Editing Sam Ricketts (section)

==Managerial career==
===Wrexham===
After his retirement from playing, Ricketts integrated into coaching, inaugurally spending a week working alongside [[Brendan Rodgers]]'s backroom staff at [[Scottish Premiership]] champions [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]]. Rodgers then advised Ricketts to begin coaching at academy level to gain experience, with the latter taking his advice and joined the [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. Development Squad and Academy|academy coaching set-up]] at his former side [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] in 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIKrnMLjhV4  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/KIKrnMLjhV4| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title= INTERVIEW {{!}} Sam Ricketts - Town TV |date=2018-12-03 |access-date=2020-11-26 |work=Shrewsbury Town FC via [[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

A year into his role, Ricketts left to become the first team manager of [[National League (division)|National League]] club [[Wrexham A.F.C.|Wrexham]], signing a three-year contract, beginning on 2 May 2018.<ref name=WrexhamIn>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43963627 |title=Sam Ricketts: Ex-Wales defender becomes new Wrexham manager |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2 May 2018 |access-date=2 May 2018}}</ref> On his managerial debut, his team won 1–0 at [[Dover Athletic]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Griffiths |first1=Rob |title='It is plain to see that there is a clear and obvious change in mentality at the Racecourse under new manager Sam Ricketts' |url=https://www.dailypost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/it-plain-see-clear-obvious-14992427 |access-date=12 March 2019 |work=Daily Post |date=5 August 2018}}</ref> During his brief spell in charge, Ricketts guided Wrexham to 13 victories out of a possible 23, with his side constantly being in the running to gain promotion to the [[EFL League Two|Football League]] throughout his tenure.<ref name=shrewsbury/>

On 1 December 2018, he was told by club officials to stay away from their [[FA Cup]] second round match against [[Newport County A.F.C.|Newport County]], amid speculation that he was poised to be appointed the new manager of [[EFL League One|League One]] side [[Shrewsbury Town]], a local rival.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sam Ricketts: 'A lot of making up' for him to stay at Wrexham – Barrow |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2 December 2018 |access-date=3 December 2018 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/amp/football/46412094}}</ref> With compensation agreed, he was subsequently appointed their manager days later; Wrexham were sat fourth in the table when he left.<ref name=shrewsbury/>

===Shrewsbury Town===
On 3 December 2018, Ricketts was appointed manager of Shrewsbury on a 2{{frac|1|2}}-year contract, leaving a Wrexham side fourth in the table.<ref name=shrewsbury>{{cite news |title=Sam Ricketts: Shrewsbury Town appoint Wrexham boss as new manager |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46413259 |access-date=12 March 2019 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=3 December 2018}}</ref> Two days later in his first match, Shrewsbury won 2–1 against [[Walsall F.C.|Walsall]] to reach the third round of the [[EFL Trophy]]; he was the first manager to win on his Shrewsbury debut since [[Graham Turner]] in 2010.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cox |first1=Lewis |title=Sam Ricketts: A perfect start at Shrewsbury |url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/football/shrewsbury-town-fc/2018/12/05/sam-ricketts-a-perfect-start-at-shrewsbury/ |access-date=12 March 2019 |work=Shropshire Star |date=5 December 2018}}</ref> He brought in eight players in the January 2019 transfer window including [[Tyrese Campbell]], [[Ro-Shaun Williams]] and [[Scott Golbourne]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cox |first1=Lewis |title=Sam Ricketts relishing his learning curve at Shrewsbury Town |url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/football/shrewsbury-town-fc/2019/05/07/sam-ricketts-relishing-his-learning-curve-at-shrewsbury-town/ |access-date=9 May 2019 |work=Shropshire Star |date=7 May 2019}}</ref> In early 2019, Ricketts lead the club to the fourth round of the [[2018–19 FA Cup|FA Cup]]. The club's cup run ended at the hands of rivals, and one of Ricketts' former clubs, [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]]. Town were 2–0 up in the original tie at [[New Meadow]] with just under 20 minutes to play, but late goals from [[Raúl Jiménez]] and [[Matt Doherty (footballer, born 1992)|Matt Doherty]] took the tie to a replay at [[Molineux Stadium|Molineux]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sutcliffe |first1=Steve |title=Shrewsbury Town 2-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46928652| work=[[BBC Sport]] |date=26 January 2019}}</ref> Ricketts' Shrewsbury side went 2–1 up in the replay, only to eventually lose 3–2.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mann |first1=Mantej |title=Wolves 3-2 Shrewsbury in FA Cup fourth-round replay |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47037238| work=[[BBC Sport]] |date=5 February 2019}}</ref> A 1–1 draw away at [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]] on 28 April mathematically secured [[EFL League One|League One]] survival for Ricketts and the club.<ref>{{cite news |title=Coventry City 1 Shrewsbury Town 1 - Richard Fletcher and Lewis Cox analysis |url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/2019/04/28/coventry-city-1-shrewsbury-town-1-richard-fletcher-and-lewis-cox-analysis-watch/ |access-date=21 September 2019 |publisher=[[Shropshire Star]] |date=28 April 2019}}</ref>
[[File:Sam Ricketts as Shrewsbury manager, 21 Sep 2019.jpg|thumb|Ricketts managing Shrewsbury in September 2019]]
In the summer of 2019, Ricketts made more notable signings to strengthen the squad for the upcoming [[2019–20 Shrewsbury Town F.C. season|2019–20 season]], bringing in players such as [[Jason Cummings]] from [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]], [[Sean Goss]] from [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]], [[Donald Love]] from [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]], [[Ethan Ebanks-Landell]] from [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolves]] and [[Aaron Pierre (footballer)|Aaron Pierre]] from [[Northampton Town F.C.|Northampton Town]]. Ricketts started the season with a 1–0 win at home to [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]] on 4 August, with loanee [[Ryan Giles]] scoring the goal.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cox |first1=Lewis |title=Shrewsbury Town 1 Portsmouth 0 - Report and pictures |url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/football/shrewsbury-town-fc/2019/08/03/shrewsbury-town-1-portsmouth-0-report-and-pictures/ |access-date=3 August 2019 |work=Shropshire Star |date=3 August 2019}}</ref> During the 2019–20 season, Ricketts lead the club to the fourth round of the [[2019–20 FA Cup|FA Cup]] for the second time during his management spell, defeating [[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]], [[Mansfield Town F.C.|Mansfield Town]] and [[Bristol City F.C.|Bristol City]] along the way. The fourth round would see Ricketts and his Shrewsbury side host [[Premier League]] leaders and European and World champions [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]], where Shrewsbury came from 0–2 down to draw 2–2 with 2 goals from substitute [[Jason Cummings]], forcing a replay at [[Anfield]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Shrewsbury Town 2-2 Liverpool |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51208528 |access-date=12 February 2020 |publisher=[[BBC Sport]] |date=26 January 2020}}</ref> In the replay, Shrewsbury fell short after a [[Shaun Whalley]] goal was disallowed by [[Video Assistant Referee|VAR]] for offside and an [[own goal]] from [[Ro-Shaun Williams]] saw the hosts win 1–0.<ref>{{cite news |title=Liverpool 1 - 0 Shrewsbury - Match Report & Highlights |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/liverpool-vs-shrewsbury/423668 |access-date=12 February 2020 |publisher=[[Sky Sports]] |date=5 February 2020}}</ref> This cup run brought repercussions, however, as Ricketts and the club went 10 league games without a win between December 2019 and February 2020. A 2–0 home defeat to [[Accrington Stanley F.C.|Accrington Stanley]] on 11 February 2020<ref>{{cite news |title=Shrewsbury Town 0-2 Accrington Stanley - BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51366597 |access-date=12 February 2020 |publisher=[[BBC Sport]] |date=11 February 2020}}</ref> followed by another 2–0 defeat away at [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]] on 15 February<ref>{{cite news |title= Portsmouth 2-0 Shrewsbury Town – Lewis Cox's player ratings |url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/football/shrewsbury-town-fc/2020/02/16/portsmouth-2-0-shrewsbury-town-lewis-coxs-player-ratings/ |access-date=21 February 2020 |last=Cox |first=Lewis |publisher=[[Shropshire Star]] |date=15 February 2020}}</ref> put Ricketts' job under severe pressure. The winless run ended a week later on 22 February after a 1–0 win at home to [[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]].<ref>{{cite news |title= Shrewsbury Town 1 Doncaster Rovers 0 - Report and pictures |url= https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/football/shrewsbury-town-fc/2020/02/22/shrewsbury-town-1-doncaster-rovers-0-report-and-pictures/ |access-date=22 February 2020 |last=Cox |first=Lewis |publisher=[[Shropshire Star]] |date=22 February 2020}}</ref> On 14 March 2020, Ricketts and his Shrewsbury side were scheduled to take on top-of-the-table [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]] at [[St Andrew's (stadium)|St Andrew's]], however the match was postponed due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|outbreak of COVID-19]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.shrewsburytown.com/matches/fixtures/first-team/201920/march/coventry-city-vs-shrewsbury-town-on-14-mar-20/ |title=Coventry City vs Shrewsbury Town - 14 March 2020 |work=Shrewsbury Town FC}}</ref> Due to the pandemic, the [[2019–20 EFL League One|2019–20 League One season]] was cut short and it was decided that final league positions would be based on a points-per-game basis. This saw the club finish 15th in the final table.

With first-team midfielder [[Josh Laurent]] leaving for [[EFL Championship|Championship]] club [[Reading F.C.|Reading]],<ref>{{cite web |title=🖋️ Josh Laurent is a Royal! |url=https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2020/july/josh-laurent-is-a-royal/ |website=Reading FC official site |access-date=28 July 2020 |date=28 July 2020}}</ref> Ricketts looked to strengthen his Shrewsbury squad again in the summer of 2020. The departure of Irish goalkeeper [[Joe Murphy (footballer, born 1981)|Joe Murphy]] also meant Ricketts only had 1 senior goalkeeper. On 3 August, Ricketts managed to get 3 deals over the line, bringing in striker [[Rekeil Pyke]] from [[Huddersfield Town A.F.C.|Huddersfield Town]] and promising [[Northern Ireland|Northern Irish]] winger [[Josh Daniels]] from [[Glenavon F.C.|Glenavon]], as well as the loan signing of young midfielder [[Scott High]], also from [[Huddersfield Town A.F.C.|Huddersfield Town]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53641515 |title=Rekeil Pyke, Scott High and Josh Daniels: Shrewsbury Town complete triple transfer |work=[[BBC Sport]] |date=3 August 2020 |access-date=3 September 2020}}</ref> The club played their first pre-season friendly of the season on 11 August, beating [[Cymru Premier]] side [[Bala Town F.C.|Bala Town]] 3–0 at [[A.F.C. Telford United|Telford United]]'s [[New Bucks Head]]. Two days later on 13 August, defender [[Omar Beckles]] rejected a new contract and subsequently also left the club, leaving a gap in Ricketts' defence.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/football/shrewsbury-town-fc/2020/08/13/omar-beckles-to-leave-shrewsbury-town-after-rejecting-new-contract/ |title=Omar Beckles to leave Shrewsbury Town after rejecting new contract |last=Cox |first=Lewis |work=[[Shropshire Star]] |date=13 August 2020}}</ref> On 18 August, Ricketts won his second pre-season friendly of the season, defeating [[Nuneaton Borough F.C.|Nuneaton Borough]] 3–1 at home.{{efn|During the summer of 2020, the club played their pre-season home fixtures at [[A.F.C. Telford United|AFC Telford United]]'s [[New Bucks Head]] in [[Wellington, Shropshire|Wellington]] to allow pitch works at [[New Meadow]], that had been delayed due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|COVID-19 pandemic]], to take place.}}<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/football/shrewsbury-town-fc/2020/08/18/shrewsbury-town-3-nuneaton-borough-1-match-report/ |title=Shrewsbury Town 3 Nuneaton Borough 1 – report and pictures |last=Cox |first=Lewis |work=[[Shropshire Star]] |date=18 August 2020 |access-date=3 September 2020}}</ref> This was followed by a defeat 0–1 home defeat to rivals [[Walsall F.C.|Walsall]] on 21 August, a 5–1 defeat away at [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]] on 25 August and a 1–0 win over [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. Development Squad and Academy|Wolverhampton Wanderers U23]], also on 25 August. On 28 August, Ricketts managed to strengthen his defence with the loan signing of [[United States men's national under-20 soccer team|United States U20]] international [[Marlon Fossey]] from [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.shrewsburytown.com/news/2020/august/marlon-fossey-signs-for-town/ |title=Marlon Fossey Signs For Town |work=Shrewsbury Town FC official site |date=28 August 2020 |access-date=3 September 2020}}</ref> The club's final pre-season friendly took place on 29 August, a 2–1 win away at [[Premier League]] club [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]]. On 2 September, Ricketts managed to fill the goalkeeper void, bringing in [[Montenegro national football team|Montenegro]] international [[Matija Sarkic]] on loan from [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/football/shrewsbury-town-fc/2020/09/02/shrewsbury-town-sign-wolves-goalkeeper-matija-sarkic-on-loan/ |title=Shrewsbury Town sign Wolves goalkeeper Matija Sarkic on loan |last=Cox |first=Lewis |work=[[Shropshire Star]] |date=2 September 2020|access-date=3 September 2020}}</ref>

Ricketts and the team had a steady but rocky start to the [[2020–21 EFL League One|2020–21 League One]] season, drawing 3 and losing 1 of their first 4 played games. Ricketts' first win of the season came on 17 October when a stoppage time winner from new signing [[Leon Clarke]] confirmed a 1–0 win at [[AFC Wimbledon]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54488961 |title=AFC Wimbledon 0-1 Shrewsbury Town |date=2020-10-17 |work=[[BBC Sport]]}}</ref> Four consecutive defeats then followed, including a 5–1 defeat away at [[Peterborough United F.C.|Peterborough United]] on 31 October.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54671149 |title=Peterborough United 5-1 Shrewsbury Town |date=2020-10-31 |work=[[BBC Sport]]}}</ref> Two more draws and another defeat later and the club found themselves in the relegation zone and only off the bottom of the table on goal difference. A 2–2 draw at [[Milton Keynes Dons F.C.|Milton Keynes Dons]], in which The Shrews led 2–0, on 24 November <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54969205 |title=Milton Keynes Dons 2-2 Shrewsbury Town |date=2020-11-24 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> turned out to be the last straw as Ricketts and assistant manager [[Dean Whitehead]] were relieved of their duties a day later on 25 November. The club sat 23rd in League One after 13 league games, gaining only 9 points from a possible 39.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/football/shrewsbury-town-fc/2020/11/25/sam-ricketts-sacked-by-shrewsbury-town/ |title=Sam Ricketts sacked by Shrewsbury Town |date=25 November 2020 |last=Cox |first=Lewis |work=Shropshire Star Sport|access-date=25 November 2020}}</ref>