George Burley is currently out of work as a manager having lasted only two matches in charge of Cypriot side Apollon Limassol. However, he has expressed is interest in a dramatic return to Ipswich Town, 10 years after being sacked by the club.
Burley had a good playing career but spent the most part of his career at Portman Road for Ipswich. He also had spells with Sunderland and Gillingham whilst earning 11 Scotland Caps before he moved into coaching as Player-Manager for Ayr United in 1991.
Burley was sacked from Ayr in 1993 and moved onto Colchester as a Player-Coach for a brief spell before moving onto Ipswich Town where he would go on to have his greatest success as a Manager. He would go onto manage The Tractor Boys for eight years earning them promotion to the Premier League after reaching the Play-Offs for three consecutive seasons. In his first season as a Premier League Manager Burley led Ipswich Town to a remarkable 5th place finish and a UEFA Cup spot which earned the Scot the Manager of The Year Award.
However, the following season was difficult for Ipswich and they were promptly relegated from the top flight and Burley left the club not long after. Burley then had mixed spells at both Derby County and Hearts in the Scottish Premier League. Another reasonably short stint followed at Southampton where he reached the Play-Offs before being tempted away to become the Scotland National Team Manager in January 2008.
Burley had a tough time in National Management though, he lasted little more than 18 months before being given the elbow with the Scots in a terrible run of form. It was a blow to the career of Burley but he was soon back in management with Crystal Palace but once again it proved to be a short lived spell. Burley lasted only 25 games in charge of the Eagles before he was once again shown the door.
George Burley as plenty of experience of Management in the Championship and the Premier League and that will stand him in good stead as he looks for work. Over the oast few years Burley has had mixed success with various clubs and that will be of concern to any chairman looking to hire the former Southampton Manager. His recent track record has been one of short lived spells at clubs and he will be eager to improve that record as soon as possible either in his native Scotland or more likely down south in England.
