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Gareth Keith Taylor (born 25 February 1973) is a football manager and former player who most recently served as the head coach of Manchester City Women.
He began his career as a defender at Bristol Rovers, having left the Southampton Youth system in 1991. After loan spells with non-League sides Gloucester City and Weymouth, he was converted into a striker. He then spent the 1995–96 season with Crystal Palace (who paid £1.25 million for his services) before two years with Sheffield United. He transferred to Manchester City in 1998 for a £400,000 fee and was loaned out to Port Vale, Queens Park Rangers, and Burnley. He moved permanently to Burnley in 2001 and joined Nottingham Forest for a £500,000 fee two years later. In 2006, he was loaned out to Crewe Alexandra before signing with Tranmere Rovers. In 2008, he switched to Doncaster Rovers and joined Conference club Wrexham a year later, following a brief spell on loan at Carlisle United. He retired as a player in September 2011, scoring 135 goals in 642 appearances across all competitions. In addition to an 18-year career in the Football League, he also enjoyed a nine-year international career. He won a total of 15 caps for Wales and scored once in a Exhibition game against Scotland. He was eligible for the national side because of his Welsh-born father.
He went on to coach at Manchester City before he was appointed manager of the club's women's team in May 2020. He led the team to the FA Cup title in 2020 and League Cup title in 2022.
He did not play again until the first match of the 1994–95 campaign. By that time, manager John Ward had converted him into a striker. His height meant he was a good target man and was exceptional in the air, scoring twelve goals (most of them headers) in his first full season alongside Marcus Stewart and Paul Miller in attack. His brace against Brentford on the final day ensured a Second Division play-off spot. After a tense away goal victory over Crewe Alexandra in the semi-final, Rovers made it to Wembley, though they lost 2–1 to Huddersfield Town.
In the unfortunate 2004–05 season, which resulted in relegation, he was made captain by Gary Megson and was the top-scorer with eleven goals. For the second year running, he underwent a knee operation at the end of the season. Shortly into the 2005–06 season, following a string of disappointing performances from the team. With rumours that Megson had a deteriorating relationship with the players, he was stripped of the captaincy. With striker Grant Holt being signed to replace him, Taylor suddenly fell out of favour and was allowed to go on loan to Crewe Alexandra in January 2006, where he enjoyed some success but was unable to prevent them too suffering relegation. Taylor's contract at Nottingham Forest expired in the summer of 2006; the club decided against renewing it, and he was released. Dario Gradi offered him a deal at Crewe, though as expected Taylor signed elsewhere.
He was appointed the head coach of Manchester City Women on 28 May 2020. Lucy Bronze was the biggest name arrival of his first transfer window. On 1 November 2020, he led City to a 3–1 victory over Everton in the 2020 final of the Women's FA Cup at Wembley Stadium. City finished second in the FA Women's Super League at the end of the 2020–21 season, two points behind Chelsea. They reached the FA Cup semi-finals, where they were also beaten by Chelsea. In the 2020 Women's FA Community Shield, they lost to Chelsea, who also eliminated them from the League Cup at the quarter-final stage. City were also beaten in the Champions League quarter-finals, this time losing to Barcelona.
Taylor won his second trophy in management on 5 March 2022, finally overcoming Emma Hayes's Chelsea in a final, as City won 3–1 with a brace from Caroline Weir and goal from Ellen White. He said the win was a good response after he received "unjustified" following a poor start to the 2021–22 campaign. City also reached the final of the FA Cup, though were beaten 3–2 by Chelsea after extra time.
He was named as Super League Manager of the Month for February 2023 after guiding the team to victories over Leicester City and Arsenal to extend the club's unbeaten run to eleven matches. He also won the following month's award after City won all three of their league matches. City ended the season in fourth place, missing out on a Champions League qualification spot on goal difference; Taylor said he was pleased to go the season unbeaten at home.
He signed a new three-year contract in March 2024, with the club second in the table. He was named as WSL Manager of the Month in both February and March as his team put together a winning streak to lead the table. City finished second in the 2023–24 Women's Super League season after being overtaken by Chelsea on goal difference on the final day.
On 10 March 2025, it was announced that Taylor had parted ways with the club. At the time of his departure, City were fourth in the league table having lost four out of 16 matches in the 2024–25 season, but were five days from competing in the 2025 Women's League Cup final.
Career statistics
Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition Bristol Rovers 1991–92 Second Division 0 1992–93 Second Division 12 1993–94 Second Division 4 Crystal Palace 1995–96 First Division 2 Sheffield United 1995–96 First Division 2 1996–97 First Division 13 1997–98 First Division 10 1998–99 First Division 2 Manchester City 1998–99 Second Division 4 1999–2000 First Division 6 Port Vale (loan) 1999–2000 First Division 0 Queens Park Rangers (loan) 1999–2000 First Division 1 Burnley 2000–01 First Division 4 2001–02 First Division 16 2002–03 First Division 17 Nottingham Forest 2003–04 First Division 8 2004–05 EFL Championship 11 2005–06 League One 6 Crewe Alexandra (loan) 2005–06 Championship 4 Tranmere Rovers 2006–07 League One 9 2007–08 League One 4 Doncaster Rovers 2007–08 League One 1 2008–09 Championship 0 Carlisle United (loan) 2008–09 League One 1 Wrexham 2009–10 Conference National 9 2010–11 Conference National 6 2011–12 Conference National 0
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and year Wales 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Managerial statistics
All competitive games (league, domestic and continental cups) are included.
+ Managerial record by team and tenure Manchester City U-18 July 2017 May 2020
Manchester City Women 28 May 2020 10 March 2025
Honours
Player
Manchester City
Manager
Manchester City Women
Individual
Categories: 1973 Births, Living People, Sportspeople From Weston-super-mare, Footballers From Somerset, Men's Association Football Utility Players, Men's Association Football Defenders, Men's Association Football Forwards, Welsh Men's Footballers, Wales Men's International Footballers, Southampton F.c. Players, Bristol Rovers F.c. Players, Gloucester City A.f.c. Players, Weymouth F.c. Players, Crystal Palace F.c. Players, Sheffield United F.c. Players, Manchester City F.c. Players, Port Vale F.c. Players, Queens Park Rangers F.c. Players, Burnley F.c. Players, Nottingham Forest F.c. Players, Crewe Alexandra F.c. Players, Tranmere Rovers F.c. Players, Doncaster Rovers F.c. Players, Carlisle United F.c. Players, Wrexham A.f.c. Players, English Football League Players, National League Players, Women's Super League Managers, Welsh Football Managers, Manchester City W.f.c. Managers, English Football Coaches, Manchester City F.c. Non-playing Staff, 20th-century Welsh Sportsmen, 21st-century Welsh Sportsmen
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