1954: October 19 - Born in Dudley. Sam The Man - The Facts
1954: October 19 - Born in Dudley. 1971: Joins Bolton.
1973: Makes Bolton debut.
1978: Wins Second Division title, his only playing honour.
1980: Joins Sunderland, plays 26 games 2 goals.
1981: Joins Millwall for £95,000.
1983: June - Joins Tampa Bay Rowdies.
September - Joins Coventry.
1984: Joins Huddersfield.
1985: Returns to Bolton.
1986: Joins Preston.
1989: Joins West Brom as player coach.
1992: Returns to Preston as player coach, later becoming caretaker manager.
1994: Appointed Blackpool manager.
1996: Returns to Sunderland as director of youth under Peter Reid.
1997: Takes over at Notts County.
1998: Notts County win Division Three.
1999: Relegated from Division Two.
October - Appointed Bolton boss.
2001: Bolton win promotion to Premiership after beating Preston in play-off final.
2003: Bolton survive relegation on final day of season.
2004: Bolton beaten by Middlesbrough in Carling Cup final but finish eighth in Premiership.
2005: Bolton finish sixth in Premiership to qualify for UEFA Cup for first time.
2006: Loses out on England job to Steve McClaren.
2007: April 29 - Resigns as Bolton manager.
May 15 - Appointed Newcastle manager on a three-year contract.