Burnley in advanced talks to appoint Scott Parker as new manager

BRUGGE, BELGIUM - FEBRUARY 15:  Club Brugge Manager Scott Parker looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League round of 16 leg one match between Club Brugge KV and SL Benfica at Jan Breydel Stadium on February 15, 2023 in Brugge, Belgium. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
By Andy Jones
Jul 2, 2024

Burnley are in advanced talks to appoint Scott Parker as their new manager.

The Athletic reported in June that Parker was on an initial shortlist to replace Vincent Kompany at Turf Moor alongside Frank Lampard and Liam Rosenior. A number of other candidates including Ruud Van Nistelrooy and current acting head coach Craig Bellamy have also held talks, but Parker has now emerged as the club’s preferred candidate.

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The 43-year-old has been out of football since leaving Club Bruges in March 2023, having won just two of his 12 matches at the helm of the Belgian club.

Burnley have been on the lookout for a new manager since Kompany was appointed Bayern Munich head coach in May.

Kompany guided Burnley to the Championship title in 2022-23 with a 101-point season, but the club were relegated from the Premier League last season.

Parker’s first managerial job was at Fulham, where he won promotion back to the Premier League via the play-offs in the 2019-20 campaign but oversaw their relegation back to the second tier the following campaign.

The former central midfielder was subsequently appointed at Bournemouth, where he again oversaw a promotion to the Premier League in 2021-22 but was sacked just four matches into the following season following a 9-0 defeat at Liverpool,  after which he said his side were “unequipped” for the top flight.

(Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)

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Andy Jones

Andrew Jones is a Staff Writer for The Athletic covering Burnley FC and Liverpool FC. Having graduated from the University of Central Lancashire with a First Class Honours Degree in Sports Journalism, Andrew has had written work published for the Liverpool Echo, Chelsea FC and Preston North End. Follow Andy on Twitter @adjones_journo