Paul Mariner

Paul Mariner is an English football coach and former professional striker. He was born on 22 May 1953 in Bolton, England.

Paul got off to a flying start of his professional career at Plymouth Argyle scoring 14 goals in 41 appearances during his debut 1973/74 season and finishing as a runner-up in the English Third Division. Thanks to his terrific performances, Mariner was named the Player of the Year in the next two consecutive seasons. Overall, he scored 56 goals in 134 league appearances for the club.

In 1976, Mariner moved to Ipswich Town where played for eight seasons amassing 136 splendid goals in 337 appearances in all competitions for the English side. Together with the club he became the FA Cup Winner in the 1977/78 season, recorded the UEFA Cup victory in the 1980/81 season and was named the Player of the Year in the 1982/83 campaign.

Afterwards, Mariner shone for the giant Arsenal, Portsmouth, San Francisco Bay before his retirement in 1993. Since 1977 till 1985, he earned 35 international caps to the England national team.

Paul Mariner embarked on his managerial career as an assistant coach at the MLS club New England Revolution in 2004. He made a great impact helping his side to finish as MLS Cup Runners-Up three consecutive seasons, from 2005 to 2007. In 2008, Mariner led the club to the North American SuperLiga victory. In 2009, he took the coaching reins at his former Plymouth Argyle and in 2012 Paul Mariner was temporarily appointed the head coach at Toronto FC.