Editing Stuart Pearce (section)

===Manchester City===
[[File:Manchester City-Liverpool--Pearce and Benitez.jpg|thumb|right|181px|Stuart Pearce managing [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] against [[Rafael Benítez]]'s [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] in 2007.]]

After ending his playing career with Manchester City, he remained at the club as a coach under manager Kevin Keegan. In March 2005, less than three years after retiring, he was appointed caretaker of City after Keegan left the club.<ref>{{cite news| title = Keegan ends his reign at Man City| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/4338665.stm|publisher=BBC Sport| date = 11 March 2005| access-date =24 February 2008}}</ref> His first win was against Liverpool, on 9 April 2005, as [[Kiki Musampa]] scored the goal in injury time with a firm volley past [[Scott Carson]]. After a successful run of form, which put the club close to UEFA Cup qualification, Pearce was given the job on a permanent basis.<ref>{{cite news| title = Man City unveil Pearce as manager| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/4503717.stm|publisher=BBC Sport| date = 12 May 2005| access-date =24 February 2008}}</ref> However, they missed the opportunity to reach Europe on the final game of the season by drawing 1–1 with [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]]. [[Robbie Fowler]] missed a penalty in the last minute which, if it had gone in, would have given City a UEFA Cup place.

Despite a successful start to the [[2005–06 in English football|2005–06 season]], City finished 15th in the Premier League due to losing nine of the last ten games. They were also eliminated from the League Cup by [[Football League One|League One]] side [[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]]. Pearce developed the reputation as being unusually fair and honest by refusing to criticise referees for mistakes they may have made.<ref name="OKref">[http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchestercity/s/229/229965_pearce_backs_ref_over_penalty_claim.html Manchester Evening News&nbsp;– Pearce backs ref over penalty claim] Accessed 21 December 2006 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408172636/http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchestercity/s/229/229965_pearce_backs_ref_over_penalty_claim.html |date=8 April 2020 }}</ref> He was also touted as a potential successor for England manager [[Sven-Göran Eriksson]].<ref>{{cite news| title = Butcher backs Pearce for England| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/4836044.stm|publisher=BBC Sport| date = 23 March 2006| access-date =23 February 2008}}</ref>

Pearce failed to bring about an improvement in the [[2006–07 in English football|2006–07 season]] which saw City come close to relegation.<ref>{{cite news| title = Hughes defends under-fire Pearce| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/6441009.stm|publisher=BBC Sport| date = 12 March 2007| access-date =23 February 2008}}</ref> The club were again eliminated from the League Cup by a League One team, this time by [[Chesterfield F.C.|Chesterfield]]. The side also scored just ten goals at home in the league, and zero after New Year's Day in 2007, a record low in top-flight English football.<ref>[http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_2126758,00.html Man City sacking] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070516040516/http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_2126758,00.html |date=16 May 2007 }}: ''Football365.com'' website, Accessed 14 May 2007</ref> Pearce was sacked at the end of the season in May 2007.<ref>[http://www.mcfc.co.uk/default.sps?pagegid={DBD12D53-8346-431D-A04F-5D0F8664DE80}&newsid=427531 Manchester City FC official website] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080424030103/http://www.mcfc.co.uk/default.sps?pagegid= |date=24 April 2008 }} accessed 14 May 2007</ref>