Neil James Cox (born 8 October 1971) is an English former professional footballer and manager who is currently the assistant manager of National League side York City. A defender capable of playing at centre or right-back, he made over 500 appearances in the Football League during his career and was capped at Under-21 level by England. He began his career at Scunthorpe United as a youth player and was eventually offered a professional contract by the club, breaking into the first-team soon after. In 1991, Cox joined First Division side Aston Villa for a fee of £400,000, going on to make over 50 appearances for the side in all competitions, including playing in the club's victory over Manchester United in the 1994 Football League Cup Final, but struggled to establish himself in the first-team.
In 1994, he joined Middlesbrough, becoming the first player to break the £1 million transfer fee mark for the club. He made over 100 appearances for Middlesbrough, including playing in his second League Cup final in 1997, before moving to Bolton Wanderers in 1997 for £1.5 million. After two seasons at Bolton, Cox joined Watford. After a difficult start with the Hornets, which included being placed on the transfer list, Cox went on to captain the side and made over 200 appearances in all competitions for the club.
His final Football League club was then League One outfit Crewe Alexandra. Cox retired from professional football in 2008, going on to become a property developer in Portugal. Cox subsequently returned to the game in 2010 after being appointed manager of Leek Town. When the club had injury concerns Cox registered himself as a player with the league, making 4 appearances. Cox was in charge just one season before resigning for personal reasons. In October 2012, Cox joined Football League Two club AFC Wimbledon as assistant manager to former Watford teammate Neal Ardley. He left with Ardley on 12 November 2018. On 7 August 2020, Cox was appointed first team manager of Scunthorpe United. On 8 September 2023, he was confirmed as assistant manager of York City.
Early life
Born in Scunthorpe, as a child, Cox attended Crosby Juniors School and later High Ridge Comprehensive School.
Playing career
Scunthorpe United
Cox began his career at his hometown club, the team he supported as a child, Scunthorpe United. Cox was involved with the team from an early age, being allowed to join in pre-season training sessions with the squad at the age of just 11. He was later allowed to train with the first-team by manager Frank Barlow at the age of 13 and was allowed to travel to an away game with the senior players. He gradually progressed through the youth ranks at the club before signing his first professional deal with the club in 1990, being handed a two-year deal, along with fellow youth graduates Graham Alexander and Richard Hall. Cox later revealed that he had been offered deals by other clubs but had remained with Scunthorpe as he was " a local lad and I just wanted to play for my local team." Following a downturn in the club's results, Hall and Cox were brought into the first-team by manager Mick Buxton and the pair's performances attracted attention from a number of clubs. Tottenham Hotspur discussed a potential double transfer for Cox and Hall but Hall later secured a move Southampton. Cox instead joined First Division side Aston Villa in February 1991 for a fee of £400,000, a club record for Scunthorpe at the time, as well as the installation of 2000 new seats at Glanford Park, after just one season with The Iron.
Aston Villa
Cox's move to the Villans progressed rapidly, receiving a call from Scunthorpe assistant manager Bill Green on a Sunday evening, signing for the club the following day before flying out to Hong Kong to join the first-team on Tuesday for pre-season training. Whilst at Villa, Cox played in the club's 3–1 victory over Manchester United in the 1994 League Cup Final, coming on as a substitute in the 79th minute in place of Steve Staunton.
Middlesbrough
In July 1994, Middlesbrough manager Bryan Robson, a boyhood idol of Cox's, confirmed a deal to sign Cox for a fee of £1 million, the first player to break the one million transfer fee mark for the club. Cox later stated that he believed that there was "a bit of pressure" on himself to impress due to the transfer fee involved in his move. The club achieved promotion to the Premier League in his first season, the club's final season playing at Ayresome Park, and Cox was named in the 1994–95 First Division team of the year.