Bobby Houghton
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Bobby Houghton (born 1949) is an English football (soccer) manager and former player, currently the head coach of the Indian national team.
During his playing career, Houghton was a midfielder for Fulham and Brighton & Hove Albion. Houghton became the manager of Swedish side Malmö FF in 1974, and in 1979 guided the team to the European Cup final against Nottingham Forest F.C., losing 1-0.
Houghton was the first head coach of the Colorado Rapids in 1996, the first season of Major League Soccer. He was fired after one season, and became the Chinese national team's first foreign head coach in over four years, replacing Qi Wusheng, who failed to lead China to qualify for the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
Within weeks, Houghton was able to memorise the names of his players, a rare feat in foreign coaches, and helped build the team's confidence in their new coach. China placed second in the Dynasty Cup very shortly after Houghton took over, and he developed a reputation for being able to implement an effective football program for struggling teams. After failing to qualify for the Olympic football tournament, Houghton was replaced as manager of the Chinese national team in 2000.
Houghton has also managed at Bristol City, Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabia twice (1984-86 and again in 1993), the Toronto Blizzard (1983 and 1984) in the North American Soccer League, Örgryte IS (1987-89), Malmö FF again in 1992, and FC Zurich.
The All India Football Federation has now appointed him as the head coach of the Indian Football team, He will take over his new assignment starting June 20, 2006
Houghton was one of the youngest coaches ever to manage in English senior football, being appointed player manager of Hastings United in the Southern League at the tender age of 21.
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