These tenures, totaling 22 games with a 36.4% win rate, showcased his ability to provide short-term stability by promoting academy prospects and maintaining team morale during turbulent ownership changes. In October 2020, Brazil advanced to Director of Football Development, expanding his oversight to encompass the entire youth pathway and commercial aspects of player progression. Under his leadership, the produced talents who generated over £100 million in transfer revenue for the club through sales such as to Aston Villa for £14 million in 2020 and to for £13 million in 2016, alongside others including and . Key achievements included a 2016 restructuring of the coaching staff to enhance technical development and individual player programs, which facilitated the graduation of 14 academy players to the first between 2014 and 2017, strengthening the club's self-sustainability in the . His emphasis on holistic player pathways, combining tactical with character building, positioned Nottingham Forest's Nigel Doughty as a vital revenue and talent source during prolonged second-tier campaigns. Brazil departed Nottingham Forest in June 2023 when his contract expired and was not renewed, concluding a 11-year tenure that significantly bolstered the club's youth infrastructure. His prior experience as manager at Notts County from 1999 to 2001 had laid a foundational grounding in club-level coaching that informed his long-term success at Forest.

The Football Association

In July 2023, Gary Brazil was appointed as Head of Men's Player Recruitment and Retention at (FA), transitioning from his long tenure at Nottingham Forest to a national-level role focused on talent identification and development. This position leverages his UEFA Pro Licence and extensive academy experience to oversee the scouting of high-potential players across all age groups for the England men's pathway, up to the senior international team. Brazil's responsibilities include leading a team to identify future international talents, particularly those at risk of being lost to other nations due to dual nationality, by positioning them early as prospective players. He influences the FA's broader scouting network to ensure comprehensive coverage and retention strategies that keep promising individuals within the national system. His academy expertise from Nottingham Forest has aided this transition, enabling effective implementation of player development protocols at St. George's Park. In his FA role, Brazil has contributed to strengthening youth systems through initiatives emphasizing character development alongside technical skills, a he has long advocated to prepare players for professional demands. For instance, he promotes traits such as and resilience in the Youth Development Phase (ages 12-16) and Phase (ages 17-21), helping bridge the gap to senior football. As of November 2025, Brazil remains in his position, continuing to shape national football pathways by enhancing processes and fostering sustainable player progression, with no major changes to his remit noted. His work has bolstered the FA's ability to identify successors to established stars like and , contributing to the long-term vitality of 's men's teams.

Personal information

Early life

Gary Brazil was born on 19 September 1962 in , , . Raised in the Tunbridge Wells area during the and , Brazil developed a strong early interest in football, influenced by watching the flamboyant Chelsea side of the early . This exposure to professional matches sparked his passion for the game, leading him to pursue opportunities in youth football. His enthusiasm culminated in successful youth trials, resulting in him joining Crystal Palace's youth setup directly from school in 1979.

Family

Gary Brazil is the father of , born on 10 January 1999, a professional footballer who has represented at youth international levels, including captaining the under-17 team. Ellie began her career in women's football, playing for clubs such as Birmingham City, Fiorentina, and & Hove Albion, where her father's coaching videos and drills from an early age helped shape her skills despite her initial interests in and . He is also the father of Jack Brazil, a football coach who previously managed New Mongol Bayangol FC in Mongolia's in 2014. Jack, who studied , has pursued coaching internationally, including stints in the and, since July 2024, as Under-16 Lead Coach at Newcastle United. The Brazil family's deep involvement in football has influenced Gary's post-retirement focus on youth development, where he has drawn on personal experiences to mentor young players, including supporting Ellie's recovery from a serious injury during her time at . This competitive household dynamic, marked by shared training sessions and mutual support at matches, underscores a legacy of footballing passion across generations.

Career statistics

Playing statistics

Gary Brazil's professional playing career, which began in 1979 and concluded in 1998, encompassed 529 appearances and 155 goals across league, cup, and other competitions for multiple clubs in the English football system. His statistics reflect a versatile forward role, with significant contributions in lower divisions, including prolific scoring periods at Preston North End. The breakdowns below provide detailed records by club, covering league matches (including appearances as substitute in parentheses), , , and other competitions (such as or full-member cups).

Club Statistics

ClubYearsTransfer FeeLeague Apps (Subs)/GoalsFA Cup Apps (Subs)/GoalsLeague Cup Apps (Subs)/GoalsOther Apps (Subs)/Goals
Crystal Palace1979–1980Junior0(0)/00(0)/00(0)/00(0)/0
Sheffield United1980–1985Free39(23)/94(5)/14(1)/01(1)/0
Port Vale1984–1985Loan6(0)/30(0)/00(0)/00(0)/0
Preston North End1985–1989£12,500163(3)/5810(0)/313(0)/613(0)/5
Newcastle United1989–1990Signed7(16)/20(1)/01(1)/10(1)/0
Fulham1990–1996£110,000207(7)/489(0)/513(1)/417(0)/3
Cambridge United1996Free1(0)/10(0)/00(0)/00(0)/0
Barnet1996–1997Free15(4)/20(0)/00(0)/00(0)/0
Slough Town1997–1998Signed4(0)/42(0)/00(0)/00(0)/0
Source: Soccerbase. Note: "Apps (Subs)" indicates total appearances with the number of substitute appearances in parentheses; goals exclude own goals or penalties unless specified in club records.

Cumulative Career Totals

  • League: 442(53) appearances / 127 goals
  • : 25(6) appearances / 9 goals
  • : 31(3) appearances / 11 goals
  • Other Competitions: 31(2) appearances / 8 goals
  • Overall: 529(64) appearances / 155 goals
These totals exclude youth or reserve matches and any international appearances, as Brazil did not represent at senior level. No significant disciplinary records, such as red cards or suspensions, are noted in verified sources for his playing career.

Managerial statistics

Gary Brazil's managerial record encompasses two spells at Notts County and three caretaker periods at Forest, with no full-time managerial appointment since departing Forest in 2023. Across 76 matches in total, he secured 22 victories, yielding a win percentage of 28.9%. His tenure emphasized stability during transitional periods, particularly as a caretaker, though results varied by club and context. The following table outlines key statistics from his managerial spells, focusing on competitive matches (league and cup where applicable). Data reflects performance metrics that highlight scale and impact, such as (PPM), which averaged 1.09 overall.
ClubSpellGamesWinsDrawsLossesWin %PPM
Notts CountyOct 1999 – May 2000361291533.31.25
Notts CountyOct 2001 – Jan 200218351016.70.78
Nottingham ForestMar–Jun 2014 (caretaker)922522.20.89
Nottingham ForestJan–Mar 2017 (caretaker)1141636.41.18
Nottingham ForestDec 2017 – Jan 2018 (caretaker)211050.02.00
Total-7622183628.91.09
These figures underscore Brazil's challenges in securing promotion or avoiding relegation threats during his Notts County stints, contrasted with steadier short-term outputs at , where caretaker duties often bridged managerial changes without long-term strategic overhauls. Detailed goals scored and conceded data varies by competition but generally showed defensive vulnerabilities, with conceding more than scored in two of three spells.

Honours

As player

During his time at Sheffield United from 1980 to 1984, Gary Brazil was part of two successful promotion campaigns. He contributed to the team's victory as champions of the in the 1981–82 season, marking their return to the third tier. In the 1983–84 season, Brazil helped Sheffield United secure promotion from the Third Division by finishing third in the table. Later, with Preston North End between 1985 and 1989, Brazil played a pivotal role in their promotion from the Fourth Division in the 1986–87 season, where the team finished as runners-up; during that campaign, he scored 20 goals in all competitions. His performances earned him the Preston North End Player of the Year award for 1987.

As coach

Under Gary Brazil's leadership as academy manager and Director of Football Development at Nottingham Forest (2013–2023), the academy achieved Category 1 status in 2021. The U18 team reached the final in 2022, and the U21 team reached the 2 play-off final in 2021. In 2023, Brazil was appointed Head of Men's Player Recruitment and Retention at .

References

  1. https://www.transfermarkt.com/gary-brazil/profil/trainer/10559
  2. https://www.sloughtownfc.com/profile/653/Gary-Brazil
  3. http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football/newcastle-united/gary-brazil-15499/league-appearances_a40194/
  4. https://www.theleaguepaper.com/features/featured/7279/profile-the-career-of-nottingham-forest-caretaker-manager-gary-brazil/
  5. https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/gary-brazil/
  6. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4725873/2023/07/31/gary-brazil-england-nottingham-forest/
  7. https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2023/may/15/u21s-defeated-in-premier-league-2-play-off-final/
  8. https://uk.linkedin.com/in/gary-brazil-825830296
  9. https://staceywest.net/2023/08/28/memory-match-sheffield-united-a-1983/
  10. https://www.theleaguepaper.com/features/3913/where-are-they-now-sheffield-uniteds-division-3-promotion-winners-19831984/
  11. https://grecianarchive.exeter.ac.uk/items/show/11100
  12. https://toon1892.com/detail_player.php?id=97
  13. https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2015/june/22/championship-newcomers
  14. https://www.transfermarkt.us/gary-brazil/profil/spieler/224064
  15. https://www.lep.co.uk/sport/football/preston-north-end/big-interview-former-preston-striker-reminisces-about-his-time-at-north-end-2548635
  16. https://www.myfootballfacts.com/premier-league/all-time-premier-league/clubs/preston-north-end/preston-north-end-fc-player-of-the-year-awards/
  17. https://www.nufc-history.co.uk/nufc-1988-89-diary.html
  18. https://www.transfermarkt.com/gary-brazil/leistungsdaten/spieler/224064
  19. https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/memory-match-newcastle-united-claw-7782458
  20. http://toon1892.com/detail_match.php?id=4378
  21. https://toon1892.com/detail_match.php?id=4341
  22. https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fc-fulham/transfers/verein/931/saison_id/1990
  23. https://hammyend.com/index.php/2022/09/gary-brazil-still-making-waves-after-all-these-years/
  24. https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=943
  25. https://www.transfermarkt.us/gary-brazil/profil/trainer/10559
  26. http://www.englishfootballstats.co.uk/League%20Stats/League%20Results/Notts%20County/1999-00.htm
  27. http://www.englishfootballstats.co.uk/League%20Stats/League%20Results/Notts%20County/2001-02.htm
  28. https://mehstg.co.uk/wp/nottscoalt/
  29. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/18071790
  30. https://archive.trainingground.guru/articles/academy-boss-brazil-leaves-nottingham-forest-after-a-decade
  31. https://www.transfermarkt.com/nottingham-forest/spielplan/verein/703/saison_id/2013
  32. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4631060/2023/06/26/gary-brazil-assessment/
  33. https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11727/10761786/gary-brazil-to-remain-nottingham-forest-boss-until-the-end-of-the-season
  34. https://www.planetfootball.com/quick-reads/ranking-the-last-ten-nottingham-forest-managers-by-their-win-percentage
  35. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4367726/2023/04/04/gary-brazil-nottingham-forest-academy-youth/
  36. https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2016/july/academy-coaching-restructure/
  37. https://www.theleaguepaper.com/features/featured/7499/big-interview-nottingham-forest-manager-gary-brazil/
  38. https://www.thefa.com/bootroom/resources/interviews/gary-brazil/character-development
  39. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4622439/2023/06/19/gary-brazil-nottingham-forest/
  40. https://www.britannica.com/place/Tunbridge-Wells-England
  41. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/nov/01/charlton-women-ellie-brazil-acl-injuries-interview
  42. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/57426388
  43. https://www.theguardian.com/football/these-football-times/2017/dec/06/ellie-brazil-england-serie-a-fiorentina-birmingham-city
  44. https://coachjackbrazil.wordpress.com/
  45. https://www.transfermarkt.com/jack-brazil/profil/trainer/113025
  46. https://www.newcastleunited.com/en/news/jack-brazil-joins-as-under-16-lead-coach
  47. https://www.managerstats.co.uk/managers/gary-brazil/
  48. https://www.thecityground.com/managers.php
  49. https://www.pnefc.net/news/2020/june/the-player-of-the-year-interviews-1987--gary-brazil/
  50. https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2021/may/Forest-Academy-Secures-Category-1-Status-For-2021-22-Season/
  51. https://www.thefa.com/competitions/fa-youth-cup/fixtures-results
  52. https://www.premierleague.com/youth
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