In Profile : Chris Sutton

Chris Sutton has emerged as the surprise appointment for the manager of Lincoln City Football Club. We now take a look back at a career that was filled with goals and controversy, including famous wins over big name opposition, as well as three clubs where he only scored one goal.

Two years ago, at the age of just 34, Chris Sutton decided to hang up his boots after unsuccessful spells with Aston Villa and Birmingham, scoring just two goals in a combined eighteen appearances between the two clubs. However, before that he has been at Norwich, Blackburn and Celtic, averaging better than a goal every three games, almost making it a goal every other game at Celtic. Only a barren run of 1 goal in 28 games for Chelsea during this period was considered failure.

He started his career at Norwich City and made his name after Dave Stringer turned the defender into a striker in the 1991/2 season. Mike Walker took over as manager and the Canaries famously enjoyed a highly successful season in which they were expected to struggle, finishing third behind Manchester United and Aston Villa.

The 1993/4 season saw Sutton score an impressive 25 goals as Norwich continued fine form in the League, and progressed far in the FA Cup, famously beating Bayern Munich. Off the field was a slightly different story for Sutton as he was in trouble with the police on several occasions, even making the headline of the national news for a brawl in a bar. Mike Walker left in January to take over at Everton and was succeeded by a certain John Deehan, but Sutton's time at Norwich was limited and he moved to Blackburn for £5 million, a British transfer record at the time.

In 1994/5, Sutton formed a formidable partnership with Alan Shearer, to this day one of the more prolific partnerships in Premiership history. As well as winning the title during that season, he earned a call up to the England squad, controversy followed the following season as Sutton refused to play for England's B team and never played for the country again.

Sutton left Blackburn in 1999 to go to Chelsea, but he only scored once in 28 appearances before a £6 million move to Celtic in 2000. He formed a brilliant partnership with Henrik Larson and Celtic broke Rangers' domination of the Scottish Premier Division. He spent six years at Celtic and was voted as the SPFA Player of the Year in 2003/4. However, he was again at the centre of controversy as he received a five match ban for abusing officials.

He left Celtic in 2006 and despite playing for both Birmingham and Aston Villa, he failed to replicate his former prediatory instinct, scoring just twice.

Chris applied for the Inverness Caldeonian Thistle post in January 2009, but was unsuccessful.

Playing Honours

Blackburn Rovers

• Premier League
• winner: 1994-95
• FA Charity Shield runner-up: 1995

Chelsea

• FA Cup winner: 2000

Celtic

• Scottish Premier League
• winner: 2000-01, 2001-02, 2003-04
• runner-up: 2002-03, 2004-05
• Scottish Cup
• winner: 2001, 2004, 2005
• runner-up: 2002
• Scottish League Cup
• winner: 2001
• runner-up: 2003
• UEFA Cup runners-up: 2002-03