Trevor Brooking - Managerial Periods

Managerial Periods

In April 2003, after West Ham manager Glenn Roeder collapsed due to a brain tumour, Brooking, having long been on the board at West Ham, briefly took over as caretaker manager. The club were fighting relegation from the Premiership. Brooking took charge of three games. His first game resulted in a 1–0 away win at Manchester City with a goal from Frédéric Kanouté. His second saw West Ham beat Chelsea 1–0, thanks to a goal from Paolo Di Canio. The final game of the season saw West Ham draw 2–2 away at Birmingham City resulting in relegation, albeit with 42 points, a record number for a relegated team. After the first three games of the 2003/2004 season with West Ham now in the Championship, Roeder was sacked after West Ham suffered an away defeat to Rotherham United and Brooking was again installed as caretaker manager. He managed for eleven games, losing only once, to Gillingham, a 2–0 away defeat in which Jermain Defoe was sent-off. In October 2003 he was replaced by Alan Pardew. Brooking was a popular choice as manager at Upton Park by the fans but he had earlier decided management was too much pressure. He is referred to as the "best manager West Ham never had".