31 January 2023 , 18:09
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Tony Pulis has announced his retirement from management - more than two years after his last spell in the hot seat.
Pulis, 65, revealed the news during an interview with Sky Sports on deadline day. The Welshman, who coached Stoke, Crystal Palace and West Brom in the Premier League, has not managed since he was sacked by Sheffield Wednesday in December 2020.
Pulis spent the best part of 28 years working in management - starting with Bournemouth in 1992 - after a 17-year career as a defender. He is looking forward to spending more time with his family, travelling the world and 'relaxing' with a few rounds of golf.
"I'm 65 now," said Pulis. "I had a really good run at it, management has passed me by now. I'm quite happy to help people, quite happy to give a little bit of advice here and there. I've always based my home down in Bournemouth.
"I had three wonderful children and never spent enough time with them but I've got seven grandchildren now. It's lovely to see them and be able to go out and watch the boys play football, and we have two in America and we visit them as much as possible. I play a bit of golf here and there, nice and relaxed."
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Born in Newport, Pulis started his career in professional football as a defender for Bristol Rovers. He went on to play for boyhood club Newport, Gillingham and Bournemouth, as well as enjoy a brief spell with Hong Kong club Happy Valley in the early 1980s.
Tony Pulis will best be remembered for his two spells at Stoke - leading them to the 2011 FA Cup final (Getty Images)Do you think Tony Pulis will be remembered as a legend of the English game? Let us know in the comments below!
Pulis' first job in management came when Harry Redknapp quit Bournemouth for West Ham. He left the Cherries in 1994 and became manager of Gillingham the following year - leading them to promotion to the third tier during his first season in charge.
Pulis came within a whisker of leading Gillingham to the second tier when they reached the Division Two (now League One) play-off final in May 1999. Their opponents were Manchester City - nine years before Sheikh Mansour completed his takeover.
Gillingham established a two-goal lead at Wembley but were thwarted when Kevin Horlock and Paul Dickov scored in added-time. Man City then won on penalties to return to the second tier and leave Pulis out of a job.
Pulis went on to manage Bristol City and Portsmouth before joining Stoke for the first time. He made an immediate impact in the Potteries by keeping them in Division One (now Championship) and repeating the feat over the next two years.
Pulis was sacked in the summer of 2005 but returned to Stoke 12 months later after a spell in charge of Plymouth. He achieved promotion to the Premier League in May 2008 and kept them in the top-flight for five seasons before being relieved of his duties.
The ex-manager' greatest achievement was leading Stoke to the 2011 FA Cup final, which they narrowly lost to bogey club Man City. He also led them to the knockout stages of the Europa League before spells with Palace, West Brom, Middlesbrough and Wednesday.
Pulis' time at Palace will also be fondly remembered. He was only in charge of the London club for 28 games but was named as the Premier League's Manager of the Season at the end of the 2013/14 campaign for keeping the Eagles in the division.
Pulis is no stranger to individual accolades. He won Manager of the Month awards in all four top tiers of English football and was inducted into the LMA Hall of Fame in 2016. He was described as a "real football man" by Sir Alex Ferguson following the latter honour.
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