Nick Montgomery

Nicholas Anthony Montgomery (born 28 October 1981) is a football coach and former player, who is currently the head coach of Scottish Premiership club Hibernian.

A defensive midfielder, Montgomery spent the majority of his career with Sheffield United, making 398 appearances across twelve seasons. Towards the end of his time in England, he had a short spell on loan with Millwall. In 2012, he moved to Australia to play for Central Coast Mariners, and became club captain in 2015. After leaving the Mariners in 2017, he went on to play for Wollongong Wolves for two seasons.

Born in England, Montgomery represented Scotland at under-21 level and as part of a Scotland 'Futures' side. He obtained Australian citizenship in 2017.

After retiring as a player, Montgomery became an assistant coach at Central Coast Mariners. He became their head coach in 2021 and guided them to the A-League championship in 2023. Later that year he became head coach of Hibernian.

Club career

Sheffield United

Montgomery was born in Leeds, England. He supported Leeds United as a child and was at Leeds United's Academy for six years. He then was offered a two-year scholarship at Sheffield United. He made his first team début for the Blades at Carrow Road against Norwich City on 21 October 2000. He subsequently established himself as a regular in the first-team where he became a mainstay of central midfield for the Blades. Montgomery had to wait until November 2001 before he scored his first goal for the club, coming in a 4–0 home victory over Birmingham City.

Montgomery was an integral member of the 2005–06 squad that saw the Blades being promoted back to the Premier League. As a result of his hard work over the season, he was runner-up to Phil Jagielka in the club's Player of Year awards.

During the 2009–10 season Montgomery played a main role in an injury plagued Sheffield United squad eventually winning player of the season, including scoring his first league goal for four seasons in the Blades 3–0 home victory against Blackpool in March 2010. With the club looking to reduce their wage bill, a few months of speculation followed as to whether he would leave United but he eventually signed a new 3-year deal in June that year after reportedly turning down an approach from Yorkshire rivals Leeds United, despite being a lifelong Leeds fan.

For the 2011–2012 season the Blades found themselves in the third tier of English football for the first time in over 20 years and Montgomery found himself out of the first team picture for the first time in his United career. Losing his place in midfield to Michael Doyle he was confined to occasional substitute appearances as the season progressed. With first team opportunities limited Montgomery joined Championship team Millwall on loan in March 2012, agreeing a deal to remain there until the end of the season. However at the end of the month Montgomery's loan spell came to an end after he sustained a calf problem, forcing him to return to Bramall Lane for medical treatment. He only had twenty minutes of game time with Millwall as substitutions against Doncaster Rovers and Leeds United. Montgomery still went on to make appearances as a Sheffield United player, including playing in the play-offs, in which the team lost to Huddersfield Town in the final at Wembley Stadium on penalties.

Central Coast Mariners

Montgomery ended his 12-year stay at Sheffield United by the cancellation of his contract through a mutual agreement on 31 August 2012. This allowed him to join United's sister club Central Coast Mariners in the Australian A-League.

He was a key part to the side that reached the 2013 A-League Grand Final but missed the grand final due to suspension. The Mariners went on to win 2–0. Montgomery was elected as vice-captain for the 2013–14 season, and made his debut as captain in a 1–0 win against rivals Sydney FC on 18 January 2014.

Wollongong Wolves

Montgomery signed for the National Premier Leagues NSW outfit Wollongong Wolves for 2017.

International career

Born in Leeds, Montgomery was also eligible to play for Scotland. He made his debut for the Scotland under-21s in a 1–0 victory over Austria in April 2003, and his second and last appearance in another 1–0 victory over Croatia in November. He subsequently appeared for a Scotland Futures Team, featuring in a 2–0 defeat of Poland in December 2005.

Coaching career

Central Coast Mariners

After retiring as a player, Montgomery rejoined Central Coast Mariners as an assistant coach. He became their head coach in July 2021, and guided them to the A-League championship in 2023.

Hibernian

Montgomery was appointed head coach of Scottish Premiership club Hibernian in September 2023.

Personal life

Montgomery has a wife, Josie, and two twin daughters Leah and Chloe. He became an Australian citizen in 2017.

Career statistics

Club

Managerial record

Honours

Player

Central Coast Mariners
* A-League Championship: 2012–13

Individual
* Sheffield United F.C. Player of the Year: 2009–10
* A-League All Star: 2014

Manager

Central Coast Mariners
* A-League Men Championship: 2022–23

See also

* List of Central Coast Mariners FC players
* List of foreign A-League players
* List of Sheffield United F.C. players

References

External links

Nick Montgomery profile
CCMariners.com.au
*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Montgomery, Nick
1981 births
Living people
Footballers from Leeds
English people of Scottish descent
Scottish emigrants to Australia
Scottish men's footballers
Scotland men's B international footballers
Scotland men's under-21 international footballers
Men's association football midfielders
Sheffield United F.C. players
Millwall F.C. players
Premier League players
English Football League players
Central Coast Mariners FC players
A-League Men players
Wollongong Wolves FC players
National Premier Leagues players
Naturalised soccer players of Australia
Central Coast Mariners FC non-playing staff
Expatriate men's soccer players in Australia
Hibernian F.C. managers
Scottish Professional Football League managers