Sun Sep 21, 2014 5:13 am
Russell Slade (born 10 October 1960) is an English football manager currently in charge of League One side Leyton Orient and who won the League 1 Manager of the Year award and the League 1 LMA Manager of the Year award last season.
Slade has developed a reputation for being an excellent man manager, where his "legendary team talks" are credited for inspiring and bringing the best out of his players.[1]Operating within a tight budget, Slade has always had an eye for talent and has been considered a very savvy operator within the transfer market. Slade has never bought a player whilst at the O's, instead bringing in a number of players on free transfers, helping the side to punch beyond their weight.[2]Slade's eye for detail has seen him credited for spotting Phil Jagielka and for developing players like Moses Odubajo who have been developed at the O's Academy.[3]
Despite being linked with West Bromwich Albion F.C, Slade has remained loyal and is currently the fourth longest standing manager in English football.[4] In taking the O's to the Play off final in 2013-14, Slade enhanced his reputation further as a hard working dedicated manager by winning the first eight games of the season, playing attacking football with the O's scoring in 41 of their 46 League games and with Slade recording the highest win percentage as a manager in the club's history.[5] As a result of Slade's success, he is seen firmly as a fan's favourite with choruses of "hes got no hair but we don't care, Russell Russell Slade" often ringing around the Matchroom Stadium.