Alan Pardew is the current manager of Newcastle United having joined the club in December 2010 after the club suprisingly sacked Chris Hughton. Pardew led the club to an extremely impressive 5th in 2011/12 but was unable to repeat the feat last season, with the club finishing down in 16th.
Since the turn of the century Pardew has been in charge of five different clubs, with varying degrees of success. In his debut managerial job with Reading with whom he transformed into serious promotion candidates. In 2002 he guided the club to automatic promotion to Division One when they finished as Division Two runners-up. The following season the club finished in a very impressive 4th position, only to lose out in the play-offs to Wolves.
Not long into the start of the 2003/04 season Pardew joined recently relegated West Ham. In his first season in charge of the Hammers he took them all the way to the play-off final, only to experience play-off heartache yet again when they lost to Crystal Palace. However, the next season they went one step better and beat Preston in the play-off final and thus were promoted back into the Premier League.
In their first season back in the top flight Pardew led the Hammers to a respectable 9th place finish. The season ended with a trip to Wembley for the FA Cup Final against Liverpool. In a thrilling match, West Ham twice found themselves ahead, at 2-0 early on and then 3-2, only to be denied victory in injury time when Steven Gerrard equalised with a screamer. With no goals in extra-time the game went into penalties, which West Ham lost 3-1. In December 2006 Pardew was sacked after the club's poor start to the season.
Pardew has since managed Charlton, with whom his was unable to keep in the Premier League, and then Southampton who he won the Johnstone's Paint Trophy with in 2010. Pardew was appointed Newcastle manager in December 2010, with the club finishing 12th in the Premier League in 2011. The Mapies then surpassed all expectations with a stunning fifth place finish last season.
Newcastle were rocked by numerous injuries to key players last season which saw them finish down in 16th. They will be expected to bounce back next season and challenge for a European place.
