Scott Matthew Parker was born on October 13th, 1980, in Lambeth, Greater London.
An industrious midfielder who made 486 professional appearances for seven leading clubs, he was widely admired for his honest endeavour and neat link-up play. In 2011 he won the FWA Footballer of the Year award. There are also 18 England caps to account for.
On retirement, Parker entered the world of management, carving out a reputation for being a promotion specialist - he has led teams into the Premier League on three separate occasions.
A household name and popular figure, Parker’s stock continues to rise even at the age of 44. He is also, for what it’s worth, a very wealthy individual.
How Much Is Scott Parker Worth?
When Parker left his box-to-boxing behind at the age of 37 he was already an extremely wealthy man, accruing an estimated £11m over the course of his playing career. It’s notable that his first act on retirement was to finance the construction of a £3m mansion in Oxshott, Surrey, to house himself, his wife Carly, and their four sons.
Then came further riches, with a £750,000 a year contract to manage Fulham that rose to £1m a year on joining Bournemouth.
We can factor in a substantial bonus from both for getting them promoted. Which at Burnley amounted to £1m, on top of a £800,000 a year wage.
Scott Parker has spent a life in football, and worked hard for his fortune. This presently equates to £13.5m.
Playing Career
If we’re being flippant it could be suggested that Parker’s playing career first took off aged 13, starring in a McDonalds advert ahead of the 1994 World Cup. He was required to play keepy-uppy in a back garden, declining a trip to the fast food restaurant so as to carry on practising.
At the time, Parker was coming through the ranks at Charlton Athletic’s academy but soon after he was selected to join the FA’s School of Excellence at Lilleshall. On graduating from there he returned to the Addicks, making his professional debut in 1997, aged 17.
For the next three years he was brought through gradually but in 2000 came a career jump when Parker was recalled from a loan early due to injuries. Impressing on a weekly basis he cemented a starting role in South London and around this time too he was called up for the England Under 21s.
Now considered one of the most exciting young talents in the country, Parker duly scooped the PFA Young Player of the Year award in 2004 but by this point he was no longer at his boyhood club, having left them for newly-minted Chelsea that summer.
His big-money move to Stamford Bridge was supposed to take him to the next level – ideally winning silverware – but instead it only took him backwards. Languishing behind the likes of Claude Makelele for a regular midfield berth, Parker found himself a sub at best. He was frustrated. Kicking his heels.
Thankfully, Newcastle made a move and three significant events occurred in the North-East. Parker was made captain, succeeding Alan Shearer. He was called up for his first full England cap. And he won his only trophy across a career spanning two decades. Okay, it was the Intertoto Cup, but still.
Next up, West Ham, a club he embodied in spirit and character and because of this the fans idolised him. It helped too that he arguably played the best football of his life in East London.
Yet all good things must come to an end and when the Hammers were relegated in 2011, Parker had his England aspirations to think of. It was Tottenham who secured his services for £5.5m.
Spurs are always a fun club to back in the live betting, a historically unpredictable side equally capable of brilliance or calamity. Unfortunately for the midfielder this era was Peak Spurs.
Even so, amidst all of the chaos Parker won the Player of the Year merit in his opening season. He was Mr Consistency throughout.
After leaving Tottenham he signed for Fulham, his final employer and for four years at Craven Cottage he continued to set a high bar for his team-mates. He ran relentlessly. Harried and chased. He was admired to the end.
Management
Several former colleagues have stated that Parker was a manager in waiting when still a teen. We can add to this that he played under some formidable managerial figures – in no particular order, Jose Mourinho, Harry Redknapp and Claudio Ranieri.
He was almost predestined to inhabit a dug-out. He seemed the type.
Parker’s first big break arrived soon after hanging up his boots when Spurs offered him the opportunity to work with their Under 18s squad. From there he joined the coaching staff at Fulham, retaining his position while first-team coaches were being sacked in summary fashion.
It didn’t take long before his name was in the frame, initially handed the big gig in a caretaker capacity. Alas, Fulham were in freefall and he was powerless to prevent an inevitable relegation.
The following season though he brought them straight back up, courtesy of a Play-Off Final win at Wembley, but poor results became the norm back in the top-flight, with Parker criticised for not compromising enough on his ideals.
Another relegation saw him leave by mutual consent.
Parker went straight from the Cottagers to Bournemouth, then in the Championship, and again worked his promotion magic to guide them to the promised land. Only then came the poor returns once more, a struggle that included a 9-0 thrashing at Anfield. He was sacked soon after.
A pattern was emerging and perhaps to break this cycle, Parker headed to Belgium to take charge of Club Brugge. His six-month stint there didn’t work out. It was a misstep.
Burnley however seemed to be a much better fit, and this has so far proven to be the case. For the third time in his short managerial career, Parker has hauled a side out of one of the most competitive leagues in world football and furthermore, this time emphatically. The Clarets racked up 100 points on route to the big time.
Yet now the real work starts. Burnley’s Premier League odds do not offer up much encouragement and extremely hard tests at the Etihad, Emirates and Anfield await.
Has Parker learned from mistakes made in the recent past? Only time will tell.
*Photo credit belongs to Adobe*
